Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-07-04
A Lea. Of unwrltten nr.story.

The quick succession OF momentou5
events that filed up the last six mcn.as
Of President Lincoln's life has almost
collapsed from memory the fact that just
rs years ago there existed very strong
dissatisfaction in his own party over
what was then deemed the culpsble slow
ness and inefectiveness Of his conduct Of
the war Of the rebellion; dissatisfaction
so earnest as to lead to wide spread
movement TO force his withdrawal from
the Presidential ticket, to which he had
been renominated by the Republican
convention at Baltimore on June 7th,
1854. The feeling against him had even
before this been pronounced enough to
ause decided split in the Republican
ranks and the nomination, by the anti
Lincoln faction, in convention at Oleve-
land three days before the Baltimore
convention, of a ticket headed By Cen
eral Fremont. But it was not until
August that the movement began to
gather such volume as to make it proba.
BILE that Lincoln would be Withdrawn or
defeated. BY that time the dissatisfac-
tion had spread SO far beyond the dis
tinctively Fremont faction that the prop
osition was made to throw both cardi-
dates overheard and ''to concentrate the
union strength on some one candidate,
who commands the confidence of the
country, even by q new nomination II
necessary"
This is q quotation from call for q
new convention, promulgated by con-
ference of prominent Republicans held
In New York City. Yesterdays New York
Sun reyiyes the memory Of this period Of
suspense, by full page article contain
ing this call and many hitherto unpub-
lished responses to the same. One OF the
first and most vigorous replies came from
Horace Greeley, who, under date of
August 18th, 1864, wrote "Mr. Lincoln
is already beaten. He cannot be elected.
And we must have another ticket to save
us from utter overthrow. II We had such
a ticket as could be made by naming
Grant, Butler or Sherman for President
and Farragut as vice, we could make
fight yet. And such ticket we ought
to have anyhow, with or without con-
yention.n
Other letters of like tenor como from
henry Winter Davis, Whitelaw Reid,
Deacon" Richard Smith, I.ucius Robin
son, d. s. Dickinson, Charles simmer,
and others whose names were conspicu-
Gus in the politics of that era. Lucius
Robinson characterized Lncoln's renomi,
nation as s'the most stu pid political sui
eide that have ever known" and despair
ingly added, II do not see how the dead
can now be raised" Henry Winter Davis
was especially vehement in efforts to sub
stitute new ticket for that which he
believed was doomed. He is represented
by several letters, two Of them written
from Wilmington. Deacon Smith writes
from Oincinn nti 81 do not know q Lin.
coin man. and tthe withdrawal Of Lin
coin and Fremont, and the nomination Of
man that would inspire confidence and
infuse life into our ranks, would be
hailed with general delight" Whitelaw
Reid wrote, on September Pad, after the
Democratic nomination had been made
at Chicago: "We think Mcclellan and
Pendleton very strong ticket and feal
the result" He also stated that he had
been doing all no could to induce the
Cincinnati CARTE ITO come out for Mr.
Linooln's withdrawal Dickinson wa
embarrassed by the presentation, agsins
his express injunction, Of his name TO
the second place en- the Baltimore ticket
but "cannot believe that Mr.. Lincoln, i
fully advised of the state Of the public
mind, would desire to enter upon can
yass.' BE arrRigned the dilRtory and in
conclusive course Of the administration
and looked upon the proposed move
ment ''to rally ard unite again the des
ponding patriotic masses" as 'the las
resort that is left to hope" Senate
Sumner wrote: 1T may be that Mr.. 1
will see that we shall be all the stronge
and more united under another cand
date. But if he does n1t see Il so, OF
duty is none the less clear to unite in u
opposition to the common enemy"
Locally interesting is the followin
letter from Delaware Republican VIII
while acknowledging there was much I
fear, was not prepared to admit the n
cessity or expediency of naming ne
ticket;
MILFORD, DEL. Aug. 30, 1s6t-sIl
Yours Of 25th inst, With eDclosufei cap
duly to hand, and, a. you solicit MY Flel
upon the mater, will UrtefY give ther
There Is evidently deep feeling In 4
ranks OF the Union party against d
Ltncolns administration on account OF
weakness, and thousands fear 10 trust Il
country in his hands foraGother Pia7laentt
term. They would desire a nam Of mo
force Of character, but they fear to mo-
against him, now that he has been non
mated In the regular manner, lest tn
divide the Union party 81 much as to allie
the Copperhead that may be nominated [
day at Chicago 10 slip In. They fear
trust Lincoln Sewari, Weed 4 90,
they fear Mcclellan more.
Now undo. these circumstances II I
Cincinnati movement Is 10 be strong ~
influential enough 10 scare Lincoln flo
the track, It will IOrk well for lie countl
but II II only answers p divide Us more,
Will not do good, but evil.
Any Union nlaRt even Lincoln, Is bet
for the country than any man that Will
nominated at OhiGngo. 4 ~ the CEel
natl movement the party aa be more &C
soidated on better candidates, 1t viii
sanctioned BY the people, aud not 9th
wise,
Ocr people all admit now l. ircoll'F moi
nation at Baltimore WIS wrong but They /,
to swap horses while actually crossing
stream"
Until hear rom you In relation to
strength, influence, aud objects Of
7 a