The Portland daily press., 1899-02-14

Republicans Tried To Make Him
President Instead Of Lincoln.

Important Statement ny War vice.
Presidents SON Mt Loyal Legion
Bsnquet--N.morisi TO Late Col.
Moore.
Bangor, February l3-At the annual
banquet of the Loyal Legion of Maine at
the Bangor house tonight, the special
feature Of the post -prnndial exercises was
n paper read by Gen. Charles Hamlin
Of this city, son of ex.vioe President Han
nibsl Hamlin. ON "Ihe Origin OF Lincoln
Day." in which be disclosed some inter-
esting unwriften history OF the Lincoln
administration. In reviewing the his
toric friendship between President Lin
coin and vice-President Hamlin he re-
vealed the fact that the radical Republic
can leaders OF Congress inaugurated
formidable movement in 1868 to retire
Mr. Lincoln from the Presidency at the
end of his term and make Mr.. Hamlin
his successor. They held private con.
ference and offered MI. HaInlin the Re
publican nomination for President, but
he declined and said: ~ am Lincoln's
friend, and he is my friend. He is now
right and 1T is our duty to support him..
This paraIyz ed the movement against
Lincoln, although the opposition turned
to Secretary Chase as its candidate and
for few months appeared to be formid
able.
Gen. Hamlin explained that the tender
of the Presidential nomination to his
father was the outcome of the serious dis
satisfaction with President Lincoln In
''the dark days of 1868" that existed
among the radical leaders in Congress.
This originated in the difference OF
opinion between Lincoln and the radicals
over the outbreak OF the rebellion. Lin
coin did not expect great war. The
radicals such as Zachariah Chandler,
Thaddeus Stevens. Hannibal Hamlin and
others. believed that a gigantic rebel
lion was impending and urged the Pres
ident to prepare an army of 500, 600 man
In the field. He called for 10, 900 men and
the radicals were discouraged. The fall
ure of the adm nistration after two years
Of fighting, to suppress the rebellion, the
supposed influence of Seward with Lin
coin, the trouble over Gen. Mcclellan
and other incidents ultimately caused
the radicals to offer Mr. Hamlin the Pres
idency But by this time he was closer to
Lincoln than the radical leaders in Con-
gfess and understood him better than they
did Hence he supported Lincoln, Chan6-
Ter, Stevens and other giants OF those
days followed I Vice-Prssident ] Hamli
and supported Lincoln for denomination.
sumner, Chase Wade, Henry White,
Davis and others opposed him. In his
retirement, when Hannibal Hamlin says
Lincoin's fame frightened, he felt vindi-
Gated, and first suggested in 1887 that
the nation should keep Lincoln's birth
day as national holiday. He made his
last public speech to this end, before the
Republican club of New York city on
February IL, 1891. subsequently New
York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Penn
sylvania. Wisconsin, Washington and
North Dakota, all Joined the movement
thus inaugurated and with Illinois
keep Lincoln's birthday as q holiday.
A memorial to the late Col. Edward
Moore, wns read as follows;
IN MEMORIAM.
The following tribute to the memory
of the late Bvt 1t. Col. Edward Moore,
prepared by committee OF HIS compan-
ions of the Order of the Loyal Legion was
read ut the meeting:
Companion, Brvt LIT. Col. Edward
Moore, died at his residence in Deering,
Maine, Jan uary 81, 1899.
Edward Moore was born at freeport,
Maine, February 10, 1886, the son OF
William T. Moore and his wife Agnes.
His elementary education was obtained in
the public schools. AT the age of eleven
years we ind him at sea Ms cabin boy.
The family removed to Portland when be
was quite young aid here when in his
teens, he learned the last-makers trade
and, making improvements In the manu-
features, established himself in that
business in Portland The call of Presi
dent Lincoln in 1862 for 300, COO troops
found him thus employed. He enlisted
July l4th, attached himself TO the regi-
ment then forming rendezyoussd at
Portland, that became the Seventeenth
Maine Regiment of Infantry, and with
1t was mustered into the U. ). service for
three years. August is, 1862, as Second
Lieut.. of Ii company. The regiment
directly thereafter proceeded TO the seat
of war. March ., 1868, he was mustered
as Frat Lieutenant and November 10
following as Captain OF q Company. AT
the close of the war he was brevetted
Lieut. Col. OF Volunteers, for faithful
ard meritorious services during the war
He took part in the following battles anu
eugagements: Fredericksburg in 1863;
Charlottesville, Getty sburg. Mapping
Fights, Auburn, Kellsy's Ford, Locust
Grove Tin the official report OF which the
Colonel commanding mentions Captain
Moore for good conduct and Mine Run
in 1868; Fredericksburg Road, North
Anna River, Iotopotomy, Cold Harbor,
Petersburg Assaults, Jerusalem Road,
Deep Bottom Qst and 2nd) PEBBLES
Farm, Fort He'll. Boydton Road in 1864;
Hatcher's Run in 1865; also In the trench
es at the siege of Petersburg, occasionally
in command of the regiment AS senior
officer present. until about March ]. 1865,
when he received leave of absence. He
rejoined the regiment about April 10th;
with Ii he WAS mustered out OF service
June 4. 1865.
As an officer he performed his duties
gallaptly ana well; was kind and affable
TO his men, but maintained good disci-
nina He kuayv than all their C0m =