Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-10
LINCOLN AND HAMLIN.
The Latter Believed in the Presidents
Triend-hip-Mr. Hay Sustains Mr. Nico,ay.

special dispatch to the Baltimore sun from
Washington saws. In regard to this controversy
between Historian Nicoiay and Editor Mcclure
a. TO whether Mr.. Lincoln favored Vice Presi-
dent Hamlins renomira ton in 1864:
HANNIBAL Hamiin died with the impression
that Abraham Lincoln was his friend and de-
sired his nomination for the vice presidency at
the Baltimore convention in 1854" This re-
mark was made today in the presence of a
gathering of newspaper men by gentleman
VINO Is well known in national politics. and who
Is also engaged in preparing for publication his
personal recollections of public men during the
past th1rty-hve years. The controversy be-
tween Editor Mcclure and Historian Nicolay
was the subject under discussion at the news
paper symposium, and the gentleman referred
70 had the floor. He said be knew very we'll
OIL Mcclure was on very intimate terms with
PRESIDENT Lincoln, and the latter at the last
moment may have been induced by circun-
stances of the hour to consent to the nominal
ton of Johnson but there is in existence state
ment written by Mr.. Hsmlin himself in which
he declares that he believed Lincoln favored
his nomination to the vice presidency. That
statement will shortly be published. Many years
alter Lincoln and johnson had passed away
Dir. Hamlin WAS asked to give his version Of
the affair. He consented. with the distinct
understanding that it should not be published
until after his death. He prepared d state
"cus, occupying dDOut lOuf pages OF Closely
written manuscript. in which he shows that he
was defeated for the denomination by a combi-
nation of politicians. who believed that by
placing johnson or the ticket with Lincoln re-
construction would be brought about with less
difficulty There WAS also another object in
view-tte Ohio delegation wanted their chair
man To receive place in the cabinet, The
result was William Dennison of Ohio became
Postmaster General The johnson idea was
suggested at a late day before the convention,
hef hsN
time had remained loyal to the United States
government throughout the war.
MIR. Hamlin felt very sore over his defeat and
said afterward that his overthrow was due to
the schenling of certain politicians. Some of
The very men who introduced and worked the
Johnson boom went to Mr.. lIamlin and told
him II they had thought for one moment there
was any chance for johnson to become Presi-
dent they could not have been induced to vote
,tor his no1nina lion to the vice presidency MIR.
Hamlln did not value such assurances at that
late dry. He was aware that Lincoln was his
Iriend. but he was also aware that the latter
could not dictate VINO should be on the ticket
with HIM. for at that time there no GER
talGty of l.Incolus election. there we're three
parties in the field. These facts we're known to
Mr. Hanlin aud his estimate of Lincoln, which
VIII be published soon, will show that he never
blamed him for his failure to secure the vice
presidency Ill 1861.
MR.. HAY sUsrAINs THE BIOGRAPHY.
Mr.. Hay. who was Mr.. Nicolay's associate in
the production of the Lincoln Biographies. ar
rived in New York from Europe on Wednesday
evening. After reading Mr.. Nicolays dispatch
to Mrs Ham!in and Col. McClure's editorial
article he said to reporter according TO a
special i'll the Philadelphia Press:
Il have nothing to say about Mr.. Nicolay's
assertions nor about this telegram. but do cor
robOrate the statement tina. Mr. Lincoln with
held an opinion calculated to influence the ac-
ton OF the baltimore convention of 1864.
Mr.. Nicolay. who was then the Presidents
private secretary. was at the convention, and. |
being perplexed by the advocacy of another
man than Hamlin for the vice presidency by |
one of the Presidents most intimate friends. be |
wrote to mel Was III the executive office
asking whether the President had any prefer |
ence, either personal or otherwise / showed
the letter to the President. Mr. Lincoln in |
dorsed on the back of the letter that he did not
wish to interfere about the Vice President, and |
added that the convention must Judge for it |
self. There are facts related In thi. Connection
i'll our biography of MIR. Lincoln and the state
ments are made on the basis of this documen. |
III Mr.. Lincoln's own handwriting, which we |
have in our possession |
But the writer of the article in the Times. |
which cOntradlcts the statements made in your
biography, says he was delegate to the Rlti- !
more convention, and that it was at the earnest |
request of President Lincoln himself that he |
the writer, worked and voted for Johnson"
statements of other people now. We have the !
documents to uphold what said in our
biography There is nothing to substantial, |
what has been said i'll opposition to Mr.. Nico-
lay and myself that can see. The writer YOU
refer to has nothing but his word to back him
up. What he recounts Is H. the lire of per-
sonal recollection and may or may no. be cor
rect Every assertion made by US in the
biography and has been substantiated and
proved correct
Al
effect that President Lincoln opposed Mr. |
Hamlin's denomination as Vice President is
erroneous
MIR. Nicolay evidently believes that it is"
''Did Mr. Nicolay, as Mr. Lincoln's secretary |
know more of the Presidents feelings toward |
Mr.. Hamlin at this time ,han even his intimate !
political friends-this delegate to the Baltimore
convention. for Instance
Il cannot say All wish to say for publica-
ton Is that what is embraced in the biography
answer TO Mr.. NIcoIays letter together with |
his personal knowledge of the Presidents feel |
ing toward Mr.. Hamhn. Therefore as | Lave
said, the biography is correct"
BURTON c. COOK CONFIRMS NR. SIcoLAY.
Special to the New York Tribune
CHICAGO. July 9.-'.President Lincoln did not
oppose Hamlins denomination and the state
ments of Mr.. Nicolay are correct said Burton
c. Cook, ar Illinois pioneer republican. TODAY.
ne was an OF Lincoln and
the chairman of the Illinois delegation in the
Baltimore convention.
Il have read what the newspapers have said
about the statement made concerning Hannibal
Hamlin and the President. and 1 can fully
verify the denial of ii published by Nicolay. /
was the chairman of the Illinois delegation to
Baltimore in 1894 and wrote the letter to the
President of which an answer has been printed
by Nicolay. Thi- was certainly plain enough brt
was moi vet entirely satisfied and went to Wash
ington myself to speak with the President. |
spent some time with HIM and we spoke of the
affaiy much. do not now remember the exact
words We used. 1t was thirty year; ago and
would not care to- be too detailed in the story
for it was a confidential conversation and was
understood 10 be such between u.s. But will
say tina; when left the President was salts
fed that he would be perfectly content with
the nomination of Hamlin. In fact felt that
he really desired it.
IF Lincoln had in any wav expressed an I'M
equivocal wish that Hamlin or anv one else be
nominated the convention would have pro-
ceeded those lines. When they asked me
about il j told them to watch the Illinois dele
CATION. 10 go the way We did. and that the Pres
ident wou.d be satisfied with the action.
''Hamlin led the convention and would have
carried it. too. had 1t not been for one thing
Horace MAYNARD of Tennessee arose at a crit
cal point and made rafting speech for John
son. He spoke IN the most passionate way of