The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-03-19
A ReMlNIScENcE OF LINCOLN.
His Appointments of Mr.. Fessenden as
Secretary of the Treasury.

his MI, fesSenuen rs
Secretary of the Treasury.
| On the day following the resignation
| of Mr.. Chase. the President sent the
nomination of Ex-Governor Tod. of
| Ohio. as Secretary of the Treasury to
| the Senate for continuation. There is
no occasion now to INQUIRE after his
motives. Undoubtedly his first thought
was of an Ohio man, his opinion being
| settled that ii was better not 10 select
Secretary from any of the Atlantic
| States. The nomination was not well
received, and it was a relief to his
| friends when, during the evening. Mr..
Tod, by telegraph, peremptorily de-
clined it.
Before sunrise the next day l was
| again sent for. / rode to the White
House in the dawning light of an early
summer morning, and found the Pres
ident in his waistcoat. trousers, and
slippers. He had evidently just left
his bed, and had not taken time to
dress himself. AS | entered the ia
mliar room, he said, in a cheerful.
satisfied voice:
Il have sent for you to let you know
that we have got a Secretary of the
Treasury. If your sleep has been dis
| turbed. YOU have time for a morning
nap. You will like to meet him when
the department opens"
Il am indeed glad to hear it, l said.
But who IS hep
''Oh, you will like the appointment,
so will every body. 1t is the best APP
pointment possible. Strange that |
should have had any doubt about it.
What have you to say to Mr.. Fessen-
den?"
He would be an eminently proper
appointment" | answered. The
chairman of the Senate Committee on
Finance; perfectly familiar with all
our financial legislation; strong,
able man, and true friend of the
Union. He is also next in the direct
line of promotion. But he will not ac-
cept His health is frail, and his pres
ent position suits him. There is not
once chance in a thousand of his ac-
ceptancc.
He will accept; have no fear on
that account. l have just notified him
of his appointment, and | expect him
every moment"
AT this moment the door suddenly
opened. and Mr.. Fessenden almost
Burst into the room. without being an
nounced. His thin face was colorless;
there was intense excitement in his
voice and movements.
Il cannot! | will not l should be
a dead man in Il week. | am a sick
man now. | cannot accept this APP
pOintment, for which | have no quail
tications. You, Mr.. President, ought
not to ask me to do it. Pray relieve
me by saying that you will withdraw
it. ! repeat, | cannot and will not ac-
cept it."
The President rose from his chair
approached Mr. Fessenden, and threw
his arm around his neck. 1t may seem
ludicrouS, but as | saw that long aud
apparently unstiffencd limb winding
like Il cable about the small neck of
the Senator from Maine, | wondered
how many times the arm would encir-
Gle it. His voice was serious and en-
phatic, but without any assumption of
authority, as he said:
"Fessenden, since | have occupied
this place, every appointment | have
made upon my own judgment has
proved TO be Il COOL one. | do not say
the best that could have been made,
but good enough TO answer the pur-
poe. All the mistakes | have made
have been in cases where | have
permitted my own judgment to be
Overruled by that Of others. Last
night | saw my way clear TO appoint
YOU Secretary of the Treasury. | do
not think you have any right to tell
me you will not accept the place. |
believe that .hc suppression of the re-
bellion has been decrccd by higher
power than any represented by us, and
that the Almighty is using His own
means to that end. You are one of
them. 1t is is much your duty TO ac-
cept as it is mine to appoint. Your
nomination is now on the way from
the State Department, ami III few
minutes it will be here. 1t will be in
the Senate at noon, YOU will be i'm.
mediatelv and unanimously confirmed,
and by one O'Clock to-day must be
signing warrants in the Treasury"
Mr.. Fessenden was intellectually y a
strong man, one of the last men to sur
render his own judgment to the will
of another but he made no effort to re-
sist the Presidents appeal. He cast his
ewes upon the floor. and murmured,
We'll, perhaps | ought 10 think about
it," and turned to leave the room.
No" said the Presidents; this mat
ter is settled here and now. am told
that it is very necessary that a Secre-
tary should act to-day. | will assure
you that if change becomes desirable
hereafter. will be ready and willing
to make it. But, unless | misunder-
stand the temper of the public, your
appointment will be so satisfactory
that we shall have no occasion to deal
with any question of change for some
time to come"
At this point the conversation termi-
mated, and all the persons present sep
arated. The result is well known.
Mr.. Fessenden's appointment was en-
tirely satisfactory, aud the affairs of
the Treasury went on so smoothly that
no change in the financial policy of
Secretary Chase was attempted; and
from this time until the resignation of
Mr.. Fessenden there vas no further
friction between the Treasury Depart
ment and the Executive f. Chit
te'aden. IN Harper'S AgIziHe.
Overcome by the Honor.
An amusing story is told of Arch
duke Eugene of Austria, while on 4
visit recently to small hamlet in Hun
gary. Feeling the necessity for a
l..