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Mr. Chase to Mr. Seward.

*CORSIR E AND SIXTH STEKETS, WASHINGTON, December 21, 1862. “.... I have received your note, and also a call from Mr. Nicolay, to whom I have promised to send the President an answer to-morrow morning. "My reflections strengthen my conviction that being once honorably out of the Cabinet, no important public interest now requires my return to it. If I yield this judgment, it will be in deference to apprehensions which really seem to me to be unfounded. I will sleep on it. . . .”

Mr. Chase to the President.

"WASHINGTON, December 22, 1862.

".... On Saturday afternoon I received your note addressed to Mr. Seward and myself, desiring us to resume the charge of our respective departments. I had just written you a letter expressing quite another judgment, and that you may fully understand my sentiments I now send that letter to you.

"Your note of course required me to reconsider my views; and a further reason for reconsideration was next day furnished, in the receipt from Mr. Seward of a copy of his reply to a note from you-identical with that sent to me—announcing that he had resumed the duties of the State Department.

"I cannot say that reflection has much, if at all, changed my original impression; but it has led me to the conclusion that I ought in this matter to conform my action to your judgment and wishes.

"I shall therefore resume my post as Secretary of the Treasury; ready, however, at any moment to resign it, if, in your judgment, the success of your Administration may be in the slightest degree promoted thereby...."

Mr. Chase to the President.-Copy of Letter alluded to in the Foregoing Note. "WASHINGTON, December 20, 1862. แ .... I intended going to Philadelphia this afternoon, but shall of course observe your direction not to go out of town.

"Will you allow me to say that something you said or looked, when I handed you my resignation this morning, made on my mind the impression that having received the resignations both of Governor Seward and myself, you felt that you could relieve yourself from trouble by declining to accept either, and that this feeling was one of gratification?

"Let me assure you that few things could give me so much satisfaction as to promote, in any way, your comfort, especially if I might promote at the same time the success of your Administration, and the good of the country which is so near your heart.

"But I am very far from desiring you to decline accepting my resignation; very far from thinking, indeed, that its non-acceptance and my

THE CASE OF MARK HOWARD.

491

continuance in the Treasury Department will be most for your comfort or for the benefit of the country.

"On the contrary, I could not if I would, conceal from myself that recent events have too rudely jostled the unity of your Cabinet, and disclosed an opinion too deeply seated, and too generally received in Congress and in the country, to be safely disregarded, that the concord in judgment and action, essential to successful administration, does not prevail among its members.

"By some, the embarrassment of administration is attributed to me; by others to Mr. Seward; by others still to other heads of departments. Now, neither Mr. Seward nor myself is essential to you or to the country. We both earnestly wish to be relieved from the oppressive charge of our respective departments, and we have both placed our resignations in your hands.

"A resignation is a grave act; never performed by a right-minded man without forethought or with reserve. I tendered mine from a sense of duty to the country, to you, and to myself; and I tendered it to be accepted. So did, as you have been fully assured, Mr. Seward tender his.

"I trust, therefore, that you will regard yourself as completely relieved from all personal considerations. It is my honest conviction that we can both better serve you and the country at this time as private citizens than in your Cabinet.

"Retiring from the post to which you called me, let me assure you that I shall carry with me even a deeper respect and a warmer affection for you than I brought with me into it. . . ."

Mr. Chase to the President.

"WASHINGTON, February 27, 1863. ".... I learned to-day at the Senate-Chamber that the nomination of Mark Howard, to be collector of internal revenue for the First District of Connecticut, was rejected by that body.

"It is due to Mr. Howard to say that a no more faithful, capable, or honest man, has been appointed to any collectorship under the law; and that he has performed the responsible duties of the office to the entire satisfaction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue and myself.

"I ain told by Senators that Mr. Howard's nomination was rejected at the instance of Senator Dixon, and merely in deference to his personal wishes, notwithstanding the unanimous report of the Committee on Finance in favor of confirmation, and without the slightest impeachment of the character or capacity of the nominee.

"Such, I have no doubt, is the fact; and I feel bound by my duty to an honest man, to your Administration, and to the public interests placed under my charge in this department, to protest, most respectfully, against the appointment to the vacancy created by this rejection, of any person recommended by the gentleman who procured it. Such an apppointment

would, indeed, manifestly tend to the grossest abuses; for if gentlemen hostile to a particular nominee, or eager to secure his place for some favorite, can expect to control the appointment, after rejection, it is manifest that confirmations will depend less on merit than on animosity or favoritism.

"In my judgment, Mr. Howard should be renominated in order that the Senate may have an opportunity to reconsider its action, calmly and dispassionately. His renomination, under the circumstances, seems to me a simple act of justice to him, and a proper assertion of your own right to have your nominations considered on their merits.

"I, therefore, send a renomination for your consideration, and your signature, if approved.

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"Should your judgment differ from mine on this point, I shall ask permission to recommend some other person, selected on the same considerations which governed my original recommendation of Mr. Howard, namely, capacity, integrity, and fidelity to the country and to your Administration.

