Meet+the+Locals

//Franklin County, Pennsylvania// **Meet the Locals**

__Senator Alexander Kelly McClure __ was the owner and editor of the Franklin County Newspaper. The well-educated and well-rounded lawyer participated in state and national politics throughout his whole life and enjoyed having a voice in political discussion. McClure's participation in politics also consisted of heading the republican state committee, but that wasn't the only place where McClure was able to spread his ideas. His views and policies were seen in the 1860 presidential election through his ability to broadcast ideas of anti-slavery and anti-Democratic corruption in the newspaper. McClure, was indeed an Abraham Lincoln supporter and he in fact, was a member of Lincoln's cabinet. McClure was a firm believer in anti-slavery and had no slaves but, employed 2 domestic black maids and two black servants.



__Simon Cameron __ was the Secretary of War of the United States for the first year of war. Cameron and McClure had their own differences and in McClure’s letters to his friend, Thaddeus Stevens, the most powerful republican in the House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. In the Letters McClure declairs his distrust in Cameron and says how he does not want Cameron in the president’s cabinet. McClure was not alone in this feeling as we saw other protests from senator Andrew Curtin.