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13_A_NQ,TT.'1 1
MEM
HON, 81N,1' CAMERON.
THE SPEECHES.
INCIDENTS OF THE OCCASION,
Several wteks since a number of our leading
oitizens, personal friends of Hon. Simon Cam
eron, desiring to testify their appreciation of his
numerous services and their esteem and regard
for him as a man, citizen and neighbor, hon
ored him with the tender of a public supper,
previous to his leaving the country on the im
portant mission to Russia. Owing, however, to
numerous business engagements, his acceptance
of this kind offer on the part of his friends was
not indicated until the early part of last week,
when the committee having charge of the mat
ter at once commenced making arrangements,
and the banquet came off at the Jones' House,
in this city, on Friday evening, May 2nd.
Tan INVITATION AND ITS ACCRPTANOB.
HARRISBURG, Pa., April 7, 1862.
Hon. SIMoN CAIIRON, Dear Sir : The un
dersigned, } our pi round friends and acquaint
aunts, nut willing that you should leave the
country on your important mission as Minister
Plrniputentiary to Bus-ia, without having re
ceived some manifestation of the high esteem
with which they regard your integrity as a man,
and the entire cosfideuce they have is your
great ability as a statesman, desire that you
indicate some future otrcasiou when it will be
convenient for you to juin your friends in par
taking of a banquet. In thus tendering to
you the honor of such an entertainment, we
feel that we are obeying the expressed desire of
a large portion of your fellow citizens who are
not aware of this tender, but who will gladly
assemble around any hoard at which you may be
the distinguished and honored guest.
You will please indicate the tima most con
venient for you to partake of such a banquet,
111 your early reply to this note.
Your friends,
WILLIAM BUEHLER,
A. J. JUNES,
JNO. A. FISHER,
WM. DOCK,
GEO. BERGNER,
ROBERT A. LAIIBERTON,
E M. POLLOCK,
DAVID M cCOR OCR,
ROBERT L. MUENCH,
F. K. BOAS,
CEiARL ES F. MUENCH,
WM. COLDER.
OEN. CAMERON'S REPLY
LOCRIEL, May 1, 1862
Gziiirrimium:—Your note of the 7th of April,
inviting me to partake of a banquet, as a
manifestation of the high esteem of my friends
and fellow citizens, was duly received, but I
have been unduly delayed in answering, ioviing
to the preparations incident to my departure
for Russia, the etnbarrasment of a prosecu
ution growing out of the arrest of traitors
while I was Secretary of War, and the neces
sity of my absence from home, in attendance
on the President, to receive final instructions
for the government of my embassy. These
having been disposed of, I am now at leisure
to acknowledge your very fluttering note, and
also to accept your very friendly invitation.
It will afford me much pleasure to meet my
friends and fellow citizens to-morrow (Friday)
evening, if that time will meet the prepara
tions of your committee.
With a high regard for the members of the
committee, individually, I am, gentlemen,
Yours, truly,
SIMON CAMERON.
To John A. Fisher, William Duck, William
Buehler, George Berguer, E. M. Pollock,
A. J. JOLICS, Win. Colder, David McCormick,
Robert A. Lumberton, F. K. Boas, Charles
F. Muench, and other members of the com
mittee.
THE COMPANY IN WAITINGF
The citizens interested in the banquet com
menced assemblyiug in the large parlors of the
Jones' House at an early hour on Friday even
ing. As the company arrived, they were usher
ed into these spacious rooms, where they were
introduced to Gen. Cameron. During the inter.
vals of the arrivals and the banquet it must
have been gratifying to the distinguished
guest of this occasion to receive the many
warm expressions of personal regard then offer
ed by those who had known him from boyhood
through years of stern struggle, to the hour
when he had fairly won some of the brightest
honors and hugest confidence of his country
men. Whatever tribute may have been here
tofore offered to Gen. Cameron in circles be
yond this locality, where the compliments of
men are generally controlled by their own hopes
of interest or gain, those which he has ever
secured in the circles of his own home and
among the citizens of this city, have been of a
character which prove that he has a hold on our
people which no outside attacks can affect or
destroy.
