The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-01-19
The Cumback-Bakcr correspondence

That our readers may understand /
the merits of the question to che dis
cussion of which the State Senate has
devoted much the greater part of its
time since the meeting of the Legis-
lature, we copy the various letters
between the Governor and Lieuten-
ant Governor thus far developed.
The first letter written by Mr.. Cum
BACK was as follows:
Envelope marked " PriEate's
"GREENCAsTLE, IND. Jan. 6. '68
"Goy. BAKER-Dea7 Friend. If
had not a thousand things to demand
my attention this week, / would come
up and see you. | will, therefore,
venture to make this suggestion i
think Hendricks win be ichosen by
the Democrats, and be viii certainly
| (if he intends to inspire hope of sue
cess among his friends) resign his po 1
sItion. The person appointed by you
| viii, other things being equal, stand
| the best chance TO be chosen by our
Legislature. If you will assure me OF
the appointment, / will withdraw
from the contest for any position on
the State ticket, and take the position
of Elector at our State Convention.
If this proposition does not meet with
your appreciation, please return this
letter to me. Let me have your reply
at an early day. / do most earnestly
hope for the unity of the Republican
party. / am, az ever, your friend.
WILL CUMBACK =
To this Governor BAKER replied:
INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 8, 1868.
lion. VII Cnnaback, Gveensburg.
Indiana
SIR: Your communication of the
9th instant was received, and absence
from the city prevented an immediate
reply. The proposition is corrupt
and indecent, and / feel Inundated
that any human being should meas
ure me by so low a standard of COM
mon morality as to make it.
| have the honor to be,
Your obedient servant,
CONRAD BAKER.
Matters stood thus until about the
time of the Republican State Con-
vention, when Mr.. CUMBAcK ad-
dressed second note to the Governor
as follows:
"GREENsBURG. Ind, Feb. 81, 1868.
. Governor Baker: a.
"SIR-As we are engaged in COM
mon cause, and on the same ticket, it
is of the utmost importance that our
relations should be friendly.
IF, therefore, you will return the
note l wrote you January 6. and
withdraw the reply you made, / will
then, if you desire it, make full ex-
PLANTATION of the reasons that induced
me to write it, that | will hope may
mend the breach between US.
? " No one as yet knows from me that
there is any feeling of an unpleasant
, character between US.
am your obedient servant,
TCopy.l Will CUMBAcK."
To this Governor BAKER sent the
following response:
INDIANAPOLIS, February %. 1863.
Hon. Wa Cunsback, Greens5wrg
Indiana:
. "SIR: Your communication of yes.
terday is before me. In reply I beg
leave to say that the relations of the
!, parties alluded to are not such, in my
: Judgment, as to prevent either of
them from doing his whole duty tc
the public in the position assigned
him. IF the matter proposed to be
t explained is believed to be suscepti-
0 bic of explanation, the explanation
! should be made without the condi.
ton suggested. For such a purpose
opportunity will be offered if desired
' The return of the one paper and the
: Withdrawal of the other could not
change the facts, but would be preg.
nant with an implication that the par.
7 ty who really thinks he did no wrong
] had changed his opinion.
I" i have the honor to be your ODE
: dent servant, CONRAD BAKER"
LCopyl 9aEa#