The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-03-25
W ho was the Father Of
Abraham Lincoln ?
The Lexington Historian An
sWers His Critics
And FURNISHES Clrcumstantlal Evl-
dence Connecting Calhoun and
Nancy Hanks.
To the Editor. of the State !:

from the Lexington UIspatCu.
have reviewed calmly and dispas-
sionately, and l hope. unsel6shly
what those gentlemen IN their rage
and temper have seen proper to say
and have considered deliberately the
harsh and abusive terms used by
them to express their indignation I
am sorry the critics have allowed
their vebemence and sarcasm to get
the better Of their judgment and
better sense so far as to use such un-
called for and needless sentiments
Because these gentlemen do not know
these things is no reason they are
untrue; and because they seem viii
ling to be satisfied with the situation
and go on believing falsehood
themselves, because they have con-
tented themselves with what the en-
cyclopaedias have said, is a lame ex-
cnse to try and lessen and berate
men who believe they know better
and are willing to state the reasons
for their belief. There are many
men who believe they know all that
is written and believe all the history
of the past has been written and that
nothing can be added thereto. These
articles from myself and the views
expressed in the papers will go to
the discriminating public and from
that great tribunal from which there
is no appeal each one will receive his
due consideration for the full value
of his worth and the fiery, severe,
vindictive manner will not be con
sidered argument nor good grounds
of appeal, and to that great tribunal.
in all the sincerity of which | am
capable. reaffrm my sincerity in
making the statement contained in
the extracts from the Lexington Dis
patch. The part copied was from an
article in series written for the Lex:
ington Dispatch on 1.-The Handwrit-
ing Of God in the Government of
Men, and was intended to show
from the inspired historians of the
interferences of Providence in the
civil and political governments of the
world. In the series / went on to
show how great spirits had been
raised up at various times of the
worlds history on great occasions,
such as Joseph, Moses, David,
Queen Esther, Daniel, &C., among
the Hebrews, and Nebuchadnezzar,
Cyrus the Great, Alexander the
Great among the Gentiles. and said
that the indications were that Abra-
ham Lincoln was great man on a
great occasion, and how any sane
man made it personal attack and
:slanderous assault on Abraham Lin
coin and his mother is to me an un-
explained mystery.
To say that John G Calhoun ever
did or thought wrong is an unpardon
able crime agains! the history of the
State and the one who does it is a
greater sinner than the Gallileans,
whose blood Plate mingled with the
sacrifices, and more guilty wretch
than the eighteen on whom the tower
of Sloan fell. l was fully aware of
all the American, Britannica and
Cathcart's encyclopedias had to say
about it, but did not believe them.
The first got erroneous information
and each one copied 1t was the
best they had in reach at the time
Encyclopedias are not infal|ible
any more than other human informa
ton | believe it ia settled. fact
for some time that Abraham was not
the son Of Thomas Lincoln, but was
an illigitemate child and VINO the
father was has been the dispute.
His parentage has been claimed from
several directions, but believe the
paternity of Calhoun is the only one
that is correct | have known of
these facts for several years and the
first impression of mine on that issue
is as far back as "a years And
this is no theory in Anderson county,
and there are living, responsible men
there whose fathers gave them the
tradition and with some of them it
comes direct from the Calhoun fam
lily.
The letter of JAS F. Tribble in the
News and Courier shows very plainly
that Judge Orr had this nonsense in
his head before our civil war and be.
fore Mr.. Lincoln was President l
have letters i'll my possession show
ing that to be the impression of
many responsible citizens of Ander-
sun and Abbeville counties to-day
The names of two men in Anderson
are mentioned by Mr.. Tribble in his
article. He stated that the Hon B.
F. Crayton stated that James L. Orr,
who was congressman, governor,
Judge, and died as minister to Rus