Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 August 1889 — HE WAS A REMARKABLE MAN. [ARTICLE]

HE WAS A REMARKABLE MAN.

Notable Work Accomplished by Mr, Cameron During His Lone Career. Simon Cameron was bj far the meat ( interesting and picturesque link be* twoen the past and present of Ameritan politics. Age brought neither decrepitude of tody nor of mind to him, nor did it shill the warmth of kindheartedness hat made him a marked character unong public men during the many fears of his political career. The world and Simon Cameron were always triends. He had his contests and his itruggles in public life like any other es the statesmen who&e names hare run through the country’s history, especially for the last half century, but the quiet and happiness of his declining years were embittered by no enmities that time has not mellowed and fears mollified. He was left an orphan at an early age and he began life amid surroundings that gave no promise of future fortune. He lived to be the possessor #f great wealth, for his property is laid to figure up more than $4,000,000, and he retained, even unto the latest »f his days, a love for the good things of life and its sunshine that made the blessings enjoyable with which his well-merited wealth supplied him. He was a printer’s apprentice at 9 fears of age and he labored along as most boys do even to this day, who have cast their lot in the office of a •truggling, poverty-stricken country weekly. He saved some money and at 21 he was editor of a little paper In Doylestown, Pa., and a couple of years afterward moved to Harrisburg in a like capacity, where the field was wider and the chances for becoming known and recognized among the leaders of political thought in Pennsylvania were much greater than they ire there to-day. Harrisburg was the center of politisal thought and activity for the great state. The combinations of interests that were to control the commonwealth *nd stretch out their influences over tlie country at large were in those days largely formed in that city, and the young editor soon became recognized as a growing power among the new men in politics. The first session of congress which Oameron ever witnessed dealt with tariff. In those days Calhoun was a protectionist and young Cameron be:ame his warm admirer and_ jwrote iome to his Pennsylvania friends urgig them to favor the southern statesman. Shortly after this he returned to Harrisburg and bought the paper on which he had set his first type. Out of the democratic opposition to {he demand for “protection” was born % new party—the national republic. At the head of this were Adams and Clay. In 1824 young Cameron zealously advocated the nomination of Calhoun, but oonsented, of cfwirse, to support Gen. Jackson when he became the nominee. During the exciting events of this memorable contest Camsron became state printer and took an Active part in thq opposition to’ 0 the joalition of Adams and Clay. Being a public contractor he came frequently In contact with Clay while the other was secretary of state. Calhoun was still his favorite statesman, however, And the latter’s scheme of publio improvement by the general government #as warmly advocated by the young man. At length Calhouh abandoned his position, not only on this point but on the tariff also. Cameron saw the bitter tariff fight of 1828, when the democrats, uniting with Jackson, wiped out the national republicans and Mr. Adams in revenge for the “odious bargain” between the latter and Clay. In the following year Cameron was made adjutant-general of the state as a recognition of his promptness and success in quelling a mob near Harrisburg, and this brought him into closer relations with publio men and public life. What he saw of polities during those troublous times determined him to quit public life and he took a contract to build the Lake Ponchartrain canal. His men went by sea, but he took his tools by steamer from Pittsburg. Before the job was half done he returned to Washington at the request of JackBon’s secretary of war, Gen. Eaton.

Jackson had said that he didn’t want a second term, but he had changed his mind. He wanted the help of the best men he could find and thought it best to keep Cameron near at hand. Jackson got over the difficulty of having refused a second term by the adroitaess of his lieutenants, who had the state legislatures request him to run again. The scheme succeeded and an overwhelming publio enthusiasm for Old Hickory was created. Jackson objected to having Calhoun renominated with him as vice-presi-dent. Hitherto the nominee for president had nominated his assistant, but for the first time the matter was taken In charge by a convention, jn all of this work Cameron was a prominent figure. In 1882 Mr. Cameron headed the Pennsylvania delegation to Baltimore at the first national convention ever held in this country. It marked a great departure In the methods of political parties and nominated Van Buren. That same year the contest upon tariff questions was renewed with great bitterness. The question of state sovereignty became a dangerous one and received its serious rebukes After the danger of civil war had been averted for a time by Clay’s compromise and affairs assumed a quiet aspect Mr. Cameron left Washington and went into the banking business at Middletown. But it was impossible lor a main with alert political Instincts to be long quiet in such times. 1 The birth of the whig party in 1838 caused an excitement that every man felt the influence of. It was far the strongest opponent that the democracy had ever had. But being a party made lor men rather than ideas—a party which interested itself more in negations than in creations—it needed but a little time to die. To be sore it elected Harrison in 1840, but the nomination of Tyler, who dealt treacherously by it, killed it The effects of Clay's compromise