TUB BANQUET HALL
While the company, with its distinguished
guest, were thus awaiting the hour for the ban
quet, we availed ourselves of the courtesies and
privileges usually tendered to the reportorial
corps, to visit the banquet hall.' This, of
course, was in the usual dining saloon of the
hotel, which was handsomely decorated and ar
ranged for the occasion, presenting a scene of
the most beautiful description. The char-pied
lien; pendant from the ceiling and brackets pro
jecting from the walls tlooled the large hall with
intense lustre, amid which the silver, china and
glass ware of the tables, flashed with a bril
liancy almost overpowering to the eye. The
tables, of which there were two running the
entire length of the hall, fairly groaned beneath
the weight of choice edibles, prepared in a
manner that spoke volumes for the - good taste
and proficiency of Mr. Willi am Hutchinson,
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VOL XVIII
to whom Col. °overly entrusted this important
part of tho programme.
TITE BANQUET
About 8i o'clock the doors of the banqueting
hall ware thrown open, and the company,
numbering about one hundred and fifty, with
their distinguished guest, proceeded to occupy
seats around the sumptously furnished table.
His Honor, Win. H. KEPNER, Mayor of the
city, occupied the head of the principal table,
flanked on the left by his honor Judge PEAR
SON, and on the right by the distinguished
guest of the evening, Gen. CAMERON. Ameug
the company, we noticed Hon. Thomas E.
Cochran, Auditor General of the State, Wm.
M. Kerr, Esq., Judge Murray, Wm. Colder,
Maj. John Brady, Gen. E. C. Wilson, George
Trullinger, W. 0. Hickok, Dr. Geo. Bailey, Dr.
A. Patterson, J. B. Rutherford, Win. Buehler,
Esq., Thomas C. Nicholson, of the Treasury De
partment, John A. Weir, Esq., Charles F.
Muench, Samuel A. Power, of the Commisary
General's Department, Cyrus J. Reese, David
Fleming, Esq., County Treasurer J. L. Speel,
A. J. Herr, Esq., E. M. Pollock, David Mum
ma, Daniel Shellenbergir, and a number
of other leading men of the city, who vied with
each other in their spoken and silent mahifesta
tinus of regard for the honored guest of the
occasion.
The supper was discussed with a hearty zest,
showing that the company fully appreciated its
merits. The bill of fare embraced all the
choice delicacies of the season, divided off iuto
several courses, intermingled with excellent
wines, and terminating with a desert of incom
parable richness.
THE TOAST OP THE EVENING AND THE SPEECHES
Atter the cloth was removed, his honor May
or Kepner announced the following toast :
%lam CAMERON—A Pennsylvanian who has
never forgotten his native State—an American
who has always been faithful to his country
and his countrymen. His fellow citizens de
light to honor him.
The enthusiastic applause with which this
sentiment was greeted having somewhat sub
sided,
G,neral CAMERON said: Mr. Mayor and Fel
low Citizens: I take it for granted that I 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 fled, leaving only the
remembrance of the associations and friend
ships that I have experienced during the long
years of my residence in this, my home. I
remember that this day forty-five years ago I
came to Harrisburg—a poor, delicate, sickly
boy—withoueany reliance but on the overruling
control of Providence and the reward which I
had been taught to believe would always follow
proper actions. The only countenance of those
around me which I remember to have seen at
that day, was that of my friend who sits beside
me on the right, (Mr. C. F. Muench,) who was
then a boy younger than myself, and whom I
met the day after entering the town. He was
an apprentice in a printing office here, to
which I went to obtain employment, and
which I left with a feeling such as can be
experienced only by those who are wilting to
work, are without money in their purse, and are
destitute of friends upon whom to rely, when
told "we cannot employ you." I can now re
member the name of only one living housekeeper
in the town at that time. I rater to Judge
Hummel. I made the acquaintance of the
honored gentleman at the same time that I be
came the recipient of his generous hospitality.
The first place at which I stopped to rest
my weary limbs after reaching the town, was
beneath the shade of au old willow tree in
front of his house. Hu came out and spoke
kindly to me, inviting me into his home and
we have been friends ever since. Sir, hew, the
world has changed since them I—how has every
thing about me changed! A day or two after
I saw my friend Mueueli I obtained employ
ment. I immediately went to work with such
a heart and will as never fail to win success.
During the daytime 'I worked for my employer
and at night. I cultivated my mind. A few
years of assiduous toil made me the possessor,
of a printing office. When other men slept I
continued to toil, and felt certain that sooner
or later I would feel equal, not alone in this
world's goods but in the scale of merit and ca
pacity with other men around me. Why, sir,
it was no uncommon thing for me to retire at
midnight and rise at lour in the morning to
pursue my daily avocation.
