The National tribune., 1900-02-08

H., 4,
was especially indignant, land utterly re-
fused to vote for Mr.. Trumbull at all. Or
the last ballot he threw away his ballot OIL
u MIR. Parks, a member of the Legislature
and one of Lincoln's intimate friends. said
'Mr. Lincoln was very much disappointed
for think that at that timeit was the hight
Senate. He manifested, however. no bitter
ness towards MIR. Judd or the other anti.
Nebraska Democrats by whom politically
he was beaten, but evidently thought theil
motives were right. He told me several
times afterwards. that the election of Trum.
bull was the best thing that could have
happened"
SKETCH BY A MEMBER OF THE LEGIS.
LATURE OF 1855.
Hon. Elijah NJ Haines, ex-Speaker of the
Illinois Legislature, a resident Of the State
for over half a century. and one of Mr. Lin
coins early friends, was member of The
Legislature during the Senatorial struggle
lust referred to, and was familiar with all
its incidents. The following interesting
sketch is furnished by him: "A braham Lin
coin had been elected "A member of the
House on the Fusion ticket, with Judge
Stephen T. Logan, for the District com
posed of Sangamon County; but it being
settled that the Fusion party-Which was
an anti-Douglas combination. including
Wings. Free-Soilers, Know-Nothings, etc
would have majority of the two houses
on ballot, Mr.. Lincoln was induced to be-
come a candidate for United States Senator,
for the support of that party. He therefore
did not qualify us a member Although
Mr.. Lincoln never acquired the reputation
of being an office-seeker, yet it happened
frequently that his name would be men
toned in connection with some important
position. He became. quite early in life,
one of the prominent leaders of the Whig
party of the State, and for long time, in
connection with few devoted associates,
led the forlorn hope of that party. During
period of about 20 years there was seldom
but one Whig member in the Illinois dele
CATION of Congressman The Sangamon
District, in which Mr.. Lincoln lived, was
always sure to elect q Wing member when
the party was united; but il contained quite
a number of aspiring Whg orators. and
there was kind of understanding between
them that no one who attained the position
of Representative in Congress should hold
it longer than one term that he would then
give way for the next favorite. Mr.. Lin
coin had held the position once, and its
return TO him was far in the future.
"The Fusion triumph in the Legislature
was considered by the Wing element as a
Success. in which they acknowledged great
obligation to Mr.. Lincoln. That clement in
the Fusion party therefore urged his claims
as the successor of Gen. Shields. His old
associate and tried friend in the Wing
cause, Judge Logan became the champion
of his interests in the House of Representa-
tives. / was present and saw something of
Mr.. Lincoln during the, early part of the
session, before the vote for Senator was
taken. He was around among the mem
bers much of the time. J. His manner was
agreeable and unassuming; he was not
forward in pressing his case upon the atten-
would come to a close, some allusion to the
Senatorship would generally occur. when
he would respond in some such way as this:
Gentlemen, that is rather g. delicate subject
for me TO talk upon; but must confess that
| would be glad of your support for the
office, if you shall conclude that am the
proper person for it. When he had finished
draw before any discussion on the subject
arose. II "a
'The joint convention of the two Houses
for the election of Senator occurred Feb. 8.
The candidates put in nomination before
the joint convention were as follows: Mr..
Palmer nominated Lyman Trumbull: Mr..
Dunlap nominated Archibald Williams;
Mr.. Gray nominated J. A. Matteson; Mr..
Richmond nominated VIM. b. Ogden;
Senator Gillespie nominated Cyrus Ed
wards; Mr.. Arnold nominated William
Kellogg; and Mr.. Logan nominated Abra-
ham Lincoln. FIifty-one votes was the
number of members elected in the two
houses being 100. The first ballot re-
suited as follows; Lincoln, 45; Shields, II;
Trumbull, 5; Koerner, q Ogden, 2; Matte
son, 1.-TWO members Icing absent. The
balloting continued with varied results.
Mr.. Lincoln, being present, stepped for
ward-or, as Mr.. Richmond expresses it,
leaned forward from his position in the
lobby-and requested the committee to
Withdraw his name. Judge Logan OBJ
iected, insisting that Mr. Lincoln was Icing
betrayed. Mr.. Lincoln received his highest
vote on the first ballot He Continued
ninth ballot being taken, still further loss
was shown on his vote. On the announce
ment of the result of this ballot, Judge
Logan, whose fidelity to his friend was
wotthy of the highest praise. consented
reluctantly that at the next ballot the name
of Mr.. Lincoln might be dropped; but still
he objected to having it formally withdrawn.
The 10th ballot being taken, Judge Trum-
bull received 81 votes, and was declared
elected. The dropping of Mr.. Lincoln's
name did not necessarily imply that the
vote given for him would go over to Judge
Trumbull; the result, therefore. was a
general surprise, On the previous ballot
votes. When Mr.. Lincoln's name was
taken out of the contest, the fear on the part
of Judge Trumbull's friends was that this
vote might divide and ultimately go to
some other one of the candidates on the
Fusion side. But Mr.. Richmond, the
insisted on giving the united vote of the
opposition for Judge Trumbtlll. In :his
he was very earnest. and the influence he
exerted no doubt had iiiuch TO do with the
result"
(T'o be continued.)