The Washington herald., 1914-06-08
HISTORY BUILDERS.
An Almost Forgotten Vice Presidential
Candidate.

Written Expressly for The Herald.l
ny DR. Y. >. EDWARDS.
One time when was chatting reIninis-
Gently with the late Col George Bliss.
one Of the leading members of the New
York bar. and special counsel for the
called Star Route cases in President
Arthur's administration, asked him II
he knew John Cochran.
was certain that Col. Bliss would BE-
able to tell me something Of Cochran's
personality and his career. Col Bliss
himself had begun to be prominent In
New York State politics at a time when
John Cochran had gained national repu-
tation both for his services in the civil
war and for his very advanced views
upon the slavery question. Col. Bliss had
served upon the staff of Gov. E. D. Nor.
gan. of New York, and was of great SER
vice to the governor during the Presiden-;
tial campaign Of 1850. when Morgan was
chairman of the Republican national
committee. A colleague on the staff Of
Gov. Morgan was Chester A. Arthur. who
began his political life at that time. Be-
tween Gen. Arthur and Col. Bliss there
was established not only a political. but
a friendly. intimacy Of the closest kind.
which was maintained until the death Of
Gen. Arthur.
Yes" said Col Bliss. II can tell you
something about John Cochran which
may be OF interest He was a brilliant
man. a fluent and effective speaker. espe-
cially good when addressing a jury, and
a splendid stump speaker He was .
handsome man in the sense that his feat
ures and the expression of his face were
those OF an individual who possessed
great strength Of character although per-
haps not very marked Intellectual gifts.
Cochran was prominent. among those
who in 1854 were opposed to the renom-
ination OF Abraham Lincoln for Presi-
dent. I have always thought that IL was
chiefly due to Cochran's advice that the
Cleveland convention, which was held
in the summer of 1854. nominated Gen.
John c. Fremont for President. II that
were so. the compliment was returned
when the convention nominated John
Cochran for Vice President.
TT was an anti-slavery and an aboli-
lipH IlIhtl II bhC OPPc-
sition OF the abolition element in ths
North to the policy adopted by President
Lincoln. notwithstanding the fact that
Lincoln had, as he declared. as war
measure proclaimed the emancipation OF
all slaves who were held in slavery in
all parts of the country where the flag
Of the United States was not recognized.
Fremont had endeared himself to this
element by his proclamation Of emanci-
trict over which he was in command at
the beginning of the war.
Cochran supplemented Fremont's rep
utation by a single speech which he made
near Washington a short time after the
first battle of Bull Run. He was in COM
mand of New York regiment and he
made a speech to his command in which
he declared that it was the duty of Mr..
Lincoln and his administration to arm
the slaves. That remark fixed the atten-
ton of the country for some time upon
John Cochran. 1t identified him with the
aboIitonists. Therefore when an organ
ization was perfected for the purpose of
placing in nomination Republicans who
were opposed TO President Lincoln and
his policy, Fremont was named as the
candidate for President on the advice oc
Cochran because Fremont had liberated
the slaves in his military district. and
Cochran was nominated for Vice Pre7i-
dent because at about the same time that
Fremont tried to emancipate slaves in
Missouri Cochran had advocated the
arming Of the slaves.
Well. the bottom dropped out Of this
organization not long after Fremont and
Cochran were nominated for President
and Vice President. Fremont became as
sociated with certain mining interests
and Cochran thought il eHperient TO join
the Democratic party"
CCoVyrisht. Isli BY Dr.. z, ]. Edwards. All rights
~@-ed.
Tomorrow DR.. Edwards will tell Of
The Man Who Negotiated the Purchase