Part 21

"Our construction is advancing well. We have sent up 400 additional men since Feb. 1. We still strain every nerve for completion June 1. None of our managers in the West fear that it will be much later. I assure you that in this respect and in all respects our affairs were never so promising as now. I express my strong desire to form a junction of our interests as frankly as if you did not represent the other party to the negotiation; for, while attending carefully to everything necessary to our independent existence, I see that it can still be bettered by the measure contemplated. There is no mistake so common among business men as to suppose that what one gains another loses. I have just had an illustration of this in making in behalf of the bondholders of the Fort Wayne a counter proposition to that of the stockholders under which the stock rose 40 per cent.

"It is important to all interests that a conclusion be arrived at as soon as possible. When you are in a situation to negotiate definitely, with full powers, I shall be glad to discuss and also to submit suggestions, and shall be ready to conclude arrangements, if any be found practicable.

"Please excuse the rambling haste in which I write.

"I remain, "Very truly, "Your friend, "S. J. TILDEN."

"_Joseph S. Fay, Esqr., Boston, Mass._"

TILDEN TO JOS. S. FAY

"NEW YORK, _April 8th, 1864_.

"MY DEAR SIR,--Your letter of the 4th was duly received.

"In reference to your conclusion that there is 'no difficulty in arranging some mode of sale but _price_,' I agree that it is justified by the general correspondence of our views as to the utility of uniting the two lines and as to the policy which should govern the management of the joint concern. Doubtless your mind has truly fixed the precise point at which divergence of sentiments would be natural, and where alone it is likely to exist.

"But is such divergence inevitable even there? Is there not some solution which will give us what we agree in desiring--the unity of works and interests, and will yet allow scope enough for the favorable view by each party of the relative value of its own property?

"Financial expedients are so capable of adaptation, and I have so often been fortunate in bringing into accord interests and opinions which seemed to the parties to clash, that, seeing an object desirable to us both obstructed or delayed, I am disposed at once to analyze the elements of difference, and try if there be not some solution equally advantageous and equally agreeable to the parties whom we respectively represent.

"I know I shall bring to the attempt candor in considering what I may not at first accept, and an entire freedom from the huckstering spirit which seeks to appropriate all benefits of a concord which ought to be founded upon mutual interests. I do not doubt that you will meet me in the same dispositions.

"I mentioned in my former letter some of the evils of delay--the loss of the present session of Congress in respect to our land grants (we should want Mr. Morgan as our regular attorney to join his efforts to our special and temporary agent if we were together), the tendency to reduce or keep down the prices for our transportation services, from the natural operation of divided action, to be aggravated perhaps when our agents come to seek business, the probability of some unnecessary construction.

"You have justly added the inconvenience of extending over the region a diversity of gauges, every day becoming more difficult to change.

"And I now add still another consideration. The delay--perhaps indefinite postponement of the construction of the link from Green Bay to the place, lately Sand Point, which we have christened Escanaba. That construction would connect the mineral regions of Lake Superior with the entire railroad system of the country.

"Now, in these times so favorable to get money for new enterprises, if the opportunity is _seized_ and _wisely used_, I think if we were united, our joint strength would induce the Northwestern to put in that link this year if the question could be determined within the next 30 days. There are auxiliary influences, potent at this moment, which may be lost and the result postponed for an indefinite period.

"I am confident that such a construction would enlist the warmest sympathies of yourself, of Mr. Ely, and of all who have investments in the Lake Superior region. It would probably create, likewise, new opportunities for investments, capable of surviving the financial shock to which all property will be subjected by the present condition of the country.

"But I wander into discussions, when the object with which I began my hasty letter was simply to say to you that I think we ought to have a personal conference without unnecessary delay--that we ought to be possessed of the purposes of our respective parties, and armed with full powers to act, if not for all, at least for a majority in interest of our respective companies.

"I will meet you in Boston or in this city at your earliest convenience, having a little notice to arrange my engagements. My situation would make me prefer New York, if your convenience would allow or you could be induced into a visit to your friends here.

"Very truly, "Your Friend, "S. J. TILDEN."

"_Jos. S. Fay, Esq._"

TILDEN TO MR. KENT

"N. Y., _Mar. 26th, 1864_.

"MY DEAR SIR,--I send some specimens from various locations in Lake Superior country on which I desire information and your judgment.

"No. 1. Hematite is claimed to give 61 1/3 per cent. of iron. They call it granular hematite. I should like to know whether it will produce so much in order to judge whether it will bear very distant transportation. I should like your judgment of it in all respects.

