Banquet to the Hon. Simon Cameron, given at the Jones' house, May 2d, 1862, by the people of Harrisburg

\

BANQUET

TO THE

HON. SIMON CAMERON,

(iifc^ti at ]t|-e ^mu' ^mUf M^ '^'^f IS62,

BY THE

PEOPLE OF HARRISBUEG.

HARRISBURG :

?RnrTKD AT "telegraph" JOB OFflOB.

1862.

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SPEECHES AND PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

Oi^MEROIsr Bi^NQUBT

HAREISBflEG, MAT 2, 1862

Several weeks since a nnmber of our leading
citizens, personal friends of Hon. Simou 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 yrith the tender of a public eupper,
previous to his leaving the country on the im-
portant mission to Russia. Owing, however, to
numerous business t!ngagemenls, his acceptance
of this liind ofifer on the part of his friends was
not indicated until the early part of last we«k,
when the committee having charge of the mat-
ter at once commenced making arrangements,
and th« banquet oame off at the Jones' House,
in this city, on Friday evening, May 2nd.

rHB njVTTATIO.'J AND ITS ACOEPTANOB.

Harrisbdrg, Pa., April 7, 1862.
Hon. Simon Camfros, Dear Sir: — The un-
dersigned, your personal friends aadacquiint-
fflQces, Dct willing that you should leave tha
country on your important mission as Minister
Plenipotentiary to RusMa, without having re-
ceived some manifestatiuu of the high esteem
with which they reg iri your integrity as a man,
and the entire confidence they have in your
great ability as a statesman, desire that you
indicate some future occasion when it will be
convenient for you to join your friends in par-
taking of a binquet. In thus tendering to
you the honor of such an entertainment, we
feel that we are obeying the txpressed desire of
a bu:ge portion of your fellow citiaens who are
not aware of this tender, but T(h» will gladly

assemble around any board at which yon may he
the distinguished and honored guest.

You will please iodictte the tima most con-
venient for you to partake of such a baD«[uet,
in your early reply to this note. ^
Your friends,

WILLIAM BUBHLBR,

A. J. JONES,

JNO. A. FISHER,

WM. DOCK,
• GEO. BERGNER,

ROBERT A. LAMBERTOK,

B M POLLOCK,

DAVID McCORvJICK.

ROBERT L. MUENCH,

F. K. BOAS,

CaARLESF. MUENCH,

WM. COLDER.

SKSf. OAIISRON'S BEFIiT.

LocniEL, Mai/ 1, 1862.
Gentlemen: — Your note of the 7th of April,
inviting me to partake of a banquet, as a
manifestation of the high estaem of my Mends
and fellow citizens, was duly received, but I
have been unduly delayed in answering, owing
to the preparations incident to my departure
for Ruseia, the embarrasment of a prosecu-
ntioa 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 embjssy. These
having been disposed of, I am now at leisure
to acknowledge your very flattering note, and
also to accept your very friendly invitation.
It will afford me much pleasure to meet my

CAMBKOK BANQUXT.

friends and fellow citleens to-morrow (Friday)

CTenJng, if that time will meet the prepara-

tioDS of yonr ccmmitfee.

With a high regard for the members of the

committee, irulividiially, I am, gentlemen,
Youre, truly,
SIMON CAMERON.

To John A. Fisher, William Dock, William
Buehler, George Bergner, E. M. Pollock,
A. J. Jones, Wm. Colder, David McCormick,
Robert A. Lamberton, F. K. Boas, Charles
F. Muench, and other members of the com-
mittee.

THE OOMPANT IS WAITING.

The citizens interested ia the banquet com-
mencid aseemblying 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 those spacions rooms, where they were
introduced to Gen. Cameron. During the inter
Yal« of the arrivals and the banquet it must
havt! been gratifying to the distinguished
gaest of this occasion to receive the many
TTaroa 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 largest 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
eecored 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 ou
people which no outside attacks can affect or
d^troy.

THE BANQUET HAiL.

While the company, with its distinguisufed
guest, were thus awaiting the hour for the ban-
quet, we availed ourselves of the courtesies and
privileges nsu illy 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 chandel-
liers pendant from the ceiling and brackets pro-
jecting from the walls floo led the large hall with
inteose lustre, amid which the bilver, 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
«Qtire length of the hall, fairly groaned beneath
the weight of choice edibles, prepared in a

manner that spoke volumee for the good taste
and proficiency of Mr. David Hntchinson^
to whom Col. Coveriy entrusted thia important
part of the programme.

THB BANQUET.

About 8 J o'clock the doors of the banqueting
hall were thrown open, and the company,
numbering about one hundred and fifty, with
their distinguished guest, proceeded to occopy
seats around the sumptously furnished table.

His Honor, Wm. H. Kepner, Mayor ot the
city, occupied the h ad 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. Ameog
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
Trullin^r, W. O. Hickok, Dr. Geo. Bailey, Dr.
A. Patterson, J. B. Rutherford, Wm. Buehler,
Esq , Thomas C. Nicholson, of the Treasury De-
partment, John A. Weir, Esq., Charles F.
Mnench, Samuel A. Power, of the Commisary
General's Department, Cyrus J. Beese, David)
Fleming, Esq., County Treasurer J. L. Speel,
A. J. Herr, Esq., E. M. Pollock, David Mum-
ma, Daniel Shell enTjerger, and a numbei
of other leading men of the city, who vied with
each other in their spoken and silent manifesta-
tions of regard for the honored guest ot the
occasion.

The supper was discussed with a hearty aast,
showing that the company fully appreciated its
merits. The bill of f.ire embraced all the
choice delicacies of the season, divided off into
several courses, intermingled with excellent
wines, and terminating with a desert of incom-
parable richness.

THE TOAST OF THB EVENING AND THB BPEKCHBS.

Alter the cloth was removed, his honor May-
or Kepner announced the following toast :

Simon Cameron— A Pennsylvanian who has
nev<r forgotten his native State— an American
who has always been faithful to his couatry
and his countrymen. His fellow citizens de-
light to honor him.

The enthusiastic applause with which this
sentiment was greeted having somewhat eai-
sided.

General 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 hf>ve been so kind as to confer
upon me, yet I cannot speak to you, my fellow
citizens, in any cold or formal langviage. Since

CAMKaOK BANQDET.

I bave come into this room all the thoughts of
business and of duty which crowded upon my
mind during tbediy have fled, leaving only the
remembrance of the associations and frieod-
ships that I have experienced during the long
years of my resideuce in this, my home. I
remember that this day for !y- five years ago I
came to Harrisburg — a poor, delicate, bickly
boy— without any reliance but on the overruling
control ot Providence and the reward which I
had been taught to believe would always fullow
proper actions. The only countenance of these
around me which I remember to have seen at
that day, was that of my friend who sits beside
me on the right, (Mr. 0. F. Mueuch,) 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
esperienced only by those who are willing to
work, are without money in their purse, and are
destitute of friends upon whom to rely, when
toid "we cannot employ you." I cau now re-
member the name of only onelivinghoustkeeper
in the town at that time. I refer to Judge
Hummel. I maJe 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 shad« 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 every-
thing about me changed! A day or two after
I saw my friend Mueach I obtained employ-
ment. I immediately went to work with such
a heart and will as never fail to win success.
During the day tioie I worked for my employer
and at night I cultivated my mmd. 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 four in the morning to
pursue my daily avocation.

