The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-07-03
SIMON CAMERON DEAD.
HEeREAT LEADER oFTEE REPUB-
LICAN hosts IN PENNSYLVANIA
Yields to Paralysis and the Weight Of
His Ninety Years Sketch Of His Re-
markable Career-A Self-Made Man.

LANCASTER, Pa, June 26.-General
Simon Cameron died at s o'clock this
evening, of paralysis, with which he
was stricken on the night of the Goth
instant. He was 80 years old on the Sth
of last March, and on the 9th of last
May was attacked by hemorrhage,
which many of his friends though at
the time presaged very serious conse-
quences, though the General himself
spoke very lightly of his illness, saying
that it was of no consequence.
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.
Simon Cameron was born in Lancaster
County, Pa, March s, 1899. He was left
an orphan at an early age, but received
a fair English education, and began to
learn the printers trade when years of
age. He worked as a journeyman in
Lancaster, Harrisburg and Washington,
and so improved his opportunities that
in 1920 he was editing newspaper in
Doylestown, Pa, and in 1922 one in
Harrisburg. As soon as he had accumu-
lated sufficient capital he became in
terested in banking and in railroad
construction IN the central part Of the
State. He was for time Adjutant Gen
eral of Pennsylvania. He was elected to
the United States Senate in 1S45 for
the term ending in 1S49, and during
this period acted with the Democrats on
important party questions, such as the
Missouri compromise bill. This was re-
pealed in 1854, and Mr.. Cameron be-
came identified with the peoples
party" subsequently merged with the
Republicans. AS It's candidate he was
reelected to the Senate for the full term
of six years, beginning in 1859, period
that covered the exciting crisis of Sc
cession. During this time he was so
earnest an advocate of peace that his
loyalty was suspected. At the Re-
publican convention that nominated
Abraham Lincoln he was strongly sup
ported for the Presidency, and
again for the Vice Presidency,
but lack of harmony in the Penn
sylvania delegation prevented his
nomination for the latter office. Mr..
Lincoln at once called him to the Cabinet
as Secretary of War, and he proved
equal to the arduous duties of theeplace-
He advocated more stringent and aS-
gressive war measures than Mr.. Lincoln
was prepared to carry out, and when
General Butler asked for instructions
regarding fagitive slaves, directed him
to employ them under such organiza-
tons and in such occupations as exigen-
cies may suggest or require" Similar
instructions were given to General Sher-
man and other officers in the field. In
the original draft of his annual report
to Congress in December, 1861,
be boldly advocated arming fugitive
slaves. but this was modified on con-
sultation with the Cabinet. Mr.. Cam
eron resigned the Secretaryship January
II, 1862, and was at once appointed
Minister to Russia His influence un-
doubtedly tended in a large measure to
secure the friendship of that powerful
nation during the civil war. His official
conduct in Investing Alexander Cum
minis with the control of large sums of
public money, and authority to purchase
military supplies without restriction and
without requiring from him any guaran-
tee for the faithful performance of his
duties, while the services of competent
public officers were available, and
on involving the government
in large contracts with persons not
legilimately engaged in the business
pertaining to those contracts, and par
ticularly in the purchase of arms for
future delivery" was censured by the
House of Representatives April 30, 1862,
but Mr.. Linee4a Immediately sent a
message assuming, with tie otter hhee1as he'rsass
of departments, an equal share in the
responsibility He resigned as Minister
to Russia NovemSer s, 1862, and
remained at home until 1866,
when he Was elected United
States Senator and appointed
chairman of the committee On
foreign affairs on the retirement of Mr..
Charles Sumner in 1872. He was sent
to the Senate for the fourth time in 1878,
but resigned in favor Of his sou, the
present Senator james Donald Came
ron. During the years of MS active
public life he was a powerful political
leader, practically debating the policy
of the Republican party in Pennsylvania
and welding a strong influence over its
policy in the nation at large.