The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-24
THE INDIANA sQUABBLE.

Last winter, Gov. Baker, of Indiana and
Col. VIM. Cumback were candidates for the
| gubernatorial nomination of the Republican
party. Before the meeting of the conven-
| ton, Col Cumback addressed the following
letter to Gov. Baker:
GREENsBURG, ND, Jan. 6, 1865.
GOVERNOR BAKER-Dedr Friend-If had no,
thousand things to demand my attention this
| week, l wenld come up and see you. | will
| therefore, venture to make this suggestion:
I think Hendricks will be chosen by the Democrats
and be will certainly, Qs be intends to inspire
hope among bis friends.) resign his position. The
person appointed by you, will, 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 DO.
sition OF elector at the State convention II this
proposition does not meet with your apr obatiOn,
please return this letter to Let me have your
reply at an early day. | do most earnestly hope
for the unity Of the Republican party.
am, as ever, your friend,
WILL CCMBACK.
To this proposition Gov Baker responded
as follows
INDIANAPOLIS, an. 8, 1865.
Hon. Will Cumback, GreensDurg. Indiana:
ST-Your communication of the 9th inst. was
received. and absence from the city prevented a
reply. The proposition is corrupt and indecent,
aud feel bumiliated that any human being should
measure me by so low standard Of common
morality as to make it.
have the honor to be,
Tour Obedient servant.
CONRAD BAKER.
Col Cumback subsequently withdrew from
the contest for governor, and was nominated
and elected lieutenant governor. At the re-
cent caucus of the Republican members of the
T.aoiclo4ura ba uroo Az
to succeed Mr. Hendricks. Some of the Re-
publican members, who were conversant with
the facts of the case as above stated, refused
to abide by the decision of the caucus, and
determined, if possible, to defeat the nominee.
The matter was publicly referred to in the
State Senate and led to long debate, which
resulted in call for the correspondence. In
response to this call Col. Cumback addressed
the following letter to the Senate, inclosing
the one to Gov. Baker, given above:
SENATE CHAMBER, Jan. IA, 1869.
Gentlemen or the Sendte-I herewith place at
the disposal of the Senate copy of the only letter
ever wrote Gov. Baker containing any sugges.
ton touching my appointment TO prospective
vacancy in the United States Senate. While do
not deny that Gov. Baker did not accede to the
suggestion con aimed in said letter, vet do not
u
private letter received from hin.
lam, gentlemen, your Obedient servant.
WILL CUMBACK.
In the meantime Gov. Baker addressed to
one of his friends in the Senate the subioined
communication, which was read as soon as
Col Cumback's letter had been produced:
INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. l3, 1869.
Hon stearns Fisher:
Teu iuv hat
correspondence called for by the Senate may be
produced without producing Il all. 1 think il due
10 myself that some senator should be informed of
the number Of letters comprised in the entire cor
respondence. |, therefore, without indicating the
contents Of any of the letters, say to you that
there were four in all, dated follows, VIZ One
from Col. Cnmback to me, dated January 6. 1868;
my reply thereto, dated January 8. 1868; one
from Col. CUmbsck to me, dated February q.
1865, and my reply thereto, dated February 22
1868. If Co. Cunt backs letter to me, of Jsuu.
airy 6, should be read without my reply being %.
duced, shall not insist (as its language might be
deemed harsh) or its production but in that case
you Will please say that my reply was an indic-
nant rejection of the proposition. | in3lose. ia a
separate envelope copies of the letters of Fsbru.
airy ~ before mentioned. This envelope yon will
please return to me unopened, unless part of
the correspondence 10 produced without prOduc
ing II all. In the last named event you will in
addition TO saying for me what | have before ia.
dIcated, lay before the Senate the copies Of the
letters of February 81 and 90 1865, inccsed in the
separate envelopes.
If all the correspondence shall be produced, or
II more OF II shall be presented, you will have
occasion to act in the matter, and in either case
will return the envelope containing the copies to
me.
If it becomes necessary for you to take any
action, you can either read this communication to
the Senate, or make your own statement of It's
contents. Yours, truly,
CONRAD BAKER.
Itappeared, from the letters referred to by
the governor, that Colonel Cumback SUISSE
quently made an effort to get his original let
ter out of Gov. Bakers hands, but failed in
the attempt. The following are the two let
ters referred to as concluding the correspon-
dence:
GREENsBURG, IND, February 81, 1868.
Governor Baker:
S6-As we are engaged in a common cause,
and on the same ticket, IL is of the utmost impor-
lance that our relations should be friendly.
If, therefore, you will return the note | wrote
you, January 6,.snd withdraw the reply you made,
l Will then, if you desire it, make full expiana-
ton of the reasons that induced me to write il.
that l will hope may mend the breach between |
US.
No one as yet knows from me tha. there is any |
feeling of an unpleasant character between US.
! am, your obedent servant.
WILL OUmBAGhs
INDIANAPOLIS, February %, 1865.
Hsn. win Cumbaek, Greensburg Indiana:
Sir-Your communication of yesterday is be- |
fore me. In reply, l beg leave to say that the re
lations of the parties alluded to are not such in
my Judgment as to prevent either of them from
doing his whole duty to the public in the position /
assigned him. II the matter proposed to be ex-
planned is believed to be susceptible of explana.
ZION, the explanations should be made without the
suggested. For such q purpose op.
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 pregnant
With an implication that the party who really |
thi ks he did no wrong, had changed his opinion
have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
CONRAD BAKER.
ExEcUTIvE DEPARTMENT, |
INDIANAPOLIS, January Ia, 1869.
Gentltnen Of The SeRdte-In response TO res
ol1iiOp OF the Senate, copy of which has just !
been delivered to me, / herewith respectfully |
& aDsmt copy Of the letter alluded to in that res
oution. CONRAD BAKER.
The following resolutions in regard to the
matter were offered and adopted, after much