New-York tribune., 1900-05-19
TIE PRESIDENCY.
COLONEL MCCLURE ON THE OFFICE AND
ITS HOLDERS.


THEM BY A. X Mcclure, IL D. Illustrated
svo. PIP. XII All. Harper 81 Bros
Colonel Mcclure was born in 1923. In his
twentieth year he witnessed the nomination Of
Taylor in the great National convention at
Philadelphia and he has ever since participated
in our National conventions and campaigns. His
survey of the subject has therefore more weight
than would ordinarily attach to a series of
brief papers like those gathered together in the
present volume. 1t has the peculiar interest
which only an eye witness can give to the de-
scription of events. He is brief but effective in
his account of the elimination Of the conflict
between the Seward and the Lincoln men in the
convention of 1860. He relates how the latter
generated their opponents by filling the wig
wan before the New-York delegation filed in.
He tells how Lincoln's strength increased in the
voting, and how the announcement of the change
of four votes from Ohio from Chase to him, set
the audience in uproar of the widest enthu-
siasm to which the silence of the New-York dele
gates presented dramatic contrast. Here we
may quote his words:
When order was finally restored Maine, Mas
sachusetts and Missouri changed number OF
votes to Lincoln giving him total of 3o4, being
100 odd votes more than he needed. When the
vote was announced by the president cheers broke
out afresh but they soon quieted down to await
the action Of the New-York delegation, that was
expected to move the unanimous nomination.
There was certainly full five minutes of dead
silence in the body, as the New-York delegates
mortified beyond expression at their dis
comfture but after long wait. which seemed
to be vastly longer than it was the tall form OF
William NJ Evarts arose, and with reluctance
that unconcealed, said:
Mr. President move that the nomination OF
Abraham Lincoln be made unanimous
Governor Andrew. of Massachusetts, rose as
soon he saw Evarts rise and when Evartss
motion was made Andrew seconded it, and with
the unanimous vote of the convention and the
heartest huzzas from the many thousands who
witnessed the proceedings. Abraham Lincoln was
declared the Republican candidate for President.
Colonel Mcclure did not come to know Lincoln
personally until after his election His
quaintance with him yields one or two striking
anecdotes Their first interview was the result
of the controversy the appointment of
Cameron to the Cabinet Colonel Mcclure was
in opposition and Lincoln teegraphed to him to
visit him at Springfield. Lincoln opened the
door himself, and his visitor thus describes his
appearance and the interview
think did not we'll conceal my disappoint-
ment when l stood before him in the dimly
lighted hall looking up into the face of the new
President. There was nothing in his appearance
calculated to make favorable impression at
first sight. He lily clad, ungraceful in
movement, and his rudely chiselled face, that
was always sad in repose, clearly portrayed the
biting anxieties which his election to the Presi-
dency to meet the severest trial of the Republic
had brought upon him. He had then decided to
appoint Cameron to the Cabinet against which
had protested, and he had sent for me to know
whether there were good reasons for a change
of judgment. We sat down in the plainly fur
nished parlor, and for an hour or more he heard
me patiently. with evident interest During this
part of the conversation he said but little, but
gave many incisive questions to be answered.
He did not exhibit single trace of humor and
it seemed to me most OF the time If 1 were
making my appeal to sphinx. He gave no
sign whatever as to whether / impressed him
| T ha npla
clew by which to judge what Importance he had
attached to my arguments but before he
tired that night he wrote letter to Cameron
revoking the appointment, and suggested that
Cameron should regard the position rendered
which be found in Nicolay and Hays Life
of Lincoln" he uses this language "You will
say this comes of an interview with Mcclure
and this is partly but not wholly true" The
result was that the position of Secretary Of War
was held open until Lincoln arrived in Washing
ton, when Seward and Weed finally prevailed
upon the President to give the position to
Cameron.
Colonel Mcclure was present at the dinner
given by Governor Curtin to Lincoln on the
night of February % 1861 when the change Of
the latters route on his way to Washington was
advised because there was on foot a deliberate
plan TO assassinate him on his way through
Baltimore. Governor Curtin spoke to the whole
party about the matter after the servants had
been dismissed, and every was prompt In
approving his lnSiStence upon the change OF pro-
gramme THE only silent man at the table !"
says the author was Lincoln. 1 sat near
enough to him to watch and study his face, and
there not sign Of agitation upon il, and
when he called upon to give his views it
at once made evident to all that he thought
more Of commanding the respect and honor of
the Nation than of preserving his life His
answer was substantially. and I think exactly
in these words: I cannot consent. What would
the Nation think OF it's President stealing into
his capital like thief In the night?' His voice
was clear and distinct. and his cool and earnest
manner made his expire ssion painfully pathetic
Fortunately, Lincoln overruled his friends
took his journey in their own hands and Colonel
Scott, who was in command had the satisfac-
ton Of receiving at g o'clock next morning the
hour OF Lincoln's arrival in Washington the dis
patch for which he had been waiting through a
sleepiess night: "Plums delivered Nuts safely"
The record in this volume is brought down TO
the contest between Mckinley and BRYAN In
1896. There is full index and the book in
cludes portraits Of the Presidents 1t is a useful
work Of reference, and will be found decidedly
readable and interesting, not only by the polit-
cal student, but by the general reader.