The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-03-07
LINcoLN's LAW PARTNER.
Washington Cor. Cleveland Leader.l

Leonard Swett, the old law partner o Abraham Lincoln, is still practicing law ir Chicago, and he stands, am told, at the head of the bar of the west. He was during Lincoln's life, his most intimate friend and confidential adviser. Many times Lincoln called him to Washington to talk over matters which he did mol dare to trust to others, and to take ad- vantage of Swett's hard sense. Several weeks before the emancipation procla- nation was issued, a friend of Mr Swett's tells me, Mir. SEett received a despatch to come to Washington at once. He did so, and went directly to the White House. President Lincoln received him with open arms, and took him into his private room and shut the door. He then took letter from his pocket and read 1t to Mir. Swett. It was a petition signed by Lloyd Garrison and number of other abolitionists urging the procla- nation of emancipation. It was strong paper and enforced it's ideas with the best arguments that could be made for them. After he had concluded it Mir. Lincoln took out another letter, which he told MT. Swett was written by a patriotic and liberty loving Swiss. This letter, which he read, presented just as strongly the other side of the question, and urged him as he hoped to save the Union not to drive the border states, now prf ctically neutral, into the confederacy by such an act. The president then took up the whole subject, and went over its every point to MT. Swett. He did not decide in favor oi either side, nor did he ask Mir. Swett's advice. After he had finished he dismissed the subject and talked of other matters. The next day Swett went back to Illinois. The president had merely called him here for the purpose of having talk with one whom he knew he could trust. He had already decided upon the emancipation, and had at this time, 1t is said, his proclamation written.
 "Itwas Swett and Judge David Davis" ]" continued this gentleman, "who did more to secure the nomination of Lincoln in 1860 than any other two men in the country. MT. Swett told me the story Illinois went into the convention with little expectation of securing Lincoln's nomination. Tie delegation had no heart in their work, and Davis and Swett were the only two real workers in the delegation. They braced up the others, and they secured Lincoln's nomin alton by pr missing cabinet places to other states if they would vote for Lincoln. Before the convention met they were sure of Illinois only. As soon as the delegates had arrived at Chicago they went to the Indiana delegation and promised Indiana a cabinet place in case Lincoln was elected, if Indiana would vote sofidly for him on the first ballot, and stick to him thereafter as long as he seemed to have a chance of being nom- mated. The Indiana delegation con- sented to the agreement. Kentucky was fixed in the same way, and they then ap-, preached Pennsylvania Here the trade was more diff cult. Simon Cameron was a candidate, and he had his state solidly for him. At last they persuaded Penn sylvanis to go for Lincoln on the second ballot with the promise that Cameron should go into the cabinet on his cleo tion. The result was that with Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky solid they re- ceived enough scattering votes to run their total on the first ballot to Io2 Seward had I73 and Cameron 50 On the second ballot Pennsylvania came in for Lincoln, and it became a close fight between Lincoln and Seward. On the third ballot Lincoln was nominated.
 "After the nomination Davis and Swett told Lincoln how it had been accom- plished, and urged upon him his duty as to carrying out the contracts which they had made. He objected considerably to some of them. As to Indiana said he, Caleb B. Smith know is a good man, and would be glad to have him in my cabinet. don't object to James Speed, of Kentucky, but l don't know about Simon Cameron. Either justly or un- justly, Cameron has been charged with being accessory to certain jobs, and am making this campaign as honest old Abe" and I want to avoid even the ap- pearance of evil.'
 1t was long time before Davis and Swett could persuade Mir. Lincoln to say that Cameron should have place. He did so finally and in the end gave him the war department. Smith. of Indiana, got the interior, and as to Kentucky, it's part of the spells was not given until later in the administration, when James Speed, of that state, was put in the place of Bates as at.orney-generaL"