Evening journal., 1891-08-10
M'CLURE'S FINAL SHOT.
He Pours a Broadside Into
John G. NIcolay.
WITNESSES LIVING AND DEAD

She Philadelphia Editor Quotes Judge
Pettis. General Butler. General Cam
eron aud Others TO Prove Himself in
the Right In this Hamlla Controvsrs ~.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Aug. l0.-Coionel
A. X. Mcclure, Of the philadelphia Times
has fired a final broadside Ia the contro-
versy with Mr., Nicolay, Lincolp's secretary
and biographer, about the presidents atti-
tude toward Vice President Hamlin, pend
ing the Republican nomination in 1894
The statement made by The Times and
disputed by Mr.. Nicolay was that Mr. Lin
coin had favored the nomination Of
Andrew johnson over Mr.. Hamlin.
His Public Duty.
Colonel Mcclure says: I'VE deem Il a
public duty to settle the issue by the di
rect testimony OF the men now living, or
the preserved direct testimony Of the dead.
who were in the confidence af Mr.. Lincoln
and acted In accord with " convictions
Of public duty
Letters and statements from prominent
actors IN the nominations OF 1854, inolud-
ing an apparent confession by Mr. Hamlin
himself are given.
Judge Pettis' Testimony.
Hon. 5 Newton Pettis. who was an
active supporter Of Lincoln at the conven-
tions Of 1850 and 1894, writes Mcclure from
Meadyille, Pa, under date Of July 20. 1891
as follows:
On tha morning Of the meeting OF the Balti.
more convention In 1884 which nominated Mr.
Lincoln, and Immediately before leaving for
Baltimore called upon AR lincoln IN his study
and stated that called especially TO ask him
whom he desired put on the ticket with him a.
vice president He leaned forward and in A
low but distinct tone Of voice said, Governor
johnson, Of Tennessee"
In March, 1889, Judge Pettis casually
mentioned Linooln's remark to Mr.. Ham
lin, who seemed surprised, aud said he
was sorry Pettis had told him OF what
Lincoln said. Later Pettis saw Colonel
McClure's statement that Lincoln had
made the same remark to him (McClure)
and inclosed the clipping to Mr. Hamlin.
who replied a. follows:
mr Bamlin's Letter.
BAraoR Ne sept n 1884
To Hon. 3 N PErrIs Meadvils. Pa.
nv DEAR srR--Have been from home for sav.
eral days and did not got your letter and news
paper slip until last evening. Hence the delay
In my reply
When met aud conferred with You il wash
tngton. and you told me of Your interview with
mr. l.. llAincolnl, had not tho slightest doubt
ot your correctness The remark that / made
Was caused wholly because You made certain
statements of Mr. T. which had seen. but
which did not believe until made positive hy
you was really SORRY to be disabused Hence
I was truly sorry az what you said and the in
formation you gave me.
Mr. 4. Linooln evidently bscame soma
alarmed about his reelection and changed Az
position That II al care to say. Il We over
shall meet again may say something more to
you will write no more. Yours very truly.
"A HABuIN
What General Butler says.
Under date Of July IA. 1891, General B. F.
Butler writes Colonel Mcclure thar h
March, 1854, General Cameron came TO him.
saying that he was sent by Lincoln
Cameron said:
The President a. you know, Intends to be
candidate for reelection. and AZ bis friends
indicate that Mr. Hamin IL no longer Is ~ 4
candidate for vice president. and AZ ia a frnr,
New England, the President thinks that his
place should be filed by some one from chat
section; and aside from reasons OF personal
friendship which would make IL pleasant 10
have you with him, he believes that being the
nrst prominent Democrat who volunteered for
bhu Ntff Jphf would add strength
30 the ticket. especially with the war Dem.
ocrats aud he hopes that you win allow your
friends to cooperate with his 10 place you in
that position
Mr. Butler refused 10 bs a candidate.
General Cameron's Evidence.
The following is an extract from an in
terview with General Cameron taken by
James X. Young, now executive clerk of
the state, in 1873, revised by Cameron him
self and published In the New York Herald
in the summer Of that year:
In the spring Of 1894, whom il was determined
to run Mr.. Lincoln for asecond term It was the
desire Of Lincoln and also Of Stanton who was
the one man Of the cabinet upon whom Lincoln
thoroughly depended. that Butler should run
on the ticket with him a. the candidate for
vice president. / WAS called into consultation
aud heartily indorsed tho scheme Accordingly
Lincoln sent me on q mission 10 Fort Monroe %
zoe General Butler
Hamiin Never Had a Chance.
The following interview with General |
Cameron, taken BY Colonel Burr a few |
years before his death, was carefully re- /
vised by Cameron himself:
MT. Lincoln thought and 50 did I that Mr. L
danlin's position during the four years OF his 4
made 1t advisable 10 have a new \
name substituted Mr.. Lincoln seemed /
- fobtpb hpuefdi huLAef'b decision, and after Il
ward the name Of Andrew johnson was sug. 4
gested and accepted. In my judgment Mr. |
damlin never had a serious chance 10 become /
he vice presidential candidate after Mr. Lin
'oln's denomination was assured
Johnson's Secretary Talks.
Ben 9. Truman, private secretary to |
Andrew johnson in 1864, writes Colonel |
Mcclure under date Of July %. 1891, that
le saw all OF Johnson's mail and knows
{ TO be fact that Mr.. Lincoln desired the
Of johnson for vice president,
hat Brownlow and Maynard went to Bal
imore at request of Lincoln and johnson
% promote the nomination, and that Lin
'oln, on the whole, preferred johnson first
Ind Holt next
Jones Speaks for Raymond.
Henry j. Raymond was editor Of the
New York Times in 1884, Of which George
tones was then, as now, the chief owner,
md their relations were Of the most conf
lential character. Raymond was the Lin
,Oln leader and the master spirit of the
of 1864 Raymond has long
ince joined the great majority, but Jones
hus incisively speaks for him:
SOUTH POLAND, Me- July II, 1891.
My DEAR COLONEL McCLuRK-Yonr letter
las been forwarded to me here. have read
he contention about the V. Presidency and do
lot hesitate 10 say that you are absolutely in
he right in your statement Of the facts.
GEORGE JONES.