I have lived to see what was then a hamlet
become tbe third city of the State, In my po-
sition as a newspaper journalist I necessarily
came in contact with the 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 s.^mething to do with every work of
improveuient connected with the progress of
this city {■nd State. Tbe first efforts of my pen
were directed in furtherance of the great poli-
cy of internal improvements which brought
forth our canal system. I 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. I am remiodeu here of an exLuession
made at one of the meetings which we he-Id In
favor of that railroad project — (for at that time
I was in the habit of persuading my friends to
go around the country and convene meetings,
by which means I might be enabled to talk
to the people on my favorite theme of the
desirability of railroad communication and its
importance)— one of the auditors upon this oc-
casion (the meetlri^ being held at Elizibeth-
town) was one knowu as Abraham Harnly, a
very intelligent man, and one of the most active
in that neighborhood. During the c-urse of
my remarks I had happoneJ to say, " I have no
doubt, gentleman, there are many of you pre-
sent who will live to see tbe day when a man
can eat his breakfast at Harrisburg, go to Phil-
adelphia, (one hundred miles,) take his dinner,
Uaosaot his business there, and return home to
Harrisburg in time to go to bed, as usaal, in
the eveuing." 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, I am glad you
told them about goiog to Philadelphia and back
again to Harrisburg in one day, because that
will make them take the sheers, (shares,) but yo«
and I know aU about that !" [Laughter.] I leave
you to judge, gentlemen, whether my 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 t j Baltimore ; then
again to Sunbury, the place of my boyhood, and
also to Reading ; all of which, I ^m 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 purpose.
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 6ho
War Department, over which I had the honor
to preside, but in view of a charge recently made
against me because of my exercise of the dele-
gated power with which I was entrusted, it mfiy
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, wiea
I thought my mission was ended in organ-
izing, equipping, and supplying, under the
most adverse circumst-inces, a larger army
than had ever been raised in the same space of
time of human history. When I did accept the
place it was with the perfect understanding be-
tween Mr. Lincoln and myself that whenever I
thought proper to resign should I be privileged
to do so; sind .when a vacancy occurred in the ap-
pointment to Russia, hi) oSsred me the po^

CAWERON BANQUET.

and I was glad to accept it. Why, gentlemeo,
I toiled in that Department as no man ever
toiled before ; I have told you thatin my younger
years I worked for twenty hours out of the
twenty-fcur for successive months; but that
labor was nothing in comparison with the
overpowering toil which I underwent at
Wathington. To say noth'ing of the extra-
ordinary necfssitifs of the Department,
arising from an unforseen and threatening na
tional emergency. The d( ors of my private
dwelling were besieged fntm daylight to the
lattet hours of the night ; the department was
Eurronndtd on all hands, and at all hours. —
Certain membtrfi of Congress, who figuie in
the vote of censure, were ever besieging
my doors, and often patiently waiting for hours
to catch a part of the drippicgs frcm the War
Department. Meanwhile I managed the deli-
cate and trying affairs of my situation as
wisely as I knew bow. Of course I committed
some triors ; but I did not commit the \^rong
with V9hich I am chaiged in the resolution of
CoBgress. I solemnly ai-sert that neither in
motive nor deed tan I be jftftly chargeable
with the commissitn of any wrot g in the ad-
ministration of thofe affairs , and I sm proud
to say here in revitwitg my cfficial ccnduct,
that I Bee no act which I would not repeat under
the same circumstances Upon my appoint-
ment to the pcsition, I found the depart-
ment destitute of all the means of defence ;
without guns, and with little prospect of
purchasing the materiel of war ; I found the
nation without an army, and I found scarcely
a rran throughout the whole War Depaitment
in whtm I could put my trust. The Adjutant
General deserted. The Quaitermaster General
ran off. The Commissary General was upon his
death bed. More than half the clerks were dis-
loyal. I remember that upon < te occao-on
General Scott c^me to me apparently in great
mental tribulatirn. Said be, "I have npentthe
most miserable day of my life ; a friend of ay
boyhoofl has just told me I am disgracing my
self by staying here and berving ibis fragment
of the government, in place of going to Vir-
ginia and serving under the banner of my na-
tive State; and I am pained to death." But
the old hero was pattiotic, loyal and wise
enough to say that his friend was wrong ; and
he was right in lemain'ng where he was.

It should be remembered, also, that in those
days of peril and alarm, an outcry went up
from all portions of the loyal States, urging
the Govorrment to procure arms, equipments,
and supplies, by any means, and at any cost;
to disregard the usual routine of contracts ;
to cut through '<red tape," and at the hazard
of encountering speculatois and peculators,
to prepare itself to meet the immediate
dangers. Great as were the exertions then
made, they fell far short of the demands of
the people. The Administration was at that
time censured for its' caution in guarding it-
self against imposition, because such cauticn
■was *n evidence of delay.

But to proceed. You all remember, gentle-
men, the day of the President's proclamation
caliing upon the people of Pennsylvania (be-
cause the demand was made upi n yt u here in
common with other States) for troops to defend
the national capital. My ton happening to be
in Washington, I sent him thither with the ut-
most despatch and a^ktd 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 dajs after the issuing ol
the proclamation foor hundred and eighty
tioops frcm Pennsylvania arrived in Washing-
ton. They were the first to inspire the gov-
ernment with hop*' and ccurage to contend
with the awful ciisis then impending. They
CKme there without aims and were furnished
irom 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
B-ioae time a number of bridges on the Philad-
elphia and Baltimore railroad, via Wilming-
ton, were burned or destroyed. It was at thlB
time that the mob in Baltimore, murdered our
unarmed soldiers in her streets on their way to
the defence of the capital, and the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad refused to carry our troops.
At that time when the loyally of nearly all thp
inhabitants was doubted, Mr. Seward, the
Secretary of State, in company with the Secre-
tary ot the Treasury, called upon me and said
"we muft have somebody in New York toassiBt
the public officers 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, yet after a moment's reflection I
recollected Mr. Cumminge, with whom I had an
intimacy when be was a citizen of tl is State.
The two gentkmc n then informed me that they
had apipointed Mr. Cisco, of the sub-treasary
General Dix, now in the army, Mr. Opdyke,
the present Mayor of the city of New York,
and Mr. Blatcbford, a citizen of New York, and
as I have stated, requested me to name tome
father gentlemen. I gave the name of Mr.
Cummings and associated with it that of Gov.
Morgan of the Slate of New Yt-ik. To show
how guarded 1 was in these appointments, I will
read the order that I gave upon that occasion:

Departmknt of War, Ajiril 23, 1861.
"In consideration of the extraordinary emer-
gencies which demand immediate and decisive
measures for the preseivation of the national
capital and the defense of the National Gov-
ernment, I hereby authorize Edwin D. Morgan,
Governor of the State of New York, and Alex-
ander Cummings, now iu the city of New
York, to make all n(,cesEary arrangements for
the transportation of troops and munitions oi
wfir in aid and assistance of the officers of the
at my of the United Slates, until communica-
tion by mail and telegraph Is completely re-
established between the cities of Washington
and New York. Either of thtm, in case ot

CASIBR05 BANQT7KT.

laability to consalt with the other, may exer-
cise the authority hereby givea.

SIMON CAMERON,
Secretary of War.

