Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 29.
1864.
Hon. Secretary of the Treasury
My dear Sir:
I would have taken time to answer yours of the 22nd sooner, only that I
did not suppose any evil could result from the delay, especially as, by a note,
I promptly acknowledged the receipt of yours, and promised a fuller answer.
Now, on consideration, I find there is really very little to say. My knowledge
of Mr. Pomeroy's letter having been made public came to me only the day you
wrote; but I had, in spite of myself, known of it's existence several
days before. I have not yet read it, and I think I shall not. I was not
shocked, or surprised by the appearance of the letter, because I had had
knowledge of Mr. Pomeroy's Committee, and of secret issues which I supposed
came from it, and of secret agents whom I supposed were sent out by it, for
several weeks. I have known just as little of these things as my own friends
have allowed me to know. They bring the documents to me, but I do not read them
— they tell me what they think fit to tell me, but I do not inquire for more. I
fully concur with you that neither of us can be justly held responsible for
what our respective friends may do without our instigation or countenance; and
I assure you, as you have assured me, that no assault has been made upon you by
my instigation, or with my countenance.
Whether you shall remain at the head of the Treasury Department is a
question which I will not allow myself to consider from any stand-point other
than my judgment of the public service; and, in that view, I do not perceive
occasion for a change.
Yours truly
A. Lincoln
SOURCE: Lincoln, Abraham. Abraham Lincoln papers: Series 1. General
Correspondence. 1833 to 1916: Abraham Lincoln to Salmon P. Chase,
Monday,Pomeroy Circular. 1864. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/mal3108000/.
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