Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-04-09
tEINCOLN AS A CABINET
N MAKER.
The Selection of his Cabinet for his
Second Term A Chapter from
ThurIOXV Weeds Autobiography.

ThurlOW Weeds Autobiography.
From AppletOn's Journal.
In the winter of 1865, received a note
from President Lincoln, asking me to
come to Washington. Immediately after
nv arrival called at the White House,
and although early, several persons were
waiting to see the President. MIR. Lin
coin requested me to call at an hour indi-
Gated, when found him alone. He COM
menced the conversation by saying
''You will remember that after the result
of the late Presidential election was known
l told you that expected to have more
influence with the President now that he
had got a new lease You and your
friends thought that they were severely
tried during my first four years. l did
not say much about it then, but intended,
if circumstances were favorable 10 even
I'D the account. l shall have Mr.. Fessen-
den's resignation of the Treasury Depart
ment on Monday. Now, if you had the
vacancy 90 fill whose name would you
send to the Senatel"
Ireplied that, although wholly UMPIRE
pared for such a question, yeti was not
unprepared with a name that | would
suggest for his consideration. then
mentioned Gov Morgan as, in my Judg-
ment suitable man for the place, pro-
vided it would answer to give the two
leading places in his Cabinet to the State
of New York.
81 anticipated his name, said Mr.. Lin
coin: sand even if / had not intended to
consult your wishes, l should have felt
quite safe in trusting the matter TO your
judgment | can afford TO give Gov.
Morgan the Treasury, even though MIR.
Seward has the State Department; because
the Governor can be confirmed, and the
people will sustain the appointment. But,
he added, ''this could not be done if q
word or whisper of it gets ont. Can
you and keep the secret He then
inquired if .here was any doubt of Gov.
AIorgan's acceptance. told him | thought
not that he had been a capable and sue
cessful merchant; that he had shown
great executive and financial ability as
Governor of our Stale; and that | could
not doubt Of his acceptance of depart
ment in which lie could render much
greater service 20 his country. And, after
some further conversation, Mr.. Lincoln
allowed me 10 suggest-in the strictest
confidence, and in general terms-to Gov.
Morgan that a contingency might happen,
in which he would be called to the dis
charge of other duties.
On the way to the cars l stopped al
Gov. Morgan's house; and, after very
earnest injunctions Of secrecy, made the
suggestion, in terms so vague and general,
as to leave the Governor wholly in the
dark as to the nature of the duties referred
TO, and as to my authority to make the
suggestion.
1t was understood between Mr.. Lincoln
and myself that / should hasten home
and, without disclosing or intimating the
possibility of a vacancy in the United
States Senate, do whatever might be done
with the knowledge l possessed, to givt
the proper direction TO the question OF I'LL
ing Gov. Morgans place in the Senate.
On my arrival at Albany, had not
little curious conversation with Gov. Fen
ton, without whose cO-operationit woulC
have been impossible to move SATISFACTORY
ly. l found that the gentlemen toward
whom attention would naturally be draw
for such position, resided in the western
part of the State. suggested Lieut.. Gov
Seldcn, or Judge J. G. Smith, as availa
BILE: but | soon discovered that the Gov
ernor, like some of his predecessors, haC
aspirations for the United States Senate
when the time and opportunity should ar
rive. We then talked with less restrain
of candidatesin other portions OF the State
and | left him with the belief that, shout
il become necessary to act, we could agre
upon a suitable candidate. l now, how
ever. with a better knowledge Of his tao
tics, am confident that, had Gov. Morga
accepted the Treasury Department, Gov
Fenton would have been a candidate 10
the vacancy.
When the time came for Mr.. Lincol
TO supply the vacancy occasiOned by tn
resignation of Mr.. Fessenden, he too
the Senate and the country by surprise i
the nomination of Gov. Morgan, who's
entirely had failed to prepare him TO
the event-was quite as much surprise
as his colleagues Gov. Morgan, as 500
as he could leave his seat, went over I
the White House and informed th
President that he must decline the ap
pointment He consented, however
leave the matter over two or three days
UlNlu0 DOAu ullAlSCll anu lllt L lOSlNNA
time for consideration. l returned IN
mediately to Washington, and, and aft
a long interview with Gov. Morgan, WI
constrained to report his persistent d
- clination to the President. l faile'
however, as | then and now believe,
ascertain what were Gov. -AlOrgan's re;
reasons for refusing the Treasury ID
nartment. Upon reporting that failure
Mr. lincoln, he said: THAT is We
awkward, but we must look elsewhere
a Secretary Who is your next man
replied that was too much mortified
this missfre to try again. MIR. Llnco
said: 81 am disappointed, for l thong
Gov. Morgan would be willing TO help
run the machine but l had two 9th
men in nv mind. What DO you say
Mr.. McCuloch or Mr.. Hooper! ~ / reph
that | had high appreciation OF
character and services of DO
gentlemen. but that | was persona
almost unknown TO them; that Mr.. n
Culloch had been brought to WashinSt
Inv Secretary Chase, and might be fan
sInposed TO have imbibed his views a
IMPRESSIONS, and that had no reason
believe that Mr.. Hooper sympathlzed W
Gov. Seward or his friends. Mr.. Line
laughingly remarked that he suppos
could not forget how Massachusetts, {
- appointed me at Chicago; adding, 1t
hard for Gov. Seward to be crowded
Inv a new man. And then he renewed
reouest for me to name man. l Il
said: ''Why not call Mr. Adams home
81 have thought of that too, said
Lincoln: '.but will it do to have so l.
an interregnum 2" ! remarked tina
thought Mr.. Chandler, the Assistants
rotary, capable and trustworthy. ''Iru
said Mr.. Lincoln, 1--WE know that he
but will it do let the Finance Departm'
ON which so much depends, be run
deputyg" l then spoke of Senator
tor Gan excellent man, " said MIR.
colin. 'Iand one whom / would readily
noint. if Connecticut were large emo
70 be entitled to two members OF the q
net" | finally suggested Mr.. Ham
sgamlin,n said Mr.. Lincoln, has
senate on the brain, and nothing more
less will cure him. And then | CAV
nm. and Mr.. Lincoln said: 'Let us
hack on Mr.. McCulloch, who now sc
most available" adding, that he W.
hold the question opel for two or Il
days. giving me time 10 confer as fr
and frequently as desired with that
tleman.
found myself not little embarra