The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-07
PRESIDENT LINCOLN.


called at the White House, and although |
early, several persons were waiting to see the |
President Mr.. Lincoln requested me to call |
at an hour indicated, when l found him |
alone He commenced 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. / did not say |
much abont it then, but intended, if circum- |
stances were favorable, to even up the ac-
count. 1 shall have Mr.. Fessenden's resigna-
ton of the Treasury Department on Monday.
Now, If you had the vacancy to fill whose
name would you send to the Senate ?"
replied that, although wholly unprepared
for such question, yet was not unprepared
with a name that would suggest for his
consideration. / then mentioned Governor
Morgan as in my judgment a suitable man
for the place, provided it would answer to
give the two leading places in his Cabinet to
the State of New York.
81 anticipated this name, said Mr.. Lin
coin; "and even if had not intended to con-
suit your wishes, / should have felt quite safe
in trusting the matter to your judgment 1
can afford to give Governor Morgan the Trea
sury, even though Mr.. 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 word or whisper of it gets
out. Can you and 1 keep the secret?" He
then inquired if there was any doubt of Gov
ernor Morgan's acceptance. / told him l
thought not; that he had been capable and
successful merchant; that he had shown great
executive and financial ability as Governor of
our State; and that 1 could not doubt of his
acceptance of department. in which he could
tn ptru
And, after some further con versation, Mr..
Lincoln allowed me to suggest-in the
strictest confidence, and in general terms-to
Governor Morgan that a contingency might
happen in which he would be called to the
discharge of other duties.
On the way to the cars / stopped at Cover
nor Morgan's house, and, after a very earnest
injunctions of secrecy, made the suggestion,
in forms 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.. nLincoln
and myself that should hasten home; and,
without disclosing or intimating the posi-
bility of vacancy in the United States
Senate, do whatever might be done, with the
knowledge 1 possessed, to give the proper
direction to the question of filling Governor
Morgan's place in the Senate.
On my arrival at Albany, had not little
curious conversation with Governor Fenton,
without whose cooperation it would have
been impossible to move satisfactorily. 1
found that the gentlemen towards whom at
tention would naturally be drawn for such a
position, resided in the western part OF the
State. 1 suggested Lieutenant Governor
Selden, or Judge J. G. Smith, as available
but soon discovered that the Governor, like
some of his predecessors, had aspirations for
the United States Senate, when the time and
opportunity should arrive We then talked
with less restraint of candidates in other por-
tions of the State; and I left him with the
belief that, should it become nessary to act,
we could agree upon a suitable candidate. l
now, however, with better knowledge of his
tactics, am confident that, had Governor
Morgan accepted the Treasury Department,
Governor Fenton would have been a candi-
date for the vacancy.
When the time came for Mr.. Lincoln to
supply the vacancy occasioned by the resig-
nation of MIR. Fessenden, he took the Senate
and the country by surprise in the nomina
tion of Governor Morgan, whose entirely
had 1 failed to prepare him for the event
was quite as much surprised as his colleagues
Governor Morgan, as soon as he could leave
his seat, went over to the White House, anC
informed 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 tim'
for consideration. 1 returned Immediately
to Washington, and after long interview
with Governor Morgan, was constrained t,
report his persistent declination to the Presi
dent. failed, however, as then and nov
believe, to ascertain what were Governo
Morgans real reasons for refusing the Trea
sury Department. Upon reporting that fail
ure to Mr.. Lincoln, he said-''That is YER
awkward, but we must look elsewhere for
Secretary. Who is your next man?" reptile
that 1 was too much mortified by thi
miss fire to try again. Mr.. Lincoln said
81 am disappointed, for l thought Governo
Morgan would be willing to help us run tn
machine;' but 1 had two other men in m
mind. What do you say to Mr.. McCulloc
or Mr.. Hooper," l replied that had hig
appreciation of the character and services
both gentle men, but that l was PERSONAL
almost unknown to them; that Mr.. McCulloc
had been brought to Washington by SecretaI
Chase, and might be fairly supposed to hay
imbibed his views and impressions; and thi
had no reason to believe that Mr.. Hope
sympathized with Governor Seward or h
friends. Mr.. Lincoln laughingly remarke
that he supposed could not forget how Ma
sachusetts disappointed me at Chicag
adding, it was hard for Governor Seward
be crowded out by new man. And then
renewed his request for me to name man.
then said:-''Why not call Mr.. Adams home
81 have thought of that too, said M
Lincoln; 'but will it do to have so long
interregnum ?" l remarked that l thoug
Mr.. Chandler, the Assistant Secretary, cap
BILE and Trustworthy. ''True, said Mr.. Lii