The Washington herald., 1914-11-25
HISTORY BUILDERS.
How Lincoln Regarded Hannibal
Hamlin.
Cwntten Expressly for The Her1ldD
by DIR. +. }. EDWARDS.

Lafayette S. Foster was one Of the
| representatives in the United States Sen
ate from Connecticut during the admin
{ istration Of President Lincoln and a part
OF that OF President Andrew Johnson
| Senator Foster would have been Presi-
dent Of the United States had Andrew
johnson died at any time in the first
two years OF his term, because Foster
was President pro tempOre of the Senate.
and by virtue OF the law as it was at
that time. in case OF the death OF one
who had gone to the Presidency from the
Vice Presidential chair the President pro
/ tempore Of the Senate would qualify as
President.
Senator Foster was a man Of much per-
sonal dignity. always dressing in the con-
ventional Garb of that day. which in the
summer time included white duck trou-
sers. The Senator's home town was Nor
wich. Conn, which also was the home
town OF Gov. William A buckingham,
who became afterwards United States
Senator. An impression prevailed among
Senator Fosters friends that he was
convinced during the last half of Lin
coins first administration that Vice Pres
ident Hannibal Hamlin and Lincoln were
much better friends than the public, and
even some of the Senators. presumed to
be the case. An impression did prevail
in the Senate that Lincoln took little
heed OF Vice President Hamlin and was
not disposed to consult him at any time.
That was an opinion which Senator Fos-
ter did not share. He had some reasons
for believing that Lincoln had made
Confidant of the Vice President, prob
ably in view OF the contingency OF his
own death. in which event Vice President
Hamlin would become President.
Not until years after I first heard this
statement made from one of Senator FOs-
ter's friends did l have an opportunity
partially to verify 1t. 1t was my good
fortune to spend several hours in the
company of Hannibal Hamlin in the win
ter of 1892 He was on his way from his
home in Maine to New York City to take
part in Lincoln Day memorial meeting.
He was then past eighty years Of age
l ventured to say to the ex-Vice Presi-
dent that had learned in my early boy
hood that Senator Foster. of Connecticut.
was warm admirer Of him and that the
Senator was confident that strong bonds
of attachment characterized the relation
between him and President Lincoln.
Il knew Foster very well. He was a
very able parliamentarian and a man of
sound Judgment" said the ex-Vice Presi-
dent.
What he said Of my relations with
Lincoln is true. The public did not know.
nor did any but a few OF President Lin
coin administration hnONs nON often
the President called upon me for sug-
gestion and counsel In the last two
years Of his term we met many times
I knew what Lincoln's purposes were,
not SO much with respect to the manage
ment Of the war as to what the course
OF the government should be toward the
people of the South after the close of the
war. He may have confided his purposes
to others-I don't know about that.
ii. e.
Had he lived the country would have
known what they were"
Something in the eX-Vice Presidents
manner confirmed the opinion which long
before had been expressed by Senator ,
Foster-namely, that Lincoln had taken
the Vice President into his confidence,
deeming it expedient to do that in view
Of the contingency Of his own death.
Copyright, 1914, By Z. J. Edwards AL rights re-
seTTedl
Tomorrow DR. Edwards will tell Of The |
Politician Who Was Discharged Cured"