National Republican., 1886-10-09
GEN. CAMERON AND MIR. CuILDs
Some Facts Connected with the Pur-
chase of the "Ledger."


philadelphia Sunday Republic
Gen. Simon Cameron tells the following
story concerning the sale OF the Lcdge, to
Mr.. Childs by Mr.. Swain, the incidents In
which are correctly stated: "When | was in
Washington, during the war; Mr.. George
w. Childs, Of Philadelphia, called on me
one day and asked me whether had any
objection to his purchasing the Philadelphia
Ledger. l said that | had none in the
world, and then asked him why he caue to
me with such question. He said that Mr.
Swain, then the owner OF the Lcdgcr, had
made my consent an absolute condition Of
the sale OF the Ledger, which Mr.. Childs
was then trying To negotiate. said that
did not understand that at all; that had
had no interest at any time IN the Ledgcr,
or, so far as knew, in any other enterprise
OF Mr.. Swain. In fact, | hardly
knew Mr.. Swain, except by reputation.
However, | repeated, | had aud could
have no objection whatever to Mr.. Swain's
| doing anything that he pleased with his own
property. offered to put this statement In
writing, seeing that Childs was not quite
satisfied. No, he said, Mr.. Swain wanted
the assurance from my own lips, and he
would like to know whether ! would soon
bein Philadelphia. 1t happened at was
to be IN Philadelphia shortly, and said so.
With that Mr.. Childs departed. When |
went to Philadelphia Mr.. Swain called on
me and asked me whether had any objee-
tion to his selling the Lciger To Mr.. Chids.
None in the world said to him as | ha :
to Mr.. Childs himself but why do you ask
my consent?'
"'Do you remember said he, finding
communication on your desk one morning
when you were Secretary of War from Sec
retary Seward directing the suppression of
| the Baltimore Sun for alleged reasonable
utterancesY Yes said, but how did you
know about thatp 1t was confidential )
Never mind he said. Il did know about
1t, and did know that II was never exc
| cuted because you laid the matter before
President Lincoln, and brought him to the
conclusion to which you had yourself come,
that 1t was unjust. Well. was part owner
In the Baltimore Sun II you had suppressed
the Sun just at that time 1t would have
ruined me. made up my mind then that
| no one should ever get hold Of the LGdger
who would be likely to use 1t TO iniure you
And that is why wanted to know whether
you had any objection TO Mr.. Childs, be-
cause II you have, he can't have the Ledger.'
told him that had no objection IN the
world to Mr.. Childs, and shortly afterward
the sale was consummated. remember, as
though 1t had been yesterday, the morning
when | found on my desk at the War De-
partment the letter from Seward directing
the suppression of the Baltimore Sun for
publishing editorials alleged TO be seditlous
In tone sat down and actually wrote an
order TO the general in command at Balti.
more, directing him TO carry out the order
OF the Secretary OF State. Then | stopped
to think. remembered that had once
owned a newspaper, little one, to be sure,
but still II was all had, and said to my
self: what would have become of you II
your newspaper had been suppressed upon
tne aIpllrsTy order OF some Caoihet olhcer'
based on his own construction OF your edi-
torlal utterancesY AS sat thinking tore
up the order had written. Then went
over to the white house, and, showing Sew
ards letter to the President, told him
that thought the course 1t suggested
! would be arbitrary and unjust. PAY no
attention to It, he said, aud | went back to
the War Department and plgeon-holed 1t
In my own deskn