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The President to Mr. Chase.

“WASHINGTON, March 2, 1863.

แ "....After much reflection, and with a good deal of pain that it is adverse to your wish, I have concluded that it is best not to renominate Mr. Howard for collector of internal revenue at Hartford. Senator Dixon, residing at Hartford, and Mr. Loomis, the representative of the district, join in recommending Edward Goodman for the place, and so far no one has presented a different name. I will thank you, therefore, to send me a nomination at once for Mr. Goodman. 99

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Mr. Chase to the President, but not sent.

"WASHINGTON, March 8, 1868.

... Finding myself unable to approve the manner in which selections for appointment to important trusts in this department have been recently made, and being unwilling to remain responsible for its administration, under existing circumstances, I respectfully resign the office of Secretary of the Treasury. . . .”

Mr. Chase to the President.

“WASHINGTON, May 11, 1868.

". . . . Some weeks ago you verbally directed me to investigate the papers connected with the case of collector of the Puget Sound district, and to report the result to you.

"Almost immediately afterward, important business of my department called me to the Eastern cities. On leaving, I directed the Assistant Secretary to examine all the papers, arrange them in proper order, and make a brief of the contents, so that, on my return, I could at once make the investigation you required.

CASE OF VICTOR SMITH.

493

"I came back on Friday night (8th), and was informed by the Assistant Secretary that you had already directed him to make out and send to you a commission for a new collector.

"This information surprised and greatly pained me; for I had not thought it possible that you would remove an officer of my department without awaiting the result, although somewhat delayed, of an investigation, directed by yourself, and appoint a successor, for whose action I must be largely responsible, without even consulting me on the subject.

"To-day, I have received your note, stating that the person for whom, in my absence, a commission was prepared, is deceased; and directing one to be made out for another person of whom I know absolutely nothing.

"It has been and is my ardent desire to serve you, by faithful service to the country, in the responsible post to which you have called me; but I cannot hope to succeed in doing so if the selection of persons to fill subordinate places in the department is to be made, not only without my concurrence, but without my knowledge.

"I can ask, of course, nothing more than conference. The right of appointment belongs to you; and if, after fair consideration of my views, in any case, your judgment in relation to a proper selection differs from mine, it is my duty to acquiesce cheerfully in your determination; unless, indeed, the case be one of such a character as to justify my withdrawal from my post. I have, however, a right to be consulted. That right was virtually conceded to me when you invited me to assume the charge of the department, and make myself responsible for its administration.

"The blank commission which you direct me to send you is inclosed; for to obey your directions, so long as I shall hold office under you, is my duty. It is inclosed, however, with my most respectful protest against the precedent, and with the assurance that if you find any thing in my views to which your own sense of duty will not permit you to assent, I will unhesitatingly relieve you from all embarrassment, as far as I am concerned, by tendering you my resignation.

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This letter to Mr. Lincoln grew out of the case of Victor Smith, who had been appointed collector for the district of Puget Sound upon Mr. Chase's own responsibility; Smith being an old Ohio acquaintance of perfectly good character. The office was of considerable importance; but Victor Smith was a man not very likely to become popular on the Pacific coast-or anywhere else. He believed in spiritrappings, and was an avowed abolitionist; he whined a great deal about "progress," was somewhat arrogant in manner and intolerant in speech; and speedily made himself thoroughly unpopular in his office. Grave charges were alleged against him, but they were not sustained; and a deputation of citizens came all the way from Puget's Sound to Washington to secure his removal, and spent more money in coming and going than the office was worth. Smith told his side of the story; the Secretary believed him, and convinced that to make the removal would work injury to the public service and wrong to an innocent man, resolved to stand by him even to the point of relinquishing office. During Mr. Chase's temporary absence from Washington the President appointed Henry Clay Wilson collector in Smith's place,

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*Way not and that no man is entitled to the name of loyal in rebel Blate who does not explicitly recognize and sincerely accept the freedom of the laborers and their right to wages for work!

“Having thus defined unconditional loyalty, why not insist on recognizing the unconditionally loyal people of each rebel State, and on supporting them in their efforts to reorganize their State governments on the basis of slavery prohibition and due provision against future secession!

"Why not avow active sympathy with the unconditional Union men everywhere, and invite all to rally on this genuine Democratic ground?

"I verily believe that in this way the future may be secured by the regeneration of the Democracy. I doubt all other ways. But regeneration implies renewed faith in fundamental principles and their fearless avowal...."

To ex-Governor William Sprague.

". . . . If I were controlled by merely personal sentiments, I should "WASHINGTON, November 26, 1868. prefer the reelection of Mr. Lincoln to that of any other man. But I doubt the expediency of reelecting anybody, and I think a man of different qualities from those the President has will be needed for the next four years. I am not anxious to be regarded as that man; and I am quite willing to leave that question to the decision of those who agree in thinking that some such man should be chosen.

but Henry Clay Wilson was dead at the time his appointment was made, and Mr. thereupon appointed another Wilson. This proceeding roused Mr. Chase's he sent the letter printed in the text.

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