The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-02

It had been agreed between Forney and myself
that should be the spokesman, and he was to
nod assent 10 what should say, and OF course
opened tho BALI said:
"'Mr. Lincoln. as . member Of Congress from
New York, have no claim on you, on account
of sectional differences But gentleman from
Pennsylvania, General Cameron, has told me
that he was euchred ont of the Treasury Depart
ment, and that the War Department is still
open. We are here TO urge you to give General
Cameron the appointment He was at the CHI
cago convention when you we're nominated.
Pennsylvania went the earliest. a. an entire
State, for your nomination and 1t was under the
leadership of Cameron. He is the Republican
leader of the State 1t would not do TO leave the
second State of the Union In wealth and re-
sources out of the Cabinet in fact, it would be
an invidious thing to do, and we have come to
beg or you to give Gen. Simon Cameron this po-
sition.' l shall never forget Lncoln's look at
this time. He was always awkward, but never
more so than on this occasion. He had his back
to the marble msntel Extending his arms back
ward along the mantel. until his ungainly figure
formed sort of Greek cross, he looked over to
Colonel Forney and said, quizzically:
" Colonel Forney, is this the General Cameron
of whom have read in the West, Who by the
aid of Waggenseller and two others stole away
the Democratic representation OF your State in
the United States Senate. after it had been de-
cidsd to give it to ForneyY
THE Colonel replied: I am sorry to say it is
the same But | feel it to be necessary to let
bygones be by-gones. Besides which, the
statute of limitation would be a bar to any OBJ
lection might Offer and l join in by indorsing
all MIR. Haskin has said IL you appoint General
Cameron both my State and myself will be graft
fed
'Mr. Lincoln said:
General Cameron has been pushed for the
Treasury, but could not afford to give it to him
on account of the scandal about his Winnebago
Bank connection. / like Cameron, and admit
that he is the Republican leader of Pennsylvania.
If it is possible will give him place.
I'VE then left Mr.. Lincoln, and next morning
General Cameron informed me that he would 60
into the War Department as the selection of
President Lincoln.
Before this interview with Lincoln, Cameron
had asked me to go to New York to use my infu-
ence with the late James Gordon Bennett. so as
to get the Herald to support him for the Treas
ury Department. which he anxious to get.
Mr.. Bennett lived at Washington Heights, about
two and a half miles from here in direct line.
My interview with him is worth relating. / called
on Mr.. Bennett at about IL o'clock He was just
going to lunch and asked me to join him. l told
him had come at the request OF General Cam
eron to ask him to say kind word in support of
his candidacy. for the Treasury Department.;
that as he, Mr.. Bennett was Scotch and Cam
eron was of Scotch descent. and old friends, the
General hoped he would aid him. Mr.. Bennett
asked: Did Simon tell you to see meg Ireplied
that he did or l should rot be there. I remem-
Der well his reply. It was this:
"'Simon is a good fellow, and will help him
all l can. Forty years ago was poor and With
out money. Cameron was rich and Scotch IN
! his attachments | thought / would try and
borrow $3.50 from him. He cheerfully loaned it
TO me. Subsequently, but long time after
wards paid back the loan But l never forgot
that act of kindness. Although in Scotland the
Clan Cameron, like the Clan McGregor, are re-
pu:ed to be all thieves do not think Cameron
any bigger thief than all the domd thieves up at
Harrisburg Say to him will do all can, but
on account of the Winnebago matter he will
never be appointed to the Treasury. Give MIN
my kind regards and I'll do my best And he
did in his editorials mention this to show the
Scotch friendly affinity and the kindness of heart
of the late James Gordon Bennett"
did Mr.. Bennett ever have any trouble with
Mr.. Lincoln or his Cabinetr.
well, perhaps not directly. But there was
one thing remember we'll On the Friday be-
fore Edwin NJ Stanton became Secretary of
War Malcolm Ives one of the representatives Of
the Herald, called to see me. Ives was bril-
liant writer He had been we'll educated in
Jesuit Catholic institution, and had been a
priest He had fallen from grace and had mar
ried Connecticut woman. So he took up the
profession of writer for the press was just
going into a restaurant in the capital to get my
lunch at the time, and invited Ives to go along.
Stanton came in and / introduced Ives. We
took oysters together and talked about General
Mcclellan Stanton then said he was the ablest
general OF the war. Ives asked if he could be
introduced to Mcclellan, and Stanton said if he
would be at his house-he should be-
After lunch Ives thanked me for the intro
duction. and on the following Monday told
methat he had met Mcclellan. Both the Gen.
| eral and Stanton treated him we'll, and the in
terview would DO Of great value to the Herald
and himself. Between that Friday and Monday,
| by the Vaccinations of Salmon P. Chase. Cam
| eron was invited to get out of the War Depart
ment and take mission to Russia. Through
Chase the name of E. NJ Stanton was sent to
| the United States Senate as Secretary of War,
| and he was confirmed. The loose way the con-
| tracts had been made In the War Department,
| under Cameron, was the pretext used by Chase
| for the change. l do not believe that Cameron
was corrupt. but perhaps he did too much for
| his friends. But to return to Ives. Taking ad
| vantage of my introduction to Stanton, he went
| to the War Department and asked to see him.
Watson. who was afterward president OF the
| Erie railway. was Assistant Secretary of War.
| and told Ives the Secretary could not be
seen. But i must see him. said Ives.
1 am from the Herald and it is important
should see him.. Watson replied he did not
care where or who he was from, and he would
stand none of his impertinerce. He called an
orderly and took Ives into custody, and he was
| sent to Fort McHenry, whore he was kept for
| six months The Herald did not dare to take
Bennett was afraid of Stewards little bell, and of
| Stanton in the War Department After many
fruitless efforts made by others during those six
months, was induced to write a strong letter
| TO CtantOn, alluuiuS 70 tny iutrouucdoa ol Ives
| to him. Through the intervention of Edward
Pierrepont and myself Ives was released, and
understand he is now in Bavaria with the Jesuits
at Innsbruck After his release, poor in pocket
and impoverished in body. he came to ST. Johns
Jesuit College here in Fordham, and in order to
enable him to recuperate quarters were
given to him free of charge One Saturday,
when happened to be at home, Ives popped In
upon me here He was the brother of Ilieuten-
ant Ives. who wrote the expedition of the Colo
RADIO. With his usual elegant address, he said
to me, Are you going to treatP l went to box
of wine which had bought from the effects OF
Col John L. Smith. chief engineer in the Next
can war, who built Fort Schuyler. and pulled out
bottle. Hooked at the label and found on it
the words: Fine old Sirchal Madeira; a pres
ent from Stephen Price. 1876 10 Colonel
Smiths handwriting / tried to pull the cork,
but it crumbled The wine was muddy. By the
aid of four linen towels strained the wine, and
j IL aE