The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-07-09
HANNIBAL HAMLIN DEAD.
The First Republican yice-Presidont Passes
Away Suddenly.

The First Republican Yice-Presidont Passes
Away Suddenly.
Hon. Hannibal HamIin. who was elected
Vice President on the Republican ticket with
Abraham Lincoln in 1850. died suddenly Of
heart failure at the Tarratiue CIab-rooms in
Bangor. Me-. on July 4. tie was playing cards
in the club room. when his head fell forward on
his chest. Physicians tried to revive him, and
succeeded partially, so that the venerable ex-
Vice President was able 70 articuate feebly,
but be died within an hour after being stricken.
lie was 50 years old. All the members OF his
family who reside in Bangor were al his side
when he died.
Mr. Hamliu is one Of the last OF the old anti
slavery generation Of statesmen. lie was
almost continuously in Office for a period Of
nearly 80 years. He was q member OF tho
Maine Legislature IN 1875, when Andrew Jack.
son was President and the last pos ton held
by the distinguished man was the appointment
As Minister TO Spain, which position he held for
a year, rcsirninc TO come home, thinking that
no had had enough Of political life. Since then
he has been quietly living at his home in
Bangor.
Mr.. HamIin was elected TO the Maine Iegis-
lature several times and was made Speaker Of
that body three times He was elected 20 Con-
gress on the Democratic ticket ia 1872 and re-
elected in 1914, aud four years after was chosen
TO fill vacancy in the United States Senate.
llt WIS GltCtcl TOT luli ttIi4 OF SIX years III
1851, and during this period he experienced a
change Of heart politically, withdrew from the
Democratic party and became a Republican.
Al the expiration Of his term as U. 5. Senator
he was elected Governor Of Maine, but resigned
that office on again being elected United
States Senator.
Upon leaving the Vice Presidents chair in
1865. he was appointed Collector Of the Port OF
Boston, which position he resigned shortly be-
Of a. To he TfufFn1 ftf
Senate, where he remained until 1881, when he
was made Minister to Spain.
Among the significant incidents OF his long
career Of nearly 30 years may BIO mentioned the
fact that in the temporary and involuntary Alb
seuce OF David WimOt from the House OF Rep
resentatives, during the session Of the Goth
Congress, at the critical moment when the
measure, since known as the WilmOt proVisO,"
had to be presented or the opportunity irrcvo-
cably lost, Mr.. Hamlin, while his auti-slayery
friends weTo in the greatest confusion and per-
plexity, seeing that only q seconds delay would
DO fatal, offered the bill and secured its passage
by n vote Of ll5 to 100. In common. however,
with Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Hamlin strOve
| simply 10 prevent the extension Of slavery into
new territory aud did not seek to secure its
/ abolition. In a speech in the United States
| Senate June 70 1856, in which he gave his
reasons for changing his party allegiance, he
/ thus referred 20 the Democratic convention
| then recently held at Cincinnati:
The Convention has actually incorporated
| into the platform Of the Democratic party that
| doctrine which, only few years ago, met with
nothing but ridicule and contempt here and
| elsewhere, namely, that the flag Of the Federal
| Union, under the Constitution Of the United
/ States. carries slavery whenever il floats. II
/ this baueful principle be true, then that Va
| tional ode which inspires us always on bat
| tefeld, should be rewritten By Drake and
| should read:
| Forever float that standard sheet
| Where breathes tho foe. but falls before as,
With slavery = soil beneath our feet.
And savery's banner streaming DER Us"
| When he had been elected Vice President on
the ticket with Mr.. Lincoln he accepted an in.
yitati0n 10 meet tho latter at Chicago and call
ing on the Pfesdent-eiCct, found him in a
room alone. Mr. Lincoln arose, and coming 60.
ward his guest, said abruptly, Have we ever
been introduced % each other, 2ir. Hamiiu ? y
! =" No. sir, l think not was the reply. THAT
| also is ny impression continued Mr.. Lincoln
but / remember distinctly while / was ia
| Congress TO have heard you make speech in
the Senate. / was very much struck with thai
! speech, Senator particularly struck with it
! and for the reason that 10 was chuck up with
the very best kind Of anti slavery doctrine
| "Wcll, now" replied Hamlin laughing, " that
is very singular, for my one and first rec0lIec
ton of yourself is Of having heard you make
/ a speech ia the House. speech that wac 81
full Of good humor and sharp points that 70
gother with others Of your auditors, was con
| yulsed with laughter"
The acquaintance thus cordially begun rip
ened into a close friendship. and il is affirmed
that during all the years Of trial, war, anC
/ bloOdshed that followed, Abraham Lincoln con
| tinued % Teposo tho utmost confidence in hi
friend and official associate.