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officials, who held his place directly from the Secretary and without the intervention of the President or Senate, and who at the time controlled the means of enabling men to make fortunes greater in number and larger in amount than any other treasury official has ever held to my knowledge.
This control was in connection with the administration of the captured and abandoned property act, and also with the admitting of cotton into our lines.
This power alone could furnish plenty of funds for a political campaign.
His official duties brought him in not unfrequent contact with myself.
In the early spring he called upon me at Fortress Monroe, ostensibly upon some official business.
After that was finished the actual object of his visit was disclosed.
“There has been some criticism, General,” said he, “based upon the assertion that Mr. Chase is using the powers of his office to aid his presidential aspirations.
What do you think of Mr. Chase's action, assuming that he does so?”
“I see no objection,” I answered, “to his using his office to advance his presidential aspirations by every honorable means, providing President Lincoln will let him do it. It is none of my business, but I have for some time thought that Lincoln was more patient than I should have been, but if he doesn't object, nobody else has either the right or the power so to do.”
“ Then, General, you approve of Mr. Chase's course in this.
regard?”
“ Yes; he has a right to use in a proper manner every means he has to further a laudable ambition.”
“ As Chase is a Western man,” he continued, “had not the Vice-President better come from the East?
Who, General, do you think would make a good candidate with Mr. Chase?”
“ There are plenty of good men,” I answered, “but as Chase is a very pronounced anti-slavery man and Free-Soiler, Gen. John A. Dix, of New York, would bring to his banner and at the polls the War Democrats, of whom Dix claims to be a fair representative.”
“ You are a War Democrat, General,” said he; “would you take that position with Chase, yourself?”
“Are you authorized by Mr. Chase to put this question to me and report my answer to him for his consideration?”
“ You may rest assured,” was the reply; “I am fully empowered ”
A. M. Thayer and Co. 1892.
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