It will be Eeen that I did not intru-:t those
gentlemen with the expenditure of any money
I was careful to give them no authority to act
independent of the military officers of the gov-
ernmeut. Sometime afterwards, I received a
telegram signed by Messrs. Morgan and Cum-
mings, asking for authority to draw mouey,
which I referred in the usual manner to the
Treasury Department. That is all I had to do
with the matter, and at the end of iourteen
days, communication having been restored, 1
revoked their authority, as will be seen by the
fcllowing note:

,Wab DBPABTMEirr, May 7, 1861.

Gbntlemen: — 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 having 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 tl\e United States, untU 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 coald be justified only by the
emergency now happily, no longer existing.
Respectfully, yours,

SIMON CAMERON.
Gov. E. D. Morgan and Alexander Cummiogs,

Eiqrs., New York city.

Now, gentlemen, in reafar.l to the Congres-
sional committee of invastigiti m of which the
country has heard sd much, I have reasjn to
believe that the origin J iotentioQ of its
appointment was to control the War De-
partment and plac3 m:>ney in the pockets of
its members. The second or third day after
QiQ aanouncemeut of the committee, its chair-
man called upon me and desired ihat I should
authorize him to furnish a cdrtain regiment
vrith arms, munitions, clothing, etc. I refused
his application, becaasa I thoaght 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 Department ; and of course I was attacked
by that committee.

The committee of investigation have made
the additional charge upon me in my offi<^
connection with the government, of 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 p, r cent. In a glance at the
statistics I find that in round numbepe I ordered
nearly a million of muskets, almost one hoo-
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 in
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-
cluding Gen. Scott, to be incompetent for the
duties of the position. I superceded him, and
put in his place one who was believe! to be
fully competent, but who soon proved ki
the opinion of my associates to be unequal
to the crisis. I felt, personally, reluctant to
enter into any contract myself, as I had no
time for such details, and therefore directed
Mr. Thomas A. Scott, my assistant, to act
in conjunction with Col. Ripley, and that
he should Sie that every contract was so
guarded that, in case of failure at the end of
thirty days, the contract should be revoketl,
leaving to Col. Ripley to determine the qail-
ity and price of the arms to be contracted for.
At this time Governors of -States, officers want-
ing arms, cabinet ministers, and members of
Congress were constantly making application
for arms, charging the Ordinance Department
with inefficiency, stating that if consent were
given they could ba procured, and I therefore
directed Mr. Scott to act in conjunction with
Colonel Ripley and to contract with every
man who was willing to make a musket or
furnish a sword, and" from whom the other
necessary munitions of war could be obtained,
at the same time instructing him to see that
the chief of the ordnance department should
fix the price and djtermiae the chaiacter ot
the arms. Tne allegition has been repeit-
edly iterated that I made these contracts with
an eye to personal pre'ereace. But I have
already proven, gentlemen, that the furthest
limit of even my official action in the
matter was simply to order the making.,©!
such contracts as were necessary, leaving all
that regarded price or quality In the hands of
the ordnance department, and to this day, I
scarc-.ly know any of the inlividuals with
whom contracts were made.

The special contract excitmg public at-
tention was made with a party by the aame of

CAMKRON BANQtJEt.

Bokor, On the fifth of September, under cover
from the President, I received a note, which I

now read :

WA.3HIN0I0N, Sept. 4, 1861.
Hon. SiMOH Camkron, Secretary of War:

Sib:— Our resident partner in Europe ad-
TiaeB ng by last eteamer of a lot of upwards of
one hundred thousaud stand of arms — rifled,
percussion muskets— new and in good condi-
tion—having been placed in his coatrol by
making advances thereon.

We desire to oSer them to your Department,
and should it appear to you of suflScieat impor-
tance to secure the immediate delivery there
of 60 large a quantity of good arms, we would
invito your attentioa thereto.

We offer the arms at a price not exceeding
eigldeen dollars each, subject to the inspection
and approval of an armorer whom you shall
select to accompany our authorized agent. If
the article is not satisfactory, the Government
will incur no expense, and if approved, you
will liecure 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 50 a piece.
Very respectfully,

Your obedient servants,

(Signed) HERMAN BOKfcR & CO.,

^ 50 Cliflf street, New York.

Also of Liege, Solinger, Remscherd, Birming-
ham, Bown,

This was at the time when the Queen's pro-
clamation had piohibited, 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
g«n8 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 tbis extremity of 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 endoreement of
the President in his own hand writing in these
words: _

' ' / approve the carrying this Ihrough carefully,
cautiously arid expeditiously. Avoid conflicts and in-
ttrferatm. 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
♦lie Prefcident, and in obedience to his order,
I ptomptly 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 »dd, in proof of the great anxiety of

all to obtain arms, that but a very few days 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 expended in those
localities from which our soldiers have volun-
teered, and this occurred after 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 Spriufield ar-
mory cost only $12 apiece. That assertion like
many others that have been made in connec-
tion with supplies for the army, is not the fact.
Without taiung 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 $12 60. 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 ther5 was
nothing to feed them with, the Acting Com-
missary General came to me and said, "loan
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 cuetom-
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's Fiun for not having eufi&cient cavalry
in the field. Yet I could not speak in my own
defence, for the safety of the government com-
pelled me to silence. Plenty of horsemen
offered their strvices ; but I had 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 bands 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 "bo

CAMERON BANQDBT

more horses," to- day can see advertigemeats
for the pnvchaee of an increased number ; and
to-day I saw also a published advertisement
askiDg 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-
Qdted 'ere this. So far as concerns myself, I
would rather have had a million of guns too
many than that a single soldier in any of
our battles should have been sacri6oed 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 had 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 still be most profuse
in compliment and profession. More than this,
had I remained in the War Department until
this vote came ofif, I should doubtless have re-
ceived the compliment paid to my late and es-
teemed colleaiiue, Mr. Welles. [Laughter.] He
was charged with having improperly eu? ployed 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 cea=ed. I did so at a time when
the country was almost totally bereft of a
government, and when we did^not know whom
to trusc

Now, gentlemen, I could narrate to you in
this way many incidents of official connection
with the War Department. Were it necessary
I would give you some particulars connected
with the history 01 this man Dawes, who appears
to be most active in the persecution aQ;ainst
me- I understand he is a little- prosecuting
attorney living some where in Massichusetts.
I am well aware of the real cause of his enmity,
and I will briefly state it. Some people of
Massachusetts, especially about the good city
of Boston, own nearly all the stock in the Wil-^
miugton and Baltimore railroad. Notwith-
standiijgthat road basaccumulated moremoney
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-
fid nee I entertained in its President,) yet the
management of the road were displeased be-
caase they would not have an entire monpo-
ly of tha Government business. When the
bridges on the Wilmiagton and Baltimore
road were burned, it became absolutely ne-
cegfiaiy to construct a new line of travel to
Washington. By my direction, the Presi-
dent of the Pennsjlvania railroad, Mr. Thomp-
son, in connection with the Wilmington
road, made arrangements to run a line of
boats from Ferryyille to AjxaapollA, and suc-

ceeded in getting the projectinto snccessful 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 with the
Harrisburg, Reading and New Jersey roads, to
rt duce the fare from six to four dol lars fn m New
York to Baltimore, per soldier. Bun my action
in this matter took money out of th-- purses of
gentlemen in Bost )n, and Mr. Dawes, who ap-
peired to repressnt the interests affected, be-
came my enemy. This is the only reason for
his opposition of which I am aware. I do not
know him further than that he was frequently
hanging about the War Department in commoa
witti otner applicants for special favors. Hav-
ing my whole timfa occupied ia preparing an
army out of raw and undisciplined soldiers, of
course I may have run counter to the ''esires of
such gentlemen, and consequently, they now
return the disfavor.

