New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-05

clared that this was for ms finn adherence 70 prlhci
pies held In common by thea with the great mass OF
the people of the North irrespective OF party ais
upctionsp lie continued TO act In the Senate
with the Democratic party. hough Opposing
all projects for the extension Of slavery.
II Is narrated that when the repeal OF the Missouri
Compromise pending President Pierce sent FIR him
to come TO the White House I'm order to learn what ne
proposed to do about IT, The plansDohcn Maine sen
ator told him frankly that. while he had "made many
mistakes" in his lifc, he had never lost selfeSpect
which he would do II he should vote for the repeal
lie voted steadily against the repeal though taxing no
part I'm the debate He was known as silent Sen
ator-saying little, but thinking much-a wise, cautious
reflective but courageous man, and positive in what
he did say.
CLOSE OF HIS CONNECTION WITH THE DEMO
CRATIC PARTY.
With the passage of the Kansas Nebraska bill IN
May 1854 his connection with the Democratic party
practically ended but the occasion demanding MS
formal withdrawal from it did not seem to arise uhtl
the nomination OF buchanan In 1886 at Cincinnati on
platform denying the right Of Congress to interfere
with the domestic institutions OF the several States
and 10 control the Territories in the matter OF slavery
He resigned his place as chairman Of the Committee
on Commerce. and on June H. 1856, took formal leave
of his party in speech IN the Senate Like other Demo
Gratis Of his school, he now found himself In natural
alton with the Republican party, then Just coming
spontaneous sentiment. OF the LOO delegates to tho
State Convention all but forty pronounced him their
first choice He was thus forced 10 take the burden OF
the canvass on himself, though he would have much
preferred TO retain his seat in the Senate lie maze
q memorable canvass Of the state, addressing more
than a hundred public meetings. The Democrats had
carried the state the year before and were In power
lint Uamlln was elected by $4,000 majority over two
opponents and $4,000 plurality over the Democratic
candldate-mOp than double tho majority ever given
I'm a previous contested election. On JANUARY 7,
1857 he resigned his scat in the Senate, and tie same
day was inauguratcd Governor Less than ten days
arerward he was again elected Senator, and on the
Goth of February he resigned the Office of Governor.
taking his seat In the Senate on the 4th Of March
II was in the following year that lie made his reply
IN the famous "mud-sl" speech Of Senator Hammond
OF South Carolina.
ELECTED vICE.PRESIDENT by THE REPUBLI-
CANS.
In isC0 there was talk before the Chicago Con
venton met Of putting him on the ticket for Vice
President and, not desiring the place, he exacted
pledge from the Maine delegates that they should take
him out Of the list OF candidates. if lie should be pro
posed. But after the nomination Of Lincoln for Pres
dent Western man of Wing antecedents, the sent-
ment In favor Of putting in The second place Ham
In an Eastern man, Of Democratic antccedents became
irresistible. 1t felt that the combination Would
he attractive u many voters. lie was nominated on
the second ballot and ii is said persuaded to
only by benjamin Wade's that il he did not
the Democrats would say it was because he believed
the tcRet would be defeated and afraid TO run"
dwell, then shall now, and be id to Them" was
the emphatic reply and he forthwith wrote his letter
Of acceptance.
1t is amusing to remember that during the heated
campaign Of 1sGO ii was widely believed In the South
that Mr.. Hamnn a mulatto. who had been put
upon the ticket by the Republicans in order TO ncte
the slaves to rise against their masters. The connec
ton between the two halves Of the proposition is by
10 means clear, but this is what Southern speakers
and Southern newspapers tod southern people The
only foundation for It, Of course his swarthy com
pcxion. This was one Of his striking traits IN ap-
pearance. His skin very dark; his eyes black
and percng sunk in cavcTnOus sockets; his general
expression grave almost to melancholy but bengnan;
his form naturally tan, but with a Soop Of the
shoulders; he always an OldfashiOned swallow
tail coat, and never added an Overcoat even in the
most bitter winter weather. until he past seventy
wears Of age. In January, ISL, there was q pro
tracted cold snap which gave him severe visitation
Of rheumatism. on his recovery, the Washington
correspondents recorded the fact that he entered the
Senate with an overcOa the first he had ever worn,
he had always cOntended that they unnecessary
articles of clothing. 1t was announced that he had
changed his mind,7 but that he didn't want to-"
1t IS said that there has never been such harmony
between Presldnt and Vice President as with Lincoln
and IIamlin except in the case Of Jackson and Van
Buren,. Lincoln consulted Hamn before the inaugur1-
ton as 10 Cabinet appointments ard so long as he was
President there continued relations of the utmost
riendlncss ana OIenncss between them. Thus, While
Mr. IJsmlin wns condemned to silence by his place
in the chair Of the senate his Influence was felt in
the admnistraon-a sphere Of quiet action from which
many OF the Vice-Prcsdcns have been shut out. lie
advised the appointment Of Mr. Seward rs Secretary OF
state and was selected By MI. Lincoln to transmit the
offer to him. lie was allowed to name member OF
the Cabinet from the New England states, and desg-
mated Gideon Wcllcs Of Connecticut, who became Sec
rotary Of the Navy. lie became indignant at what he
deemed to be a violation Of good faith with himself by
secretary WclIes which also involved disregard OF
proper methods Of Going public business, and after cX-
messing his opinion 10 tic Secretary on the subject.
ended nil intercourse with HIM He was Instrumental
in inducing Mr. Lincoln 10 order the organizing Of negro
REGIMENTS and carried tie direction TO Secretary
stanton who had long urged this step, and who, in
hi, joy throwing his arms about Ilamlin cried
Thank God for tlis!7 Mr.. Hamlin also advised and
urged Mr.. Lincoln to issue his Emancipation Proc
lamaon.
Nh IIamlin was not rcnominated when Lincoln was,
although It was the latcrs wish that lie should be
His friends always claimed that this WAS through
either a thunder or wrong without which he would
have been successful. The chairman Of the Iowa
delegation gave its sixteen votes TO Andrew Johnson,
when they should have gone TO IIemln. It the close
of the ballot Johnson had 200 votes Daniel Dickinson
1Os. and Hamlin 100. The states were called in the
order OF ago and the vote of Iowa coming near the
end gave the impression that the tide was running to
Johnson simon Cameron. who had given the hfty-two
votes Of Pennsylvania to liamln, changed them to
Johnson and this made stampede. ii must bc said,
however that there a strong sentiment for John
son on the ground that the ongsueriug loyalty OF
Union men in the border States should be recognized.
II is interesting though perhaps not useful 10 specu
late how the politca. history OF the country after
IAncoln's death might have been changed II Hamn
had been nominated. There would certainly have been
10 betrayal Of the Republican party and impeach-
ment; and tc map politics might have been altered
I'm other r. poets After his second election President
Lincoln offered the secretaryshp of The Treasury to
| Mr. Ilamlin but the offer was declined.
lIAtS WORDS 10 PRESIDENT JOHNSON
IN July. I-tj. few month, after his rcilr ment
from the Voc Presidency, NJ IiamIn appointed