L ~ N COLN LORE Bulletin of the Lincoln National Life Foundation • • • • • Dr. Louia A. Warren, Editor Published eacl1 week by The Lincoln National Lif& Inaurance Company, Fort Wayna, Indiana Number 953 FORT WAYNE, INDIANA July 14, 1947

EDWARD BATES - ATTORNEY GENERAL

The River and Harbor Convention Bates in reporting the conference coin about the method of procedure. which assembled at Chicago on July notes, "He (Lincoln) assured me that On December 18 Bates wrote Mr. 5, 6, and 7, 1847J not only introduced from tho time of his nomination his Lincoln that his St. Louis friends to eastern p~oliti­ determination was, in ease of sueee.ss, thought that his connection with the cians but it also raised Edward Bates to invite me into the Cabinet." When administration should be made public to an exalted position. For the next the question arose as to which port­ but that the particular cabinet post two decades he was to be known as folio Bates was to fill it did not seem need not be mentioned. A letter bear­ the outstanding statesman west of possible for the President to make ing the same date written by llfr. the . The sponsor any positive assignment but accord­ Lincoln to Bates follows. of the convention having lived in ing to Bates' eonc:lusion: "1 must be Buffalo and Chicago ha\'ing been either Secretary of State or Attorney (Confidential) selectoo for the place of meeting it seemed wise to give the western river Springfield, Illinois, interests a prominent place in the EDWARD BATES December 18, 1860 convention arrangements, and Ed­ Born, Goodland County, Va., Sept. 4, My dear Sir: Yours of to-day is ward Bates of St. Louis was appointed 1793 just received. Let a little editorial as its chairman. appear in the " Democrat, Attended Charlotte Hall Academy in in about these words: It was here that Abraham Lincoln first met Bates and also here that uwe hnve the permission of both became impressed Migrated to Missouri at 21 years of Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Bates to say that with Bates' ability. Possibly Bates' age the latter will be offered, and will candidacy for the presidential nomina· Admitted to the bar, 1816 accept, a place in the new cabinet, tion in 1860, supported by Greeley, subject, of courseJ to the action of had its beginning here, and certainly Member Missouri Constitutional Con­ the Senate. It is not yet definitely Lincoln's decision to place Bates in vention, 1820 settled which department will be as­ the cabinet rested on certain episodes signed to Mr. Bates." which found their origins at Chicago. Attorney General of Missouri, 1820· 1822 Let it go just as above, or with any It would seem time1y in re1ation to modifications which may seem proper t.he series of sketches featuring Lin· U. S. District Attorney, 1824-1826 to you. eo)n's cabinet members now running Served term in Congress beginning Yours very truly, in Lincoln Lore to center our interests 1927 this month in Edward Bates, who be­ A. Lincoln came Lincoln's Attorney General in Defeated as Whig candidate Cor U. S. Senate, 1828 On December 80 Bates again vis· 1861. ited Springfield to confer with the lt is not generally known that Bates Served in , 1830·1834 President elect and had a casual meet­ kept a diary. This literary ac­ Member Missouri Rouse of Repre­ ing with Mr. Lincoln that evening in complishment in the Cabinet has General Cameron's room at the hotel. usually been asso<:iated with Welles. sentatives, 1834-1836 The next day during both the morn­ It was not until 1933 that through Presided o'•e.r River·Barbor Conven­ ing and the afternoon Bates was in the sponsorship of the American His­ tion, 1847 conference with tho President elect torical Society the Government Print­ and returned to St. Louis that night. ing Office brought from the press Judge of Land Court at St. Louis, 1853-1856 Bates arrived in Washington on in one volume The Diary of Edward Thursday, February 28, on :March 6th Bates 1859·1866 while the Welles Chairman of last Whig National Con­ was nommated and confirmed as At­ three volume work was published in vention, 1856 1911. From this diary edited by How­ torney General and on March 6th ard K. Beale, most of the information Candidate for P·residential nomination was inducted into office, the oath about Bates' selection for the cabinet at Representatives Convention, being administered by Judge Nelson is found. 1860 of the Supreme Court. President Lincoln planned visit Bates was the oldest member of to Sworn in as Attorney General of U. S., the Cabinet and be often referred Mr. Bates at St. Louis on Thursday, Mar. 6. 1861 December 13, 1860, and sent a nles­ to himself as an "old Fogey" Whig. sage to Bates advising that he would Submitted resignation as Attorney One of his biogral'h•rs states that come to see him on the following day General, Nov. 24, 1864, to take his "sole relian<'e in his earthly course to consult with hlm "about some effect the following Nov. 30 were God, the law, and the Consti­ points connected with the formation tution." He was consistently conserva­ 11 tive ln practically all of his observa­ of his cabinet. Mr. Bates however, General." It develops from Bates' tions. states, "I thought I saw an unfitness notes that he was the only man among in his coming to me, and that I ought many prospects for the Cabinet posi­ In submitting his resignation to to go to him." Accordingly, Mr. Bates tions "to whom he (the President) Lincoln on Nov. 24, 1864 he continued: made nn appointment with Mr. Lin­ has yet spoken or written a word "I gladly seize the occasion to repeat about their appointment." the expression of my gratitude, not coln for the following Saturday. Two only for your good opinion whlcn Jed conferences were arranged, one in The question about giving publicity to my appointment, bot also tor your Lincoln's office in the morning and to the appointment was introdueed unvarying courtesy and kindness dur­ another in }Jr. Bates' room in the and it was so left that after Bates' ing the whole time we have been afternoon. return home he could advise Mr. Lin- associated in the publie service."