This theme is by no means a pleasant one for
me; but after tue recent wrong which has beea
done me I felt that when talking to my old
friends and neighbors I would do myself the
simple justice t) speak plainly. It would h»
needless for me to attempt to convince you of
my honesty of purpose and intention ia every
official act of my life. I am known to you
personally, and I feel willing to abide by, and
will fully appreciate yotft decision upon my
character as your fellow citiz.n. [Great ap-
plause.]

I leave you with great reluctance. It has
been the dream of my life to go abroad in soma
position that would enable me to catch a
proper glimpse of the beauty and grandeur of
the old world ; but as the time draws near
when I shall bid you a parting adieu, I approach
it with the pain caused by the separation from
old and dear friends.

Perhaps I hav^e said enough— it may
be too much. I desire to state to you,
however, that my relations with the President
have been and still are of the most cordial
character. I enteitain as gre-it a respect for
him as for any one with whom I have erer
been associated. He is an hones), high-minded
gentleman, as well as a faithful public officer.
(A-pplause.)

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 an abolitionist. I am 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
might be brought to a speedy and certain close.
And I believe we will cooiC to that. I do cct
believe that, after a while, when the hot
Southern climate is killing our soldiers who
are fighting for the government, oar people
will be content to see their sans and brothers
die, when men acclimated to the South are able
to defend the country, and of thrir own
strength and wUl, to drive all the reljels out of

10

CAMEKON BANQITBT.

thd land. [Applause.] Tbere cannot be a
doubt about how this tlavery qut6tion is to be
settled in the end. But, so far as I am con-
cerned, I am willing to leave its difposal to the
Great Ruler above. I would not punish tbe
deluded rank and file after they have laid
down their arms; I would not barm one
hair on the heiid of a eiugle individual who
was enticed or stduced upon misrepresentaiioo
to join the rebel army ; but had I the leaders,
I would do with them as I said I would do with
the Mayor of Baltimore when he asked the
Preeident to stnd back tbe national troops
from Cockeysville, and not allow tbem to
pass through Baltimore. I said "let me
alone, and I will hang him and his whole posse
upon the trees around the "War Department."
Hfid I been r.llowed to do bo, 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 mv opinions on that question, which, per-
haps, I somttimes express unwisely for my own
good ; and this is another reason for the
passage of the resolution to which I alluded.
Every border State Representative who thinks
his brother or son or kindred in the rebel ranks
does not 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. Pennsylvania has a
moral power which n© other State in this Union
possesses ; and therefore every citizen of Penn-
cylvania 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 — tie party lor the war
and in favor of supporting the Administration
in conducting the war ; because whether men
■were opposed to Mr. Lincoln or otherwise, by his
administration alcne is the war to be conducted.
If Pennsylvania will stand by his wise and pa-
triotic measures, she can aid the Presidtnt and
control the result. I remember that in the
war of 1812 every man who opposed the war
was contidered an enemy of his country. I
trust that the same beneficial rule will be ap-
plied in the present case. [Applause.] If we
falter in patriotic devotion, the people of the
south will be encc^uragtd to persevere in their
rebellious and iufamoiis 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 "Jeflf.
■was cruelly deceived in Pennsylvania and New
York, where he expected the support of half
the people, bicaufce he was ltd to believe
more than one half of the i eople in both of
those States were going to join tim." That is
the current delusion in the South ; and so
long as we give theui aid and comfort by divi-
gions among ourselves, jufct so long will they
be encouraged to fight the government. Let

us all, with one heart, looking solely to buJ
one object, go through this war ; and that be-
ing over, we can rake up tbe old political car-
casses of days gone by, and agaia attack each
other with all the spirit of Whig and Demo-
eratic fury. In the first place, kt us finish the
tear. [Long 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 redemption of the nation is drawing
nigh, and is even now at hand.

In answer to repeated calls, Robert A. Lam-
berton, Esq., addressed the audience hs follows:

Mr. Mayor. It gives toe pleasure to respond
to such a call upon such an occasion. If a
sixteen years unbroken friendship with our dis-
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
a very pleasant memory to him, and whatever
years may yet be allotted to him— and may
they be many — he will«f»er forget this gather-
ing of hisfiiends and neighbors. And why?
Because he can appreciate at its full worth this
manifestation of the confidence ho enjoys and
the esteem in which he is held by those among
whom his life has been spent. However fierce-
ly he may be maligned by those who know him
least, he will remember with pleasure that they
who know him best neither doubt nor forsake
him. [Applause.]

There is, perhaps, no surer test of character,
of what a man reaUyis than the deliberate, well
considered judgment foimed of him by his
home people, those among whom all the days
of his manhood have been passed and with
whom he has been associated socially and in
bus-ine?B. Here, then, have come together,
alike irrespective of party ti^ or partizan affili-
ation, the old man with hit> experience and the
young man with his hopes, the neighbnra and
the immediate fellow citizens of our honored
guest, to give a clear, distinct and emphatic
utterance of their belief in his integrity as a
man, his usefulness as a member of our com-
munity and his fidelity to his convictions ol
duty when in official position. There, sitting
ly his side, as be has just told us, is the friend
of his earlier and later years — one of the very
tew left among us who has known him from the
day the orphaned boy, seeking work, came to
our capital, though piunilees, yet with the
stout heart of a man, to enter upon the battle
of life. There is the friend 1 1 a lifetime, whose
confidence has been unshaken during all the
years that have elapsed since he who is become
the Representative of our Government, to
stand in the court of tl o Czir, was the humble
printer boy. We are all here, on the eve of
the departure of our friend and fellow citizen,
to bid him the good-bye and wish him the
God speed. [Applause.]

Sir, he has referred to the malignant nssaulte
which have been made against him by hia ene-
mies. Thus surrounded by hia neighbors who

CAMERCN BANQUET.

11

know him, the shafts fall bnrtless at his feet.
When he is ^oxxe these cruel blows may still be
aimed at uiiu ; but they will nrit reach''him:
he leaves too many friends, who will not suffer
the absent to be wn.tiged. \Vh n he returns,
he will show that ho pospesses abundant ability
to t^ke careof himself and tight his own battles.
[Applause ] He has been bitterly followed bv hi:^
enemies ; he has been cl< se'y surrounded by
his friends. And this is always so witn the de-
cided, energetic, resolute man. Jh<^ pssidve
man in life who continually presses forward in
the struggle with the world must, in his pro-
gress, come in contact with and pass over those
who are in his way. Such a one wins devoteJ
friends and makes carping enemies.

