The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-07-05

of the Democratic caucus and was
man singularly fitted by character and
ability TO adorn a seat in the United
States Senate. Cameron's combination
was, however, strong enough to accom-
plish bis own election, in spite of the
refusal of four Wings and two Native
Americans to vote for him. The con.
test was bitter one, and the hostili.
ties it eugendered were never entirely
allayed while the principals lived.
Simon Cameron entered the Senate
as Democrat who had deliberately
betrayed his own party aud defeated
one of its best men, and President
Polk at first ignored him entirely in
the distribution of Federal patronage
in Pennsylvania; but Cameron soon es-
tablished himself on a footing of such
strong intimacy aud friendship with
the leading Senators that he was
enabled 10 defeat the confrma-
ton of nominations obnoxious to him
self. President Polk recognized the
merits Of George w. Woodward and
sent in his nams to the Senate for one
o. the Justices of the United States
Supreme Court, but Usmeron's combi-
nation was so strong, and his appeals
to his associates to recognize 1.-The cour-
tesy Of the Senate" so persistent, that
he was enabled to defeat Woodward =
confirmation in Democratic Senate.
Appointments for Postmaster and Col
lector in Philadelphia, were also defeat.
ed by the same means, until at last
President Polk was forced to recede
from his position and to recognize aud
consult Senator Cameron in the distri
button of Federal patronage in Penn
sylvania.
In the campaign of 1856 Simon Cam
eron acted with the Free Soilers and
headed the Fremont electoral ticket in
Pennsylvania. The Democrats carried
the Legislature by majority of three
and Senator was to be elected to sue
ceed Richard Brodhead. John w.
Forney was the Democratic nominee,
and there Seemed to be no doubt of his
election. The Free Soilers, however,
were bitterly opposed to Forney per
sonally, accusing him of having fraud
ulently carried the city of Philadelphia
against Fremont, and when Cameron
claimed that he could, if nominated,
beat Forney, his suggestion was eager
ly listened TO-
On the first ballot the Wings and
Free Soil men cast their votes for Cam
eron, as agreed, and three Democrats,
Lebo, of Schuylkill Maneer, of York,
and Wagonseller, of Schuylkill, also
voted for him, and he was elected.
In 1860 Simon Cameron received the
Endorsement of the Pennsylvania Re
publican Convention for the President
ial nomination and went to the Nation
al Convention at Chicago with dele
cation chosen in his interest. As the
balloting progressed portion Of the
delegation we're anxious to transfer the
vote Of Pennsylvania to Abraham Lin.
coin, but Cameron and his friends de.
manded promise to make him lSecre
tary OF the Treasury as the price OF
their support. They were finally il.
duoed by SWEET and the other Lincoln
managers 10 accept the assurance of q
Cabinet position, without specifying
what department it should be, provided
that the maj j'rity of the Pennsylvania
delegation in Congress should. give
General Cameron their Endorsement.
When it became known, after Lincoln's
election, that his friends had pledged
him to Cameron the most vigorous pro
tests were made by many of the leading
Republicans of the State. The pledge
of SWEET and his other friends had,
however, been so distinct that Lincoln
was finally compelled to yield and he
named General Cameron as his Secre-
tary of War.
Cameron went to 81. Petersburg az
Minister, but returned IN the winter OF
1868, when United States Senator
was to be chosen to succeed David
Wilmot. The Legislature Was Demo
cratic by one majority and Wilmot
would have been unanimously renomi-
mated had not Cameron assured the Re
publicans that he could f nominated,
overcome the Democratic majority ard
defeat Charles r. Buckalew, the Demo
cratic nominee. Party spirit ran high
and the Republicans were finally in.
duced to give Cameron the nomination.
He entered into negotiations with
Thomas Jefferson Boyer, Democratic
Representative from Clearfeld county,
and, according to Boyer's subsequent
testimony before the House, offered
successfully five, ten, fifteen aud final
ly twenty thousand dollars for the
vote which was necessary to his election.
Boyer agreed to vote for Cameron, but
when the joint convention assembled
the galleries an1 lobbies of the House
Were filled with Democratic partissns
fully resolved to prevent or signally
punish any such treason as had been
shown in 1S45 by Lebo, Manner and
Wagonseller. On the rol-call Boyer
voted for Buckalev and Cameron was
defeated. 1t is but fair to say that
b yer always maintained that il was
never his intention t) vote for Cameron
liz Aaid he knew that Cameron was
looking for purchasable Democrat
and that he entered into and prolonged
the negotiations for the purpose of pre-
venting Cameron from inding a man
who would actually take the money
and carry out the nefarious scheme.
THIS view of Boyor's conduct was ac.
cepted by his Clea field constituents,
for they subsequently indorsed his
action by cIecting him to the State
s nqto.
As the result of Boyer's testimony
before The House, a resolution was
passed requesting the Governor to cause
criminal proceedings to be Instituted
By the Attorney General against Sim IN
Cameron, William Brobst, Henry
Thomas and John J. Patterson, Of |
whom the last three had been go-be-
weens in the negotiations. The case,
however, was not prosecuted.
In 1866 the Legislature of Pennsyl.
,anla become republican, and General |
cameron was chosen as United States
senator, which position lie held until
$40 when il was transferred to his
on