, 1880-05-08
POLITICAL HISTORY.


Abraham Lincoln, John J. Hardin, and
Edward d. lga1cr-trlio 1lllsiois Hcna.
torinl Contest or 1B6G.'7-Ilow Five
HConacientiounn NrcinbcrH Dofsntcd |
Lincplnsa KtcctI0n and N1ndo Trlanis
bull senator. |
~ ths Editor u 1hs CHICAGO Tribune.
Cir1eAao, May G.-1M Inst Sundays edition |
Of your paper Is MI nrticlu entitled "Einc0ltl
Of, Instructions" taken from tho Cincinnati
Enquirer ! think aaid article does Injustice |
to the three persons mostly opncorlicd-viz.:
President Lincoln. Gei'. L. D. nakor. and my
father (C01. John j. 1inrltln). i therefore
request you 10 publish the incloaed lotter,
written to mo by judge Gillespie In reply to
said artcla, nlbelt tho Judge IL somewhat
sevcru OH JitIgs. Trumbull md tile consclen-
tious five. Respectfully yui,rs,
NJ. y. HARDEN.
EpwAnDsv1InE, Ill.,, April 2a.-M THO
sihths' ,in's tele s y IL, W ast,e copie froi' tho c!n @
cinnatt fSn9tti,vrin reference tN Mr.. Lincoln,
which l think Is calculated 10 do grgnt !-'
justice to the memories pr John j.. Hardin
conspfred 10 tipfcat Lincoln l,y. unworthy
mems, such as Inducing delegates instructed
f9r him III tho Col1gresslonal @G2llyent!on @ 70
dfs1bcy, and vote for BnkDr. Tho writer Is
s4s sySsy a4 o soa,ds y ap GspHf, e D. Sssy
ocrat Hardin was. one Of tho most mn
!inchlnE and ,nnfvlserng, Wllgs tl.as over
drew tile breath Of ltfc,, 1le was q mirror pf
buiHtlltss respect for and conildenco In tfcn,'
both. lie knew they would sacrifice tllenl-
eelvgs rather than III an not TINT could sryor
r. tho s1iEhtest lrerfe Of .nean3Sss 13s, "r Iis
l3nker-wcre bosom friends to my certain
knowledge. and Lincoln wrnte the arntf-
1ncn.s of lis hsnrt when ~ renncd tho
%cr % %s"ysy Xs a st 9HasE lnr MS% st as 10 anc tes
yolu for him. In tic Convention. I]e felt
that they could be-, ,actuated by nothing bls
tho must honorable sentiments towards
him, fur although they were rlvnls, they
pTu'ettious hollor, % aMl devoted friends.
shy confidently Tint there nrvef was = tar-
eer e o. xy TS ~ iS q III e Ws et lie e
most honorable mid friendly character, and
When they were killed, ';, ~ wAS ~ Hardin r.
dear md true friend. They were NIL three
gress, showing thu confidence Of tho Whigs
Tic writer OF the artlele Is also mistaken
in s.lpposing t3,at Mr.. Lincoln regarded Ills
election to Congress- Mt That time lis tho turn
R9itt u ,s sarser a; ~, ~ ~ session Or tue
for ts isst tino hi @ oft ii tho he iority % and I tle
| Antl-N9hraslsu party,. composed principally
| Of old Whigs, concluded tllut then was their
| c1,hnce tn elect Lincoln to tic United States
sS ssnatS & far rRy RrsSs Of s G S 2t or YEHf % Ill.,
| however, was our regard for ltncoln TINT
wo wcrc'a1nost unanimous In his fayor. a
caucus WIS held Of all tho AWl-Nebraskn
tho caucus. eau w w % SUPPOSED i ta absentces @
/ would y0te with us, mil VIC felt confident
that we should alect Lincoln on the htst ba!-
lot. When thut ballot was taken, We found,
i, G, cook, Of III saf!o; and
mud baker, ot ,AiatlIson, voted, for
Lyman Trnn.hnll, who lIntl just been elected
tho Bclley!!io District, and ha4 not yct: takcl!
his sent. I'he lVhigs Ii, tho district ind voted
TOR Trumbul' 10 nun. was deputc!l to
Sscesti' WY Wiat ws tIn trouble w,tll Ill., theSe ,
consclenees would not perialt them to vote
meal1tinu sererai ballots hal been taken,
Sts4s Ss T. EMSaE M eae ts aa nsssS Ta5 h4sS1 s g1s @
Of Of tho seonseientiuus." Wo iai kilowll iii
along TINT SOME Of our 1ner (who llad bael
elected ur the Antt-Nehrnska ttekeD would
and vote t9r atatteson. shieltls wtss rim NJ II
blind. We did NIT know when tic c0,.-
aclvMces Of, our three men would be satisfied,
md wy ind e uMite speedily to defeat Matte
l
suit Of my lnna1rlrs, and nsked hlM wlint hs
thought ought to 1o don't. lla said "by nll
means we0lght to vote for THlIyb!ll," as
that w9s tho only way to tle!ent MRttesoli.
wv did 50 With lHan,y \, !nlsgtyinEs, md Tr!'m-
AlnhnmGt. 'rrumhMll WIS tota!esl FROM, Il
xent il! the House to . seat ~ tho Senn.e:
Lincoln, WIN Ind built up the partyI and
whose followers composed llncs-tell'ls q Il,
WIS left out In tho cold because he wonla not
follow thu r,l!n-or-r,!n policy: What lN!s~
not know, but never heard IT bis advising
hla live friends 10 vote far I.lI,cnln
l accompanied LEDco!1i that ayenlhg to his
f0Me, md Hnyer h;!w lllnI 10 !nlecttd. liz
again. liz eonl'l bear ,iefeat 1ntlicsol by his
STeS ar o !" M waaade o ip s&Ge' &e',,se So s Es
friends. Up to thIs time tincoil! Ind not
reaSl,ei his tMrninK;polnI H. sud e lne,
Greenvi'ie, IN 1873, That liz Ind but 0ltp. emu
l1atnt to mike ng,tlnst fhIglas I'll their dis
cusslnll', md thHt was Douglas nrroEnte!l
superiority over lltll ~ necount of his NA-
t!onal reputation seIi hs: , o'.F p0f|!lY,as " p,
lluvetl that he hatt not then attained Ma
l!olal reputation. Ills atbuta witt, Doueins.
and the consideration nccorde!l to lin ntstr
lt!s Cooper Institute sp{eeh III Now. York
City. think first Inspired lin with tho idea
liz neycr WINS II yn!,! INN, but always l.ad Il
Etntt silAro NJ confidence III tho eDrseGtness
Ut his own opinions, md wasnc unwilling
Or reluctant i0 cllntNpl0n the ,c;l,,sc ln Is
pnuse.. 1tu Was always III tic lialuls 9f ha
declined thu posit!pNt, As carly MS lEH:'5 !le
was put farwAr1 It's tho spokesman uf the
Whig party, md lle never disappointed them
or fell below tl,otr expectations.