Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-06


for it, of course was his swarthy complexion.
This was one Of his striking traits in appear
ance. His skin was very dark; his eyes black
and piercing, sunk in cavernous sockets; his
general expression grave almost to melancholy,
but benignant: his form naturally tall. but
with a stoop of the shoulders; he always wore
an old-fashioned swallow-tail coat and never
added an oyercoat. even in the most bitter
winter Weather, until he was past seventy
years of ago.
RELATIONS WITH Mr.. LINCOLN.
1t is said that there has never been such har-
mony between President and Vice President
as with Lincoln and Hamlin, except in the case
of Jackson and Van Buren,. Lincoln consulted
Hamlin before the Inauguration as to cabinet
appointments. and so long us he was President
there continued relations of the utmost friend
illness and openness between them. Thus
while Mr.. Hamin condemned to silence by
his place in the chair of the Senate, his infiu-
ence was felt in the administrations sphere
of quiet action from which many of the Vice
Presidents have been shut out. He advised
the appointment Of Mr. Seward as Secretary of
State. and was selected by Mr.. Lincoln TO trans
NIT the offer to him. He WAS allowed to name
a member of the cabinet from the New England
states. and designated Gideon Welles of Con-
necticut, who became Secretary OF the Navy.
BEATEN FOR RECONCILIATION.
Mr.. Hamlin was not renominated when Lin
coin was, although it was the latter's wish that
he should be. His friends always claimed that
this was through either a blunder or a 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 Hamin At the close of
the ballot johnson had 200 votes, Daniel s.
Dickinson los and Hamlin $50. The states
were called in the order of age. and the vote
of Iowa coming near the end gave the impress
sion that the tide was running to johnson.
Simon Cameron, who had given the ffty-two
votes of Pennsylvania to Hamlin changed them
to johnson, and this made a stampede. 1t
must be said, however, that there was a strong
sentiment for johnson on the ground that the
long-su.ferirg loyalty of Union men in the
border states should be recognized.
OPPOSED TO JoHNsoN's POLICY.
In resigning the collectorship of Boston, to
which he had been appointed by President
johnson, Mr.. Hamin wrote to the latter: Il
do not fail to observe the movement and
efforts which have been made and are now
being made to organize party in the country
consisting almost exclusively of those actively
engaged i'll the late rebellion and their allies
who sought by other means to cripple and en-
barrass the government. This class of per-
sons, with small fraction of others, constitutes
the organization. 1t proposes to defeat and
overthrow the union republican party, and to
restore TO power, without sufficient guarantees
for the future, and protection of men who
have been loyal, those who sought to destroy
the government. l gave all the influence
possessed to create and uphold the union re-
publican party during the war. and without
the aid of which our government would have
been destroyed and the rebellion a success.
With such party as has been inaugurated for
such purposes have no sympathy nor can l
acquiesce IN its measures by my silence"
Mr. Hamlin was elected United States Sem
ator for the term beginning March 4, 1869. and
held the office for twelve years. His voice was
not heard often in debate and he devoted him
self to the wants of his constituents. Since
1883, when he resigned the Spanish minister
ship. Mr.. Hamlin lived quietly at home. He
farmed and went fishing until few years ago.
lie took and active part in the campaign Of
1854. but after that made only u few public ap-
pearances. The most notable occasion was at
the last great reunion of the Grand Army of
the Republic at Boston.
MIR. Hamlin leaves a widow and three sons
He was married twice. His sons are Gen.
Charles Hamlin of Bangor, reporter of decis-
Ions OF the supreme court of Maine: Hannibal
Emery Hamlin of Ellsworth, Me-. the law
partner of United States Senator Eugene Hale,
and Frank Hamlin, young lawyer Of Chicago.