But, sir, whilst we will not forget the true-
hearted, open-bauded frieu^ and citizen, he is
eminently entitled to our regard as a Pennsyl-
vanian.. To whatever depths of baseness his
vilifiers have descended, no one of thena that
I can now remember has been so false as to
challenge or doubt the devotion of Gen. Catn-
eron to the interests of our own Common-
wealth. Devoted to the Union of our fathers,
he was always a Ptnnsylvanian for Pennsyl-
vania— Pennsylvania in and of the Union. He
has ever exhibited a just pride in her vast re-
sources, her inexhau8ti61e store house ot min-
erals, her manufactures, her farms, her schools
and her churches ; and moved by tuis pride
and his inextinguishable love of home, he has
Bought, both in private life and official station,
to advance her prosperity and pr mote her
greatness. As Pennsylvauians we honor him.
[Applause ]

And now, sir, let him go away assured that
as the loyalty ani truth of Pennsylvania have
been in the past, go will they coctiLue, From
within our borders shall go fsrth no uncertain
sound as to the suppression of the infamous re-
bellion convulsing the land. " Pennsylvania ha-
given more than a hundred thousand of her
children as a free will offering on behalf of the
maintenance of our government. Her army
has gone with the stern and fixed resolution
that the Union shall be preserved, treason
crushed out, and traitors brought to the rope.
Our guest has mentioned a remark recently
made to him by a lady friend of the head of
the pseudo government of the Confederate
States, that Jefferson Davis believed that the
one-half of the men of Pennsylvania and New
York would be with him and his fellow conspi-
rators in the disruption of the Union. Upou
what a f.>uadation of sand did the atch traitor
build bis hopes ! How little did he understaiid
the people of the Keystone and Empire
States ! Why, sir, in their (ruth and honest
frankness, they could not believe that men-
Senators sworn to support the Constitution (!)
could be so peijured as to raise the
bloody hand against it and against our
good government. But Sumter awaketied
them. When the dastardly assault was made
by armed thousands upon that little half-starved
garrison, and the national emblem wa.s sub-

jected to villian us insult, theu it was that the
North becami- arour^ed as a strong man from
bis sleep, and Penneylvania and New York, like
►,'iauts linked arms and runl.ed forward to the
(!• fence of tte capitiland the life of the nation.
Let us all take courage ; the heinous crime of
iri->ason will speedily be pouished— let our
giietU and all of us remembeY, whilst the blood
of our brethren — of his brethren' -is crying aloud
from the ground to Him who rules in the hosts
of Heaven, and upon earth, that He has said
"Vengeance is mine " That vengeance is mo-
viui< torward and Southward like a pillar of
fire bv night, at the head of our armies. It ie
moving with the grandeur and sublimity of the
storm in its wrath. Already the wail of the
deppoudent rebel is beard. Even now the key
of the Miseiss'ppi valley isouis; the old flag
flies in triumph over the Cie=cent city, and
soon the great North-west will again have ac'-
cess through its freed and opened ch;innel to
the gulf. [Applause.]

Let, then, the minister to Russia depart with
fresh hope and renewed faith. Let him, when
away over the waters and across another conti-
nent, as he stands near the Emperor of the
KuBsias, that firm and fast friend of oar
nation, assure that sovereign that our people
are as one mm ic, their devotion to the Union
in this baptism of blood through which they
are pissing, and that they will sweep from the

face of the earth the traitor and his treason.

Let him bo assured that our government will
pass through the fiery ordearand come forth
purer, better and stronger than ever. [Ap-
plause.]

And, sir, let us now say to our friend and
guest that he bears with hi n our wishes for his
prosperity and su cess in his usission. Whilst
he i;, gone he will hear of the advance of our
arms and of the valor of tLe sons of Penosyl-
v^nia. Alre.idy wniten upon the banners
borne in fiont of the regiments of our State are
names iodicitlve of brave and brilliant deeds.
Already we m;iy there read of Drainesville' Ro-
anoke, Winchester, Falmouth and Shiloh. [Ap-
pliuse.] When he returns, may it be to meet
these same soldiers returned from the battle
fields, once more having resumed the avocations
of peace. May he then learn fi om them how the
same flags have been planted over Yotktown— .
how they have gleamed above the rebel capitol
at Richmond, waved from th^ spires of Mont-
gomery and floated again at Sumter, and over
that nest of treason and traitors, accursed Cha-
rleston. [Applause] Let him come homt toreal-
ize that agam,every where, from our most north-
erly limit to the Gulf, from the wild Atlantic
away off to the slopes of the Pacific, the brave
old flag is honored and respected— its stripes
wooing the evening winds, and its stara an-
swering back the light of the stars in the
firmament. May he return to live once more
among us, and to realize that our people are
true to their history, worthy of their fathers
and that, under the smile of the Omnipotent' '

12

OAMEROK BANQUKT.

they h ive made our Union as imperishable as
the evorlafiiug hills. [Applause.]

Hon. Thomas E. Cochran, Auditor General
of the fet ite. was then loudlj' called for. He
rose and said :

Mr Mayok: — While it does me uufeigot-d
pleasure to respond to the call tlint has just been
made, I may say il is altogeih.r unexpected.
I was not even aware of tbe entertainment that
was p;opnscd, and only arrived in Harrisbnrg
at an hour quits late, when, upon being iuvitid
to come Lere, I came with gi at pleasure. I
recoguiz-.d in the gentleman whom you and
citizens of Harrisburg have here assembled to
honor, one uho h;is well maintained an emi-
nent position iu the history of our State and of
our country. I recognized in the name of Gen-
eral Cameron that of a citizen, who, in public
life, hi'.s been always remarkable for the inte-
rest he has taken in every project or raeaeure
of public policy calculated to improve the con-
dition of the C' mmonwealth, to lift her in the
scale of sister States, and to make her piomi-
aent, influential and powerful in the Union,
which we all so love And it is eminently fit
that, after having passed so mauy years of his
life here in his native State, when he is about
for the first time to voyage over the ocean sur-
ges, and to spend some years in an honorable
and conspicuous position at a foreign court, that
his fellow citizeLS, who have know him long
and well, should meet arouijd this board to
testify iu the emphatic terms expressed by the
gentleman who has just taken his seat, their
confidence in his integrity, his character, and
their resptct for the public services be has ren-
dered to the country.

Now, sir, it does not become me to speak of
the individual in tbe terms which you here in
Harrisburg may well use, for although I have
been for many years familiar with the name, yet
I cannot pretend to have enjoyed that familiar
intimacy with tbe distinguished guest of the
evening which would autboiize me to speak of
those personal qualities that have just elicited
such decided marks of approbation. I may,
however, as a citizen of this Commonwealth,
(one who has lived in it the largest portion of
his life,) submit my testimony that on all oc-
casions when the interests of the State were
involved, throughout the public cireer of the
gentleman who is now about to leave us, he
has borae in mind as his cardinal object the
prosperity and welfare of Pennsylvania
first, but Pennsylvania not superior to
the great national interests of the coun-
try. Pennsylvania as nearest to his heart,
which was large enough to embrace the welfare
and the good of the whole nation. [Applause.]
And; eir, whatever detractors may say, and
however certain men may bti willing at this
Bcason, when the diverse and minute parts of
the governmectal machinery have assumed a
certain regular position and operation— what-
ever di^tractors may say about the transictione
of dlfiferent bureaus during the early part of

