The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-24
LINCOLN AND HERNDON.
A Very Remarkable Letter from Mr..
LincoIn's Law Partner.
The Worm Turns at Last-Mr. Herndon
Asserts that He Made Mr.. Lincoln and
Owes Him Nothing.
snecial to the Indianapolis Journal

W. H. Eerudon, Llncon's old law partner III
relation to an interview with Hon. Milton Hay,
of this city, recently published, in which Gath"
purports to give something of the private rela-
tions Of Abraham Lincoln in his earlier days.
and in whion discredlt is apparently attempted
to be cast upon Mr. HerndOn's statements
about Lincoln. In the outset, Herndon refers to
what he has heretofore written about Lincoln
and says, "a lot of blind, infatuated and wild
hero-worshipers, all over the country, fairly
ache to get at something which they hope will
injure me. in order that, by my injury, they can
lift up to higher level what they superstitious-
ly worshfp-a myth" Then he proceeds to tell
what he says is the true story of Lincoln's hav-
ing given, or having offered to give, Herndon
an office under the Lincoln administration, a
story which he says he has never told before.
Leading up to this story he speaks of "Gath's"
suggestion that he (Herndon) has disseminated
a great many views of Lincoln which are n erely
his own theories and vagaries." OF this Hern-
doa says:
"I reply for myself, that. in 1888 to 1910, Mr..
Lincoln, at Bells store, In this city, made me
what am in religion by his theories and vaga-
ries This is known in this city by a few OF
my friends. Again, you see,' SO says Gath, or
rather he makes Mr.. Hay say, 'HerndOn was
man that Lincoln picked up; he was poor, for.
1orn fellow who got on the right side OF Lincoln
1t would be quite as true to say, you see Lin
right side of Hernd0u.' Gath says further, 1T
was HerDdon's poverty aud hard luck that made
Lincoln take to him' etruth about this mat
tion, was at that time 1944) the inOneyed man
of the firm. MY ambition ran in that direction
then. and it is equally as true that, at that time,
was possibly as popular a man as Lincoln,
and possibly as good lawyer soon
thereafter. 1 was not at that time poor,
fOrlorn man and not deserted now. n
In conclusion on this point, Mr.. Lincoln took me
into partnership with himself and held to me
till his death, because he could use me to his adj
vantage, and in this he was not disappointed.
lincoln says, Man acts from motives, and he
chooses the best Lincoln was under this uni
Versal law, and subject to it,"
Mr.. Herndon then goes at length into what he
calls the substantial facts about Lincoln Offering
him. or his asking for an appointment. He says
that just before Lincoln's departure from Spring
field for Washington to assume the presidency,
he came into the office of Lincoln & Herndon
and asked if there was any position he would
like to have under the then incoming admins
tratiou, to which Herndon states that he replied,
thankfully, that there was not; that he had
good law practice, and was then bank commits
sioner of Illinois, and by taking office under Lin
coin he should lose both his law practice and the
bank commissiOnership. He then adds:
"LincOlp then asked me if wished to hold the
bank conn isslOner's office undeF Gov Yates, to
which I replied, 4 do Mr.. Lincoln then went
office. heard that conversation between Lin
coin and Gov. Yates. but dare say no more, un-
less pushed to extremes"
The letter then relates the particulars of a
trip made by Herndon to Washington. in 1862
to ask for an appointment, not for himself, but
for Charles W. ChaUterton, an application which
was quickly granted Then he continues, rela-
tive to his alleged grievance:
"Further. say in 1863 I again, this time for
myself, asked Lincoln Tor an office. Soon Mr.
Lincoln telegraphed me that he was TO give me
a place, and mentioned what il was l tele-
graphed back to him: 4 accept your PROPOSE
tion,' but at the same instant sat down and
wrote Mr.. Lincoln that could not accept the
place. Not wanting the office, wished to turn
it over to a friend. now Judge -, but he
could not accept The reason why telegraphed
back to Lincoln, just as did. was because did
not want anybody to know anything about our
private affairs, and the reason why did not
accept the office was because the acceptance
would obiige me to go away from my home and
business. The dispatches between Lincoln and
myself will be found in Springfield and Wash
tngton City, and refer to them for the particu-
lars. In my opinion Mr.. Lincoln would have
willingly given me any office thar my ambition
had struggled for. Why, then, should have a
should be very sour against Mr.. Lincolng
he gave me everything wished and asked for
1 never had, for one moment, grievance
springfield sour against him. Mr.. Lincoln has
conferred upon me many favOrs, for which am
thankful; but owe Mr.. Lincoln nothing. paid
him for all lie ever did for me, 100 per cent
with compound interest, paid quarterly. re-
epeeted the man when living and honor him when
dead. have said that Lincoln not God,
and Ii this is undertaking him, so be it, I have
SAID, and now say, that Mr. Lincoln was one of
the best, wlsest, greatest and noblest or man
Kind; and II, by this acknOw ledgment, / under
rate the man, so be IL. Now, hope this great
national question is settled. and settled forever"
Referring to "Gath's" language. that ''about
the only great thing that ever happened to
Herndon was being taken up by Lincoln" he
says this is point that has not been univer-
sally conceded by people who best know the
circumstances. and very strongly intimates that
their falling in together was fully fortunate
for Lincoln as for himself, saying: 81 do not as
sert this. only repeat what others have said
60 me, and in my presence TO other people"
The remaining matter of interest in the letter
is chiefly found in the following paragraph:
"When Mr. Lincoln returned from Washing
ton in 1S4S-9, he came to this city, broken
down and bankrupt politician. caused ny his
course in the Mexican war, d course " hch l
tried to prevent. His old friends in this then
congressional district, for his course in Congress-
deserted him. then stood firmly by him, and
helped him to fight bis way upward again. In
1886 Mr.. Lincoln for the time being was
very unpopular here, caused by his aLti-slavery
views and his opposition to the encroachments of
slavery. His former acquaintance and friends
would scarcely speak to him, or deign to recog-
niZe him-wOuld not go to hear him Justify him
self before God and man. then stood firmly by
money and tongue at the bar. through the press
RDd on the stump-to fight his way up again
ut is said by Gath that Lincoln never went to
lincoln & Herndon's Office pour ont his soul to
Herndon. L never said this, nor ever intimated
it: but can give the people universal law of
human nature by which they oan judge'of our
intimacy. When men are driven tog, Their from
q common fear or a common foe, was the case
In 1854 TO 1850, the relation Is apt 70 he close
and tightly riveted. Then the souls are one, and
thoughts are known in the minds of each without
utterauee long aud loud"
There is'much more in the letter, bur these are
the points of puhlic interest. Mr. Herndun saws
he has no apology to offer for writing it, or ex-
Cuse for It's seeming egotism, except the fact
that he has kept silent daring nearly twenty
years of outrages, abuse and unjust misrepre-
sentations of his relations to the first martyr
President, and until he is now convinced that
silence Is no longer virtue.
The National Liberal League