The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-06
ONE OF THEWAR GOVERNORS
Interesting Modernism hePOlitical Ca
reer of Andrew Gregg Curtin.
The Part He Took in Lincoln's Nomination.
The Latter's Secret Journey to Washing
tOn-The Famous altoona Conference.
special 70 the 1naianapoIIs JournaI.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
BELLEFoNTE, Pa, Jan. Sit was cold and
cherries without, but within all was
warmth and comfort and the talk of tho
old man seated beside the wide fireplace,
which seemed to bespeak for the visitor gem
erous, open-hearted welcome and good
cheer as he passed in review the stirring
and memorable scenes in which, during n
public career of forty-fve years, he had
played an important part. and stopped
now and then to touch upon the
famous men with whom, in the dis
charge of public trusts, he had often
touched elbows, brought forgetfulness of
the depressing scene without. The shad-
ows Of the evening are falling about him,
and time has silvered his hair and carved
deep lines in his fine, strong face, but at
seventy-one the qualities which made this
strong man a tower of strength In the try
ing and gloomy days when the Nation had
need of her sturdiest sons. are still un-
dimmed. His mind is still keen and vigor-
Gus, and, should occasion demand it, the
veteran could again put forth the splendid
powers which twenty-five years ago made
him, as Governor of Pennsylvania, one or
the pillars of the Nation, and carved in
deep and enduring letters the name of
Andrew Gregg Curtin on the list of the true
saviors of the Republic. To have known
such man is privilege; 10 have sat with
him in the home where, cheered by the love
of the accomplished woman who has been
his companion for half century, he is
spending the last days of an eventful life,
and to have heard him tell in his own
words of the incidents of that life is still
greater privilege. Such privilege enjoyed
this afternoon, and that which follows is
the result OF what l heard.
The nomination FOR Governor of Pennsyl-
vania secured on Feb. %, 1860, Governor
Curtin anxiously turned his attention To-
the Republican national convention about
to assemble at Chicago, for the purpose OF
placing in nomination candidates for presI-
dent and Vice-president. Strong as were
the hopes of the Pennsylvania Republicans
of success at their State election then held
In October, 1T was still an unsettled Ques-
ton whether or not the rank and file of the
old Wing party would follow their chief
this reason the strength and availability or
the nominee of the Chicago convention
were felt by Governor Curtin and his
friends to be matters of the first importance.
nor, Henry ID. Foster, man whose ability
and popularity, backed by the discreet and
patriotic administration of Governor Pack
er, were certain to put the strength OF the
fag srop party Somnes would
add greatly TO the prospect OF
Republican success in Pennsylvania in
October, and the election of Governor Cur
tin would have an incalculable effect upon
the November contest. Upon the other
hand Governor Curtin, weighted with d
weak presidential candidate, would proba-
bly, fail of an election and his defeat would
react most disastroVsly upon the national
ticket.
Before the assembling of the convention,
all indications seemed to poins TO the
nomination of Senator Seward, of New York.
His great abilities, his exalted character
and his conspicuous public services easily
placed him in the lead of all the other can.
didates and caused demand for his nomi-
nation from the majority of his party: Buo
of New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. in
Guiding such men as Horace Greeley, David
Dudley Field, Thaddeus Stevens David
Wilmot, Colonel Mcclure, Governor Curtin
questioned the wisdom of Senator Stewards
nomination, and though at the outset the
the odds were strongly against them they
succeeded in the end in preventing hls
To the efforts of Governor Curtin-who
knew that Senator Seward was especially
weak in Pennsylvania, and that his nomi-
nation would mean the defeat of both the
State and national candidates-more than
to those of any other of the gentlemen
named was this result due. The story or
how this was accomplished, though in the
recital, with his usual modesty, he keeps
his own part in it in the background, IS
best told in the Governors own words:
Though not delegate L went to Chica-
go, determined to do all III my power 10
prevent the nomination of Senator Seward.
III laaI oI I.nr for far
that time had not become personally ac-
quainted with either Seward or Lincoln. L
knew, however, IN my own State at least,
q large part of those who. would support
would under other circumstances come To
us. My sole opposition to Senator Seward
was based upon his want of strength in
Pennsylvania, as the natural result of de-
feat in that State In October would have
been a national defeat in November.
lon my way to Chicago rode for some
distance with Mr.. Foster, the gentleman
who was my Democratic opponent in the
gubernatorial campaign. Though rivals IN
politics we were otherwise warm friends.
and the conversation which had with him
was quite lengthy. i asked him what be
thought of the outlook and he told me that
if Senator Seward was the presidential
nominee as he seemed confident he would
be, he would certainly defeat me in the
State campaign. L then asked Mr.. Foster
1T he thought he could be elected Governor
was nominated for President. His reply
| was that such a contingency would make
| the State contest very close and doubtful
| one, and he could not tell what the outcome
would be. His conversation strengthened
| my previous conviction that the nomination.
| of Seward would be suicidal.
Among the first gentlemen / met after
my arrival in Chicago was Henry s. Lane;
| the Republican candidate for Governor of
| Indiana, and John ID. Defrees, of the same
| State. / told them what were my fears as
| to the consequences that would follow the
| nomination of Senator Seward, and they re-
| piled that the choice of the New York Sen
| ator as a candidate would prove equally
disastrous to Republican chances in Indi-
| ana, and that the delegation from that
State would vote solidly for Lincoln asl long
| as there was hope of his nomination.
| Together we visited the delegates as they
| arrived, and advised them as to what, In
our opinion, was the wisest course to fol-
! low. However, we found the majority of
them inclined TO support Seward. and when
| the convention met on Wednesday 1T was
plain to be seen that he was the fayorite.
IAN adjournment was taken over night,
but on Thursday the situation had changed
but little, and had the convention proceed
| ed TO ballot on that day Senator Seward
| would have been nominated beyond the
| question of doubt. Fortunately for those
| of us who opposed his nomination the bust
ness men of Chicago had rendered the con-