Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-01-16
several rea sons.
'rNFT "I tn SV''N'
ONLY ONE REAL ISLE IN 1864

several reasons.
ONLY ONE REAL lSSl'E IN 1864
Then, as now, there was really one
issue only before republicans 1t was not
the same issue then. of course as that IN
which the hearts OF the people are now
fixed We were In the middle of the war;
the problem was how could we save tho
Union and Il was not believed that Mr.
Lincoln possessed sufficient strength 20
weather the dust-storm raised by his do
tractors. All OF the addle- pated and the
treacheNous by instinct were yelling
themselves hoarse that the Republican
party must name a dark horse. So fierce
was this NOciferation that early IN 1852.
Mr.. Lincoln had become discouraged
with the progress and chances OF tn"
war that lie cast about anxiously. for a
successor whose relations to the Demo-
cratic party could bring the whole peo-
pie 10 the support Of the government in
its prosecution of the war. The extreme
views OF leading republican senators and
OF leading republican journals on tho sub
jet OF tho slavery question threatened Il
serious division OF the northern people.
General WadsVorth. the republican cam
didate for governor in this State. repro
scented an extreme sentiment. In his
speech al tho Cooper Institute although
earnestly advised to avoid that rock hc
distinctly declared the abolition Of slav-
cry to be tho object Of the war. Tho
Democratic party, taking advantage OF
this error brought Governor Seymour to
Brooklyn where II" made a speech decla~-
ar hot ha to, no t.,l
solely for tho preservation Of the gov
eminent and Inion. The canvass pro-
ceedng upon those grounds. resulted in
the election OF Governor Seymour SINH
lar reverses were encountered in other
States and these results added 10 con-
tinucd reverses in the field. accustomed
great apprehension in tho mind Of the
President. So great indeed was his So
licitude on this point. that for season,
he believed the only hope of keeping tho
North united would be found in the cleo
ton Of war democrat for president. Be-
lievinE that the gOVernor-elcct OF New
York would adopt the policy inausurated
BY his predecessor. Governor Morgan,
who had been prompt and efficient in Or
gambling and sending regiments to the
field Mr.. Lincoln thought him probably
better fitted than any other public man.
II elected president, to crush out the re-
bellon. With these Impressions he au-
thorzed Thurlow Weed to say to Cover
nor Seymour that he was ready TO wei
come to the executive chair any man
who could and would go "one step faster
and one step further than himself in
prosecuting the war for the Union"
On his return to Albany. Nj Weed
found Governor Seymour engaged upon
his first message to the Legislature. He
was evidently gratifed with the con-
fidence he had inspired and expressed
what I have no doubt he then felt. his
readiness TO bring the whole strength OF
New York to tho support OF the federal
government. He subsequently read TO
Weed that portion of his message which
related to the war, than which nothing
could have been more earnestly patriotic.
But, before Its delivery, malign influences
were at work. and Mr.. Nallandigham ana
other "Copperhead' politicians visited
Albany and were In consultation with
Governor Seymour, the Hon. Erastus
Corning. then a member OF Congress. and
other leading democrats. That consulta-
ton told disastrously upon the loyalty
| of the Albany democracy. The views
and feelings Of Governor seymour, Mr.
Corning, Judge Parker and others under
went a sudden and strange change. Gov
ernor Seymour added TO his message an
elaborate and violent denunciaton Of the
| policy and measures Of the national ad-
illustration. All this was an after
thought, as will be seen by reading the
opening part OF his message, which was
/
to Albany OF Mr.. Vsllandigham This
threw Governor Seymour into sympathy
with what was known as the Copper
head" element Of the Democratic party,
and, Of course. cost him the favor and
support Of the loyal men OF both parties
| Mr.. Weed once said. that he was clear
and positive in his belief that Vallandig-
hams visit to Albany in December, 1866
prevented Horatio Seymour from becom-
Ing President OF the United States.
FINAL DENOMINATION OF THE
PRESIDENT
Mr.. Lincoln was tho victim of tba,
curious weakness to which have al.
luded above-the tendency in certain
vacillatins natures to abandon anyone
who is attacked. The instinct for de.
scrtlon. fear. Is common to human.
i'y. The President had been assailec
with all the bitterness which chsrac
ferized Thomas Jefferson in his con,
demnation OF second term for Wash
ington. 1t Is easy to understand thu
iHhco'h haa tred or the responsible,
OF his position in 1874: that he woulc
nave laid down the burden gladly i
assured that it would fall on worth,
| hn