The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-19

lie service. I found Senator Sherman in
bis library at his home on 4 street last
night He said:
president Lincoln bad to select his Cabl-
net with great care. The situation was so
critical ard tie people we're so divided by
factions and BY the great questions before
the country that Il was necessary to have
Cabinet which could work together and IN
which there should be no unharmOniOus or
antag0nlste elements. Among tie first
members chosen were Seward as Secretary
OF State, Montgomery Blair a POStm aSteT-
General ard Salmon Z. Chase as Secretary
Of the Treasury. The choice OF MI Chase
hung IRE for some time. it was thought
from the opposition of Blair and Seward,
and il was at this time that President Lin
coin. l have been told, thought # making
NE Secretary of the Treasury. IL looking
back uDOn the situation to-day | am sur
prlsed 10 see how little l cared for the Office.
Ny ambition was then TO he Speaker Of the
House. l had been a candidate and had
come within a vote or so OF being
elected, and II was generally conceded that
l was to be the next Speaker This at that
time seemed to me a much more desirable
Office than that OF Senator of the United
States, and when the Legislature met in
Ohio TO elect Senator did not feel at all
ANXIOUS TO be candidate. Ny name was
presented, however, and there were a num-
Der OF ballots. during most Of which had
larger vote than any other candidate, but
not enough to secure my election. | was
here at Washington al this time and l tele-
graphed them 10 withdraw my name. 1t
was Withdrawn and the balloting went on
for the other candid ates, my votes being
scattered among them. After some time,
during which the balloting continued with
out any sign Of an election, was tele-
graphed TO come out 10 Ohio. | did so and
my name was again brought before the
Legislature and / was elected to the United
States Senate In the meantime Salmon p.
Chase had been appointed as Secretary of
the Treasury and the Senate confirmed his
nomination"
How about your acceptance of the treas
ury portfolio uuder President Hayes, Sena-
tor SheTman?" l asked.
There is no special story connected with
ii" replied Mr.. Sherman. 81 was notified
by President Hayes that he would like to
have me for his Secretary of the Treasury
some time before his Inauguration, and
while the question of his election was still
pending. l accepted this position largely
because l wanted TO carry out the resump-
ton policy that l had proposed in the
Senate. | think myself and Mr. Eyarts
were tie two first appointments that Presi-
dent Hayes decided upon. / am sure that
he made no promises before his nomination
and none until after his election"
Speaking Of President LincOln's Cabinet
this statement OF Senator Sherman as 10
otnces being promised beforehand could not
be made as to it. Lincoln started into his
campaign handicapped with Cabinet Prom
lses. His nomination was largely secured
through such promises. and | had a chat
the other day with Peter 5. Grosscup Of
Chicago. who has just been appointed
United States District Judge by President
Harrison, which gave me the true inward
ness OF this part OF our history. Mr.. Cross
cup was the law partner of Leonard SWEET,
President Lincoln's longtime friend AID
political ad wiser. Leonard SWEET and David
Dauic wa real of no
delegation at the nominating convention,
and The circumstances Of the nomination
were told by SWEET to Mr. Grosscup. Said
he:
when the convention met, the chances
OF LlncOlns nomination were by no means
certain, and SWEET and Davis were the only
true workers in the delegation. They
promised everything in order TO get votes,
and they agreed that Indiana, Kentucky
and Pennsylvania should have places in the
Cabinet if these States would vote for Lin
coin IN the convention. As soon as the
nomination was made they went 10 Presi-
dent Lincoln and told him Of the contracts
they had made for him and the names Of
the men whom the States would probably
want to appoint President Lincoln
said: AS to Indiana, Caleb Saith is
good man, and | would be glad
@ have him in my Cabinet. | don't
object to James Speed of Kentucky, but /
don't know about Simon Cameron. Either
Justly or uDJustly ne mas been charged with
having been accessory to certain Jobs. |
am making this campaign as honest Old Abe
and / want to avoid even the appearance Of
evil 1t was long time before DAVIS and
SWEET could accomplish their ends, but
Cameron, Al their entreaty, got the secre-
taryship of War. Smith OF Indiana was
made Secretary Of the Interior. and later on
in the administration james Speed of
Kentucky was made Acknowledgement.
Cameron was afterward appointed Minis
ter to Russia, and he left the Cabinet on
that account"
Judge Tyner Of Indiana, now Attorney
General Of the Postoffice Department, was
in the Cabinet Of President Grant as Post
master General. He was First Assistant
General during the first part Of
Grants administration and has given me
some interesting data about General Grant 5
Cabinet methods / called upon him yes
terday In his Office at the Postof1ice Depart
uent. During my conversation he SAID;
General Grants Cabinet was, you know.
n sur. rise to every one. 1t was generally
thought that he would appoint politicians,
end when he selected a. /. Stewart, the