"2 and 3 are of the same general character.

"_Next._ I want to know whether No. 6 has any admixtures which may affect its value in working. It is called specular and slate iron.

"_Next._ I want to know about No. 4. The analysis given me is 41.885 metallic.

"31. ox iron manganese.

"It is called massive hematite pyrotistic.

"I should like to know about its working character and its availability.

"5, I believe, is similar. 7 and 8 are specimens of slate iron.

"8 claims to be 43 per cent.

"7 claims to be 57 per cent., with traces of manganese. It feels too light. I should like a test of it.

"I should be glad of your ideas on the subject at as early a day as practicable. Send me results as they can be obtained without waiting to complete all.

"Truly, "S. J. TILDEN."

"_Mr. Kent._"

C. EAMES[40] TO TILDEN

"_Thursday 10th, 1/2 past 11_, "_May 10, '64_.

"MY DEAR TILDEN,--I want you, _as a very great favor_ to Mrs. Eames and myself, to give me your time from _1/2 past two to-morrow, sharp_, at which _moment_ I will be here to take you up to 84th St. to look at some lots and houses, and see how they can be divided in four equal or nearly equal parts and values--differences of value to be settled by payment or receipt of money--so that division of same among the co-heirs may take place by agreement without the fuss of partition suit. Your help in this will have a great weight of authority with us all and will carry the thing through. Fanny has set her heart upon it. Please do not refuse. I fix day and hour so sharp because I _must_ go back to Washington Thursday, and am told _not_ to come till this is done. The brothers will go with us to look at the property.

"Yours very truly, "C. EAMES."

"Thursday 10th, 1/2 past 11. "_May 10/64._"

J. VAN BUREN TO TILDEN

"39 NASSAU, N. Y., _May 20th, 1864_.

"MY DEAR TILDEN,--I have had no opportunity to inquire about the Kaska William Coal Co. stock, but have such confidence in your knowledge and judgment that I will take of you the 200 shares at $4250, and feel obliged by your letting me have them.

"Please let me know when you require the money.

"Take care of your health, and believe me,

"Truly y'rs, "J. VAN BUREN."

"_Mr. Tilden._"

GENERAL J. S. WHITNEY TO TILDEN

"79 STATE STREET, "BOSTON, _Sept. 27, 1864_.

"HON. S. J. TILDEN.

"DEAR SIR,--I desire to introduce to your acquaintance my son, the bearer, Mr. William C. Whitney. My son wishes to complete, in your city, his preparation for practice in the law. I have taken the liberty of advising my son to call upon you for the reason that I believe a few words of friendly advice from yourself would be of great value to him in fixing upon his selection of an office for further preparation. Any advice or act of courtesy you may please to extend to my son, I need not say, will ever be regarded as a great personal favor to

"Your obt. Servt., "JAMES S. WHITNEY."

General James E. Whitney was the father of the late William C. Whitney. At his behest, Governor Tilden was instrumental in securing for the son, then recently graduated from the Harvard Law School, the appointment of counsel for the corporation of the city and county of New York. The son subsequently became--through Mr. Tilden's aid, I believe--a very large proprietor of stock in the metropolitan railways, and later was a member of President Cleveland's Cabinet as Secretary of the Navy during that President's first term. He died in 1904.

TILDEN TO S. C. BALDWIN

"NEW YORK, _Nov. 17, 1864_.

"MY DEAR SIR,--There are so many topics about which I desire to write you that I must touch them rapidly.

"1. You and Wetmore are elected directors of the Iron Cliff. You will be entitled to the information, advice, and aid which Wetmore shall be able to give.

"You must represent the company and act in all cases where it is necessary.

"2. _Information._ We need direct and frequent communications with the Cliff Co.

"Mr. Curtis will have more time than the rest, and his occupations will be more regular. He should write _twice a week_, giving information as to all matters concerning the operations of the co., the no. of men, the preparations to accommodate them, the work going on, etc.

"From you I should like to hear as often as you are able.

"Communications should be addressed S. J. Tilden, 12 Wall St., New York City.

"3. Col. Foster left Mr. Ray in charge of the Tilden and Foster mines; Mr. Foote in charge of the Ogden; Mr. Curtis managing the accounts and finances, and Mr. Whitehead conducting explorations; and these gentlemen, all in the main, independent of each other.

"I shall be surprised if disorganization does not develop the want of a _head_ to enforce accountability and to govern and direct.

