The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-08-07
AN ANTE-WAR EPISODE.
THE SOLEMN COMPACT MADE by
THREE SENATOR'S.

Ben Wade, Zach Chandler. and Simon
Cameron Agree to stand ny Each Other
Even Unto Dcaih-In Case One Fell the
Others Were to Take Up the Battle.
New York letter in Cincinnati Enquirerl
The death of Simon Cameron at the
matured age when recently gathered
to his fathers gives to the public for
the first time an extraordinary COM
pact entered into by Benjamin Wade of
Ohio, Zachariah Chandler of Michigan,
and Simon Cameron, of Pennsylvania
"A compact of solemnity wherein each,
even to the death, covenanted the one
to stand by the other-a most remark
able episode of the ante-bellum days.
So much by way of prologue.
Two nights ago L strolled casually
into the Grand Union Hotel at Forty
second street and Fourth avenue, fac
ing the busy center and crowds attract
ed there by the Union depots of the
New York Central and New Haven
Railroads. AS / was we'll In the lobby
/ heard my name spoken, and turned
TO greet Colonel Samuel +. Barr, who
for quarter of a century had been
Simon Cameron's private secretary
a man grizzled with years, who finds
now his physical condition such as re-
quires his living in the tropics in the
winter and in the cold climate of
Maine in the summer. Colonel Barr
was on his way to bis summer abode
at Seal Harbor, Maine. sit down, F"
he said, "and / can tell you something
important and startling in history
which i have long known, but which
up to the hour of Simon Cameron's
death was as sealed book" There
upon Colonel Barr proceeded to the
disclosure.
Said he: an the year 1S5S-days
which were trying and full of passion
Senator Cameron was a member of
the United States Senate. The events
which led up to and eliminated in the
great civil war were then the subjects
of debate in the Senatorial arena. Sew
ard, by consent. was known as the lead
er of the Republican forces.
"The portentous situation, the threat
ened danger to the South and the ex-
tension of slavery had the effect of
arousing to the quick the passions of
the Southern Senators indeed, SO much
so that there was tacit understanding
among them, if not preconcerted
agreement, to suppress, through bully
ing and otherwise, the contingent from
the Northern States Sumner had al
ready been stricken down by Brooks,
and the expectation hourly was of per-
sonal trouble.
"One day in June, / think it was,
Seward delivered an elaborate speech
on the Kansas or some other bill equal
~ important. 1t occupied some hours.
The Southern Senators listened to it
with anger and contempt. Upon its
conclusion Bob Toombs was put for
ward to answer it, and in a method pc
culiarlv his own he did answer it. AT
or near the close of the speech he al
vanced with threatening gestures to
Stewards seat, and in a heated per-
Grafton pounded upon ii with ponder
GUS blows, aiming at the New York
Senator taunts and shafts which Gre
ated intense excitement. To the
amazement of many Mr. Seward, in
stead of resenting the insult heaped
upon him, endeavored TO turn ii into
pleasure by offering Mr.. Toombs his
silver Snuff-boX for Il pinch, which he
haughtily refused. Toombs then re-
tired to the circular space to the rear
of the seats. placed his thumbs in the
arm-holes of his vest and gazed upon
the galleries. counting the usual APP
plause While in this position Simon
Cameron, advancing to where he was,
slipped his arm into that of Poombs,
and said: How is it, Senator, that
you did not make a speech, such as you
have just aimed at Seward at my
selfY
BY God, was the quick response
Of Toombs, Cameron, / believe YOU
would fight.
Disguised with the situation, Cam
eron disengaged his arm, and going to
the desk of ben Wade and Zach Chan
der requested them to meet with him
at his rooms, near the Capitol build.
ing, that same evening 1t was s
o'clock when they met. Cameron ad
vanced the idea that the bullying OF
the Southern members must be met
and checked. All agreed alike that,
while Seward was the ostensible
leader of the party, he was wofully
lacking in physical courage. These
three determined men then entered
into a compact solemn and binding
1t was that, while neither should 60
out of his way to provoke a quarrel,
each would resent an insult with
challenge. Each likewise appreci
ated that while the sending of chal-
lenge was abhorrent TO the Northern
mind and that the passing of it might
injure, if not absolutely ruin, them al
home, it was the only alternative left
Further, it was agreed THAT If chal-
lenge became necessary there was tC
be no waste of words. 1t was to mean
the Bladensburg dueling ground, il
the environment of the Capital City
and the lapse of not over twenty -four
hours before the encounter. And then
to dramatically further cement a bono
between them, they likewise solemnly
agreed that If one fell in a duel the
two remaining were to draw lots anC
upon whom it fell he was to challenge
and fight the adversary who had killed
his friend; and if the second fell the
one remaining was to likewise send 6
challenge, AID either fall himself Of
avenge the death of the other two
They separated about midnight full o
determination