The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-01-23
GIDEON WELLES AND LIN
coin.
How the Hartford Man Went into the
Cabinet.

(From An Interview with eJ-Postmnster
l.. S. Cleveland Of Hartfo1d.)
"You know, sketches Of MIR. Burr made
mention Of his early intimacy with
Gideon Welles, President Lincoln's secre-
tary Of the navy. great and noble
man he was, too. knew him thoroughly
well. and that REFUNDS me of how be
came to get into the cabinet and came
to take Just the position In the cabinet
that he did. had something to do with
that myself 1t was the soooud day Of
March, 1861, tiat Mr.. Welles came to me
with a dispatch in his hand, reading,
MIR. Lincoln requests your presence In
Washington. Hannibal Hamlln.'
"'Now, Cleveland, what does that
meant hs asked.
"'What does that meant said /.
Aieanf Why. 1t means that you are 10 be
offered plsce In Mr.. Lincoln's cabinet.
Yon must go to Washington immediate
ly. will 60 with you
"You sse.' said Mr.. Cleveland, "al-
nothing about the ways Of the world, and
had no knowledge Of getting about and
caring for himself. Well, bought him
q trunk and sent IL down to his house,
and went down there to help him pack
up and get away. remember Mrs. Welles
said, Had he better wear that hatr
"'Not II he's got better one,' re-
we finally got under way.
On the way to Washington we talked
over the situation, Mr.. Welles being
strongly Inclined to take the plaos OF
postm aster- general, If he should have
choice In the mater.
Now, see here, said. 'yol don't
want to be a sort OF chief clerk In any de-
psrtment. That's oil the postmaster
general is Take thr navy department
There Is q chance for q man there
"Well, we had u tine trip, and whom we
left New York seated Mr. Wellss |, the
center OF the care, as near as could be,
and sart Of took charge of him. When
we were getting into Baltimore. dig
nj led look ing man came into the car,
and, meeting me In the aisle. fnuuired:-
"'Is MIR. Gideon Welles In this carp
." Il represent Mr.. wellss. What DO you
wish to say to hiInY
" Tel him there will be a special car
for HIM at Baltimore and he is to take IL
for Wahipg.on,
az thanked the digniiled- LOOKING gen
tleman and when we reached Baltimore
tie speciel car was there and We boarded
IT,. 1t was we'll fitted up, / can tell you.
There was Gold Sesl and Silver Seal
and all that. Gold and silver were on n
parity then and we bad fine time going
70 the capital CITY. When we arrived In
Washington We went to Wizards hotel
and male ready for the visit to Mr.. Lin
coin. j told MIR. Welles ne had better sac
Mr. Lincoln alons and alone he went.
While no was gone two or three other
Hartford gentlemen were in the hotel
and there came about discussion MS to
what Mr.. Welles would be offered. one Of
the gentlemen breaking up the party with
the query: 'Will 1t be weh-footeiS' And
web-foJtei 1t was. greatly to this honor
of Mr.. Welles and Co the glory OF the
country. l always fels y little pride In
my suggestion to Mr.. Weltes that he go
to the navy rather than to the postal de-
partment. We remained in Washington
several days and there was no sign OF Mr.
Nelles's commission. There was some
sppaI difficulty about 1t, and went
TO Secretary Stewards otlios to see what
was the trouble, 1t appeared that the
secretary had understood. that Mr. Welles
was stopping at the house Of a friend in
Washington and the document had been
cent there Instead of the hotel The
mistake was reotitied IN n few hours and
Mr.. Wsllss received the commission, a
large dec Imeut signed by Abraham Lin
colin and entered upon his duties the
county knowing how well he peri rmed
them. was often In Washington during
the war, called there by business connect
sd with my duties as postmaster CT Hart
ford, and met Mr.. Lincoln and members
of the cabinet frequently. But i shall
never forget my tfip with Gideon Welles
to his seat In Mr.. Iineoln's cabinet"