the confusion and disseverance of afiairs con-
nected with the outbreak of this rebellion, yet
it must be borne in miod by evtry candid and
fair man that that great emergency cameupon
a country wbt Uy unprepared to meet such a
grave ana overwhelming issue as wf.s presented
to it at that time. That is no fair charity
which will permit any man to scan with an eye
to censure measures taken in that very great
emergency as he would scan them, very pro-
perly and justly, under circumstances of a very
different character. Now, sir, we know how
we were in Pennsylvania, we all must be con-
scious of the situation of this State at that time:
we had no military organization here, we
were without experience in military matters
and had to do eveiything on the pressurejof
tbe moment, and that, too, when the enemy —
the rebels — were thuudering at the very gates
of the national capitol. Was it possible for our
State government, without experience— was it
possible for us, without organizati»n — was it
posBible for us, without the men and the means
at our command, to make all needful and in-
dispensable arrangements and preparations,
just according to the red tape formalities, which
were customary in the government at ordinary
times, when the nation needed no army but a
skeleton, to maintain the peace throughout
every section of our great Union ? M^hy, sir,
it is perfectly absurd for men to ttand up at
this day and attempt to criticise, with a censo-
rious eye, measures takfn in the very extremi-
ty of the national life, when it was at the point
of de^ith. I say, sir, there is great itijustice
involved in any censure of that kind, because
of transactions criticised under the circum-
stances that I have stated. It is an appeal to
the common sense, the fail judgment and the
candor of every man who is willing to look at
the matter fairly atd without prejudice —
it is a fair appeal to all that is just
and right, which authorizes us to say
that no such censure is proper, and to fore-
see that no such cencure will be sustained by
the honest, the fair and the candid judgoent of
the people of this country. [Increased ap-^
plause.] I do not know what selfish or im-
proper motives may lie at the foundation of the
recent hostility to Gen. Cameron, but I cer-
tainly do judge from the results that it could
not have emanated from a proper and judicious
discrimination, or a fair comprehension of the
state of things which existed, and which I have
attempted to describe, during Gen. Cameron's
administration of the War Depart a ent. I may
be permitted to gay without vain boasting, but
simply as a citizen of Pennsylvania, that after
a period of doubt — a time during which there
were grave suspicions entertained in regard to
official operations here in this State — now, at
this time, in the judgment of the government
at Washington the affairs of Pennsylvania are
admitted to have been managed with greater
care and economy, and with greater prudence
than probably any other State in the Union, in
connection with thoB war. Well now, sir, I say

CAMERON BANQUET.

13

it knowingly, ffr I had an nfficia] relation with
this matter, that I donot belli: we there was a man
connected with the opeiatioDS nf this State who
pos8t8.>ed tbiit practicil knowledge and ntces-
garV diill which wcmld enable him to discharge
thoee onerons nnd unexpected duties pertaining
to military matters according t'> dit-cipline and
rule, or withoTit making somn mistakes. Yet
they were discharged fully and judiciout-ly. The
single obj-ct was to promote the gcod of the
country, i.nd the result has been that Pennsyl-
vania stands higher, I appreliend, in the esti-
mation ofthe Government at Washington th n
any otht r State in this Union. The gentleinun
in frofft of me nods assent to that. Well, now,
if that is sOj why not apply the same rule to
the conduct of operations on the part of the
General Government as you would apply to
affairs in Pennsylvania? I know, and I am
vrilling to state here as an individual, that mis*
takes were made in certain departments of
Pennsylvania, and there may have been mis-
takes made in the governmental departments
at Washington ; but those mistakes were
such as any man might make in the prosecu-
tion of his business.

Gen. Cameron. If the gentleman will allow
me to interrupt him, I will say now what I
have had occasion to state already. I have
reviewed my course since leaving the War
Department, and upon careful consideration, I
am free to state that during my official career
ia the management of that Department, I did
not commit a single act which I would not do
again under the same circumstances.

Mr. CocHR AS. I have not the slightest doiibt
of it. I have not the slightest doubt that every
measure or action undertaken by Gen. Came-
roa was essential, at the time and under the
circumstances, for the welfare of the country.
That was the point of my argument, for I am
speaking argumentatively. Under different
circumstances, the aspect of the case might be
totally different, and Gen. Cameron would not
have done what he did ; but we must take into
consideration the circumstances existing at
the time, and base our conclusions upon those
surroundings.

But I have dilated more amply on that sub-
ject than I had any expectation of doing when
unexpectedly called upon. I am very glad to
see that the time has come when the people
of Harrisburg have gathered around a citizen
whom for many years they have had reason to
respect, and who, when he is about to feid fare-
well, they are glad to assemble here to bid
God speed. I hope the time will come when
this country will be restored in all its integrity
and prosperity to the full enjoyment of those
blessings and privileges which, under the
Divine Providence, have been handed down
to us by our fathers, and I hope that when the
gentleman who is the recipient of our farewell
greeting this evening shall return to this
country he will return to a re-uuited and ub~

broken union, where every American citizen
will recognize every other American citizen
as a brother and as an equal ; and where,
from one end of this great Union to the other,
as it was constituted under the auspices of the
great men who have preceded our generation,
he shall find the same old flag flying, and the
same institutions exi-sting. And I trust that
in that day not only shall, he find these to
exist, but that he shall return here when our
affairs, socially and politically, are restored to
their ancient basis, and ourselves glad to greet
him on his return to a country which he will
no doubt faithfully serve in that quarter to
which he is now delegated, as he heretofore
served it in other official positions.

Hon. Judge Pb,\kson was next callod for and
spoke as follows :

Mr. Mayor, I have not recently been addicted
to anything like public speaking ; but there
are some matters to whicn I would call your
attention for a moment. We ought not only
to consider the p^e^■eat situation of aff.irs in
judging of a man's actions, but also the cir-
cumstances previously connected therewith.
My friend across the table was cal!i (i upon to
preside in the War Department at a timn when
it was in the most distracteil oonditiou. No
previous preparation of any clmrsicter ha i been
made for wagin,' war or defending the country ;
he was called upon in an cxt'eme emergency ;
and now at the distance of many months, when
our army s efficient and our navy triple its
former standing in strength and efficiency, we
should consider the actions of the departments
of the government at Wasliington wholly in
view of the means at their command. At that
time preparations were making by ih; rebels
for attacking Washington city, yet the nation
was without an army at the National Capital,
and with but limited means of bringing -oldiers
upon the ground. The various depirim-jnts of
government were filled with disloyal clerks and
rebel sympathisers who wtre awaitiuo: an op-
portunity to do all tbey piesibly could do in
aid of the rebellion. Especially were these men
to be found in the War Department ; 'md when
Gen. Cameron took the chair uf Spae'ary of
War, having no confidence in his sul ordinates,
ise was required to employ agents whom he
could trust. At this time, wh'-n everything
has changed, it would appear that men have
C'^ased to consider the (xtraordiuary pt sture of
•ffairs that then existed, and proceed to pass
judgment upon his actions as coolly as though
he had no pressing emergencies and cverwhelm-
ing responsibilities to meet, and as though he
had been able as was the present Secretary of
War to send twenty or forty thousand soldiers
to one point, and a like number to another,
Gen. Cameron with difficulty obtained fifty
men to defend the capital.

