The Washington herald., 1908-02-16
LINCOLN A POLITICIAN
HE ALONE NOMINATED ANDREW JOHNSON
AS VICE PRESIDENT IN 1864

OF loyal war Democrats who yet main
tained at least passive relations with the
Democratic party Among them were
such conspicuous characters as Dix, of
New York Holt of Kentucky; Butler
OF Massachusetts: Johnson, Of Tennes-
see and many others. While he regard
ed that az a strong and controlling poll
tical reason for the nomination Of john
SON there was behind it what with him
was even more f0rceful.
The nomination was made in the early
summer OF 1854, when no important vic
tories had been achieved by our armies
tIidef Grant or sherman, and the dark
pail Of recognition Of the Confederacy by
Ei7iand ana France set hung over Us.
He believed that in no way could our
friends in the European countries he sD
greatly strengthened rs by the election
Of man 10 the second office Of the gov
eminent from a reconstructed State in
the heart of the COnfederacy. and q man
who had filled every important Office
within The gift Of his State. and he
thought 1t important also for US thus 10
hationalize the Republican party. which
until then had been purely sectional.
would have obeyed Lincoln's request even
II l had not heartily approved il. bat the
reason he gave for il was to my mind
absolutely conclusive.
Lincoln had first confded to Senator
Cameron his purpose to nominate war
Democrat for Vice President. Butler was
first consulted by Cameron. who visited
him by special request Of the President
TO confer on the subject. and accompany
ing Cameron on that occasion was the
Hon. William II. Armstrong, formerly
in Congress from Pennsylvania, who is
yet living; and in order to be assured Of
Johnson't strength as a candidate. he
sent Gen. SiclIles on a secret mission TO
Tennessee TO examine carefully into
Johnson's career as d military governor.
Sickles did so, reported the johnson ad-
ministration 70 be free from bIemish,
and never supposed for "a moment what
was the purpose Of his mission.
Cameron was present at the final con-
ference when Johnson was definitely de-
cided upon as the candidate. and lie an
nOunCed himself as "A candidate for dele
gate AT large from Pennsylvania. There
was bitter feud between the Cameron
and Curtin people in the State. and I was
an aggressive supporter Of Curtin. I had
been unanimously elected as a delegate
from my district 10 the national conven-
ton, but soon thereafter / was teIe-
graphed to visit Washington. and to my
utter surprise was requested By Lincoln
10 secure my election as a delegate at
large.
1t seemed 10 me To be utterly hopeless
and useless, and l so told him. but 10 my
utter surprise he earnestly persisted in
having me make the effort. expressing
the belief that it could be accomplished.
II was an absurd proposition for one who
was already a district delegate to 60 be-
fore the State convention and ask TO be
elected as a delegate al large. position
that was sought by many So impOrtu-
nate was the President on the subject
without giving any explanation that I
said ! would see if it were possible.
On the way home I stopped a Harris
burg, called upon a gentleman who WAS
an intimate personal friend. although
devoted follower OF Cameron. who AT
once urged me TO assent to Camerou's
election as a delegate at large As the
Cameron-Curtin people were all for Lin
coin. there was no reason why there
should be any fractional quarrel in the
convention. I assented TO it and pro-
posed that Cameron and Curtin Should
head the delegation. I knew that would
not be accepted, AS Cameron and Cusrtiu
were not on speaking terms. while Cam
eron and / always maintained pleasant
personal relations
Ny friend said, OF course. Cameron and
Curtin could not be in harmony. but said
fhlr
asked what assurance 7 would have on
that subject. he asked me to wait a few
minutes until he could confer with Cam
eron. He did so, and reported that Cam
eron cordially accepted the proposition
and the result was that Cameron ara
were unanimously elected on the first
ballot.
The Lincoln policy was to have Cam
eron and some one who would be accept
ed as representing Curtin in the deIcga-
ton to whom he could couhde his desire
10 have Johnson nominated. although he
gave me no information on the subject
whatever until the day before the con-
vention. Cameron and ] met in Balti-
more and arranged the programme by
which the Curtin and Cameron men were
united, and. after giving q complimentary
vote to Hamln when the roll was called,
changed the vote before the count was
made to Il unanimous vote for Johnson.
There was not a man in the delegation
who knew that Lincoln desired the nomi-
nation Of Johnson excepting Cameron and
myself, unless Judge Pettise was an ex-
ception He managed New York In the
same way chiefly through Henry J. Ray
mond: the Western States chiefly through
Leonard SWEET, and other important
States in like manner
The nomination Of Johnson was made
in the Baltimore convention in 1864. solely
because Lincoln had planned and execut-
ed it. Even his private secretary, Mr..
Nicolay. who was at the convention. had
no knowledge of LincOlns purpose
heard him distinctly deny that Lincoln
was in favor of Johnson, although Mar
shaI Lamon was by my side with con
fdeBtial letter Of Lincoln's in his pocket
urging the nomination Of Johnson. to be
shown only in a very limited circle. and
there only in case the necessity was ABB
solute.
''ReyeIatiOns TO Inventors"
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