Columbus, April 2, 1860.
My Dear Sir:
Your letter reached me just as I was leaving home, and I take the first moments
at my command since my return for reply.
You have doubtless learned ere this that I had anticipated
Mr. Seward's suggestion by sending to Mrs. B. a list of the subscribers to the
Chicago Block purchase who have not already assigned to her the shares held by
them, with a suggestion that some friend in Washington write or speak to each
suggesting similar transfers. I have no doubt that all, or nearly all, will act
at once; and I suppose this property must be actually worth even now (say)
three thousand dollars. This will certainly be some help; but it cannot be
permanent. Nor is it easy to say what can be done in the way of permanent help.
After the neglect of the obvious duty of providing for the Era by the
Republican members of Congress, it is hard to say what can be expected from
political friends. If I had power I am very sure I should find a way of
testifying a proper sense of the worth of the father by giving such honorable
employment to his sons as would enable them to support the family. In time the
rise of property at Chicago will, I think, afford a competency, with proper
efforts and success of the boys so aided. But meanwhile what is to be done? I
see no way in which the Era can be made available. It will be hard to
find anybody who would be willing to take its list and supply its subscribers
for the good-will; much harder to find anybody to pay anything in addition. But
perhaps I am wrong in saying that I see no way of availing of the Era. Mr.
Clapham thinks, I understand, that with a vigorous editor associated with
himself the paper might and could be placed on a paying basis and made
profitable. So it seems to me. If such a person, then, could be found, and the Era
could be revived in friendly hands, Mrs. B. might start the child's paper
she proposes with an excellent prospect of success. It seems to me certain that
a good Republican paper in Washington, seeking no public patronage, but taking
that which would naturally come to it, would not only live but prosper. You
with your abilities might from such a point do great good — exceedingly great
good — with no detriment, but with advantage, to yourself. To be sure it would
require work; but you have the intellectual and physical energy which would sustain
it.
Should it be impossible to revive the Era, I will
join in whatever other plan may be agreed on by our friends at Washington in
aid of Mrs. B. and her family to the extent of my means. These, however, are
now so thoroughly exhausted by the heavy drafts made on me by the necessary
expenses of my position during the last four years (for you perhaps know that
we have no governor's house, nor rent for one, and only a salary of $1800). I
cannot advance any money immediately. In the course of the year, however, I
would do my share.
If I were to consult my own feelings I should not thus
restrict my offer; but I am compelled to bow to absolute necessity.
I wish there were some way of giving employment to the boys.
But there is not. Our public employes are wretchedly paid; but the positions,
badly compensated as they are, are sought in this time of general depression by
three applicants at least for every post, and those who have them to dispose of
think themselves bound to prefer Ohio applicants. Being myself out of office, I
have no influence which would sway them to different views or action.
The neglect of Mrs. B. and the Era by our political
friends at Washington has produced a deep and painful impression in many
quarters, and may have wide and unhappy influences. It is greatly to be
deplored on all accounts.
For myself I have felt for some time an increasing
disposition to quit political life. It would have been entirely satisfactory to
me had our friends here in Ohio been willing to allow me to close it with the
expiration of my term as governor. But they thought that I ought to consent to
an election to the Senate as an indorsement with reference to another place,
and I did consent, perhaps unadvisedly. But, having consented, I shall abide
the issue. The indications are that the choice of Ohio will not be confirmed by
the Republican preferences of other States. Should such be the fact, I shall
give an honest, independent support to the man whom the Republicans do prefer,
and at the close of the struggle feel myself at liberty to consult my own inclination
and judgment with regard to further public service.
Cordially your
friend,
S. P. Chase.
J. S. Pike, Esq.
SOURCE: James Shepherd Pike, First Blows of the
Civil War: The Ten Years of Preliminary Conflict in the United States from 1850
to 1860, p. 504-6
No comments:
Post a Comment