IJulltotin or The Lincoln Natkmal Llf~ fo~J.nd a 1 S Number 1617 Fort Wayne, lndlana November, 1972 Hannibal Hamlin-Lincoln's Vice President ( First Term) Murat Halstead, a correspondent HannibtJl Hamlin of Hampden, De~ four years in 1848 and re .. eJ~ted in for the Cincinnati Commercial, made ccmber 3, 1934.) 1851. He resigned in 1857 to be in a eireuit of aJJ the national political A candidate for the presidential augurated governor, having been conventions in 1860, and, after report nomination, Edward Bates, of St. elected as a Republican. He resigned ing in detail from Chicago the char Louis, Missouri, who later beeame the governorship Jess than one month acteristic scenes and memorable events Lincoln's Attorney General, was criti· afterward. as he bad again been se of Abraham Lincoln's nomination for lected for a six year tenn in the the presidency on the Republican United States Senate. He resigned his ticket, he made the statement that, Se:nate seat in January, 1861, having "The nomination of (the) Vice.. Presi been elected viee·president on the dent was not particularly exciting/' Republican ticket with Abraham Lin· Hannibal Hamlin of Maine had only coin. one competitor who made any show Hamlin, while decidedly anti.slav in the race. and that was Cassius ery, regarded tht' institution beyond M. Clay of Kentucky. The other can· the legislative authority of the national didate-s were Nathaniel P. Banks, A. government. His views on the political H. Reeder, John Hickman, John M. issues or 1860 made him a logical ReadJ Henry Winter Davis, WiJJiam running-mate for Lincoln. As Vice L. Dayton and Sam Houston. President during the Civil 'Var1 Ham If the multitude in the convention lin presided over the Senate with dig· hall could have had their way, Clay nity and ability and was always on would have been nominated by accJa. cordial terms with the Sixteenth Pres~ mation; however, Hamlin possossed ident. the attributes to strengthen the ticket; Like Lincoln, he was vigorously op· namely, he was a good friend of Wil~ posed to the extension of slavery into Jiam H. Seward ("The fact of the con new territories. In fact, Hamlin gave vention, was the defe..'lt o! Seward as his reasons for changing his party rather than the nomination of Lin allegiance, the Democratic party's coln"), he was geographically distant platform in 1856, which incorporated from Lincoln and was once a Demo the dC)Ctrjne "that the flag of the crat. On the second ballot, Hamlin Federal Union, under the constitution won the nomination by 367 votes to of the United States, carries slavery 86 for Clay and 13 for Hickman. wherever it ftoats." He stated that: Clay congratulated Hamlin on his "If this baletuJ principle be true, then vice--presidential nomination in a let f"rom the Lin:ofn NlltlouJ Lire F'oundadon that national ode, which inspires us ter dated May 22nd and Hamlin re Irannibal Hamlin always as on a battle·field, should be plied as follows on May 26th: Republicno candidnte (or re-written by Drake, and should read: Vice-President o f the United S tates rForever float that standard sheet! ''Your very gene·rous note of con .. A Hthograph publi• b<-d by E. B. & E. Where breathes the foe bu~ gratulations of the 22nd came duly faJis before us, to hand. I thank you truly. sincere C. KeUO#I, Hnrtford, Conn. The nam cl5 1 ly for the confidence you so kindly of Ha mlin a nd Lincoln were often With slavery S soil beneath our feet. express, and am profoundly grate eu.riously nuoeiated in the anacram And slavery's banner streaming ful to all my friends. Still I say to Ahra / Elamlin/ coln . o'er us!" you in truth, that the position as Lincoln, after receiving the presi dential nomination, could not recall signed by the Chicago