The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-12
MCCLURE REPLIES TO NICoLAx.
Arguments OF Lincoln's Secretary Met
by Editorial BiIIingsgate.

Arguments OF Lfncoin's Secretary Met
by Editorial BiIIingsgate.
PHILADELPHIA, July 1.-THE Times this
morning publishes an editorial over Nc
Clure's signature addressed to John G..
Nicolay, under the caption, Spanked and
Dismissed" 1t is, in part:
Had you known anything about the inside
political movements in the White House in 1864,
you would have known that my letter to Lin
coin, quoted in your defense, was written be.
cause OF the suddenly developed effort in this
state to divide the lines drawn by the then bit
ter Cameron and Curtin factional war, for and
against Lincoln. Cameron's followers claimed
to DO special supporters OF Lincoln and at
tempted to drive Curtin and the state admins
trstion into hostility to the president.
Ny justly assumed devotion to Curtin
was the pretext for declaring me as
either restrained In my support of
Lincoln or likely to be in opposition. The
moment saw the statement In print wrote
the letter you quote 70 dismiss from Lincoln's
mind all apprshensions about either an open or
passive opposition from Curtin's friends.
Equally, indeed more fagrantly, false Ia your
statement OF only a minor truth about the
action OF the Pennsylvania delegation at Balti-
more In 1864. You say Cameron cast the solid
vote OF the state for Hamlin. Had you desired
to be truthful, you would have added that
Cameron cast the solid vote Of the delegation
for Johnson before the close of the first ballot
Had you sought truth rs an honest biographer
you could have obtained 1t without offensive
disputation, not only from me as far as know
It, but from such living witnesses as Charles A.
Dana and Murat Halstead, and from the re-
corded testimony OF General Cameron, Colonel
Forney and others, who knew much Of Lincoln
and but little OF you.
Instead of seeking truth you flung your igno-
sance and egotism with ostentatious tndecency
hpon the bereaved household of the yet I'M
tombed Hamlin, and when brought to bay by
chose better informed than yourself, you resent
u in the tones and terms OF ward healer in q
wharfrat district battling for constabulary
honers. think It safe to say that public judg-
ment will be that 10 would have been well for
both Lincoln's memory and for the country had
such biographer been drowned when g pup.
WASHINGTON CRY, July 11.-Mr. Nicolay
Is out with reply TO the latest commune
cation from Colonel Mcclure. He says he
will not allow Mcclure to retreat in a
cloud of vituperation. He reiterates his
previous assertions as to McClure's mis-
statemtnts, and goes over the ground again
10 prove his position. He qoutes dispatch
from b. &. Cook, who was chairman of
the Illinois delegation at the Baltimore
convention, and who says Nicolay's state
ment that Lincoln was in favor
OF Hamiin is correct. Cook fur
Their says he went to Lincoln
personally after the receipt Of the note
which Nicolay has quoted in previous
statements. After an interview with him
Cook was positive that Hannibal Hamlin
was Lincoln's favorite. and says the fact
Is further proven by the action of the en-
tire Illinois delegation. which was for
Hamlin. Nieolay goes on TO say that If
Mcclure received Lincoln's instructions 10
vote for Johnson he betrayed them when
he went back TO Baltimore, and as a men,
Der of the Pennsylvania delegation cast q
vote for Hannibal Hamln.