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 Clrcumstantial Evl-
dence Connecting Calhoun and
Nancy Hanks.
To the Editor of the State !:

| nave read the criticisms IN your
paper and others on the Calhoun and
Lincoln tragedy which, you copied
from the Lexington Dispatch. /
'have reviewed calmly and dispas-
sionately, and ] hope. unselhshly
what those gentlemen III 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 |
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 will
ling to be satisfied with the situation
and go on believing falsehood
themselves, because they have con-
tented themselves with what the Ell
cyclopaedias have said, is lame ex-
cuse 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,
viodictive 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, | reafirm 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 "The Handwris
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 a great man Oh a
great occasion, and how any sane
man made it personal attack and a
assault on Abraham Lin
coin and his mother is to me an un-
explained mystery.
To say that John c Calhoun ever
did OF thought wrong is an unpardon
able crime against the history of the
State and the one who does it is
greater sinner than the Gallileans,
whose blood Plate mingled with the
sacrifices, and a more guilty wretch
than the eighteen on whom the tower
of Sloan fell. 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 infallible
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 who 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 !
have letters IL 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
artic1e He stated that the Hon D.