Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-18
THAT pALrrMoRk CONVENTIONS.
An Illinois Delegate Tells About Hamlin's
Defeat.

->ss.A1
EVIDENCE THAT LINCOLN HAD no sHARI n II
THE suRParsE AND DISAPPOINTMENT or uIl-
NoIs MEN-DANrKL q Dickinson THR SECOND
CHOICE OF ILLINOIS MEN FoR VICE PRESIDENT.
A chapter Of much more than ordi.
nary interest in the controversy now in
progress about the defeat Of Hannibal Hsmlin
for denomination for the vice presidency il
contributed by DR.. I. A. Powell of Illinois. at
present holding government ONCE here. DR..
Powell was an intimate personal friend Of Mr..
Lincoln, and a. such was chosen to be one of
the delegates-at-large from Illinois to the Bal.
timore convention in 1864. He saw Mr.. Lin
coin both Immediately before and Immediately
after the convention, and was in position to
know, and did know. Just how Mr. Lincoln felt
on the subject of the party platform and the
national ticket.
In a long conversation with srAn reporter
today on this subject DIR. Powell said:
MIR. Lincoln was not in the remotest degree
responsible for the naming Of Andrew johnson
a. his yoke mate on that ticket. He neither
suggested nor encouraged such action, and
feel justified in saving even that he was proba-
bly, as much surprised at il as were the mem
bers of the Illinois delegation to the conven-
ton. That we were surprised can sincerely
testify. do not mean to say by this that we
had not heard it suggested that Mr.. Hamlin
would be opposed in the convention for re-
nomination, but the movement had not ap-
peared formidable to us, and certainly the
name Of Andrew johnson had not come to my
ears in connection with il.
HOW THE ILLINOIS MEN STOOD.
'The attitude Of the Illinois delegation in
that convention We saw in advance must be .
conservative one. Wswere all personal friends
OF Mr. Lincoln we were about to receive,
without the shadow Of opposition, all
that We were asking, the renomina-
ton of our fsvorite. and We felt that for the
rest we should not obtrude our wishes on the
convention. We wanted the whole work well
done. Of course. and we felt that that would be
accomplished without any particular activity
on our part. In taking that position, too, we
knew that We would be acting in strict accord
with the wishes of Mr.. Lincoln. whose position
at that time was well understood by all his
friends. We thought well of Mr.. Hamlin. We
believed him to be an honest man and pa
triot. and our purpose was to vote for his re-
nomination.
THEIR COURSE IN BALTIMORE.
when we got to Baltimore we saw at once
that We could not be too particular in keeping
our resolution to remain free OF all entangle-
ments as to the platform and the vice presidency.
Our headquarters were at once the center Of
interest and inquiries began pouring in as to
assumption Yves that we had come to the con-
vention armed with instructions from Mr.. Lin
coin, and In whatever we did would be carrying
out his wishes. As well we could we kept
our hands off. We listened respectfully to
whatever was communicated to us, but our only
reply was an expression OF gratitude at the
general favor in which Mr.. Lincoln was re-
garded. 1t was generally known that we would
vote for Mr.. Hamlin, but We did not parade our
intentions nor seek to influence others to sup
port him.
''Some stress has been laid on the fact that
Leonard SWEET Of our delegation talked OF
Joseph Holt Of Kentucky for the vice presi-
dency. That, however, was merely q personal
compliment that SWEET was paying to an old
friend. The name of Mr.. Holt was never pre-
sented to or considered by the Illinois delega-
ton in connection with the vice presidency at
any time Our purpose FROM the outset was to
vote for Mr.. Hamlin.
WHERE JoHSsoN's BATTLE WAS WON
Now, as to our action in the convention"
continued DR.. Powell. The hottest contest
was in the committee on credentials, and the
occasion was the proposition to admit delegates
from the south. Tennessee had sent particu-
larry strong delegation and voted for their
admission. represented Illinois on the COM
mittee, and when it was represented to rs how
unjust 1t would be to decline to receive men
like Parson Brownlow and Horace Maynard
who have braved SO much and suffered SO much
Tor the Union, the proposition could not longer
be resisted. 1t was warmly opposed, however
and provoked much bitterness. did not see it
then, but / afterward saw the full significance
OF that contest. Andrew Johnsons fate hung
in that balance. Tennessee's triumph in the
committee on credentials was the for sumner of
Johnson's triumph in the convention.
NOMINATING JOHNSON
"B. c. Cook. whom l know very we'll and
esteem very highly, was the chairman of our
delegation. l see it stated that he attributes
the nomination Of Johnson to O speech which
Horace Maynard made to the convention in
Johnsons behalf. / differ with him on that
point. In my judgment the nomination of
Andrew johnson was due to a short speech
made in his behalf by c. NJ. Allen, chairman of
the Indiana delegation. Allen was q man of
ability, then as well known in Indiana as Oliver
T: Morton. He was TN old friend Of mine and
discussed the case OF johnson with me
fully. The Indiana delegates sat first
across the aisle from us in the con-
yention hall, and when nominations for Vice
President were in order Allen walked across
| the aisle and asked to be introduced to Mr..
Cook, our chairman. presented him. and he
said to MIR. Cook, in my hearing: 4 am going
to nominate Andrew johnson for Vice Presi-
dent. don't know whether there will be a
| second to the proposition or not. but what
want you men to do is to vote for him if Ham
lin can't win Mr.. Cook replied: We are for
Hamlin and shall vote for him.. Then turn
ing TO the members Of the delegation he began
discussing the proposition. Alien meanwhile
had sent a card up to Gov. Dennison of Ohio.
who was presiding over the convention, asking
| to be recognized. and he was recognized. He
then stood up on his chair and delivered a rat
Ting speech, nominating Andi ew johnson for
Vice President. 1t caught the convention, and,
coming as 1t did from q man who lived north
of Mason and Dixor's line, it was especially
effective. About the rest there is no dispute
johnson was nominated on the second ballot
by large majority. But the vote Of Illinois
was cast for Hannibal Hamlin.
SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED.
ITO say that both the convention and the
public at large were surprised at the result is
to put the case mildly. remember, indeed,
that coming out Of the hall encountered DR..
w. Z. Brown Of my state. then all official Of
| the Interior Department here, but now q mer-
chant living in Chicago, who said to me ex-
citedly: You fellows have played -. We
have no lease on Abe Lincolns life Suppose
he should die, or, worse still, suppose somebody
should kill him, where would We be? Who
knows what Andrew johnson as President
would do? If Hamlin was to be thrown over
why didn't the convention nominate some re-
liable northern man whose attitude on the
great questions Of the day is well defined and
acceptable to the countryp / explained to
Brown that the Illinois people had had no part
or lot in the matter. and that moreover, I felt
| pretty much as he did aboutit"
DICKINSON INSTEAD OF JOHNSON.
"If Illinois had known that Hamlin was
| doomed doctor whom would abe have sum-