Date: June 3, 2006 7:17:24 AM PDT
Subject: Lincoln Conspiracy
O. Parker's letter to Abraham Lincoln warning him --in 1860-- of conspiracies against, and apparent assassinations of, Presidents who opposed the Southern institution of slavery
Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress. Transcribed and Annotated by the Lincoln Studies Center, Knox College. Galesburg, Illinois.
Library of Congress images of letter below available for viewing at:
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/P?mal:1:./temp/~ammem_VurJ::
From Oliver H. P. Parker to Abraham Lincoln, September 1860
Mr Lincoln, will please read the accompanying document, which is not an application for office, but is on the subject of the preservation of his life and health, and future welfare. Althoug you may have had warnings of the same nature, the writer thinks perhaps there certain facts therein contained that cannot be otherwise obtained,
No 310 New Street Philadelphia, September th 1860.
Dear Sir
You will excuse the liberty I have taken, of addressing you without a personal acquaintance, or a formal introduction:—As you are the candidate of the party of which I have the pleasure of being a member. (You thereby becoming public property,) I do not feel as though I was committing a breach of etiquette, by addressing you on a subject that I think is of vital importance to yourself, and one that I hope you will give due consideration and act accordingly:—
If the Political signs of the times are are not deceptive, you will be duly and constitutionaly, Elected President of the United States; at our coming Election by a majority of your fellow citizens:—If Such shall be the case, it becomes necessary that you shall be duly inaugurated into office, and that your life and health shall be preserved, to carry out the doctrines, and principles on which you will be elected:—
Now Sir in my humble opinion it will require on your part, if elected the greatest vigilance, and precaution to preserve, your life and health, and it is to that end, that I write, to give you due warning of what I fear will be your end unless you are most watchful and vigilent on that subject:—
I have given the subject of the very sudden, and I may say, very mysterious deaths of some of our free State Presidents, and the sudden Political somersets of the vice Presidents who by law succeeded them to the Presidency, much thought, and a very thorough private investigation, and I think a stronger case can be made out, in favor of the theory I am about to advance to you, by circumstantial evidences, and remarkable coincidences, than has suspended many a poor creature between Heaven and Earth by our Courts of justice:—
In 1840 a National convention of the old Whig Party met at Harrisburg Pennsylvania to nominate candidates for President and Vice President, and at that time the feelings of a large portion of the whigs were for the nomination of Henry Clay, but the convention in its wisdom and for expediency concluded to give that great man Henry Clay the go by, and nominated Gen. Harrison, and I believe that if you will refer to the vote of that Convention, you will find that Gen. Harrisons vote was exclusively from the free states, and that the votes of every southern delegate in that convention was cast against Harrison (unanimously) and when the convention came to the nomination of a candidate for Vice President John Tyler, a hypocritical virginia slave owner, who shed crocodile tears because Henry Clay was not nominated for President, was selected, not from any worth or merit, but to satisfy the slave interest of the convention:—The ticket was made and sent to the people for their rejection or approval, and and as you well remember Tippicanoe and Tyler too, were put through by the people with a rush, and as every honest whig supposed to the the entire satisfaction to a large portion of the people of the United States, what was the result, Gen Harrison was installed into office on the 4th of March 1841, and lived just one month when he died suddenly, (and I may say mysteriously) which caused this country and I may say the nation to mourn for the loss of that good old man:—
It was well known that Gen. Harrison was a free State man, with strong feelings against the extension of our nation's curse negro slavery, and in favor of freedom, and free Teritory, which was the cause of the Southern vote of the convention which nominated him, being cast solid against him:—
After Harrison's death his remains was placed in a sarcophagus to be conveyed to North Bend, its final resting place, and a committee of Congress was appointed to accompany the funeral cortage to North Bend:—The Chairman of that Committee was the Hon Thos. Ewing Senator from Ohio, and when they arrived at the place of destination the Sarcophagus was opened and to the Surprise of all, the head and chest of the corpse was very much swollen, and the face and breast was as black as though the blood had been drawn to the skin by bruises:—The matter was talked over by the Committee and I am informed itwas declared by a Doctor who was present, that nothing but Poisen would produce that result, and suggested an investigation, when Mr. Ewing, replied, close up the sarcophagus, and deposit it in its final resting place, for said he, if on investigation it should be found that Poisen was the cause of his death, it would involve the country in a civil war.:—Thus his body was consigned to the grave without investigation, and the People left in ignorance as to the real cause of Harrisons Death, which, was by Poison beyond a possability of doubt:—
