The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-01-02
WHOLE NO. 1894.
THE LAWS OF 1S42.

revision of the Compromise bill of
1928. The bill of 1871, that had
provided for a distribution of the
proceeds of the sale of public lands
among the states, had proved
disappointment, as any measure to
distribute the present surplus among
the states will be likely to. 1t was
discovered long ago that no make
shifts would do, but that a revenue
bill strong enough to anticipate not
only the demands ofthe government
but to give protection to our indus
tries, is necessary to the prosperity
of the country. Out ofthe struggles
between the President and congress
the tariff bill of 1912 was born. 1t
was not all that was desired, but un-
der its provisions our manufacturers
prospered and the finances of the
Government were restored to a fair
basis. In the presidential contest of
1874 the tariff question played an
important part. Mr. Clay, the idol
OF the Whig party, had been nOmin-
ated TOR the presidency, and Mr.
Frelinghuysen for the vice presiden-
cy. Polk and Dallas led the Dem
ocracy. The Wings charged the
Democracy with the intention of
disturbing the tariff of 1912. From
one end of the country to the other
the Democrats raised the cry, Polk
and Dallas and the tariff OF 1912. "
This was only Il mask to satisfy the
protected industries of the country,
and the people were deluded into
electing Polk over Clay under the
promise made by the Democracy of
standing bv the tariff already in
force Had it not been for this, Mr..
Polk could never have been elected
president. During all these years,
though not i'll public life, | bad
taken an active part in politics. Mr..
Buchanan had been my ideal, and |
had been instrumental in having
him made United States Sena-
| tor.
/ BUCHANAN AND CAMERON ONE
BECAME SECRETARY OF STATE THE
OTHER SENATOR.
When Mr.. Polk was inaugurated.
Mr.. Buchanan came to me and
said
Cameron, Mr.. Polk has rendered
me the position of Secretary of State
in his cabinet what would you do
about it?'
Why ask me? You have al
ready made up your mind to accept
it.
Then who will succeed me
as Senator?' asked Mr.. Bu-
chanan.
/ think Simon Cameron will
was my reply.
Mr.. Buchanan walked away and
was never after nv friend. although
we never quarreled. l have always
thought he had candidate of his
own.
When the Legislature of Penn
sylvania met to choose Mr.. Buchan
ans successor, the caucus nominated
Judge Woodward. Immediately
free trade speech before a State
convention was unearthed and some
neutrality-suspicious. indicating Know
nothing proclivities. At the solicita-
ton of friends / became a candidate
against him and twelve Democratic
members pledged me their support.
The Wings, being in q minority, had
to choose between Judge Woodward
free trader and myself. an ardent
protectionist. The Wing members
of the Legislature and the twelve
Democrats voted for ME and | was
elected. | entered the Senate during
an important era, and while | was
there the Mexican war was fought,
and the most important discussion
and action ever taken up TO that
time or since upon the tariff question
was pushed through Congress. The
Democrats, disregarding their prom
ise of 1874 to stand by the tariff OF
'42, prepared and forced the tariff.
bill of 1916. NV seat in the Senate
was directly behind that of Mr..
Calhoun, and, remembering my
earnest support of his candidacy
more than twenty years before, he
was very kind to me from the day
entered public life.
HIS IDEA OF CALHOUN AND WEBSTER. /
We never discussed politics, /
because we could not agree upon /
the tariff question. Next to Mr. |
Webster, he was the greatest man ] /
ever knew. In the tariff discussions |
of 1916 | was forced to take prom
inent part, and Mr. Calhoun was
much surprised at many of the /
illustrations presented, showing the
beneficial effects of a protective tar
iff. | remember one day, when ! /
was speaking and was illustrating
how the coal tonnage had increased /
from practically nothing, under a
fIee-trade regime, to 100000 tons
per annum with protection, and then
predicted a greater increase, he
seemed much astonished, and
said
Cameron, are you net mistaken
in the figures? p
/ assured him that | was correct,
and, after concluding my remarks,
demonstrated the fact to his entire
satisfaction. 1t is needless to follow
the tariff agitation of 1916 in detail.
The bill passed the House and came
to the Senate Section was again
arrayed against section in the debate
and before the vote was taken it was
found that the Senate was tie, and
that the Vice-president would have
the casting vote. George NJ. Dallas,
a PENNSYLVANIA, could defeat or
pass the bill. He had the presiden-
tial bee in his bonnet as bad as any
man | ever knew, and, hoping that
he could gain the favor of the South
in aid of his aspirations, he gave the
casting vote against the section of
his nativity, and the tariff bill of
'46 became law. As | anticipated,
it put out the fire in our furnaces,
paralyzed many of our best indus
tries, and finally, brought the credit
of the Government to discount. Ii