Convention ca1 o! the viee.presidential nominee. is one which I did not desire. I ever having met Hamlin, and, on J uly He recorded the iollowing statement 18, 1860, from Springfield, Illinois, he really would have p'Te(erred to have in his diary: seen it conferred upon yourself. wrote him as follows: But as a true man, and a friend to ..Mr. Hamlin is not the right per~ "It appears to me that you and the cause, J must not now shrink son. He has no general popularity, 1 ought to be acquainted, and ac· from it. I hope yet to live to do the hardly a general reputation, and cordingJy I write this as a sort of Cause $Orne effective good. At a11 his geography is wrong. Hi$ nomi introduction of myself to you. You events, I !eel confident it shall re nation can add no strength to the first ent.!red the Senate during the ceive no injury at my hands." ticket . .." single term I was a member of the Hamlin's nominat.ion fol' the vice- Hamlin was born on August 27, House of Representatives, but I presidency was a surprise for him as 1809, the son of Cyrus and Anna have no recollection that we were he had pledged his lieutenants to keep (Livermore) Hamlin at Paris Hill, introduced. I shall be pleased to his name entirely out of the conven Maine. By profession, a lawyer, he receive a line from you." tion. The nomination came about served in the Maine legislature, was While Hamlin could definitely re largely through the efforts or his elected as a Democrat to Congress in call havinj!C heard Lincoln deliver his political associates at \Vashingt.on. 1842 and re-elected in 1844. He was famous 1 coat-tail" speech in the (See Lincoln Lor#S No. 2951 Honorable next chosen to the U. S. Senate for House of Representatives, and he 2 LINCOLN LORE could nmem~r him to be .. t.he most ber 19th that S~ come to Chicago. strikina- looking man in Congress/' He wrou h1a friend as follows: he wrote his runnintt-mate on JuJy "I ohall be at Chicago Thursday 23rd that, "althoul'h he '"'-.s not sure. the- 22nd. ln!lt. and on~ or two sue· his TffOIIKtion Wh that they had cteding days. Could you not meet been formally int.rodu«d/' me thtrt! Mary thinks of going On Novtmber 8, 1860 (two day• with me: and the~fore 1 suggest after the tlection). Lincoln again that Mrs. S. nttompany you. Please wrote Hamlin a.s foHows: let this be private, o.s l prefer a 1 very great rrowd ehould not. gather ' 1 nm anxious !or a personal ut Chica«o." interview with you nt. as early a Lincoln met Spe-ed in Chicago at day As posaiblc. Can you. without much inconvenience, meet me at Speed's hotel, nnd he was offered a Chlensco? J t you can, please name place in tho enbinctt which the Ken· as early n day a& you conveniently tuekian declined. Lmcoln did make can, and telegraph me: unless there inquiries of Speed concerning James be autficient. lime, before the day Gut.hric of Louisville, who had served as Secretary of the Treasury under named, t.o communicate by mail." Franklin Pierec, as a possible s.elee· The flnal arrangements for t.he tion as Secret.ary of \Var. Needless to meeting were mad~. and the two can sLate, Mary Lincoln and Fanny Speed didates fixod the date of November visited in the Lincoln's presidential 22nd to diacuu, among other things, suite. the formation of Lincoln's cabinet. The President-elect's party resided Hamlin ltfL Bangor by train for Chi. at the Tt-fmont. House, and~ when u.ll cago on Novem~r 19th. He arrived ing upon his runnin«-mate, Hamlin at his destination on the morning of found Lincoln alone in a room. ".llr. N'ovembtr 22nd. His ·wife did not ac.. Lincoln aros~. and, coming toward his FI"'ft* tlM Ul'lc.il'l Nat <>ft-.1 Uf• Fou.nda.tiQn company him. 1 guest, said abruptly: Have we ever lbnnib111l llamlin The PresidenHiect's party traveled been introduced to each other. Mr. from Springfteld to Ch1cago b)· train HamHn !' •No sir, I think not,' was The Chrilliuu lnquirrr. or l''~w York on November 21st. Included in the the reply. •That. also is my impres. City, in r('J~in,r lbmlin·s denlh on group were Mrs. Lincoln, Senator and sion,' continued Mr. Lincoln; 'but I July 4 , 1891, lantf'nlcd the fuel that Mrs. Lyman Trumbull and Judge and remember distinctly while 1 was in ht W«& ttric.