By Law, that arch Traitor John Tyler assumedthe responsibilities of the office, that the people had elected, Harrison to fill, and he being a southern Pro Slavery man, and a fit and willing tool of the slave oligharchy, went back to his first love, (viz Loco-focoism) and turned traitor to the party that had elected him, and you know well what his history was whilst he held the reins of government in his hands, and how well, and truely he carried out all of the dictations, of the Southern Slave party, and how he betrayed the Whig Party that had elected him, and how heartily he was, and is dispised by the whole country north, up to the present time; He lived out his term of office and received the reward of his masters:—
In 1844 James K Polk of Tennessee a southern Pro-slavery Loco foco was elected President, and George M Dallas a northern Loco foco with southern views, (who betrayed his own state as Judas betrayed his Master) was elected vice President:—They being the right kind of materials, ready and willing to carry out all of the mandates of their Masters:—They lived out their terms of office, to the full and entire satisfaction of the two hundred and fifty thousand Slave owners of the South, and they received their rewards:—They were elected by a palpable fraud, viz. Polk Dallas and the tariff of 42, Polk is a better tariff man than Henry Clay. The tariff is safer in the hands of Polk and Dallas, than in the hands of Clay and Freelignhysen, all of which was a known, and willful fraud on the People, and our cold Hearted, unprincipled President James Buchanan, then traveled through Pennsylvania, making Tariff speeches and promulgating the fraud in almost every County:—
In 1848, Gen Zachy. Taylor, that good honest southerner, was elected President, and Millard Fillmore, an anti-slavery man of New York State was elected Vice President:—Gen. Taylor was duly inaugurated into office, and entered, on his duties, as President, of the United States, and his Administrative policy, was much feared, and doubted by many of the Anti-Slavery extension men north, and as you know his policy was uncertain for some time after his inauguration. But he being a true National man, and strictly honest, and free from allsectional prejudices, soon dispelled all fears from the minds of those who had doubted him before, and as you are better acquainted with his political history than I am, I will only illustrate my position by quoting sufficient for that purpose;—He was decidedly opposed to the further extension of slavery into territory north of 36.30 and desired, and was using the whole force, and power of his administration to bring New Mexico into the Union as a free state;—He also believed that the Missouri compromise was Strictly constitutional, and one of the most Sacred compromises of the Slave question, and I am credibly informed that five days before his sudden death, he had high and angry words with some of his prominent Southern friends, on the subject of extending Slavery into New Mexico, and that he Said to them, he was the President of the Whole United States, and that he had found certain States and territories free, and he would never with his consent, agree to force or extend that damnable curse into any territory that is now free, or north of 36.30, and would use all of his power against it; consiquently he did not Suit the Slave oligarchy, and on the 9th of July, one year four months and five days after his inauguration he died suddenly, as did Harrison, and with the sameapparent disease, which caused the Nation to mourn again for the loss of that good old chieftan President:—His death was attributed to his eating a cherry pie the day befor his death:—I have no doubt but the pie was the cause of his death, but in the pie was poison—for I cannot believe that an old Soldier who had been used to the hardships of a camp life for thirty years could be killed by eating a simple cherry pie; if there had been no poison in it, but my opinion is that the Borgias were about:—
By law the New York anti-Slavery man Millard Filmore succeeded Gen Taylor as President, and it was strange to see what a perfect somerset he turned, how soon he became what he chose to term a National Man, and how soon he lost all of his long cherished Anti-Slavery notions, and how soon he became a pet of the slave Power at Washington, and that his former York State notions did not suit in a southern atmosphere, and he had then discovered that he suddenly becam very National in his views; How willing he was to advocate and sign the fugitive slave law, as a finality on the nigger question, and then what a favorite he became with the whole South:—He lived out his term of office, and received his reward, and after he retired from office, before going home to Buffalo, he made a tour through almost the entire South, and you remember how he was feasted, toasted, and eulogised, by the Slave owners from Maryland to Lousiana, and cheered on his road throughout the entire south, and as soon as he struck free territory, how he made a Straight line for home, not stopping to receive the congratulations of his free state friends:—There is much more that might be said in relation to Mr. Filmore, and the Slave propagandists, but I have said enough:—The original contract between the high contracting Parties, I suppose has been strictly carried out:—
In 1852, Franklin Pearce, a weak kneed, New Hampshire Loco foco, was elected President, and he being rather of a fainting disposition, and of a femanine tendency, and very unsteady in his nerves, and easily flattered, which made him a fit subject for the Slave power to opperate upon, and well he done their biddings. The result was the repeal of the Missouri compromise. (Which measure was headed by that Arch Demagog, Stephen A Douglass.).., The civil war in Kansas with all of the enormities connected therewith;—The sacriligious outrages of the border ruffians, in spreading broadcast over the territory death and devastation;—The violation of the ballat boxes:—The Passage of laws that would disgrace the heathen, are all evidences of the unholy dictations he received from his masters, and in short he went over to them body, soul, and breeches, and he lived out his term of office, and done his biddings nobly, and received his reward:—