Judge Pearson further referred to the diffi-
culty experienced by the War Department in
organizing and equipping a large army, in pio*

14

CAMERON BANQUET.

coring meacs of transportation for the troops,
etc. Yet in that most perilous times the gov-
ernment bad been accused of negligence, not
to aay corroption in the filling of contracts for
the sustenance of the army. This State ad-
ministration was not long since an object of
censure for the indiscreet appliance of certain
funds in clothing and arming her soldiers ; but
a patient consideration of the circumstances
attending the operations of the State Executive
and his oflBcers had convinced the people that
all charges of impropriety were groundless.
Such was the case with Gen. Cameron. Had
the movers and supporters of the resolution
recently passed by Congress understood the
motives and olgects of the Secretary of War,
or viewed them from the proper stand point,
they would havK at least hesitated to i ass cen-
sure upon his official acts. That gentleman
could at least console himsttlf wiih the reHec-
tion that no one of Lis acqiiaintancee or those
who kbew him wuuld pretend to say he had
ever been found other than true to hie country,
faithful to the interest.-; ui bis State atd dea-
to his friends. [Great applause ]

Mr. David Fleming then responded to the
call as follows:

Mr. Mayor: After the able speeches you
have beard, I shall not undertike to say more
than a few words, espetially with my prfsent
feeble voice. 1 merely desire to bear my tes-
timony from the observations I have made as a
private citizen, of ihe integrity and ability wiih
which our disiingu'shed friend has managed
the affiirs of the War Department during the
time of bis adminibtration. As has been said by
tbedistinguisheil gentleman who just preceded
nit , we must look at things from the proper
stand point. Now, I remember very well that
just alter this rebellion broke out, that honor-
able gentltmau, (Judge Pearson,) who is not
likely to be tiioved by anything like sudden
distuibances, was then so much moved that,
contrary to every principle of his nature, he
was willing <o connive at the selling of liquor on ihe
Sabbath in this ioum. [Laughter !]

Now, sir, when that is the cane we do not
want agy thing to conviuce us of the state of af-
fairs at that time. No man cjuld then safely
pr6di'.t that we would have a government to-
day ; no man knew who of his neighbors was
faithful to thf government. Here were soldiers
comitjg and going without arms and without
the lilieiihcod of obtaining them at Washing-
ton. There was Gen. Cameron in the War De-
partment required to find money and arms
without any aceuratjce of obtaiiiiua: either. I
think it was only the providence of God tiiat
placed a man of his energy, busineiis and in-
dustry at the hend of the War Department, in-
stead of a min whose h mds nave been tied up
with "red tape" all Lis life, and who might not
be willing to undertake such a responsibility
without the usual red tape formality. I repeat,
gentlemen, my firm belief that the appointment
of Geo. Oameren was proyidential ; for certainly

history does not exhibit an Instance of any man
who has performed the same labor and brought
about the same results within the same length
ot time

But in regard to what has been done by Con-
gress, I have only to say that the advociites of
the resolution of censure upon General Cameron
are men who know but little about him. Ho
was where he could no longer serve them, and
I suppose they acted on the priijcipl« that a
"liviug dog is better than a dead lion." As I
did not intend to make a speech, being called
upon, I have said thus much for pur distin-
guished friend ; and, when he goes to Europe,
I say "God speed" to him, and hope tlmt upon
returning he will 6nd i/ur country happy, uni-
ted hud invincible.

Mr. Chaeles F Mubnou then made eomo re-
marks referring to the boyhood days of General
Cameron and himself. He said that General
Cameron had ever beeo his friend and protector,
through whose pecuoiary aid he was enabled to
start a printing office in this town, and for
whose assistance upon many occ^sIoijB he felt
extremely grateful, 'ihe speaker alluded to
his declining health, and that it was with diffi-
culty he could leave his home; but he could
not forego the pleasure of again meeting big
old friend, and assuring him of the gratitude
acd friendship which would continue through
life.

Col. A, J. Herr, District Attorney of the
couniy, was the next spe.iker. lie said:

Mr. Mayor, I do not feel disposed to respond
to the call, because the sentiment which was
just announ'ed by my elderly friend, Mr.
Muench, has stirred an emotion in my heart
wh'ch I think ought to be expressed. It is
simply this, that if I had m}' choice as to what
should be engraven upon my tombsfoue after
death, of all high soun fling praise or lettered
sentences, I would prefer to have simply this:
"Here lies the poor man's friend." (Applause.)
When it happens that such sm eulogy should be
uttered of a living man, in the presence of re-
spectable and intelligent citizens, I think it is
the highest n).eed of praise that one man can
bestow upon another.

Well, now, Mr. Mayor, wo are all here as
friends and citizens, gathered together solely
for the purpose nf testifying our reepect and
esteem for a pb ilan th i opist arid a statesman. The
motive is correct. It i- ooe in which we cannot
too frequently indu'g^ — and one which, when
indulged, invariably gives encouiagement to
merit and geuius in every department of life.
It is this dcrire to win the applause of iheir fel-
low men which gives energy and encourage-
rueut to the toiling younu; ; and every good
motive that findH an u;t;-rance in its execution
generates like motives in the breasts of others,
Now, then, what position does General Came-
ron occupy in our midst'/ He is a man who
was raised among ua, and who has been con-
nected with many of the internal improvements
of this town and county He has shown by big

CAKBBOir BANQU-ET.

1»

energy and public spirit that be is possessed of
those trae principles that go to make a grent
and good man ; and we of Pennsylvania — of
thill county especially — are to-day the uncoB
Bcious gleaners of the harvest which was sown
mainly tbrough the instrumentality of his
energy an! wise foresight. For what are we
not indebted to these railroads, which ho la-
bored so earnestly to build ? They are bringing
to us the comforts, conveniences and wealth
that make dur homes happy. We are indebted
to our friend and fellow citizsn for the prosper-
ity of our city and all the appliances of the
railroad system. What, though he was the
anconscious Instrument of securing this gre*t
benefit to a community— what though he did
not know of the responsible and truly impor-
tant position— he lives now, in the Providtnce
of God, to hear it said that to him we owe, toa
certain extent, the prosperity of this State. —
That certainly is a matter of which he should
feel proud (Applause.)

I recolect it was but a few days ago that an
eld man in this town was lying upon a bed of
sickness. He thought his days were numbered
and that his time had come, and naturally for
an old man his mind reverted back to his early
days, and how well do I remember the eloquent
tears that spoke from his eyes when he referred
to the goodness and kindness always shown him
by Gen. Simon Cameron, and said he, ''for all
that I have been worth through life I am in-
debted to the enconragiog help of that friend."
That man talked thus when he had but little
hope of ever rising from his bed of sickness ;
bat he has been spared to be here and speak for
himself, and he has told us what he said to
myself in his sick chamber. It is a matter of
gratification in my own mind to have heard
bim use the expression that General Cameron
was the poor man's friend, and more particu-
larly is it gratifying to all of us here, when we
know it ia the honest expression of an hone.^t
heart.

Well, now, Mr. Mayor, who can fail to recall
In bis mind many little instances he has heard
wherein oar guest has extended a like helping
hand to other poor men ? Is there one here
■who can truthfully assert that within his know-
ledge. General Cameron ever Siid, be ye cloth-
ed, or be ye warmed, and yet did not give that
which was needful for the poor? Can any one
tell me that any deserving person in poverty
or ever besought our guest and friend for
help without n ceiving that help ? It i>i true
that the greatest compliment that can be paid
to him, or that can be paid to any one of us,
leaving aside all intellectuil pride, is just sim-
ply that of "tbe poor man's friend."

