Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-04-29

consult your wishes, should have felt quite
safe in trusting the matter to your judg.
ment. / can afford to give Gov. Morgan
the treasury, even though Mr.. Seward has
the state department; because the governor
can be conf rmed, and the people will sus-
tain the appe intment. eBut," he added,
''this could not be done if word or whis-
per of it gets out. Can you and l keep the
secret?'' He then inquired if there was
any doubt Of Gov. Morgan's acceptance. /
told him l thought not that be had been a
capable and successful merchant; that he
had shown great executive and financial
ability as Governor of our State and that
! could not doubt of his acceptance Of de-
partment in which he could render much
greater service to his country. And, after
some further conversation, Mr.. Lincoln al
lowed me to suggest-in the strctest conf
dence. and in general terms-to Gov. Nor
gan that contingency might happen, in
which he would be called to the discharge
of other duties.
On the way to the cars I stopped at Gov.
Morgan's house and, after very earnest in
functions 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 l should hasten home and,
without disclosing or intimatine the posi-
bility of vacan'y in the United States Sen.
ate, do whatever might be done, with the
knowledge / possessed, to give the proper
direction to the question of filling G v. Nor.
gan's place in the Senate.
On my arrival at Albany, l had not lit
tie curious conversation with Gov. Fenton,
without whose cooperation it would have
been impossible to move satisfactorily. l
found that the gentlemen toward whom at
tention would naturally be drawn for such a
position, resided in the western part of the
State. suggested Lieut. Gov. Selden, o,
Judge ]. G. Smith as available; but | soon
discovered that the Governor, like some OF
his predecessors, had aspirations fer the
United States Senate, wren the time and op.
portunity should arrive. We then talked
with less restraint of candidates in other
portions of the State and I left lin with
the belief that, should it become necessa,
to act, we could agree upon suitable can.
didate. I row, however, with better
knowledge Of bis tactics, am confident that
had Gov. Morgan accepted the treasury de-
partment, Gov. Fenton would have been O
candidate for the vacancy.
When the time came for Mr.. Lincoln to
supply the vacancy occasioned by the resig.
nation Of Mr.. Fessenden, be took the Senate
and the country by surprise in the nomina
ton Of Gov. Morgan, whose entirely had
! failed to prepare him for the evcnt-was
quite as much surprised as his colleagues
Gov. Morgan, as soon as he could leave hi
seat, went over to the White House, and in
formed the President that he must decline
the appointment. He consented, however
to leave the matter over two or three days
giving both himself and the President time
for consideration. returned immediately
to Washington, and after long i1erviev
with Gov. Morgan, was constrained to re
port his persistent declinalion to the Presi
dent. l failed, however, as then and nov
believe, TO ascertain what were Gov Nor
gan's real reasons for refusing the treasury
department. Upon reporting that failure t
Mr.. Lincoln, be said: "That is very awk
ward, but we must look elsewhere for sec
retary. Who is your next MANI" l re
piled that was too much mortified by thi
missfre to try again. Mr.. Lincoln said
II am disappointed, for thought Gov. Nor
gan would be willing to help US run th
machine : but had two other men in m,
mind. What do you say to Mr.. McCullocl
or Mr.. Hooper," | replied that l had ,
high appreciation of he character and ser
vices of both gentlemen, but that was per
sonally almost unknown to them that Mr.
McCulloch had been brought to Washing
ton by Secretary Chase, and might be fairl,
supposed to have imbibed his views and i'm
pressions and that had no reason to be
leve that Mr.. Hooper sympathized with
Gov. Seward or his friends. Mr.. Lincolr
laughingly remarked that be supposed
could not forget how Massachusetts disap
pointed me at Chicago; adding, it was hard
for Gov. Seward TO be crowded out by new
man. And then he renewed his request fol
me to name man. | then said z: "Why
not call Mr.. Adams home ?" II have tho't
of that, too," said Mr.. Lincoln; "but will il
do to have SO long an interregnum re
marked that l thought Mr.. Chandler, the
assistant secretary, capable and trustworthy
"True," said Mr.. Lincoln, "we know thai
here but will it do to let the finance de
partment, on which so much depends, be
run by deputy?" then spoke of Senator
Foster. "An excellent man, said Mr.. Lin
coin, "and one whom l would readily ap
point, if Connecticut were large enough to
be entitled to two members of the cabinet.
| finally suggested Mr.. Hamlin. "Hamln, u
said Mr.. Lincoln, "has the Senate on The
brain. and nothing more or less will cure
him." And then l gave it up; and Mr.
Lincoln said: "Let us fall back on Mr.
McCulloch, who now seems most available;
adding, that he would hold the question
open for two or three days, giving me time
to confer as freely and frequently as | desir
ed with that gentleman.
found mrself not little embarrassed
on my way, one Sunday morning, to th'
residence Of Mr.. McCulloch. The idea o
establishing relations with that gentleman
ION compulsion," seemed like seeking
knowledge under difficulties. These diff
culties, however, disappeared by degrees, a
our conversation proceeded. There were
two elements in the character of Mr.. Nc
Culloch on which, per Sc, was disposed te
rely. He had Scotch blood in his veins
and had been in politics whis.
This may be proper occasion to So.
that, during my whole political life, in al
similar conversations in reference to impor
tant political interests, | never asked or in
timated desire to receive, directly. or in
directly, anything in the shape OF a pledg'
or a promise; nor have | ever, in reference
to such things, regarded a man from whom
such pledges or promises were required, o.
who was capable of giving them, worthy o
confidence or respect. After Mr.. Lincoln'i
FIRST election as President he invited me te
Springfield, where passed two days with
him in free consultation about the grea'
questions upon which he would be called to
act. Mr.. Lincoln was frank and unrestrsin
ed, evidently inviting corresponding frank
ness and freedom on my part. His cabinet,
his inaugural, his policy, ETC., etc, were full
" discussed and when / was about to take
my leave. Mr.. Lincoln inquired, playfully.
if hadn't forgotten something adding, at.
ter moments pause, "You have not asked
for any Offices" / replied that when the
proper time arrived should probably, like
hosts Of other friends, ask for such favors.
"But," said Mr.. Lincoln, 'you have the rep
utation OF taking time by the forelock. !
was warned to be on my guard against you;
and the Joke of the matter is, that those who
gave the warning are after Offices them.
selves, while you have avoided the subject"
But, going back to Mr.. McCulloch- my
:nAa.~; ,,ua with ihaN n.anflanan ;f nsofrn ri.