I have lived to see what was then a hamlet
become the third city of the State. In my po
sition as a newspaper journalist I necessarily
came in contact with tee political theories and
important questions of the day and never fail
ed to advocate what I conceived to be a wise
and beneficial State policy in regard to a sys
tem of internal improvements. Since that day
to the present time I may say that I have at
least hid something to do with every work of
improvement connected . with the progress of
this city and State. The first efforts of my pen
were directed in furtherance of the great poli
cy of internal improvements which brought
forth our canal system. 1 next labored for years
to secure the erection of a railroad from
Harrisburg to Lancaster, though laughed
at as a visionary boy who talked about
carrying cars, wagons and freight on rails by
steam. lam reminded here of an expression
made at one of the meetings which we held in
favor of that railroad project—(for at that time
I was in the habit of persuadingmy friends to
go around the country and convene meetings,
by which means I 'might be enabled to talk
to the people ou my favorite theme of the
desirability of railroad communication and its
importance)—one of the auditors 'upon this oc
casion (the meeting being held at Elizabeth
town) was one known as Abraham Harnly, a
very intelligent man, and one of the most active
in that neighborhood. During the course of
my remarks I had happened to say, " I have no
doubt, gentleman, there are many of you pre
sent who will live to see the day when a man
can eat his breakfast at Harrisburg, go to. Phil
adelphla, (one hundred miles,) take his dinner,
rattsatet his business there, and return home to
Harrisburg in time to go to bed, as usual, in
the evening." There was a simultaneous roar
of laughter from the audience, which had hardly
ceased when this old man very confidentially
whispered in my ear, "Simon, lam glad you
told them about going to. Philadelphia and back
again to Harrisburg in one day, because that
will make them take the sham, (shares,) IV you
"INDEPENDENT IN ALL THINGS NEUTRAL IN NONE
HARRISBURG, PA.. MONDAY AFTERNOON, MAY 5, 1862
and I know all about that !" [Laughter.] I leaie
you to judge, gentlemen, whether ms predic
tion was verified. After having proved success
ful in my endeavors in behalf of the railroad
from Harrisburg to Lancaster, I became engaged
in a project to construct a road from here to
Chambersburg ; then again to Baltimore ; then
again to Sunbury, the place of my boyhood, and
also to Reading ; all of which, I am glad to
state, are now prosperous and in most success
ful operation. I mention this gentlemen, not
boastfully, but to show what may be accom
plished by a determined will and a right pur
pose.
In responding to the sentimentof our worthy
Mayor my intention, gentlemen, was simply
to speak to you familiarly as friends and neigh
bors, without referring to my control of the
War Department, over which I had the honor
to preside, but in view of a charge recentlymade
against me because of my exercise of the dele
gated power with which I was entrusted, ft may
be proper for me to say to you a few words in
relation thereto. I took a seat last year in
Mr. Lincoln's Cabinet against my own judg
ment, without consulting my taste for the
position, and, I may say, against my own
determination. I resigned that post, when
I thought my mission was ended in organ
izing, equipping, and 'supplying, under the
most adverse circumstances, a larger army.
than had ever been raised at any period of
human history. When I did accept the place
it was with the perfect understanding between
Mr. Lincoln and myself that whenever I thought
proper to r, sign I should be privileged to do
so; and when a vacancy occurred in the ap
pointment to Russia, he offered me the post,
and I was glad to accept it. Way, gentlemen,
I toiled in that Department as no.. man ever
tolled before; I have told you that in my younger
years I worked for twenty hours out of the
twenty-four for successive months; but that
labor was nothing in comparison with the
overpowering toil which I underwent at
Washington. To say nothing of the extra
ordinary necessities of the Department,
arising from an unforseen and threatening na
Lionel emergency. The doors of my private
dwelling were besieged from daylight to the
latest hours of the night ; the department was
surrounded on all hands, and at all hours.—
Certain members of Congress, who figute iu
the vote of censure, were ever besieging
my doors, and often patiently waiting for hours
to catch a part of the drippings from the War
Department. Meanwhile I managed the deli
cats and trying affairs of my situation as
wisely as I knew how. Of course I committed
some errors ; but I did not commit the wrong
with which I em charged in the resolution of
Congress. I solemnly assert .that neither in
motive nor deed can I be justly chargeable
with the commission of any wrong in the ad
ministration of those affairs , and I am proud
to say here in reviewing my official conduct,
I see no act which I would not repeat under
the same circumstances Upon my, appoint
ment to the position, I found the depart
ment destitute of all the means of defence ;
without guns, and with little prospect ol
purchasing the material of war; found the.
