New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-06
,ucorx JEREm al BLACK AND LAMoN'
,,nnv AK GEORGE ALFRED qowNsEND.

IkMON ON GEORGE ALFRED lOhNOA-N'N'
70 me Edttor Of The TRIBUNE.
SIR: My attention has been directed TO
reragraph in a recent number Of THE TRIBUNE on the
- Indge Jeremiah g. Black the authorship OF which
"a generally ascribed to George Alfred Townsend, in
which occurs the following:
=" pre.tdent Lincoln's Marshal Mr.. LamOn, gave him
he entering TSas9 e Of Lincoln the first Volume Of
which was published In Boston several years ago, n
winch the maryred Preslentt 1r,enas
nstigation from Mr.. Black In that book doup'0 "i0
thrown on Mr. Linco!ns legitimacy OF Dlrth'
will not presume to defend Judge Black against tne
malicious inslnuaons and unjust criticism conaheu III
Mr. Townsend's paragraph. Like much OF that Een'i'
mans Iabors II illustrates the fecundlty oil i.
send's peculiar genius Judge Black was so wen huo"
that he needs no defence, and ne was fec's -
profound q statesman and so able lawyer 'u"' "
that his law practice at Washington was SoUut'O
efforts or influence Of myself Is simply siHy' Jus
1laoks great abilities "gaVe him the entering "euse o
his practice at Washington CITY, just aS 'uo g.
ties of Caleb Gushing, whom no Ied"1 'u0O ,,
that distinguished statesman ana awe ,'-,
wedge was associated with Juugo D'Soa :" ,'1D.,
brt an, mt an vain to even suppose teaI MS eLeS
sch,evemrnts were due in the slightest oesree u au1
effort Of mine. ,,o,,s Tita ~ lincoln "receved
a. ~ 1O ,ttSatoa from Mr. Black" Neither Is II true
mai in the volume referred 70 GouDtS are % o O
~ nss Is0macy of birth" Several years ago
Mr TToWDsend made this same charge when was men n
1nst with positive denial from me. Az tnat Sn1 i
eved MI tS ntens of tine book; that he had allowed
Himself be imposed on by some it's aRguage
20 man possessing the intelligence OF MI loMuseu CHn
read the book and tIutatn say ssas and IN sn" form
md anRl tge that convinced his nina is "aipeu o
s s SSc6 an inference and even Mr. Townsend if he
has any fairness candor, Will Dc lOTctu -
Sonrs ' " WARD II. LAMoN
Deaser COL, Sept. 90. 1888
TEr-Marsnal Lannon's letter above was shown TO Mt
Townsend, who forwards the following rePBI
TOWNSEND on LAMON.
10 the Edttor OF The Trt6uHe,
SIR: The following passages are taken from Lannon's
Lie of Lincoln: 49,
His fathers name was Thomas Lincoln and his
nnotber's maiden name Nancy Hanks. Al the time
y, bs birth they are supposed to have been married
about three years. Although there appears 10 nave
been but little sympathy or affection between IhomaS
and Abraham Lincoln, they we're nevertheless COL
nscted BIZ ties and ASSOCIATIONS" ETC. (Page ~
at is admitted by all the Old residents OF me place
that they we're honestly married. but precisely when or
how no one can tell Digent and thorough searches oy
the most competent persons have failed 10
discover any trace OF the fact IN the ruohc
records of Hardin the adjoining counties The license
and the minister's return IN the case OF Lhhcoh anu
Rarsh Johnston his second wife, were easily iOund ID to
Mace where the law required them to be- but OF Nancy
Hankss marriage there exists evidence but mat OF
mutual acknowledgment and cOhdoitation'' page w.
The ordinary married couple is secure In the presunp
fion of their legal Here enough Is SAID TO make
II appear that is ways incumbent upon son TO nave
his aete de n0iSSance ready and 10 oroer' OF I"Ae
the consequences Of an imputation upon
bis legitimacy After this book came out
political opponents Of Mr.. Lincoln proceeded 10 assert
that lie was not legitimate, and these nnuendoes con
timed until Kentucky lawyer hunted up the certificate
Of marriage Of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks ana
sent 1t TO Brtow in this city II was 1ound III inc
records of the next county and could easily nave ee
,sep nv anv accurate bioTapher. Mr. Nlcolay once
said TO me- with Lannon'S BOOK IN his LanG, ina Almost
syeryWhere one turned in II tuere was covert sur
Mr. Iamon himself conveyed 10 me, several ears ago.
nv frst ideas of Jeremiah Black. tie may forget H.
mi man 40 careless Of LUOOlD's record might nave
beeu as careless about Blacks lame Concerning ar,
Lannon's loose remarks about me, viii only say 'hdI Ie
cannot be my oogIapher 100 Respectfully, ,.,.,,,,
Nep York, Oct ,. 1883. w. a 4ON"S|'O'