General Cameron has filled many public
positions in life. He has been entrusted by the
citizens of this Cjmmnn wealth with many of-
fices of trust, in all of which he has discharged
his duty faithfully. Yet he has been assailed
and ruthlessly attacked. What is his crime ?
Why, Mr. Mayor, is it not a fact undisputed
ftnd as old as the hills, that no Tirtue ever

yet raised its humble head, which calumnj
did not attempt to hiss to the earth. As ia
social life so it is in politics. Let a man rise
but a step above the herd and a pack of hounds
are upon his track to brio* him down. Of
course iu some cases the politioil opponents or
personal enemies of a man are actuated by those
hij:h toned motives that lead men to recogniae
merit wherever it may be ; but it has not been
the fortune of our friend to be so treated. He
has felt the sneer and scorn of^ his assailants,
yet, at the same time, with an endurance that
wins our applause and admiration; and he now
stands completely vindicated. [Applause,] I
believe that is our sentiment, that whatever
may have been the motives of the men who
stait d the resolution in Congress, whatever
may have been the character of the men who
advocated its passage, still iu our own midst,
where he has lived longest and is understood
the best, we must in justice say, he stands ao-
quiited with the assurance of our approbition
of his course, with the assurance he must feel
himself, and better than all earthly considera-
tions the assurance of an entire acquitt:il at the
hands of the Great Judge of all.

But when that man took possession of the
War office, need I repeat the condition of the
country? need I repeat the shameful tale: our
forts dismantled, our cannon and arms stolen,
the treasury depleted, treasoa in every depart-
ment ; no man knowing in what he could
trust his fellow man, Everything was in con-
fusion, and yet out of chaos he brought order.
He did what I say, no other man under the
same circumstances could have dona except he
had been raised up in the Providence of God
for (hat particular purpose. We saw the coun-
try in that disturbed and distracted condition,
everything at sea, with nothing that we could
lay our hands upon to claim or call our own,
no man v^hom we could trust ; and yet out of
aj^l this difficulty, he produced the harmonious
order that we see to day pervading oar whole
country and army. We saw our flig insulted,
and men of the south proving tbemselves
to be dead to all theglorious memories of the past
as well as the blessings of the present and the
hopes of tbe future, endeavored to sepirate thia
Union. But, gentlemen, we are here to-night
to feel thankful that at tbat p.^iticular crisis we
all throughout the North fek that thing could
never come to pass, because wo knaw and heard
it from the hills and valleys of our own State,
"that the genius of liberty criei out against it.
We felt that all the glorious hopes of civilizatioQ
plead against it; and we knew that Christianity
frowned upon it, and .above all wa could not
help but recognize the great fact that the phyaN
cal geography of ttiis coiotry spjke in charac-
ters of light as long as the Mississippi and as
br.iad as the Atlaaiic, that separation should
never be. FGreat applause. J And it was just
at that moment when all these sealiments were
caught up, when that cry of liberty was heard,
when the hapes of Christianity began to stir,
that tbat man made up, with a ore itive talent,

16

CAJITERON BAJfQCBT.

the prand army of the Potomac, that swoie the
tJniou ehonld never be destroyed. To him it
iB that we are indebted, to a certain extent for
the creation of that army of the Potomac and
its thousands of soldiers who are now carrying
our banner to victory. Well, is there nothing
to be proud of in that ? Is there nothing now
for UH, as American tiiiaens, to fed proud if, as
■we think to ourselves that the day may come
when the thistle of Scotland may wither, when
thesh mrock of Ireland may decay, when the
lilly of France may droop, but the stars of
America, like the stars of heaven, will shiue
with undimmed radiance, "ai-id the crash of
matter anS the wreck of wotlis." [Ap-
Slauje.l

Now, Mr. Mayor, let political theorists and
foreign statesmen inquire where the pow=j of
this government exists. It does not exist on
the staute books. But we know, and this war
proves clearly and conclusively, that it exists
ID the hearts of the loyal and true men of this
country That is the life of this Oniou, a.ud
this liie, like liberty itself, remains concealed
Tintil it meets its opposite, and then, when they
do meet, it flames forth like angry ligbtnins;,
to blast and blight all that oppose it. [Ap-
plause] Hert', then, in the masses of the peo
pie, is our strength. It lies in the strong >. aads
and true hearts of these who are beariug our
arms, as it is to them we should look, under
the Providence of God, for a vindication jf all
our rights. Let us now be thankful that we
have a government that governs, that we
bave a CoDstitution thtt muEt and sh Ji he
obeyed— if not obeyed wh«n written in
parchment, why thoa obeyed when clad
in steel — and which will ba oleyed at all
hazards and under all consequences ; and let
traitors know, it is now being written anew in
the blcod of this nation, at the point of the
bayonet. These thoughts, I gay, are started iti
our minds by this occasion ; let us remember
that the present position of the nation, to a
great extent, has been brought about by the
agency, the creative talent and ecdurance of
the man to whom we have met here tu pay
our honor and respect. And when he goes be

and the sea, on the other side of the conti-
nent, and looks back here, I do not say that
the banners of victory from other States will
greet his visicra ; but I do believe — yes, I hope
and piay— that when he stands before the
thrcu'i of the Czar of Eusfia he shall be able
to eay to him in plain Slxou Eoglish: there
is no divihion here ; we statd one and indivi-
sible ; and no "pent op Utica" contracts Ameri-

I ra's powers, but the whole continent is oore. —
[Great applause.]

Dattd Mvmma, Efq., then made a fow re-
marks explanatory of the gentlemanly kindness
and friendly intercourse for which Gen. Cam-
eron had become proverbial in our midst. In
referring to the appointment of that gentleman
to a seat in the Cabinet of Mr. lincolc Mt.
M. stated that that appointment was eecured
by the friends of Gen. Cimeron before he liad
any intimation of their ii^tention. His wisbcs
wdre nor, consulted ki the matter, and it was
O'jly upon the solicitations of his friends that
he was induced to accept the position. In
conclusion he expressed the sentiments of all
who are acquainted with Q^n. Cameron, in a
full and emphatic endorsement of his official
career, both as a Senator of the United States
and at the head of what constituted the most
important and responsible department of the
government.

BoBT. L. MuENCH, Esq., was the last speak-
er. After what had been said in regard to the
esteem in whict General Camerou was held by
those present, he considered it a work of supero-
gation to say one word in behalf of that gen-
tleman. He ^ad merely to 6:iy that, as hie
father's son, he would never forget<Kb:e friend-
ship of General Cameron. He hoped that the
honored gutstof the evening would BOpn return
to a happy and prosperous land, to en^oy the
renewed friendship and regard of his fellow^
citizens.

At the conclnsion of Mr. Muench'e speeoh,
Dr. Baily proposed three cheers for Gen. Cam-
eron, whicii were given with enthusiasm.
Thes? were followed by three more, as if to
confirm the first in their will and sincerity.

The hour being late. Gen, Cameron rose,
wiich seemed to be the signal for the ending
of the festivities. The company present then
individually took leave of Gen. Ctimeron, and
as he stood at the head of the table, eaoh ap-
proached, took him by the hand, uttered apd
received a kindly wordof greeting and parting,
and then retired. In these farewells, there waS'
much that was pleasing, as they illustrated
how noble friendship can become, when it
binds men together in feelings of kindness and
reciprocity. The scene was both impressive'
and eloquent — one that will long be remembered
by all who were present and particijated.

;'^, ,.0'?r^./.