nation without an army, and I found scarctry
a man throughout the whole War Department
in whom I could put my trust. The Adjutant,
General deserted. The quartermaster General
ran off. Tue Commissary General was upon his
death bed. More than half the clerks were dis
loyal. I remember that, upon one
,occasion
General Scott came to me apparently in great
mental tribulation. Said be, "I have spent the
most miserable day of my life ; a friend of my
boyhood has just told me I am disgracing my
self by staying here and serving this ftagnieut
of the government, in place of going to Vir
, girlie and serving under the banner of myna
tive State ; and lam pained to death." But
the old hero was patriotic, loyal and wise
enough to say that his friend was wrong ; and
be was right in remaining where he was.
But to proceed. You all remember, gentle
men, the day of the President's proclamation
calling upon the people of Pennsylvania (be
cause the demand was made upon you here in
common with other States) for troops to defend
the national capital. My-son happeuing to be
in Washington, I sent him thither with the ut
most despatch and asked him to 'appeal to eve
ry man he met in this town and through the
country to send down every soldier who would
come. Within three days after the issuing of
the proclamation tour hundred and eighty
troops from Pennsylvania arrived in Weshing
tou. They were the first to inspire the gov
ernment with hops and courage to contend
with the awlul crisis then impending. They
came there without arms and were turnished
loom the arsenal at that place. Directly
after this within two :or three days
three or four regiments were assembled at
Cockeysville, Maryland, by my order. At the
same time a number of bridges on the Philad
elphia and Baltimore railroad, via Wilming
ton, were burned or destroyed. It was at this
time that the mob in Baltimore, murdered our
unarmed soldiers in her streets on their way to
toe defence of the capital, and the Baltimore
and Ooio iailroad refused to carry our troops
AL that time when the loyalty of nearly all the
inhabitants was doubted, Mr. Seward, the
Secretary of !State, in company with the Secre
tary of the Treasury, called upon me and said
"we must have somebody in New York to assist
the public oiflce,a there in collecting and for
warding troops," asking me to name any in
dividual whom I considered, competent for. that
purpose. I was acquainted with but a few people
in New York, but after a moment's reflection
recollected Mr. Cummings, with whom .1 had au
intimacy when be was a citizen of tots State.
Tee two gentlemen then informed me that they
had appointed Mr. Cisco, of the sub-treasury
General Din, now in the army, Mr. Opdyke,
the present Mayor of the city of New York,
and Mr. Blatchford, a citizen of New York, and
as I have stated, requested me to name some
other gentlemen. I gave the name of Mr.
Cummings and associated with it that of Gov.
Morgan of the State of New. York. To show
bow guarded I was in these appointments, I will
read the order that I gave upon that occasion:
DEPARTMENT OP WAIL, April 23, 1861.
"In consideration of the extraordinary emer
gencies which demand immediate and decisive
measures for the preservation of the national
capital and the defense of the National Gov
ernment, I hereby authorize Edwin D.Norgan,
Governor of the State of New York,. and Alex
ander Cummings, now in the city of New
York; to make all necessary arrangements for
the transportation of troops and munitions of
war in aid and assistance of the alms of the
army of the United States; until communica
tion by mail and telegraph is completely Te l
established between the cities' - of Waslaington
and New York. Either of them; in case 01
inability to consult with the 'other; may exer
cise the authority hereby given.
SI&IO4CAMKRON,
Soore.tary or War.
It"will be seen that not intrust those
gentlemen with the expenditure of any
I was careful to give them no authority to riot
independent of the military officers of the gov
ernment. Sometime afterwards, I received a
telegram signed by Messrs. Morgan and Cum
mings, asking for authority to draw money,
which I referred in the usual manner to the
Treasury Department. That is all I had to do
with the matter, and at the eud of fourteen
days, communication. baying been restored, I
revoked their authority, as will be seen by the
fdlowing note: -
WAR DEPARTMENT, May 7, 1861.
GENTLEMEN:—The extraordinary emergency
which demanded immediate and decisive !mea
sures for the preservation of the national capi
tal, and the defense of the National Govern
ment, rendered it necessary for this Depart
ment to adopt extraordinory means for that
purpose, and halving full confidence in your
intelligence, experience and integrity, you
were authorized to make all necessary arrange.
ments for the transportation of troops, &c., in
aid and assistance of the officers of the army
of the United States, until the re-establishment
of communication, by mails and telegraph,
between the cities of New York and Washing
ton.
