Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-10
Lincoln and Hamlln.


The controversy now going on IN tho
papers as TO whether Mr.. LINCOLN was or
was not in favor Of leaving Mr.. HAMLIN
off the Republican national ticket IN 1861
is an interesting one. and shows what Sir
RoBERr WALpoLE Eve believe 1t wss) meant
when he said that he knew all history TO
be a lie. We think almost anybody can
fully appreciate the cOntemptuous ana
indignant fling of Sir Robert. IL reads as
il he had attempted to set the historians
right In regard to some matter coming
within his own knowledge. and had utter
ly failed 10 effect his purpose. lie had
supposed that he was one OF the men VINO
"made history" hut he seems to have
learned that history either made itself or
else was made by circumstances and per
sons that were entirely beyond his con-
troll. We have in our mind eye some men
even here in Virginia who won not pre-
sumo To declare that they know all history
TO be a lie, but who feel nevertheless IN
regard TO certain historical matters that
bad they known the bogus historians to be
So cunning Of face" they would have
seen them damned ere they had challenged
them 10 q bout.
Mr.. NIcoLAY. Mr.. LIscoLN's secretary,
makes ont plausible case; but Colonel
McCLuRE's statement il in such perfect
accord with the known characteristics on
Mr.. LINCOLN that the Secretary Will proba-
bly, be adjudged by public opinion to he
in the wrong. In fact. Colonel MCCLURE
Ia 4. x,,1rtallx La, mo had
seen President LINCOLN, but never ABBA
HAM IhNcoLs. However. there are so many
thousands Of persons still living who were
active politicians III 1864 that there would
seem TO be no occasion for doubt IN the
premises except the doubt caused by that
peryersity of human nature to which we
have lust referred, and which leads men
either TO deny in effect that there was in
whatever matter was under consideration
any environment exceptthe own or else
TO set up "a facts nonentities "evolyed
from their inner consciousness.
1t may be assumed, therefore, that taking
men as we find them, Mr.. HAMLIN would
not have been left of the Republican
ticket in 1864 if Mr.. LINCOLN had desired
MN W Dt sti - NNNPht VI a. - 49,
President of the United States. The rea-
Sons given for Mr.. LINcoLN's course in this
matter appear to US TO be Just such rea-
sons as would have influenced his conduct
under the circumstances then existing.
They are creditable TO his sasacity as well
as indicative of his patriotism. He must
have felt at all times that he stood before
h.. ,r..xl1 tho Dract1art ~ "a f,ipnrttu az
the people of the United States and a. the
representative of sectional faction. How
could il be otherwise when he was elected
President in 1860 by electors chosen by
only |. 500 52 voters as against nearly three
millions Of voters who cast their ballots
for the other candidates! Then, "a if to
put the worst possible phase upon the mat
tor. Mr.. HAMLIS lived in the extreme north
eastern portion of the Union and had no
sympathy with any portion of the country
except the people of the barren hills of
New England.
The testimony Of Mr.. Burton G. Cook
would help Mr.. NrcoLAY somewhat if it did
not discredit itself Mr.. Cook gives away
Mr.. NIcoLAys case. however, when he
says: Although Mr.. LINCOLN had not told
me directly, he had given me so to under
stand" Mr.. Cook thus becomes a witness
in behalf of Colonel MCCLURE and turns
Mr.. NIcoLAy over TO the tender mercies of
the men who ,oere told by Mr. LINCOLN Just
what he desired to be done in the matter of
nominating "A candidate 10 be placed on the
ticket with himself. But as if to prove that
Sir RoBERT WALroLE's experience might
have been repeated in this country in 1864.
Mr.. Cook tells Us that in the Republican
National Convention the Illinois delega-
ton was unit III favor of the renomina-
ton of Mr.. HAMLIS. and had been made Il
unit by their knowledge that Mr.. LINCOLN
was on that side of the question. Possibly
Mr.. LINCOLN did not have a very high opin-
ion of the delegation from his own State.
More probably. from politicians stand
point, be did not desire his own State TO be
prominent in the work of Staying his asso-
ciate in Office. We know not how all these
things were. but we think it as certain as
any such subject of controversy can be that
Mr.. LINCOLN did not desire TO run with
HAMLIS in 1864
Look. too. ut ANDREW JOHNSON. the man
of Mr.. LINcoLSs choice. LINCOLN was
rail-splitter. JOHNSON was tailor. I'm
COLIN had climbed up to the highest round
of the ladder. JOHNSON was only round
or two behind HIM. He had been for years
congressman. Tennessee, owing to his
influence, contained. at least in his sec
tion Of il. thousands Of Union men. JoHN-
son was considered by the southern people
rs traitor to his friends and neighbors-
q monster of iniquity; a disgrace TO his
section-not even o gentleman. LINCOLN
did not have much better reputa-
ton amongst the southern people. At
any rate. the cotton lords" and slave
holding aristocrats," a. the leaders of the
southern people were styled by tho Union
lists. had thorough contempt for both
LINCOLN and JOHNSON. aud nothing could
have been more natural than Mr.. LiNcoLN's
wish to use ANDREW JOHNSON as an instrn-
ment or tool in the work of getting up a
jealousy between the Weather. leading
classes in tue South and the poor white
men. The cry that II was "a rch mans
war but poor mans fight" Mr.. LINCOLN
expected TO be increased in volume 10y the
nomination of ANDREW JOHNSON.
The question will not soon be settled. 1t
10 likely to DO one of those unsettled ques.
tons which will 60 down to posterity in
the same condition in which they are TO-
day.
The Invincihie RIa,na