Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-09
LINCOLN AND HAMLIN."
Col Mcclure Reptile. to Statements of John
u. Nicolay.

q. Nicolay.
TIE FORMER PRIVATE SECRETARY SHARPLY CRIT
cisED-Hz II TOLD THAT HE KNEW NOTHING OF
THE PRIVATE LIFE oF TIE PREsIDEST-MR.
DASA's vIEw OF IHE cABAL AGAINST LINCOLN.
In today Philadelphia Times appeared the
following reply by Col Alexander h Mcclure
to the statement recently made by Mr. John g..
Nicolay that Dir. Hanlin's denomination for
Vice President in lS6i desired by Mr..
Lincoln:
sLfncoln and Hamlin.
The ignorance exhibited by John G. Nicolay
In his public telegram to the widow Of ex-yice
President Hsmlin is equaled only by his ar
rogsnce in assuming 10 speak for Abraham
Lincoln in matters about which Nicolay was
never consulted, and Of which be had no more
knowledge than any other routine clerk about
the White House. i do not regret that Mr.. Nicolay
had rushed into a dispute that must lead to the
clear establishment OF the exact truth as to the
defeat Of Hamlin in 1864. Ii will surely greatly
impair IL not DESTROY. Nicoay's hitherto gem
orally accepted claim to accuracy the
bIogrspher of Lincoln. but he can complain of
none but himself.
Il saw Abraham Lincoln at all hours of the
day and night during his presidential service
and he has himself abundantiy testified to the
trust that existed between Having had the
direction of his battle in the pivotal state of
the Union he doubtless accorded me more
credit than i merited, as the only success IN
politics and war il success; and the fact that
never sought or desired honOrs or profits from
his administration and never embarrassed him
with exsctions Of any kind made our relations
the most grateful memories of nv life
''In all Of the many grave political emergen-
cies arising from the new and often appalling
duties imposed by internecine war. was one
of those called TO the inner councils of Abra-
ham Lincoln. He distrusted his own Judgment
in politics and was ever careful to gather the
best counsels from all the varied shades of
opinion and interest to guide him in his con-
illusions: and there were not only scores of
confidential conferences in the White House
of which John g. Nicolay never heard but no
man ever net or heard of John q. Nicolay in
such councils. He was a good. mechanical.
routine clerk: he utterly inefficient the
secretary of the President. his removal was
earnestly pressed upon Lincoln more
than one occasion because of his want of
tact and fitness for his trust, and only the
proyerbial kindness of Lincoln saved him
from disn issal- He saw and knew President
Lincoln; the man Abraham Lincoln he never
saw and never knew, and his assumption that
he was the trusted repository of Lincolns con-
hdentisl convictions and efforts would have
been regarded as grOtesque quarter of CEN
tury ago, when Lincoln and his close surround
lngs were we'll understood. His biography of
Lincoln is Invaluable accurate history of
the public acts of the Lincoln administration
but there Is not a chapter or page on the inner
personal attributes of the man that Is not bur-
dened with objectionable errors. NicOlay was
q plodding, precise, mechanical clerk: well
fitted to preserve historical data and present
them intellixently and correctly, but there his
fitness a biographer ended.
Il now repeat that, in obedience to a tele-
graphic request from President Lincoln. Wis
tied him at :he White House the day before the
meeting OF the Baltimore convention of 1864.
At that interview Mr.. Lincoln earnestly ex-
planned why the nomination of a well-known
southern man like Andrew Johnson-who had
been Congressman. governor and Senator by
the favor OF his state-wOuld not only national
lie the republican party and the government,
but would greatly lessen the grave peri of the
recognition Of the confederacy by England and
France. He believed that the election to the
Vice Presidency OF a representative statesman
from an insurgent state that had been restored
10 the union. would disarm the enemies of the
republic abroad aud remove the load of Sec
tiOnalism from the government that seemed to
greatly hinder peace.
No intimation, no trace of prejudice against
Mr. Hamlin was exhibited, and well knew that
no such consideration could have influenced Mr..
Lincoln IN such an emergency. Had he be-
leved Mr.. Hamlin to be the man who could
best promote the great work whose direction
fell solely upon himself. he would have favored
Hamlin s nomination regardless of his personal
wishes; but he believed that a great public
achievement would be attained by the election
of johnson. and 1 returned to Baltimore to
work and vote for johnson, although against
all my personal predictions in the matter.
MIR. Nieoiays public telegram to Hrs. Ham,
lin saying that the foregoing statement is en-
urely erroneous Is as lnsolent IL is false;
and the correctness of my statement il not
even inferentislly contradicted by Nieolays
quotation from Lincoln On the contrary,
Nicolay statement given in his history (voL
.. pages '2-3, and copied in another column)
proves simply that NicOlay was dress parading
at Baltimore and knew nothing of the Pres
idents purposes True. he seems to assume
that he had responsible charge of the execu- |
tive duties, as he says that Mr.. Nicolay wrote |
letter to Mr.. Hay, who had been left in !
charge of the executive Office asking whether |
Leonard SWEET, 'one of the Presidents most |
intimate friends, all right in urging |
the nomination of Judge Advocate General |
Holt for Vice President. Had Nicolay ever
learned any thing IN the White House he would |
have known that of all living men Leonard
SWEET WAS the one most trusted by Abraham
Lincoln, end he should have known that when
SWEET was opposing Hamlin. Lincoln was not
yearning for Hamlins denomination. Then
comes Lincoln's answer to Nicolay's bombastic
query, saying: SWEET Is unqUestlonably all
right. and because Lincoln did not proclaim
himself a fool by giving Nicolay an opportunity
to herald LlncOlns sacredly private convictions
to the Vice Presidency, he assumes that he
has Lincolns written words 10 Justify his
contradiction of circumstantial statement and
an executed purpose of which he could have
had no knowledge. When Leonard SwetI was
against HaInln none could escape the conclu-
sion that opposition to Hamlin was no offense
to Lincoln. i saw and conferred with SWEET
almost every hour of the period Of the conyer-
tlon- We both labored TO nominate Johnson,
and SWEET made Holt. who an impossible
candidate, mere foil 10 divide and conquer
the supporters o. HaIlliu- Had Lincoln de-
sired Hamlins nomination SWEET would have
desired and laboreG for it. and Hamlin would
have been renominated on the frs. ballot The
convention was = Lincoln body pure and sim
pie. and 10 man could have been put OF the
ticket with Lincoln who was not known to be
his choice 1t was not publicly proclaimed. but
II was in the air and pretty much everybody
but John u. Nicolay perceived and bowed to
it.
''Of the few men who enjoyed Lincoln COM
plete confidence, Charles 4. Dana was cOuspic-
nous. and his statement. given in another
column. Is as credible testimony as could now
be given on the subject He was trusted bv
Lincoln IN most delicate matters. political and
military. and he logically tells OF Johnson's
selection by Lincoln for the Vice Presidency
IN 1854 With panas direct confederation of
my statement added To the strongly corrobora-
i've facts herein given. 1 NAV safely dismiss
John q. N;eoliy and the dispute his mingled
ignorance and arrogance has thrust upon me
Il X. NJ"
The article By Mr.. Dana, referred TO il, the