The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-10
LIGHT ON LINCOLN.
Secretary Nicolay Replies to
Colonel Mcclure.
EMANclpAToR WANTED HAMLIN.
All the Evidence Goes TO show, Says
NicoIay, That the President Did Not
Advocate Johnson's Nomination.

WASHINGTON CrTy, July e.--John g. Sicolay
today addressed IN open letter 10 Colonel Nc
Clure, editor OF the Philadelphia Times, replying
70 the lntest editorial on the nomination OF An
drew johnson. Nicolay says, In part, that he
was at the Baltimore convention a spectator.
B. C. Cook, chairman of the Illinois delegation,
had q conversation with him about the course
of certain leaders I'm Illinois. That conversation
Nicoiay reported TO the president in letter TO
Major Hay, assistant private secretary. What
he had heard had made Cook suspicious
that SWEET might be untrue 10 Lincoln. One Of
the straws which led to this belief was that
SWEET had telegrsphed to Baltimore. urging the
Illinois delegation to go for Holt. Cook wanted
TO know confdentislly whether In urging Holt
for the vice presidency SWEET reflected the presi
dents wish: whether the president had any
preference, or whether he wished not even to
interfere by confidential indication. Upon this
letter President Lincoln made the following in.
dorsement in his own hand writing:
SWEET fs unquestionabiy all right. Mr.. Holt IL
. good man, but had not heard or thought Of
sbOs vice ana ao
about the platform. The convention must judge
for itself
"This written evidence" says Nicolay, scan
not be turned. In trying to evade its force you
City and urged the nomination of Johnson,
and that you returned 20 Baltimore TO work
and vote in obedience 10 that request against
your pertonal predilections. The proceedings
of the convention show that you took All en-
tfrely minor part. Is it probable that Lincoln,
among all other men in the Pennsylvania dele
cation tsimon Cameron, Thaddeus Stevens,
others would have called yo1 alone to
receive his secret Instructions? IL il
matter Of public history that Simon Cameron
WAS more prominent and efficient than any
other Pennsylvania in that state to give Lin
coin second term, and that on the l4th OF
January, 1864, he transmitted 10 the president
written request of every Union member in the
Pennsylvania legislature to accept the re-nomi-
nation. This and his subsequent open and un-
varying deport left no doubt of Cameron's atti-
tude. How was 1t with your?
Eicolay then quoted letter from Mcclure TO
President Lincoln, dated May 2, 1864, protesting
against the intimation in one or two papers that
he fMcClure) was not cordially in favor OF Lin
coins denomination, and assuring him Of cor
dial support, and continues:
That IL. only month before the convention
you ielt called upon e personally protest against
al. When the time came to make the nomina-
tion for vice president, Simon Cameron, chair
man OF the Pennsylyania delegation, and one of
coin, himself nominated Hannibal Hamlin for
vice president while the whole vote of Pennkyl-
vania was on the first ballot cast for Hamlin's
denomination. SO, also. the Illinois dele
lin on the first ballot. Does it stand
70 reason that Lincoln called upon you TO de-
sert Hamltn and renominate Johnson, and gave
no intimation OF this desire TO the chairman OF
the Pennsylvania and Illinois delegations?
Dare you venture the assertion that Lincoln was
decefyfug Cameron, deceiving Cook, Carrying on
secret intrigue against Hamliu and another
Thos g Holt na that On top
That may be your conception of Abraham Lin
colns but 1t 10 not mine.