Uninterrupted communication between the
two cities being now again established, and it
being desirable that the duties heretofore at
tended to by you should be hereafter perform
ed by the officers of the army, to whom they
properly belong, I beg to tender you the thanks
of this Department for the very prompt and
efficient manner in which you have discharged
the duties assigned you, and to request you to
cease making purchases, procure transports,
or attending to other-duties under authority
given, which could be justified only by the
emergency now happily, no longer existing.
Respectfully, yours,
• SIMON CAMERON.
Gov. E. D. Morgan and Alexander Cummings,
Mgrs., New York city.
Now, gentlemen, in regard to the Congres
sional committee of investigation of which the
country has heard so much, I have reason to
believe that the original intention of its
appointment was to control the War De
partment and place money in the pockets ot
its members. The second or third day after
the announcement of the committee, its chair
man called upon me and desired that I should
authorize him to furnish a certain regiment
with arms, munitions, clothing, etc. I. refusedl
his application, because I thought from my
knowledge of his character that he was un
worthy of a trust. After a further colloquy
with the chairman, I ordered him out of the
War De; artment ; and of course I was attacked
by that committee.
The committee of investigation have made
an additional charge upon me in my official
connection with the government, with having
bought a greater number of guns than were
needed. I did order a large number of arms ;
but I will take this occasion to answer that
charge. It must be borne in mind that I was
supplying an, army of more than 700,000 men,
and that the loss of arms in a single cam
paign has been estimated by military men ; to
reach as high as fifty per cent. In a glance at the
statistics I find that in round numbers I ordered
nearly a million of muskets, almost one hun
dred thousand .carbines and perhaps as many
swords. When I. took possession of the War
Department I found that there were but few
muskets, in the arsenals, no swords of any ac
count, and ; scarcely any munitions of war.—
Within a short time after the proclamation, it
became apparent that there was no difficulty iri
' getting troops, but there was great difficulty
in procuring arms. I found the ordnance de
partment without a head ; the person having
charge there being an old man, who was con
ceded by those in whom I had confidence, in
eluding Gen. Scott, to be incompetent for the
duties of the position. I superceded him, and
put in his place one who was believed to be
fully competent, but who soon proved in
1 the, opinion of my associates to be unequal
to the crisis. I felt, personally, reluctant to
euter into any contract myself, as I bad no
time for such details; and therefore directed
Me. Thomas' A. Scott, my assistant, to act
in conjunction. with Col. Ripley, and that
he should 8::e that every contract was so
guarded that, in case of failure at the end co
thirty days, the contract should be revoked,
leaving to Col. Ripley to determine the qual
ity and price of the arms to be contracted for.
At this time Governors of States, officers with
out arms, cabinet ministers, and members ot
Congress were, constantly making application
for arms, charging the Ordinance Department
with inefficiency, stating that if consent were
given they could be procured, and I therefore
directed Mr: Scutt to act in conjunction with
Colonel Ripley and to contract with every
man who was wilting to make a musket or
fuinish a sword, and from whom the other
necessary munifions of war could be 'obtained,
at the same time instructing him to see that
the chief ot the ordnance department ehould
fix the price and determine the chalacter ot
the arms. The' allegation has been repeat
edly iterated that I made these contracts . with
an eye to personal pre erence. But I have
already proven, gentlemen, that the furthest
limit of even my unofficial action in the
matter was simply to order the making of
such contracts as were necessary, leaving all
that regarded price or quality in the hands of
the ordnance department, and 'to this day, I
scarcely know any of the individuals veith
whom contracts were, made.
The special contract exciting public at
tention was made with a party by the name of
Boker. On the fifth of Sdptember, under cover
trona the President, I received a note, which I
now read:
WASHEiGTON, Sept. 4, 1861.
Hou. Slum Caussorr, Secretary of War:
Sut:—Our resident partner in Europe ad
vises us by last steamer of a lot of upwards of
one hundred thousand stand of arms—rifled,
percussion muskets,--new and in good condi
tion—having been placed in his control by
making advances thereon.
We desire to offer them to your Department,
and should it appear to you of sumcieutimpor•
tance to secure the immediate delivery there
of so large a quantity of good arms, we would
invite your attention thereto.
We offer the arms at a price not exceeding
eighteen dollars each, subject to the inspection
and approval of an armorer whom you shall
select to accompany our authorized agent. It
the article ie not satisfactory, the Government
will Incur no expense, and if approved, yon
will secure an article much needed.
