Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-07-09
WnY nAMLIy WAS DRoppED.
Col. A. Mcclure Tells Secret OF the
Baltimore Convention of 1864.


In q leading editorial entitled Lincoln
and Hamlin, the Philadelphia Times makes
the following important statement regard
ing the defeat of Hannibal Hamlin for
the nomination of vicc-president, in 1854
ut is true that Hamlin, an entirely I'M
Objectionable Vice-President and leader
with peculiar claims upon the Republican
party, was rejected as Vice-Presdent by
the Republican convention of 1864 to place
Southern man in that office, and it is
equally true that it would not and could
not have been done had President Lincoln
opposed it. So fur from opposing it, Lin
coin discreetly favored it, indeed, earnestly
desired it. The writer hereof was dele
gate-at-large from Pennsylvania in the
Baltimore convention of 1864 and in re-
Spouse from an invitation from the Presi-
dent to visit Washington on the evening
of the meeting of the body conference
was had, in which Lincoln gravely urged
the nomination Of johnson for Vice-Presi-
dent. 1t was solely in Difference to Lin
coins earnest conviction as to the national
and international necessities which de-
manded Johnson's nomination for the
| Vice-Presidcncy that the writer's vote was
cast against Iamlin, and other Pennsyl-
| vania delegates were influenced to the
same action by the confidential assurance
of Lincoln's wishes.
ut should not be assumed that Lincoln
was ambitious to play the role of political
master or that he was perlidious to any.
| His position was not only one of the
greatest dclicacy in politics, but he was
loaded with responsibilities to which all
former Presidents had been strangers. His
one supreme desire was the restoration of
the Union, and he would gladly have sur
rendered his own high honor, and even
his life, If thereby had restored the dis
severed states. The one great shadow that
hung over him and his power was the sec
tional character of the ruling party and
the government. 1t weakened his arm to
| make peace; it strengthened European
| hostility to the cause of the Union. and il
| left the South without even a silver lining
to the dark cloud of subjugation. Lincoln
firmly believed that the nomination OF
Johnson, an old Democratic Southern
Senator, who had been aggressively loyal
to the Union, and who was then the mill
tary governor of his rebellious but de
stroyed state, would not only desectional
ize the party and the government, but
would chill and curb the anti-union senti
the friends of the Union in those coun
tries to see leading statesman from con
quered insurgent state to the second office
of the republic.
''Such were Lincoln's sincere conviction,
and such his earnest arguments in favo
OF the nomination of Johnson in 1864, ant
but for l.incolns convictions on the sub
ject Hamln would have been renomi
mated and succeeded to the Presidency in
stead Of Johnson. 1t is easy, in the clea
light of the present, to say that the nomi
nation of johnson was grave misfortune
and to speculate on the countless evil
which could have been averted, but til
one man who was most devoted to the en-
dangered nation, and who could best judg
of the sober necessities of the time. be
lieved that it was not only WISE but al
imperilous need. to take Vice-presiden
from the south, and that is why Ilanniba
Hamlin was not renominated in 1872