Private.
Columbus, Nov. 10. [I860]
I do not know what
to say in reply to your wish that I may go into Mr. Lincoln's cabinet, except
to thank you for the implied appreciation by which I am ashamed to confess
myself not the less gratified, however conscious that it is beyond my deserts.
Certainly I do not
seek any such place. I greatly prefer my position as Senator, & would
indeed prefer to that a private Station could I now honorably retire.
For, of the great
objects which first constrained me into political life, one, the overthrow of
the Slave Power, is now happily accomplished and the other, the
denationalization of Slavery and the consequent inauguration of an era of
constitutional enfranchisement, seems sure to follow,—so that I do not feel any
longer that I have “a mission”
& therefore allow myself to grow somewhat weary of the harness.
But for the present I cannot get unyoked; and must work on a while longer.
And I greatly prefer
to work in a Legislative rather than in an administrative position. It is more
pleasant on many accounts. Still I do not say that I wd refuse the post you
refer to. Indeed it wd be rather superflous to decline what has not been
offered. Neither do I say that I would accept it: — but only this: — that if
the offer were made, without any urgency on the part of my friends and
under circumstances otherwise agreeable to me, I should feel bound to consider
it honestly & carefully, with the help of the best advisers I could
consult, & should be governed in my decision, not so much by my personal
inclinations as by my obligations to the cause and its true &. faithful
friend.
I thank you for
giving my Covington Speech a place in the Tribune. It has attracted a good deal
of attention & will, I hope, do some good.
Give my best regards
to Mr. Greeley, — who will, I trust, now find appreciation in some measure
proportioned to his pub. Services — and to your other colaborers. How your work
shames ours.
_______________
* From letter-book 7, pp. 72-73. Charles
Anderson Dana, 1819-1897; editor: managing editor of the Tribune, 1849-1862;
Assistant Secretary of War, 1863-1865; editor New York Sun, 1868-1897.
SOURCE: Diary and correspondence of Salmon P. Chase, Annual
Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1902, Vol.
2, p. 292
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