" We also control by advances thereon over
18,000 cavalry sabres, which we offer as above,
at a price not to exceed $7 60 a piece. -
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servants,
(Signed) HERMAN BOKall & CO.,
50 Cliff street, New York.
Also of Liege, Bolinger, Bemscherd, Birming
ham, Bown.,
This WWI at the time when. the Queen's pro
elamation had prohibited, among other things,
the exportation of arms to the United States.
You remember, gentlemen, we sent an agent
(Mr. Schuyler, of New York,) out to Belgium
to procure arms for our government. He suc
ceeded in purchasing one hundred thousand
guns there, but being unable to ship them all
directly, he sent a portion to England, where
(the proclamation to which I have just referred
being soon after issued) he was prevented from
transporting or using the arms in any manner.
In this extremity, the large army of sol
diers in and about Washington, not two hun
dred thousand of them were armed. Upon the
letter I have just read was the endorsement of
the President in his own hand writing in these
words:
" I approve the carrying this through carefully,
cautiously and expeditiously. Avoid conflicts and in
terferance.
"A. LINCOLN."
—the literal meaning of the endorsement was
that the world should not know of our military
deficiency and weakness until the evil had been
remedied and that care and caution were to be
used as heretofore in keeping inviolate the se
cret of our defect. Fully coinciding with his
the President, and in obedience with his order,
I promptly directed this contract to be closed ;
and I assure you gentlemen, without the arms
it produced, we should not have been able to
achieve the late glorious victories in the west.
I may add, in proof of the great anxiety of
all to obtain arms, that but a very few day- be
fore I left the War Department, the Cabinet
agreed to adopt a conditional contract made
by Mr. Schuyler for 100,000 guns in Belgium,
which I successfully opposed on the ground
that we had guns enough contracted for, and
with the encouragement which had been af
forded to our own manufacturers, the supply
would probably be sufficient for our future
wants. By this means $1,800,000 have been
retained in the country to be expendel in those
localities from which our soldiers have volun
teered, and this occurred atter all those con
tracts had been completed, of which so much
complaint is now made.
The investigating committee of Congress have
said that the muskets made at the Sprinfield ar
mory cost only $l2 apiece. Tb it assertion like
many others that have been made in connec
tion with supplies for the army, is not the fact.
Without taking into consideration the expense
of superintendence, the cost of buildings, ma
chinery or capital invested, the mere net cost of
the gun for labor and material when there is no
competition in time of peace, has amounted
to $l2 00. But had those guns purchased on
my order proved to be twice more expensive
than they actually were, then, in view of
the fact that the army was practically use
less without them, I would have done ex
actly as I did with the beef contract, to which
other gentlemen have seen fit to refer. When
we expected large arrivals of soldiers from
Pennsylvania and other States, and there was
nothing to feed them with, the Acting Com
missary General came to me and said, "I can
now buy two thousand beeves if I pay two or
three cents a pound more than they should be
worth."
"Well, I replied," "pay it," (applause)—
"pay a dollar per pound rather than a soldier
should suffer, but be guarded that your contract
ceases when a supply can be had at the custom
ary price"—which was done. He made a con
tract for two thousand beeves, and the whole
world rung with the announcement that the Se
cretary of War had cheated the government in
order to enrich some favorite, and yet the con
tract was made with my. personal enemies. So,
again, I was censured at the time of the battle
of Bull , Linn for not having sufficient cavalry
in the field. Yet I could not speak in my own
defence, for the safety of the government com
pelled me to secrecy. Plenty of horsemen
offered their services ; but I bad no pis
tols, swords or carbines to give them ; and I
did not want the world to know that such was
our condition. My function was to raise an
army of the largest kind in the shortest possi
ble time, and to supply them with whatever
needful material I could first lay hands upon.
As soon as I could obtain pistols, carbines,
swords and holsters, I had cavalry enough.
But then the cry was "he has got too many."
Of course, then again I was cheating the govern
ment, by giving my friends all the horse con
tracts. [Laughter.] Well, Mr. Mayor, the
horses have been in the service and the country
has been saved. Those who then cried "no
more horses," to day can see advertisements
for the purchase of an increased number ; and
to-day I saw also an advertisement asking for
proposals to furnish more muskets.
