In one of his first decisions as president-elect, Abraham Lincoln chose New York Republican operative Hiram Barney as Collector of the Port of New York, a lucrative position with sway in the New York political machine. A great friend of Lincoln’s political rival and soon-to-be Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase, Barney supported Lincoln in the campaign of 1860.
By 1863, serious accusations of corruption were lobbed at Barney, leading President Lincoln to ask for his resignation, a request rejected by both Barney and Chase, to whom the latter reported. Worsening the situation, the special agent in charge of investigating the corruption allegations, Joshua S. Bailey, reported to a congressional committee that Lincoln would “take no action” in the situation. After hearing the news, an incensed Lincoln sent Chase the letter seen here, reiterating his concerns about Barney and condemning Bailey.
In his reply, Chase attempted to dissuade Lincoln from removing Barney from his post without his consent, even threatening to resign if that happened. Although he initially backed down, the president still argued for Barney’s removal. After further disagreements, Chase resigned as Treasury Secretary, leaving the path open for Lincoln to seek Barney’s resignation. Barney was finally replaced and Lincoln appointed Chase the 6th Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
My Dear Sir:
I have felt considerable anxiety concerning the Custom House at New-York. Mr. Barney has suffered no abatement of my confidence in his honor and integrity; and yet I am convinced that he has ceased to be master of his position. A man by the name of Bailey, whom I am unconscious of ever having seen, or even heard of, except in this connection, expects to be, and even now assumes to be, Collector de facto, while Mr. Barney remains nominally so. This Mr. Bailey as I understand having been summoned as a witness to testify before a committee of the House of Representatives which purposed investigating the affairs of the New-York Custom-House, took occasion to call on the Chairman in advance, and to endeavor to smother the investigation, saying among other things, that whatever might be developed, the President would take no action, and the committee would thereby be placed unpleasantly. The public interest can not fail to suffer in the hands of this irresponsible and unscrupulous man. I propose sending Mr. Barney Minister to Portugal, as evidence of my continued confidence in him; and I further propose appointing ______ [intentionally left blank] Collector of the Customs at New-York. I wrote the draft of this letter two weeks ago, but delayed sending it for a reason which I will state when I see you.
Yours truly
A. Lincoln
The acquisition of this manuscript was made possible by generous donors to the 2023 Watchorn Lincoln Dinner Sponsorship Fund.
