The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-08-13
WADE, CHANDLER, CAMERON.
The Compact They Made Thirty Odd
Years Ago.

New York Letter to Cincinnati EnQnirer.1
Two nights ago strolled casually into the
Grand Union Hotel at ADD street and Fourth
avenue, facing the bnsy centre and crowds
attracted there by the union depots of the
New York Central and New Haven rail-
roads. As was we'll In the lobby / heard
my name spoken, and turned to greet Col.
Samuel B. Barr. who, for quarter of GEN.
fury, had been Senator Simon Cameron's
private secretary. A man grizzled with
years, who finds now his physical condition
such as requires his living in the tropics In
winter and in the cold climate of Maine in
the summer. Col. Barr was on his way to
his summer abode at Seal Harbor, Me. "St
down." he said, land l can now tell you
something important and startling In histo-
ry which have long known. but which up
to the hour OF Simon Cameron's death was
as sealed book" Tbereupon Col. Barr
proceeded to the disclosure.
Said he: "In the year 1S5S-days which
were trying and full of passion-Senator
Cameron was member of the United States
Senate. The events which led up to and cul-
minated in the great civil war were then the
subjects of debate in the senatorial arena.
Seward. by consent. was known as the leader
1.-THE portentous situation, the threatened
danger Of the South, and the extension Of
slavery had the effect Of arousing to the
quick the passions CT the southern senator's !;
indeed, so much so that there was tact I'M
Outstanding among them, II not precon-
certed agreement, to suppress, through bull
lying and otherwise, the contingent from the
northern states. Sumner had already been
stricken down by Brooks, and the expecta-
ti0n hourly was of personal trouble.
ts(lDQ 1qy in lima I think xuo ri
delivered an elaborate speech on the Kansas
or some other bill equally important. 1t
occupied some hours. The southern senators
listened to 1t with anger and contempt.
Upon Its conclusion Bob Toombs was put
forward to answer it, and in method
peculiar to his own he did answer it. At or
near the close of the speech he advanced
with threatening gesture to Stewards seat,
and in heated peroration pounded upon it
with ponderous blows, aiming at the New
York senator taunts and shafts which ere
ated intense excitement. To the amazement
of many Mr.. Seward, instead of resenting
the insult heaped npon him.. endeavared to
turn l. into pleasure by Offering Mr.. Toombs
haughtily refused. Toombs then retired to
the circular space in the rear of the seats,
placed his thumbs In the arm-holes Of his
vest and .gazed upon the galleries, counting
the usual applause; While in this position
Simon Cameron, advancing to where he was,
slipped his arm into that of Tombs, and
said: How is it, senator, that you did not
make speech, such as you have just aimed
at Seward, at myself
"'By God,' was the quick response of
Toonibs, Cameron. believe you would
fight
1"Disgusted with the situation Cameron
disengaged his arm, and going to the desks
respectively Of Ben Wade and lack Chan
der requested them to meet with him at his
room, near the capitol building, that same
avg xuo xx,ho az
Cameron advanced the idea that the bully
ing of the southern members must be met
ana checked. All agreed likewise that while
Seward was the ostensible leader Of the
party. he was wofully. lacking in physical
courage. These three determined men then
entered into compact solemn and binding.
IL was that while neither should go out of
his way to provoke quarrel, that each
would resent an insult with a challenge.
Each likewise, appreciated that while the
sending OF challenge was abhorrent to the
northern mind and that the passing of it
might injure, II not absolutely ruin them at
home. it was the only alternative left.
Further, it was agreed that If challenge be-
came necessary there was to be no waste, of
words. 1t was to mean the Bladensburg du-
cling ground, in the environment Of the
Capital City, and the lapse of not over twen-
ty-four hours before the encounter. And
then, TO dramatically further cement bond
between them, they likewise solemnly agreed
were to draw lots, and 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
a challenge. and either fall himself or avenge
the death Of the other two. They separated
about midnight full of determination.
And now" said Mr.. Barr, "the record of
the remarkable agreement is in existence. /
have given you the details with the hope that
Senator Don Cameron or Senator Eugene
q IA in loxx nf olr Gha Io&I
of whom are joint custodians, may give it
publicity. The events leading to it are of
Interest. and supplement- the recital.
I'm the year 1873, just about fifteen years
subsequent to the time Of the compact, Sena-
tor Simon Cameron was again member of
the United States Senate. He was chair
man of the committee on agriculture and
was his private secretary. MIR. Cameron's
c0mmlttee-room was in the nature of an
open house with the latch string always
room there entered it together Ben Wade,
lack Chandler, and Senator Frelinghuysen
of New Jersey, afterwards President Ar
thurs Secretary of State. The converse
ton, from commonplace one, drifted to
scenes OF fifteen years ago, In which the
senators had been conspicuous actors. FIRE.
linghuysen and myself listened with acute
interest to the recital which nave already
given you. At its close said: 1T strikes
me tina: you should do something to perpetu-
dtc eucl surfing event IN history. IL VIII
certainly be heritage to your children, and
record Of which they will proud There
was disinclinaton on the part of every one
OF them to further discuss the subject,
whereupon said: Gentlemen. l have been
profoundly Impressed. think can put in
writing the record of the event."
well, said Cameron, you may do so,
and we will see about it later on
"Thereupon," said Mr.. Barr, 81 prepared
statement embracing every detail OF the
famous agreement. OF this l made three
copies. In few days thereafter l called
those who were parties to 1t into the COM
mittee room and read 1t to them. Each
agreed that it was strictly accurate nara
ton. l then asked the three senators to
sign the three copies. After an interchange
OF some conversation each did sign the three
copies with this understanding: To each
was TO be given copy, to be placed with his
private papers, no one of which was to be
made public until after the death of the last
survivor.
"A copy was then given each senator.
The protracted life of Senator Simon Came
ron, the others having long since died. has
up to the hour OF Cameron's death kept this
event Of history secret. / do not know
what Senator Don Cameron will do in the
matter. The copy retained by Ben Wade
ought to be with his executors. The copy
kept by Chandler, his son-in-law, Senator
Eugene Hale, has, because have had con-
versation with him in. relation to it, and he
has told me has not only read it, but has it.
There is now no prohibition against its be-
ing made public since all the parties to the
IL.