Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-12-21
LINOOLN'S DENOMINATION.
How simon Cameron Started the
Bali Rolling Ben Buffers Marrow
Escape from the Presidency.

Harrisburg Letter to The Boston Herald.
President Lincoln's fear that Zen Wade,
Chase, Seward and other Republican leaders
were organizing a movement to defeat his
denomination is familiar history Mr.. Cam
eron was just home from Europe in the midst
of the intrigue which so disturbed the Pres
dent He called General Cameron 10 his side
and recountcd his fears that the Republican
leaders who were plotting against him would
defeat him for second term. at can't be
dore," was the emphatic reply of Mr.. Cameron
when Mr.. Lincoln had told his story. ''The
sentiment of this country il overwhelmingly
for you, and it must find expression before the
convention meets"
"How can it be done?" was tha swift ques-
ton of Mr.. Lincoln.
Easy enough" said Gen. Cameron Il re-
member Gen. Jackson's first term, while
was building the Lake Pontchartraiu canal into
New Orleans, l was called home by Mr.
Eaton, secretary OF war, to assist i'll the cain
paign for the reelection of Jackson. Ypu will
remember that Jackson had pledged himself
not to run a second time, and the first Point
to be gained was to decide what means sboula
be taken to remove this obstacle. We Lad
consultation, and it was sugger ted that s,rn,
state legislature should start with Il petition
asking Jackson to become candidate for re
election. This could be followed 10y otbers
until all the Democratic states through thri,
representatives had spoken in h. behalf Hie
great popularity made this nj Guy task. The
legislature of Pennsylvania Ita dlv @.JHrd tic
request asked, and the other sta'c- iuiIUN.i it
quick succession. lie could lot, Vi cuuY~, de
cline such call, and was re elected. IL
people naturally SUPPOSED it was siJpntaue
GUS uprising i'll his behalf, " iIer"a9 il was g.
carefully prepared plan t. "rou5t- and Uircc.
public sentiment This can be done u ypuI
case, and we will begiu Win PENS tlvuuia, a.
we did for Gen. Jackson"
"Do you think it can be done, gc-cTal?" sale
Mr.. Lincoln.
you how easily" Aud the two thea plrteu
with Mr.. Lincoln very much pleased with the
abiding faith of his new ally.
Mr.. Cameron returned 10 Harrisburg. and il.
a day or two sent Mr.. Lincoln the petition OF
the Pennsylvania legislature, asking HIM to
be candidate for reelection and pleusiug him
the vote of the state. Very soon state aft;I
state followed this lead in rapid succession
and each additional recruit gave Lincoln gres,
pleasure. 1t was not long afterward before
General Cameron called at the White House
on a reception day. Taking his place in the
line he was pushing his way slowly to the
place where the executive was receiving his
guests. The latter saw Mr.. Cameron some
distance away in the column. Holding up his
great hand, encased In cheap cotton glove,
he indicated with three long fingers the sue
cess of their scheme and shouted: s'Simon,
We've got 'em Three more states in to-
day."
The crowd looked at the president in as
constituent, but they little knew how the re-
ceipt of the news from those three states had
relieved the mind of Mr.. Lincoln. Another
phase of this presidential contest of 1854
which is just now interesting and exceedingly
apropos, follows the story of how he was
convinced he was to be chosen for a second
term. After he was satisfied that his nomina-
ton was certainty, he was very anxious con-
corning the man who was to have the second
place on the ticket After looking the coun-
try over, he decided that he would like to have
Ben Butler on the ticket with him as
vice president He sent for Gen
Cameron and asked him to be his envoy
in carrying his desire to Gen. Butler,
who was in command near Fort Mon
roe Mr.. Cameron accepted the mission, and
he, with Henry Wilson of Massachusetts,
went down in government vessel to inform
General Butler of Mr. Lincoln's wishes The
meeting with General Butler, Mr.. Cameron
said, was exceeding pleasant, but when Mr.
Lincoins desire was made known to him, his
reply was: Il would not accept place on
presidential ticket with any man, although
appre late the compliment the president has
done lne in making the request" But for this
positive declinatiOn of General Butler there is
ne doubt he would have been vice president,
and succeeded to the presidency instead Of
Andrew jackson.