The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-15
HAS L|NCOLA'S COAT
COL Mccoy of Wichita Has
a Priceless Relic.
HE WAS MARRIED IN IT
Made for Abe, But Mccoy
Was in a Hurry.

last Sunday was the anniversary OF Ao-
raham Lincoln's birthday, and aD-op1s OF
that day the Kansas City World published
"reminiscences of J. G. Mccoy of Wichita,
who knew the inside of I.incolns life and
was near him when he was first advised Of
/ his Nomination to the presidency. The ar
/ ticle SAYS: 1T is an interesting fact N
/ this connection that Colonel Mccoy was
married in and still, retains as relic a
! Prince Albert coat that was cut and made
for Abraham Lincoln. He was married
after Lincoln's election, but before his in
auguration TO the presidency. 1t happened
in this way: Lincoln had ordered sui.
from Wood & Hnkle, tailors at Springfield.
L had been made, but hadn't been taken
out OF the shop, when Mccoy suddenly
made up his mind to get married. He
went to Wood & Hinkle and told them tina.
he must have a wedding suit within six
days that he was obliged to go off on a
trip that soon, and wanted to get mar
ried before starting. The tailors told him
it would be impossible for them to get the
suit done in that shore time. They looked
over their stock to see if they could not
fit him out from some orders they had
already filed
I'VE haven't anything that would fit
you" Hinkle finally said, except that suit
over there which we have just finished for
Lincoln"
What is the matter with letting Mccoy
have that?" Wood suggested and malelg
H. IL
hurry"
Thus the matter was finally arranged
and Mccoy bought the suit that had been
cut and made for Abraham Lincoln. He
was duly married in it, and sti lretains It
as a priceless relic.
The compromise bill of 1880 produced only
a lull in the slavery excitement. II burst
out anew when Stephen A.Douglas brought
into congress the famous bill organizing
the territories OF Kansas and Nebraska
and advocating the doctrine of "squatter
sovereignty that is the right of the in
habitants Of each territory to decide cor
themselves whether the state should come
into the Union free or slave. This hill
being virtual reputation of the Missouri
compromise, excited intense feeling. Ii,
The struggle was now taken from con-
sress. A bitter contest arose between me
pro-slavery and the anti-slavery men. she
former anxious to the secure the state for
slavery and the latter for freedom Each
party sent armed emigrants to the terri
tory and civil war ensued. Bands of armed
men crossed over from Missouri, took pos
session of the polls and controlled the cleo
tons. Houses were attacked and pillaged
and men murdered in cold blood For
several years Kansas was the scene Of
lawless violence. The Lecompton conven-
ton, which was controlled by the pro-
slavery men, adopted a constitution recog-
nizing slavery.
In 1851 Buchanan. a Democrat. became
president. The Democrats controlled both
branches of congress. Buchanan decided
to make the admission of Kansas. under
the Lecompton constitution. an admins
tration measure. Stephen A Douglas, a
Democrat realizing that the Lecompton
convention had been a sham. took issue
with resident Buchanan. He fought
against the admission of Kansas under
such circumstances and conditions and de-
feated the measure. The matter was re-
ferred back to the people of Kansas for
vote. and the LecOmpton convention was
repudiated by an overwhelming majority.
President Buchanan was bitterly disap-
pointed over the defeat Of his pet measure, |
and was especially bitter against Douglas |
for the active part he had taken. Doug
las term as United States senator was
about to expire and Buchanan openly an
ha
election. even il it should require the unit
ed influence Of the entire national admin |
He proceeded to carry out his /.
threat. The entire state of Illinois was
secured by the administration men. The |
official patronage of the state was used as /
a club against Douglas. A Douglas Dem /
ocrat- could not set appointed 70 any office. |
no matter how small. IF an officeholder /
was found who was A Douglas man and
could not be whipped into line. he was re-
moved and. in some instances, a Republic /
an was appointed in his stead By force /
Of circumstances. therefore the Demo- /
cratic party in Illinois was divided into two |
factions, Douglas and anti-Douglas.
The Republicans sought to take advan-
tage of this split in the Democratic party.
on June >, 1855, The Republican state con-
vention. which was held in Springfield.
nominated. or rather indorsed. Abraham
Lincoln as the Republican candidate for
the United States senate. to succeed
Stephen A Douglas. Up to that time
public career had been limited TO
a couple Of terms in the state legislature
and a short unexDired term in congress.
He was then known better as an able
lawyer. a sound reasoner and a forcefu,
public speaker In the campaign that fall
Lincoln achieved national fame through
his famous debates with his senatorial op-
ponent. stephen \. Douglas
It was during this campaign that the
first suggestion and the first semi-uub'ic
Of Ltncolns candidacy for
The presidency occurred. II happened at
Springfield. and il came about in this way.
Lincoln was billed 20 speak a Springfield.
Ms home town. that day and evening His
friends arranged monster demonstration