Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-01-04


is conceded. But the answer is that he
came into West Virginia from Cali.
fornia on visit 10 his relations less
than fourteen years ago, and after COM
ing concluded TO locate here, anu that
for ten OF those fourteen years he has,
by the grace and favor OF our people
been member OF one or the
other OF the two branches OF Congress
and for his services has drawn S., 900
from the Treasury. AS far as his per-
sonal claims are concerned, is not his
cup full?
OF Governor Mathews il is said that
he too has been faithful and true to the
State in the 4 .scharge OF his various Of
fetal duties aud that he would make a
good Senator. All this is true. But the
answer is that since he returned from
the South after the war, he has vegltat'
ed in various political gar
dens and enjoyed distinc-
ton from various honorable positions.
1t is true that the Republicans refused
him his seat in TIE State Senate when
they had the power and permitted an
other man to Crew his pay. But have
not the Democracy made this all up to
him, even to full measure? They elected
him to the Constitutional Convention,
where he bore an honorable part, and
sustained with legal ability the Ordi
nance creating the late lamented, the
deceased county court. Then they
made him Attorney General for the
State, an Office filled honorably
and creditably, but they went
one step further and exalted him to the
high office OF Governor, the highest in
their glit and this position he has hon
ored. Upon the score Of personal claims
is his cup not also full?
Mr.. Camden is y native Of tie state
and lifelong Democrat. He began
life poor, and by his energy and talent
has made himself one OF the prominent
and substantial men of the State. He
has held no office except that OF Prose
cutting Attorney for Braxton anil per-
haps Nicholas counties, TO which he was
elected when young man.
1t is not claimed that any Democrat
in the State has served his party more
faithfully or contributed more to It's
success by organizing, personal at.
tention and the liberal use OF his
means, than he has.
IL point OF expression and ability,
Mr.. Camden is the equal OF any oil the
gentlemen named, and we might 90
further and say the equal OF any gen.
tleman now serving the State.
The point has been made against him
that he is interested in the Baltimore
and ONO railroad. So far from this
being true, he does not aud never did
nFN Il HFAlla al nj GtA Anly "a 80.
in il. In this connection another point
has been made against hin, which is
that he made a special contract with
that company for the shipment OF oil
from Pennsylvania 20 Parkersburg,
there it was refined and then ship
ped to Baltimo.e. Ii is true that
he did make such special arrangements,
and it su!s1 true that as consequence
mis- company expended in Parkersburg
for labor, slaves, barrels &C., about one
million dollars a year for three years
This arrangement was broken up by
the abrogation OF the contract by the
railroad company in consequence OF a
clamor about it b. ,Ore the Legislature
and Parkersburg, and the laboring mind,
Pdrkersburg and the lumber men in the
vicinity have been the sufferers.
Mr.. Camden by his published letters
and public utteranCes is fully committed
to and heartily in accord with the de-
mand OF the times for the regulation OF
Interstate commerce by the Reagan bill
or otherwise Just as far as Congress can
constitutionally 20.
He denies in most emphatic terms that
he has any other connection with the
Standard Oil Company than that OF
stock holder, that he is not in its employ
ment and receives no salary from 1t
Ii is Just little singular that the per.
sons who have raised the howl and kept
up that howl about his railroad interest
should not refer 10 the only railroad in
terest he has. His friends in the inte-
riOr of the State are proud that he is
identified with one railroad, and he
might well point with pride to it.
lie is the President OF The Clarksburg
and Weston narrow gauge road. 1t Is
one of the most valuable improvements
in the interior OF the State. lis carry
ing trade and passenger travel iar eX-
ceeds the most sanguine expectations
Of its projectors. Not only has il been
the means OF starting up new
enterprises, but it Las Infused rew lie
in Lewis and adjoining counties. When
Mr.. Camden became connected with
this road it was in state OF partial com
pIetion. It's cuts were filling up and It's
embankments washing away. The
ccnpanv was without means for It's
completion. Lewis county had given
liberally. Private enterprise could DO
no more. Clarksburg had given her
share. At this juncture the pubic
spirit OF Mr.. Camdon was APP
pealed to and right handsomely
did he respond. He and .
few friends advanced the money needed
and pushed the work on IA speedy com
pletion, conierring large benefits upon
Harrison county and operating as bo-
nanza 70 Lewis county, and il will be
pushed on until tha great TIMER dis
tricts OF Upshur, Gimer, BraXton, &c,
shall be reached, ami in time 1t will top
ne Chesapeake & Ohio road.
This is Johnson y. Camden's railroad
intert 5. which has raised such bugab2o
all honor to him for it. liother prom
inent gentlemen and the counties
on the projected inc from
w lpe.lng 10 1 tl rtISDtis h'i'
Parkersburg 10 Charleston had gone
along with him the proposed marrow
gauge roads between these cities would
probably at this time have shown more
signs OF vitality.
Mr. Camden is ranked as n good bust.
ness man, of good Judgment, good
executive and protective ability. He
enjoys the confidence of capitalists.
They are not afraid of being lead away
into wild or visionary schemes by him.
II he should be placed in the Senate
OF the United States with the influence
it would give in coming in contact with
men OF capital and enterprise he would,
before the expiration Of his term, do
more for the progress and development
OF the State than any man that could he
selected
Let these petty and unbecominR as
saults cease, and let us look to our in.
terests in the light the importance OF
the question demands. NERlTAS.
nur rEN ESSEF FIlHT