Had the material resources of the government
been, in any manner, commensurate with the
emergency, the war would have been termi
nated 'ere this. So far as concerns myself, I
would rather have had a million of guns too
many rather than that a single soldier in any of
our battles should have been sacrificed for the
want of a weapon. I suppose that had I been
the willing tool of every man who wanted
to rob the government, and if in place
of attending to my duties, I bad been content
to receive men at my house and treat them to
the hospitalities of my social and political posi
tion, or allowed them to control me in the
discharge of my duties, those men who now at
tempt to slander me would now be most profuse
in compliment and profession. More than this,
had I remained in tne War Department until
this vote came off, I should doubtless have re
ceived the compliment paid to my late and es
teemed colleague, Mr. Welles. [Laughter.] He
was charged with having improperly employed a
man to purchase ships ; yet the House of Rep.
resentatives voted down a resolution to censure
him by about the same vote that they cen
sured me for having secured the services of an
employee. Mr. Welles obtained the assistance
referred to long after the excitement and con
fusion attending the commencement of the
rebellion had ceased. I did so at a time when
the country was almost totally bereft of a
government, and when we did,not know whom
to trust.
Now, gentlemen, I could narrate to you in
this way many incidents of of f icial connection
with the War Department. Were it necessary
I would give you some particulars connected
with the history of this man Dawes, who appears
to be most active in the persecution against
me. I understand he is a little prosecuting
attorney living some where in Massachusetts.
I am well aware of the real cause of his enmity,
and I will briefly state it. Some people of
Illassachusetts, especially about the good city
of Boston, own nearly all the stock in the Wil
mington and Baltimore railroad. Notwith
standing that road has accumulated more money
on account of this war, by the transportation of
troops and war material for the government,
than it ever did before in double the length of
time ; (which fact was chiefly owing to the con
fidence I entertained in its President,) yet the
management of the road were displeased be
cause a.certain portion of the troops were order
ed to Washingtma via Harrisburg and Baltimore.
When the bridges on the Wilmington and Bal
timore road were burned, It became absolutely
ttart Erin* it .1 , , s.
liavlng procured Steam Power Presses, we are prover
d to execute JOB add BoOlt PRINTING of every descrfp
ion, cheaper than it can be done at any other eetablish
.
meat in the country.
RATES OF ADVERTISING,
sir Pour limes or less constitute one•half square. Elgin
Ices or more than fedr oenetitute a nears.
Half Square, one day
one week
/I one mouth ,,, three menthe
Ella months ........
oue year
One;Aquare, one day
....
one week ..... .... ..............00
one month, ............ ........ 6 00
" three months • • ......... 10 00
six months 16 00
a one year
sir filminess notices inserted in the Lno! . &unto. or
before Narrigei and Deaths, EIGHT CENTS PEE LtN
for each Insertion. _
NO. 3.
,may- Marriges and Deaths to be charged as rcgalar ad
vertisements
necessary to construct a new line of travel to
Washington. By my direction, the Presi
dent of the Pennsylvania railroad, Mr. Thomp
son, in connection with the Wilmington
road, made arrangements to run a line of
boats from Perryville to Annapolis, and suc
ceeded in getting the projectinto successful ope
ration. This new route was used until the Bal
timore and Ohio road was taken possession of by
me for the government, and until the bridges
of the Wilmington road were rebuilt. In the
meantime, an arrangement was made by the
Harrisburg, Reading and New Jersey roads, in
reduce the fare from six to four dollars from New
York to Baltimore, per soldier. But my actioa
in this matter took money out of the purses of
gentlemen in Boston, and Mr. Dawes, who ap
peared to represent the interests affected, be
came my enemy. This is the only reason for
his opposition of which lam aware. Ido not
know him further than that he was frequently
hanging about the War Department in common
with otner applicants for special favors. Efav
ing my whole time occupied in preparing an
army out of raw and undisciplined soldiers, ,of
course I may have run counter to the Cesires of
such gentlemen, and consequently, they now
return the disfavor.
This theme is by no means a pleasant one for
me; but after the recent wrong which has been
done me I felt that when talking to my old
friends and neighbors I would do myself the
simple justice to speak plainly. It would be
needless for me to attempt to convince yon of
my honesty of purpose and intention in every
official act of my life. I am known to on
personally, and I feel willing to abide by, and
will fully appreciate your decision upon my
character as your fellow citizen. [Great ap
plause,]
I leave you with great reluctance. It has
been the dream of my life to go abroad in some
position that would enable me to catcli a
proper glimpse of the beauty and grandeur of
the old world; and as the time draws near
when I shall bid you a parting adieu, I approach
it with pain caused by the sepbration from old
and dear friends.