In 1856 James Buchanan a cold Hearted, Pennsylvania Locofoco was elected President, and shortly after it was known that he was elected a delegation of Southern Slave owners, with Governor Wise of Virginia at their head made him, a visit at Wheatland and after the interview between the President elect, and the slave oligarchy, it is generally reported, and believed that Mr Buchanan was rather stubborn, and would not work right in the traces, as to the policy of his coming administration, and the Slave power went home some what discouraged with the coming President, and they were in great consternation for a time and the southern papers, many of them actually threatened that the southern electors should vote for some other candidate, or person for President instead of Buchanan, for he was not right on the southern questions;—But after further consideration the electors did vote for Buck, and he was elected:—
In due time Mr Buchanan engaged rooms at the National Hotel in Washington City, and that fact being published all over the country which caused a perfect rush of office seekers and politicians, to the National when Mr Buchanan arrived, and during his stay at the National there was near fifteen hundred guests:—And over five hundred of that number were poisoned, and about fifty of them died;—and what is most strange in the matter, there were but three (I believe) of the guests, who belonged to the South who were afflicted, and they very slightly;—when it is know that a large majority of the guests were southerners;—The first theory started, was that poisoned rats had got into the water, but that theory soon exploded, and then an other idea was concocted, viz that the cause was the poisones gases that came from the Sewers that were connected with the Sinks of the Hotel, but that too soon exploded, likewise;—And finally a committee of scientific Gentlemen were appointed to give the matter a thorough investigation and if possible determine what was the cause of the dreadful distruction of life and health, and after a thorough and careful investigation it was found to be Pulverised Glass mixed with very fine pulverised Sugar, but on consultation, it was determined not to make the real cause public, because it would be dangerous on account of it being so easy for servents by that means to poison the whole community:—Now you see how cunningly the whole thing was managed, the poisoned rat story answered for a time, but was soon abandoned, next the Sewer dodge was taken up and answered for a short period, to divert the attention of the anxious public for a short time (longer, that too had to be abandoned also and when the real cause was ascertained, it was thought best not to make it public on account of the servants;—Thus you will see how nicely the slave power manages to keep the public ignorant of their black deeds;—Mr Buchanan was warned of his danger by several letters without signatures, but he gave them no notice, and at the time it occured it was really a fearful thing to think about, but since the southern policy has been fully developed, the whole thing bec becomes perfectly clear, and plain, and not mysterious as it, at one time appeared, we hear southerners swearing vehemently almost daily, that if Lincoln is elected he shall never take his seat, &c. and I do not know how they are to prevent it unless it is by making poisoning presidents a part of their nigger doctrine;—
Mr Brackenridge, the Vice President being a true southern Pro-slavery man, would have been a very acceptable swap for Mr Buchanan, at that time, he being a man in whom they could have full confidence and would be entirely satisfactory to the slave power;—Mr Buchanan was however permited to live, but he would not be now living, if he had not sold himself to the slave oligarchy Body and Soul, and gone over to them more thoroughly than any of his predecessors:—The Borgias of Washington were after him, as they will be after every President, who does not consent to the Pro-slavery side of the question as soon (or before) he gets into office, and I am satisfied that the lives of our Presidents, depends, on their views, and opinions of a certain domestic institution which our beloved country unfortunately is cursed with viz Negro-Slavery:—
Now I will ask you in all sincerity can these things be accidental;—do not the coincidences and facts combined, show strong indications of foul play, and are not the coincidences very remarkable:—Pro-Slavery Presidents, live out their terms of offices and those having different views are doomed to short existances in office, and their deaths are sudden and mysterious:—Sir our beloved country is under a more despotic rule than almost any other country known, and that too under the name of Democracy without a single trace or landmark of true democracy being left, for such old Federalists as ten cent Jimy to swear by:—And the Borgias of Washington are ready to do the biddings of their masters faithfully whenever it shall be deemed expedient to get a President or high official out of the way of the Slave Despots:—
