Recollections of Abraham Lincoln, 1847-1865Lamon, Ward Hill
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Recollections of Abraham Lincoln, 1847-1865
Lamon, Ward Hill
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865
He accepts your resignation, as you desire, to take effect on
Monday, the 12th instant, but in so doing deems it no more than
right to say that he regrets that you should have asked him to do
so. Since his advent here, he has heard from those well qualified
to speak of your unwavering loyalty and of your constant personal
fidelity to the late President. These are qualities which have
obtained for you the reputation of a faithful and fearless public
officer, and they are just such qualities as the Government can ill
afford to lose in any of its Departments. They will, I doubt not,
gain for you in any new occupation which you may undertake the same
reputation and the same success you have obtained in the position
of United States Marshal of this District.
Very truly yours,
(Signed) WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
Colonel Lamon was never just to himself. He cared little for either fame
or fortune. He regarded social fidelity as one of the highest virtues.
When President Johnson wished to make him a Member of his Cabinet and
offered him the position of Postmaster-General, Lamon pleaded the cause
of the incumbent so effectually that the President was compelled to
abandon the purpose.
Judge David Davis, many years on the U. S. Supreme Bench, and
administrator of Mr. Lincoln's estate, wrote the following under date of
May 23, 1865, to Hon. Wm. H. Seward, Secretary of State.
There is one matter of a personal nature which I wish to suggest to
you. Mr. Lincoln was greatly attached to our friend Col. Ward H.
Lamon. I doubt whether he had a warmer attachment to anybody, and I
know that it was reciprocated. Col. Lamon has for a long time
wanted to resign his office and had only held it at the earnest
request of Mr. Lincoln.
Mr. Lincoln would have given him the position of Governor of Idaho.
Col. Lamon is well qualified for that place. He would be popular
there. He understands Western people and few men have more friends.
I should esteem it as a great favor personally if you could secure
the place for him. If you can't succeed nobody else can. Col. Lamon
will make no effort and will use no solicitation.
He is one of the dearest friends I have in the world. He may have
faults, and few of us are without them, but he is as true as steel,
honorable, high minded, and never did a mean thing in his life.
Excuse the freedom with which I have written.
May I beg to be remembered to your son and to your family.
Yours most truly,
DAVID DAVIS.
The faithfulness till death of this noble man's friendship is shown in
the following letter written for him when he was dying, twenty-one years
later.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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