Year: 1862

A number of friends of Ex-Seeretary
Cameron extended to him an invertation to
accept the hospitalities of public dinner
at Harrisburg previous to his departure for
Europe on which occasion he made the
following speech, in response to a toast Of
fered by Mayor Kepner which was as fol-
/ lows:-


Hon. SIMON CAMERoN-A Pennsylvania
an who has never forgotten bis native State
an American who has always been faith
| ful to his coun.rymen. His fellow citizers
delight TO honor him.


When the apI lause to tie toast had sub
sided Mr. Cameron said -


Nr. Nayor and FcIoy Cifizens: Itake
it for granted that am expected to say
something in return for the compliment
you have been so kind as to confer upon
me, yet I cannot speak to you my fellow
citizens in any cold OR formal language
Since I have come into this room all the
thoughts of business and of duty which
crowded upon my mind during the day
have fed, leaving only the remem berance
of the associations and friendships that l
have experienced during the long years Of
my residence in this. nay home. remem-
Der that this day forty-fve years ago,
came to Harrisburg-a poor delicate sick
ly boy,-without any reliance but on the
overrulliug control Of rovidence, and the
reward which had been taught to believe
would always follow proper actions. The
only countenance of those around me which
| remember to have seen at that day, was
that of my friend who sits beside me on
my right, (NIr. G. F. Muepch, who was
then a boy younger than myself and whom
l met the day after entering the town.
He was an apprentice in a printing Office
here, to which went to obtain employ
ment, and which | left with feeling such
as can be experienced only by those who
are willing to work, are without money in
their purse, and are destitute of friends
upon whom to rely, when told g we can
not employ you. l can now remember
the name of only ono living housokoopor
in the town at that time | refer to Judge
Hummel. made the acquaintance Of the
honored gentleman at the same time

l be came the recipient
of his generous hospitality. The first
place at which ] stepped to rest my weary
limbs after reaching the town. wss beneath
the shade of an old willow tree in front of
his house. He came out and spoke kindly
to me inviting me into his home and we
have been friends ever since Sir. how the
world has changed since then how has
everything about me changed A day or
two after saw my friend Mueneh | obtain
ed employment. | Immediately went to
work with such heart and will as never
fail to win success. During the daytime
| worked for my employer and at night l
cultivated my mind. A few years Of as
siduous toll made me the posseSsor of
printing ofice. When other men slept |
continued to toll and felt certain that soon
er or later would feel equal, not alene in
this worlds goods but in the state OF merit
and capacity with other men around NE.
Why, sir, it was no uncommon thing
for me to retire at midnight and rise at
four clock in the morning to pursue my
daily avocation.


have lived to see what was then q
hamlet become the third city of the State.
In my position as a newspaper Journalist l
necessarily came in contact with the politi
cal theories and important questions of The
day aud never failed to advocate what