I being strongly impressed with the belief that Free State Presidents were foully dealt with, took occasion to give that matter my particular attention and in my private investigations of the attempt to poison Mr Buchanan, I happened to get hold of the Head waiter in the Ladies dining room at the time the occurrence took place;—He having once been head waiter for me was very friendly, and much attached to me:—I said to him John, how is it about the attempt to Poison old Buck you was there at the time and I would take your opinions about it sooner than I would those who held higher rank in society than you do, this some what flattered his vanity, and after a little hesitation, he said well it was not Poisoned Rats for Devil the poisened rat was there ever in the house as long as I was there;—nor was it the Poison arising from the sewers for if it had of been that, it would have afflicted all alike:—Well said I John what do you think then was the cause of the poison being in the House, after some little delay in answering, he said to be candid with you, my opinion is that it was in some very fine pulverised sugar that the Steward of the Hotel bought a few days before Mr Buchanan arrived, for said he we had no occasion for that sugar we had a large quantity of all kinds of sugar in the store room when that was bought;—plenty of crushed, Sand, St Domingo and brown Sugars, plenty of all kinds necessary for a Hotel, and the Steward had no occasion whatever to buy the 4 or 5 barrels of that very fine pulverised sugar said he I never saw such fine pulverised sugar before:—I then said to him John if the Poison was in that Sugar how did it happen that so many of the Northern people were Poisoned and only about three of the Southerners when you know that a large majority of the guests were from the South;—Och you an old Hotel keeper and dont see how that could happen, why you know that for Tea nearly every person from the North drinks tea, and those from the south Coffee, and we all had our orders, that when they called for tea to hand them that fine pulverised pulverised Sugar and when they called for Coffee to hand the crushed or St Domingo Sugar and said he that is the way that happened and he then remarked you did not hear of any of the family or the servants being poisoned:—I then said who was the Steaward, well said he his name is --- --- and he is an Irishman:—I then asked if he was a Roman Catholic, he said yes sir the same as I am, and I will tell you no lie about it:—I then asked him what had become of the Steward he said he could not tell where he went he left Washington and I cant tell where he went to;—I then asked him do you suppose he was paid for his services in that black deed;—well said he my opinion is that any person who is base enough to do the deed that he would be rascal enough to not do it without being well paid for such wickedness said he I am shure of that:—
This was before the Committee of Scientific Gentlemen were appointed to investigate and determin the real cause, and after the cause was ascertained it proved to be in this fine pulverised Sugar just as John had told me he believed it was and the Poison was fine pulverised glass mixed with fine Pulverised Sugar:—And there is no doubt but the compound of Sugar and glass was specially prepared by some one for the occasion, and placed in a position where the Steward was directed to go and get it, and if it could be traced out you would find that the whole thing was done by the directions of the Slave power, thinking to get old Buck out of the way and to make room for Brackenridge their friend to take his place:—
Now Sir dont you think the proofs are strong and the remarkale coincidences are unexplainable:—And it certainly behooves you to be cautious and pay heed to the warnings before you, and I will suggest to youcooks with you from your home those whom you know to be honest true and faithful, and cannot be bribed or bought, for as certain as your name is Abraham Lincoln unless you are cautious your Reign will be short, and you and Mr Hamlin will both be put out of the way to make room for a creature of the Senate who will do the biddings of the Slave Oligarchy and unless you do as many of your predecessors have done, go over to the Slave Power body and soul you will be shipped slipped out of existence unless you ar as watchful, as sure as you now live:—
You are the candidate of the great reform party, and we who are working for your election hope to see you live and carry out those great national reforms, and we hope you will stand firm to your principles, and give us a good old Henry Clay Tariff for protection to American industry and Manufacturies, which we hope to get under your Administration, together with all other reforms laid down in the Chicago Platform, and if elected we do not want to see the head cut off of our Party as has been the case with the two last Whig Presidents but we want you to live;—Therefore your salvation is caution, and vigilance;—In the selection of your servents be careful not to have any Roman Catholics or Papists about you have none but American born, black and white and have nothing but Protestants, about you, and then I will feel as though you will be comparatively safe;—We of Penna. desire to see you live out your term of office, and to see the Principles on which you will be elected faithfully carried out, and to se a quietus just to this vexatious and interminable Nigger agitation, and the Slave extension question forever settled, and the country once more in Peace Prosperity and quietness:—And we desire further to see you faithfully carry out all of the compromises of our (Mag-na- char-ta) the Constitution, to so administer the affairs of Government that justice will be done to all, and by so doing our Southern Brethren will learn by you that justice can be done to all, North, South, East and West even if their President is as they in their perfidy choose to call him, a d--d Black Republican.
Very Respectfully Yours
Oliver H. P. Parker
Late Proprietor of the Franklin House
of this City