bill began to be felt and the hot and curious campaigns forced the false attitude of the southern states into prominence and revealed the unfortunate financial condition of tbe country. In tiie midst of it all the whig party disclaimed its natural leader, Clay, but even this measure would not save it, and indeed hastened its death. In 1842 another acrimonious discussion of tariff difficulties took place and a strong revenue MIL highly proteetive in its nature, was passed. The whig party tried to rally again and once more made Clay their idol, but the contest of 1844 with Polk for the democracy was an unequal one. Cameron came out at his best in th : s campaign. He foueht Polk and Daliasin_ every way possible, ridiculed their pretended attitude on the tariff question, and tried to push Buchanan. When Polk was elected Buchanan was chosen secretary of state. Although Cameron had helped Buchanan iifto the senate their friendship ended at this time. The manner in which it ended is rather amusing. Mr. Buchanan went to Mr. Cameron and said: “Cameron, Mr. Polk has tendered me the position of secretary of state in his cabinet: what would you do about it?” “Why ask me?” Mr. Cameron replied. “You have already made up your mind to accept it?” “Then who will succeed me as sena-r tor?” asked Mr. Buchanan. “I think Simon Cameron will,” said the other. They were never friends afterward. Doubtless Buchanan had a candidate of his own. Mr. Cameron was elected to the senate on the high-tariff platform against Judge Woodward, who represented free trade. During that period the Mexican war was fought and the niost radical mersures taken concerning tariff which the country had ever known. Calhoun lent his eloquence to free trade and against all that figures could show or experience demonstrate the senate vrtta-A tie on the question, and the vice-president, Dallas, who was ambitious for a high 6eat, cast his vote for the tariff of 1846. Cameron was furious and railed at the democratic party for betraying its trust. Once more the opposition rallied and elected Gen. Taylor, a president who follies in spite of the brilliant congress back of him. His mistakes gave the next eloction to the democrats, with Pierce for president. The breach between the north and' south was steadily widening and added to the questions of economies that of slavery. The senate might have been a theater, so d ramati'c were its scene?, ' and over it the atmosphere of inevitable tragedy hung like a pall. The republican party, embodying all of the dignity of the old democracy, sprang into life. Its vitality and growth were phenomenal. Cameron held it up in its best light. He made it picturesque. He filled it with sentiment. He made it heroic. Lincoln was its representative. He hastened to appeal to his party to annul the tariff bill then in force. He not only had to find means to restore national credit, but also to raise 'the funds necessary for war. Cameron beOftmejfincoln’s secretary of war. His attitude in that position was stern and inflexible. He was always Lincoln’s friend, and later, after he had ceased to be secretary of war, he helped Lincoln against the conspiracies which were seething in the senate and suggested that Lincoln secure his renomination by having the state legislatures petition his renominatiog. Cameron saw that Pennsylvania was the first state to pledge itself for Lincoln’s renomination. From that time to this Senator Cameron has steadily and quietly stood by the republican party. His opinions have been held in the highest esteem, and have been quoted with confidence. Of recent years he has lived in his library—two long rooms which run thb length of his house—a solid, hospitable old homestead fronting the Susquehanna. He has been president of five different railroads leading out of Harrisburg, nearly all built and operated under his direction. He was eminently a man of liesura, vet he had few idle hours In those long, book-lined rooms, but attended himself to his business affairs and his extensive social correspondence.