•lc:e•n n1 a dub hou.sc c:ard M ns. Donn PiaU ot Ohio. Enroute to congress to have heard you make a ruble wllh n a>tttk of JJioyln• et•rds in Chicago, t.hrec: ehort spe-eches wer e speech in the senot.c. 1 wns very much hi$ hand. Thf." <•dhurt or I he New York delivered by the President-elect at struck with that. l!peech, senator - Metropoli1, In rt.'J>Ir to such nbsurd Lincoln, Bloomin~J,lon ond Lexington. particularly atn1ck with it - and eomnwnt!l, re•mlnih•d Itt r~adC'rl!l that, Judge Piatt doKr~bed the spee<:hes as for the reason t..hat it was filled, cho-ck "nil thNtlr~·aoln• 18 nol dl8811,alion ·•brief nnd a11 different." ' up, with the vtry best. kind of anti· (Lincoln wn• nt~••""inntt'd in a thea slavery doctrine.' 'Well, now,' replied lrt-), nor it nil tard·pla,Jni'IAmblinl.'' Be(oro leaving Sprino:field. Lincoln Hamlin, laughing, 'that ja very singu had corresponded with his old friend, lar, lor my one and first. recollection Joshua F. Speed, of Louisville. Ke.n Tuck. Which oC them do the New of younelf it of having beard you England delegation fi"('C•rY Or shall t.ucky, who otrered .to visit Spring~ make a l~h in the house - a field to impart some .nfonnation as to I dKide for my~! !" Needle"" to speech thaL waa ao full of good humor state, Hamlin auumtd the ~sponsi men and publiC' sentiment~ Lincoln and sharp point.s that I, together with suggested 10 a letter dated Novem- bility for making the selection and others of your auditors, was convulsed Cideon Welles wa• his choice. He with laughter.'" wrote Lincoln on Dtc•mber 29th that While Hamlin &C'Companicd Lincoln he had " ... no hesitation in saying and the pretidentia1 par~y on a visit that ... Mr. Wells (oic) is the better to the WiKWam, Post Office, Custom man for New England •• •11 Welles House and Unitod SLates Court, the rec~ived the Navy portfolio on March two men did not have a chance to 5, 1861. However, it hu been alleged diseuss political matters. Finally, on that Lincoln "induced t.he Vice Pre.si November 24th, they secluded them· dent..eleet to chooee Welles as his selves with Tn1mbull at Lake View contribution to the cabinet.'' home of Ebenezer l,eck, and discussed This ncquaint.ance eo cordially be cabinet bu&incss. gan at Chicngo, riJ)ened into a per . On November 26th, Mr. and Mrs. sonal friendship nnd, during the. tur L1ncoln left Chicago at 9 A.M. and moil of the Civil War yeare;, Lincoln reached Springfleld nt 6:30 P.M. On appeared to have tho utmost confi. the ret.um trip, no ovations were re dence in hit offiC"ial aasoeiate. How ceived alons;r the way on account of ever, the position of Vice--President the rainy weather. Nevertheless, a was es.sent.ially a powerless office, and reporter for the Chicago Journal the President. who had it within his November 26t.h, wrote that Lincoln'~ power to eonfer significant posts of rtt.um "is the d•light of tbe reporters authority on him. gave him no im and a number of ofl'i«-seekers, who portant a.s.signment.a. Hamlin never have ~n lyin,- in wait for him ..." became an indispensable member of )Jr. Hamlin ltfL Chicago enroute to the party in power. and his name Washington, D. C. whtre he would at was hardly a household word. tend the Deetmber session of Con. During his term aa Vice·President. greos. Hamlin became a. etronK advoeat.e of IL has been reported that while in emandpation and, on June 18, 1862, From th.t- LlnC'Oin Nadol'l.al Ufe Foundation Chieago, Lincoln said to Aamlin: ..You more than a month before Lincoln A uriceture or Lincoln's Vice-Preti .. shaiJ have the right, Mr. Hamlin, to informed his cabinet of his plans to d~nl by 1he Ohio artb.t, Jumcs AJM-rt name the New Engltmd member or issue a proclnmotion of emnneipat.ion, Wolco (1852-1886). Wale•' politieol the Cabinet.." On December 24. 