Franklin County: Edward McPherson to [unknown],
October 18, 1860
Summary:
Edward McPherson responds to an incorrect rumor linking him in a conversation
with Judge Stephen Douglas. McPherson explains that he only overheard Douglas in
a conversation with someone else.
October 18/60-
Gettysburg Pennsylvania
Dear Sir --
Your letter of 16th inst., gave me the first information I received on the subject to which it refers.-- It greatly surprised me to find my name connected with an arraignment of Judge Douglas, and to observe the manner in which it has occurred. I am very unwilling to be involved in the contest now going on between rival interests in the Democratic party, but the publicity [deleted: attached to the affair] given it, & your request, appear to make it proper for me to [deleted: write the delegate] state a few words of explanation.
I had a conversation with Alfred E. Lewis, Esq., on the [deleted: street] public square in Gettysburg, recently after my return from Washington in June. It was
casual, hurried & brief. It was also unreserved, as is the intercourse
between personal friends--- It was [added: also] made
without the slightest idea that
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it would
ever [unclear: read] the public [added: &
be used as a political lever].-- In that conversation I alluded to the
probabilities of W. [illeg.]
[illeg.] the people, to the [unclear: ultimate] possible
co-operation of some of the Douglas men, and to the preferences of Judge Douglas
himself.-- In this connection I made the remark
which he either misapprehended, or inaccurately remembered.-- This brings me to
the leading point.--
I never had a conversation with Judge Douglas on politics.-- At Senator Carr's party, [added: however,] on the Evening of May 18, I was standing in the
refreshment-room with friends, in the immediate vicinity of Judge Douglas who
was in Earnest & [illeg.] conversation with an officer of the
Army or Navy, whose name I do not know.-- I was [added: first] attracted by the [illeg.] of the Judge's manner [deleted: and the]. He was replying to a question concerning the [added: then recent] nomination of Mr. Lincoln [deleted: then recent], whom the Judge [added: referred to in compelling terms,] & the strength of whose
nomination he freely [illeg.]. The conversation soon turned on the
condition of the Senator's party, its rememberment of
Charleston,
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& its future.-- Among other points, was the
probability of the election going to the House -- Judge Douglas said with great
positiveness, that it never would go to the House, & that, if necessary,
the NorthWest could be a [unclear: writ] to present it.-- The inference
I drew was that it would
[added: ready] be a writ for
Lincoln, as [added: neither he nor any one else
could possibly hope to do or [illeg.]
[illeg.]] he could not make it it a writ for any other
candidate.
At the same time, the Juge made some heated remarks about the Southern ultras, whose course had deprived him of the nomination at Charleston, & who threatened to fight him to the bitter end. He said, & repeated it with emphasis and marked gesture, that he would rather see a "Free Nigger" President than one of them.--
The Judge's remarks were not such as would easily be forgotten, & they
impressed themselves upon my memory.-- I mentioned the incident to but few
persons, & scarcely ever in detail.-- [deleted: I alluded to it in
a general way to Mr. Lewis, as we of the [illeg.] that time, I have
had little doubt that there would be an election of
the people, or that Abraham Lincoln would be chosen.--]
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I give it now, because it appears to be of some importance that I
should state [deleted: precisely]
[added: (as you request)] precisely the facts.--
I have the honor to be
yours truly
Edward McPherson
