Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-15
POLITICAL HISTORY.
SOME QUEER HISTORY IB0UT THE
EARLY DAYS OF 1860.
Lincoln's First Cabinet-Lyman TrumbulI,
Seward, Weed, Cameron, Blair, etc.
[Chicago Cor. Boston Herald. |

There was some queer history made in
December, 1860. not only by the party 60
ing out of power under the shadow of re-
bellion, but by the political infant born of
sectional agitation and of the arrogance of
the slave power. 1t is not my purpose to
recall much of that history, but to write
some "reminiscences of those days that
seem to have passed unnot;ced
amid more startling events, and to
years. To do this have had 10 rub against
the men who figured i'll tho scenes will
try to depict-men who played broad parts
in the tragedy then just being put upon
the stage. They have grown gray since
those days by the mighty events they have
witnessed as we'll as with years.
To-day met Lyman Trumbull on the
streets Of this city, looking not a year
older than when he was power in the
senate and in the Republican party. He
is now Democrat, never having
recovered from the Greeley move
ment of 1872. He was always sour,
critical man, who split hairs in great
emergencies, and wanted to study and di-
gest the constitution rather than act
promptly upon any question. Some one
said that a good lawyer was always good
Democrat, l suppose for the same reason
that the Irishman said he was always
forninst the government" Mr.. Trumbull
has got new wife, which, [ suppose, &C
counts for carrying his years so easily. He
was first elected to the senate when he only
had four votes that would stand by him.
This was in 1854 or 1856, do not recall
which year. Some say he cheated Mr..
Lincoln out Of the place. but I
think that is a libel. 1t is true
ne had no following. to speak of, but
the fact is that Mr.. Lincoln's friends elect
ed him to defeat Il man who was more OBJ
jectionable TO them than Trumbull. 1t
was long and bitter contest, and it left
its scars. The Republican party felt that
Mr.. Lincoln had been unjustly beaten for
the place, and the next state convention
declared for him for the next vacant sena-
torship in an emphatic resolution. IF Mr.
Lincoln had never been elected to tie pres
idency, he would have been elected to the
senate, and Trumbull wouldn't ever have
cut the figure he did in national affairs.
Trumbull was right while the fighting
lasted, but when the war ended be got mad
because he couldn't get all he wanted in the
way of patronage, and began to apply the
judicial quality of his mind to everything.
He naturally drifted into the Democratic
party by an easy grade, and he soon sank
out of sight as a political power, and now
earns good living at the law. There are
lots of such mile posts of disappointments
in every state.
The jolly, good-natured face and power
full form of
LEONARD SWEET
loomed up in the distance just beyond Mr..
Trumbull. He was coming from court and
had law book under his arm. He is a
little grayer than in 1860, but just as
breezy and good humored as when he
stood and shouted for Lincoln at the con-
vention of that year. He greeted mo in
true Western style. Indeed, his is perfect
type of the whole-souled Westerner. He
stands in the front rank among the best
attorneys in the West. He denies the adage
that "a good lawyer is always good Dem
ocrat," for he is as staunch a Republican
now as when the party was first born.
"Yes, right over there is where the con-
vention of 1860 was heid,' said he pointing
in the direction he indicated. "The city
as we'll as the country has changed might
lily since those days. A mans life covers
great deal that is wise and foolish in this
world"
THAT was a great convention"
Eyes, but the convention was not as great
as its work. 1 tell you it was a dispersal
ton of Providence that gave US Lincoln
instead of Seward"
"How did Mr.. Lincoln come to put Mr..
Seward in his cabinet?"
because it was good policy and because
of the natural demands of the political
situation. The party was new and Mr..
Seward was its foremost leader. Mr.. Lin
coin decided upon the appointment of Mr..
Seward almost immediately upon his cleo
ton"
SIT is not true, then, that he appointed
him at the instance of Thurlow Weeds"
mo, sir. Mr.. Weed knew nothing about
Mr. Lincoln's intentions in relation to Mr..
Seward until he himself informed him of
them. The facts are these: Immediately af-
ter the nomination Judge David Davis and
myself went around to Mr. Weeds quar-
tors in Chicago and asked him
to GO down to Springfield with US and see
Mr.. Lincoln. We urged that he ought to
know him at the very beginning of the
campaign. Mr.. Weed was going to Iowa
with his daughter, and could not go
then, but on his return he said he would
telegraph us and we should join hin and
go to Springfield. He did so. and we join
ed him at Bloomington and went with him
to see Mr.. Lincoln. This was the first
time they had ever met. The conversation
was general but very interesting, and the
policy of the campaign was somewhat con-
sidered."
SIS it true, as has been stated, that Mr..
Weed virtually dictated the cabinet of the
first Republican presidents"
mo, sir. Mr.. Lincoln decided upon the
leading members of his cabinet very soon
after his election. He was great man to
listen to what everybody had to say, and
then do as he pleased afterward. He con-
suited with Mr.. Weed as he did with others,
and the story of the interview between
them upon
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CABINET
is an interesting one"