L~N COLN LORE Bull~tln of the Lincoln National Llle Foundation - - - - - Dr. Louis A. Warnn Editor Publlahed each week by The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, Fort WaJrDe, 'Indiana Number 984 FORT WAYNE, INDIANA February 16, 1948
SDION CAMERON- SECRETARY OF WAR
Simon Cameron was by far the most eron and Lincoln Club of tho citv of "I think lit to notify you now, that influential political leader which the Chicago, lllin.U to tho Peoplo of tM by your p<>rmiealon I ohall at the state of Pennsylvania produced during Norlhwoat. proper time nominate you to the U. S. the middle part of the nineteenth Thio movement It will be ohoervcd Senate for confirmation ao Secretary century and -s considered one of the was previoua to Uneoln'a appearance of the Treaaury or u $ccretary of moat astuta atateamen In all American at Cooper Inatltuta In New York City War-which of the two I have not hlatory. Lllco ao many liUCceaaful on February 27, 1860, where he was definitaly decided. Pleaae answer at leaden In the fteld of poUtlca his own· erahip of newwpapera opened the way to be courted by the Seward interesta your e.arlieat convenience!' for the aame vice-plUidential roll He for his political adventul"(la. His first stopped on February 25 In Philadel Three daya later however and be appointment waa received in 1826 phia enrouta to Now York and Cam- fore Cameron had replied Lincoln from J. Andrew Shutz, governor of withdrew hit offer otating that it was Pennsylvania, who made him adjutant "not from any chanre of my views general of the atate. It was this early as to the ability or faithfulness with office which caused him throughout hia Slb!ON CA!IIERON which you would discharge the duties life to be known as General Cameron. Born, Laneuter County, Penn., March of the place." Another letter ton days Firat elected to tho Unitad States 8, 1799 Inter reveals a hornet's nest had been Senate In 18~5 aa a Democrat and Jou_rneymon printer at Lancaster, stirred up in Pcnnaylvania polities by later in 1857 aa a Republican he C1lme Harrlaburc and Waahlngton the suggestion of Cameron as a cab into tho stretch for the Presidential Editor of newapaper at Doyleatown inet member, presumably u a nominee nomination race In 1860 as a strong and Harrl.oburg for Seeretary of the Treasury. contender and it was in thia contest Acijutant General of PeJtDJyln.nia, Cameron had been aervlng as Secre that his name lint became associated 1826 tary of War but a abort time before with that of Abraham Lincoln. Elected to U. S. Senate aa a Democrat, be was just aa anxious to get out as be Lincoln muat have often seen 184.~ had been to get in. The correspondence Cameron In Waabington while both Became ldentlfted with the People's which paosed from Lincoln to Cameron were in tho thirtieth Congress. The Party, 185• on January 11, 1852, only about 10 months after hlo appointment ia of fact that Cameron waa a senator from Elected to U. S. Senate as a Repub the populous state of Pennsylvania special Interest beeauae Lincoln again lican, 1857 confirm• his atatement made a year and Lincoln a freshman in the Hou~ Candidate Cor nomlnatlon aa President of Representative• coming from Dli previous that he had explicit confi at Republlcan Convention, 1860 nois may not have brought them to dence in Cameron. In fact Lincoln gether. There does not seem to be any Appointed Secretary of War, 1861 makes it clear that ho would have con evidence that they were acquainted. Advocated armlnr fugitive olaves, sented to rellcvo Cameron earlier ao tho Secretary had requested bad he The namoa of Cameron and Lincoln 1861 Resigned u Secretary of War, Jan. not felt It would have been misunder were fint brou&ht together In the fall stood. of 1859 when there waa an effort on 11, 1862 the part of Cameron's friends to run In the famoua personal letter of the Pennoylvanian for the presidency. January 11, 1852, Mr. Lincoln advioea 1t Ia eYidcnce of Lincoln's political eron and David Wilmot aent him an Cameron that the return of Mr. Clay statuo, nationally, that the wiae Penn invitation to vlolt them at their botal. from RUJJia enablea bim to make the aylvania politicians selected Lincoln Lincoln called at the Girard Hotel but appointment u mlniater to Ruasla and as tho potential running mate for they were out. Ho aent a cord from "at the aamo time evince my personal Cameron and he waa immcdiataly put New York the following day stating: regard for you, and my conftdence In forth for that office. A Chicago paper your ability, patrlotlam, and fidelity "I re&ret being ao near, we did not to public truot . . • . you will bear howe"fer obaervinr the announcement meet but hope we may yet meet before of a Cameron-Lincoln ticket stated with you the aaourance of my un that tho ticket waa "wrong end to" a &reat whllo." diminiahed confidence, of my affec and that It ahould bo reveroed to Lin· Apparently It waa not until after tionate esteem." coin and Cameron. Although little or his election that Lincoln met Cameron no encouragement was forthcoming and then It wu at Lincoln's own It is doubtful If any of the other from Lincoln with respect to this move solicitation that Cameron came to cabinet members received a more com a pamphlet of elcht pages was printed Springfield the laot of December for plimentary endoroemont and it makes by the Chlca&o Cameron and Lincoln a conference on cabinet positions. one feel that poulbly there might be Club and publlahed In January 1860 Cameron left Springfield on December said at least one good word for Cam nnder the caption Addreaa of tM Cam- 31 with the following letter in hand. eron or Lincoln waa creatly deceived.