The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-10-09
Lincoln as a friend OF Henry Clay.

Some Of the old Clay Wings in this region,
although they oppose Lovejoy, are still in
favor Of Lincoln, because be, they say, A.
though badly tnctured with abolitionisn,
uas former ardent friend and supporter Of
Henry Clay. How true this is, they will be
able to gather from the following statement
ofGen. Singleton, in . recen ut speech at Jack
sonvile. Gen. 6, who stood by Clay until
the last hour Of his life, thus exposes Lin
coins duplci;y:
In regard to the claim that ne was a good
Cl,y whig, be would say that Mr. Lincoln
was the first man in Illinois who raised .
hand to crush Mr. Clay. Some time in June
/ 1877, private meeting Of the leading wings
OF the State was held a. the house of Ninian
Edwards, for the purpose Of consulting in
reference to the selection o! a Wing candi-
date for the Presidency. He Gen. Siage
tom attended that meeting. Mr.. Lincoln
got up and explained the object Of the meet
ing. expressing also his views on the sub
jec, that the wing party had been fighting
loEg and unsuccessfully for principles and
now they should look only to succsss; tha,
they had sustained Mr.. Clay long enough,
and some other man should be selected ss
the Wing candidate. Resolutions 10 this
purport having been adopted, he Singleton
and Charles Constable left the meeting. Mr.
l.. did not stop here in MS opposition to Mr..
. Clay. He was at that time member Of
2 Congress from this district, and al " Washing
ton was an active and working member Of
q club organized for the purpose OF securing
the nomination of Gen. Taylor in preference
4 to Mr. Cay. H. also Acknowledged TO him
,,,,, I'D f.lr, hnv =
his district in the convention to Taylor, and
attempted to rule him (sinsleton) out ofthe
. eonvsr ,ion. because, as the delegate from
/ Mr.. Clay; but in this Mr. Lincoln was de-
fcatei. Mr.. Lincoln has failed in another
movement. After the election Of General
Taylor, it was conceded that the head OF the
land department should be appointed from
/ Illinois. The Wings in Illinois united in
, recommending Cyrus Edwards for the posi-
[ ton, and the recommendation was sent to
/ Mr. Lincoln, than member OF Congress al
Washington, to present to Gen. Tay ylor.-
Soon after, the Wings here learned that a
contest for the position had arisen between
! Don Morrison and Justin Bst,srfeid. while
/ the name Of Mr.. Edwards was not mention
! ed, and letters were received from Mr. Lin
/ coin, stating that Bu;tcrfeld was likelv TO
] SNh s''S AHu Tue OiiIN WdF 10
prevent 1t was to recommend him. Lincoln
for the appointment. When the matter was
inquired into, it Was ascertained that Mr.
Lincoln had withheld the Recommendation
/ of Mr.. Edwards in order to get the appoint
ment himself; .nd as a rebuke TO Lincoln
for this act, the Wings united IN anew re-
commendation IN favor Of Butteri.ld, aud
had him appointed. Gen. Singleton inquired
fthere were not Wings present W no rcraeu-
bered the occurrsnce? Two old Wings an.
swered that they did, and one of er, re-
membered signing the recommendation for
Butterfeld.
The speaker remarked that these were
facts which he could prove, every one Of
them. He had never before made these f:cts
public, because until now there had been
no occasion to do so. They ell remember
ed that when Mr.. Lincoln failed to find that
| '.particular SPOT in Mexico. he had died
very suddenly, and deiicaey had prevented
the speaker from treadiug at that time up
his political grave.