Perhaps I have said enough—it may
be too much. I desire to state to you,
however, that my relations with the President
have always been those of the highest respect
for that distinguished gentleman. I entertain
as gredt a respect for him as for any one with
whom I have ever been associated. He is an
honest, high-minded gentleman, as well as a
faithful public officer. (Applause.)
. .
This rebellion will be ended after a while, and
with it we will end the cause of this and all fu
ture internal strife, as I hope. (Great applause.)
I have never been un abolitionist. lam not one
now. But if I had the power, I would call into
the field every man able to shoulder a musket,
whether he be white or black, that this war
may be brought to a speedy and certain close.
And I believe we will come to that. Ido not
believe that, after a while, when the :hot
Southern climate is killing our soldiers who
are fighting for the government, our people
will be content to see their eons and brothers
die, when men acclimated to the South are able
to defend the country, and of their own
strength and will, to drive all the rebels Ant of
tha land. [Applause.] There cannot be a
doubt about how this slavery question is to be
settled in the end. But, so far as lam con
cerned, I am willing to leave its disposal to the
Great Ruler above. I would not punish the
deluded rank and file after they have laid
down their arms ; I would not harm one
hair on the head of a single individual who
was enticed or seduced upon misrepresentation
to join the rebel army ; but had I the leaders,
I would do with them as I saidl would do with
the Mayor of Baltimore when he asked the
President to send back the national troops
from Cockeysville, and not allow them; to
pass through Baltimore. I said "let me
alone,
and I will hang him and his whole. pone
upon the trees around the War Department.
‘d I been allowed to do so, our troops
would never have been impeded.in their march
through that city, and by such a course the
rebellion would now have been crushed. Such
are my opinions on that question, which, per
haps, I sometimes express unwisely for my own
good; and this is another reason for the
passage of the resolution to which I alluded.
Every border Stito Representative who thinks
his brother or son or kindred into° rebel ranks
does ..ot deserve hanging for his treason, voted
in favor of that resolution.
[After a short pause Gen. Cameron concluded
as follows:]
Gentlemen, this is a contest in which we all
have a direct interest. Pennaylvania has a
moral power which no other State in this Union
possesses ; and therefore every citizen of Penn
sylvania can do a great deal towards bringing
this war to an end. I have no right to give
advice, but I shall be glad, in leaving the coun
try, to believe there is to be no party here but
the party of the country —tbe party for the war
and in favor of supporting the Administration
in couductiug the war ; because whether men
were opposed to Mr. Lincoln or otherwise, by hie
administration alcne is the war to be conducted.
If Pennsylvania will stand by his wise and pa
triotic measures, she can aid the President and
control the result. I remember that in the
war of 1812 every man who opposed the war
was considered an enemy of his country. I
trust that the same beneficial rule will beep
plied in the present case. [Applause.] If we
tatter in patriotic devotion, - the people of the
south will be encouraged to persevere in their
rebetlious and infamous design • for the war
can only be ended by a determined and united
policy here in the north. Why, it was only
the other day that a letter was seen from the
wife of the traitor Davis, stating that "Jeff.
was cruelly deceived in Pennsylvania and New
York, where he expected the support of half
the people, because he was led to believe that
more than one half of the people in both of
those States were going to join nim." That is
the current delusion in the South ; and so
long as we give them aid and comfort byalivi
sions among ourselves, just so long will they
be encouraged to fight the government. L e t
a po nd liti th ea a l t air be :
looking solely taint
attack eachiroga e o lo s l v b o e jw f r e ,
i e o l a e o lo s l v h o e j w f r e ,
d tt w h :
y e g
s oo c n a g te n o h
n r h r e o a eu k b ag y r e ht : u t a
n p h s d t h w a e g a
a o r
El d ;
other with all the spirit of Whig and - Demo
cretin fury. In the first place, let us Adak th e
war. LLong continued applause.] Short as the
interval is before my departure, I confidently
expect to be able to carry with, me the news of
further vital successes, which will prOve to` the
powers of Europe that the Union is safe, and
that the complete redemption of the nation is
drawing nigh.
In answer to repeated calls, Robert A. Lam
barb:a, Esq., addressed the audience as follows:
Mr.MATOIL It gives me pleasure to respond
to such a call upon such an occasion. If a
sixteen years unbroken friendship with ourdis
tinguished guest enables me to know anything
of his mind and heart, this I surely know,
that wherever he may go, this evening Will be
.80 01
. 1 25
. 250
.400
. 600
.10 00