The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-09
NIC0LAY AND LINCOLN.
COL. MCLURE OUT IN AN EDITO-
RIAL ON THE SUBJECT.

The Colonel Says the Private secre-
taries BetraY Astounding Arrogance
in Assuming to Speak for the Prss!-
dent-The Writer'S Close Relations
With President Lincoln.
PHILADELPHIA, July 8-The following
editorial of Col. Mcclure will appear in
to-morrow's Times:
The ignorance exhibited by John G. Nicolav
In his public telegram to the widow of ex-Vice
President Hamlin is equaled only by his arro-
gance IN assuming to speak for Abraham Lin
was never consulted, and of which he had no
more knowledge than any other routine clerk
about the white house. | do not regret that
Nicolay has rushed into dispute that must
lead to clear establishment Of the exact
truth as to the defeat of Hamlin in
1864 1t will surely greatly impair if not
destroy Nlcolays hitherto generally accepted
claim to accuracy as a biographer of Lincoln
but he can complain of none but himself. /
saw Abraham Lincoln at all hours of the dav
and night during his presidential service, and
he has himself abundanty testified to the trust
that existed between us Having had direction
Of his pivotal fight in the pivotal state
Of the union, he doubtless accorded
me mere credit than | merited as only
success in politics and war is successes; and the
fact that | never sought or desired honors or
profits from his administration, and never en-
barrassed him VITA exactions Of any kind, made
Of my life. In all of the many
grave political emergencies arising
from the new and often appalling
duties imposed by the internecine war, | was
one Of those called to the inner councils of
Abraham Lincoln. He dstrusted his own
Judgment in politics and was ever careful to
gather the best councils from all the varied
shades OF opinion and interest TO guide him in
his conclusions and there were not only scores
Of confidential confer noes in the white house
OF which John g. Nicolay never heard, but no
,,saf hoo Of T,t,v.
such councils.
The editorial then says that Nicolay was
q good mechanical clerk, but utterly inef-
fcient as the Presidents secretary. Presi-
dent Lincoln Nicolay saw. but never
Abraham Lincoln. Nicolay's biography
is invaluable as to President Lincoln's pub
lie acts, but every line Of private biography
has unpardonable errors. Continuing, the
editorial says:
now repeat, that in obedience to a tele-
graphic request from President Lincoln, |
visited him at the white house the day before
the meeting Of the Baltimore convention Of
1864. AT that meeting President Lincoln
earnestly explained why the nomination
OF a well-known southern man like
Andrew johnson, who had been a congress-
man, governor and senator by favor OF his
state would not ony nationalize the Republi-
can party and government but would greatly
lessen the grave peril OF recognition of the
confederacy by England aud France He
believed that the election to the
vice presidency Of a representative statesman
from the iusurgent state that bad been restored
10 the union, would dfsaFm tho enemies Of the
republic abroad and remove load OF sectional
ism from the government that seemed to great
ly hinder peace. No intimation, no
trace Of prejudice, sga nst Mr. Hamlin
no such consideration could have influenced
President Lincoln in such an emergency Had
he believed Mr. Hamlin to be a man who could
best promote the great work whose direction
fell solely upon himself. he would have favored
Mr. Hamlns nomination, regardless OF his
personal Wishes but he believed that
great public achievement would be attained by
the election of Johnson, and / returned to Bal
timore to work and vote for johnson, although
against all my personal predictions in the
matter. Nicolay's letter from Baltimore to
Hay asking whether Leonard SWEET "all
right In urging Judge Advocate General Hot's
nomination and Lincolu's reply, "Swett is
unquestionably all right cited by Nicolay as
proof that he had commission to the cOnyen-
ton, the editorial says, shows that Nicoay
was not in President Lincoln's confidence, for
Leonard SWEET was of all living men the most
trusted by President Lincoln. SWEET and
both labored to nominate Johnson, and SWEET
made Holt, an impossible candidate,
foil to divide Hamlin's sup
porters. Had President Lincoln desired
Hamln's nomination SWEET would have de-
sired and labored for it, and Hamlin would
have been renominated on the first ballot. The
convention was Lincoln body, pure and sim
pie, and no man could have been put on the
ticket with Lincoln who was not known to be
his choice. 1t was not proclaimed, but
1t was in the air, and pretty much everybody
but John q. Ntcolay scented and bowel TO it,
of the few men who enjoyed President Lin
coins complete confidence Charles A. Dana
was conspicuous, and his statement given in
another column is as credible testimony as
could now be given on the subject. He
trusted by President Lincoln in most
delicate matters, political and mill
tary, and he logically tells of Johnsons
selection by President Lincoln" for the vice
presidency in 1864. With Mr.. Dana'S direct
torroboration of my statement added to the
ltrongly corroborative facts herein given, 1
may safely dismiss John G, Nicolay and dis
onte what his mingled ignorance and arrogance
las thrust upon me,
NC CLURE's VERSION CONFIRMED.
CHICAGO. July S.-Burton G. Cook of
chicago, who was chairman of the Illinois
delegation in the republican convention
Of 1864 and who nominated President
Lincoln in that convention for reelection,
declared in an interview this evening
hat President Lincoln favored Hannibal
hamlin for the vice presidency. Mr.. Cook
1ays: Although President Lincoln had not
told me directly. he had given me to go
understand. This fact is fur 5her proven by
the action Of the entire Illinois delegation,
which was unit for Mr. Hamliu, under
standing that we were at President Lin
soln's service in the matter