1860, the President confided in Hamlin the J)Qrlrnil• hnve l>t!cn desc.ribt..-d. WJ, "in Lincoln wrote Hnmlin thnt: "I need pJnn and rend the document. aloud to r.i.th•f!, fardonic., ••• well drawn and a man of Dcmocrn.t.ic antecedents the Vice.. Prctidcnt. qulte c:.OrnJmrnble to 1he bd;l work from New Englund ... 1 think of On Septcmbor 25. 1862, Hamlin ~ina done." Governor Banks, Mr. Welle$, and Mr. wrote the President expressing "sin· LINCOLN LORE 3 eere thanks for your Emancipation of a railroad (Baneor to no,·er), and, joint operation, Eve havjng !thared Proclamation. It will aLand as the finally, he was ,..~leetcd t.o the Sen with Adam in tht gtt-tinl' up of the gft&t. act of the a.-e. It ~ill prove ate ser-in~t from llareh 4, 1869 to apron. And. indrfd. jud«insr from the to be wi~c- in a&t.atn.manl'lhip as it is llar Sot•: Uncoln"• ~t. ll wrlttn • • hosleasn) up to the Theodore Roose· soci.al obligation• impo* by her '"-t~r f~ eo.'fMIIOIF And,..w C. C"rti" !o.r velt administration• position aa Fint Lady. but also pro .-..niina a print..S p«itlnn. whWh apl)aft!d \0 vided the comforts of home for her him -.,_t aad ,.._.,..w.-,• 'T'M Mth.ioft of The artist. who rrtaud this eom \W('ftt)' u...an4 •(Of'kl•lf ...,.... In f'h.i)add.. husband, Abraham l.in!'Oln. Phi&. Pftl.IUI,)tvula. I• to t. f...uad i• .,..... posite picture for 'iOme ~uon faiJed ("4ll«f4lfl M'cw.b Of _• ..._~. U.,..,•, ItO)' P. to include Ehu.bet.h Mon~. Anna uTbe times were exeft Mary measured up to tht pressures even though the etratn eventually took its toll on her bealt.h. "Though Mary eoothed her hus,. band during hia t.erm or office. she couldn't fully appraise the difficult political situationa into which he had been thrust.. She was nt. times unable to control her temper which terrorized the 8ervnnt8 und ea. tranged rriends. She bought ex pensive clothing and jewlery. As a ...,suit o( the death of her 11- year.old son, Willie, In 1862, Mary's life was even more tor·men~. The public chose her •• a tar,et upon whi~h to vent. ita f rustration with the Civil War, and ahe waa &«used of personal ambitions for power. After a third aon, Tad, died or typhoid, Mary's laal oon, Robert, took legal musuru to put her in a place of safety. She was pro nouneed insane by a jury alter her son testified ~hal ahe had not been From the Uneoln NukmaJ Wfe Foundation norma) sinre the aaaaaainat.ion. The fin.t ladiet a r~ litt~d ( ha~k I"()W ldt 10 ri,ht) *' ro u o~a : Ma..,ha Wa,hinK "In the custody or her sister, ton, ~1 artha Jdle rtOn Randolph, Radtel Jackson, A,.. t' li~• Van lluren, Ltlhi!:t Mary's last years were spent in t.he Cltri.stian Tr ier, llarrlet Lan~, Mary Todd Lintoln. Ellu MtCardlt" John..on, house in Springfield, Illinois. where Martha Pnttcrtc)n , Julia Dent Cranl, Lucretia Rudolph Cuf'id1.l, Mr• . TI•t'Odore $he and Abe had been married. On Rooseve lt, 1\tury At'thur 1\f('l;:l..r()y. (Front Row) Abi1 11il Adllltlll, Loui&a Cathrrine July 16, 1882, Mnry Todd Lineoln Adanu, Sarnh Childr4"11t l::.olk, Dorothy P. Modbon, Ahi• ._il f'lllrnore, Mre. died wearinR" her wedding r inse en Crove.r Clevela nd, Lucy Wf'bb Uaye., !Urt. Be njnJnin llnrrbo n und Mrf, Wm. Kraved with the words: ;Love is t\teKinlcy. Eternal.'"