"For the time being you must assume and exercise whatever powers seem to be necessary in order to keep harmony between all these different authorities, and to see that all are working well.

"=> Whether we shall need a _mining_ head, independently of these gentlemen, is a question upon which, after you have studied them, and the working of the business, I should like your opinion. It may be that a general business head will be all that will be required, and that Mr. Ray and Mr. Foote will get along well in their respective departments. Or it may be that some man like Mr. Merry or Mr. Ferguson will be required.

"Between us, Mr. Merry told me, just before I left, that he wished me to bear in mind that he expected to be with us next year. Mr. Stewart, of the Jackson Co., rather complained to Col. Foster that Mr. Ogden had interfered with them in respect to Merry.

"I mention the state of things that you may be advised of the actual state of the case, and may be considering what information and advice you can give me.

"As to Mr. Curtis--he was engaged by Col. Foster as a sort of cashier when the former was about leaving without our having much knowledge or experience in respect to him. I have been to see Mr. Booth, who recommended him, and get the best accounts as to his trustworthiness.

"Whether we can hereafter enlarge his functions will depend upon how his capacities shall develop in the experience of our business.

"In the mean time he should be required to _organize_ our _accounts_, take an inventory of all materials and supplies sent up for the use of the company, keep a record of their use, and be able to account for them; open an account with each mine, and enable us to know that all the expenditures of each are proper, keeping a sort of financial supervision over their operations; corresponding with us, and keeping us advised of everything which is going on.

"Col. Foster informs me that he instructed Ray and Foote to send here a report each week of their doings.

"=> Consult with Mr. Wetmore and give me your views as to

"(1) What is necessary for the sale of ore and the management of transportation at Cleveland or elsewhere; study the organization of the other companies; see whether it is best, etc.

"(2) What will be necessary at Escanaba.

"(3) Whether anything further will be necessary at the mines.

"5. It will be quite necessary for us to have the branch to the Cliff mines and the extension to the Cleveland done, and all the road in good running order.

"6. It is very desirable that we have this winter the benefit of a telegraphic communication with the Cliff mines.

"It is equally necessary for the Peninsular railroad. And for that--but _especially for the Northwestern_--a winter road from Escanaba to Green Bay is important.

"7. For the Iron Cliff mines see that all necessary supplies are provided; see Ray and Foote on this subject, and have them closely interrogated that nothing may be overlooked; Mr. Merry would aid with all his experience in making provisions for winter work, and Mr. Wetmore will also have much information on this subject.

"8. In respect to any question requiring experience in working mines, Mr. Merry was good enough to say he would aid Mr. Ray (who is his brother-in-law) and us generally. You can have recourse to him, if necessary.

"9. It is thought that at the Ogden mine (Foote) accommodations ought to be made for at least 50 men; and at the Tilden mine for 100 men.

"This is for immediate operations, looking, of course, to enlargement as fast as possible.

"10. I intended to write to you on the subject of furnaces, but must defer that subject to a future occasion.

"=> Please advise me of the condition of the Peninsular R. R., and give me what information you can as to the mines, dock, branches, etc.

"One of the most serious inconveniences attending the construction of the Peninsular--all through--has been the want of regular information here.

"Truly Yours, "S. J. TILDEN."

"_S. C. Baldwin, Esq._"

Charles P. Daly commenced his public career as a member of the New York State Assembly soon after his admission to the bar. From the Assembly he was appointed judge of the Court of Common Pleas, which position he continued to hold by re-election until he was retired by age. Meantime he had been prominent in founding the New York Geographical Society, of which he was the first and only president until his death.

TILDEN TO CHARLES P. DALY, CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE ON INVITATIONS TO THE MEETING, TO BE HELD IN UNION SQUARE, TO CELEBRATE RECENT NATIONAL VICTORIES, ON MARCH 4, 1865

"2 UNION PLACE, _March 3rd, 1865_.

"GENTLEMEN,--Your letter, inviting me to 'address the great meeting, to be held at Union Square to-morrow, to celebrate the recent national victories,' reaches me while I am confined by illness, and expect to be, at the time of the meeting, totally disabled from speaking. I shall, however, none the less, join in rendering the most grateful homage to the achievements of our gallant soldiers and sailors and their skilful commanders, and the most cordial appreciation of the value of these achievements towards preserving the unity of our Federal Republic, and the nationality of the great people which has been formed under the shelter of its rightful and beneficent sway.

"These sentiments have never been weakened, even when it has sometimes seemed to me that this great object of our efforts and sacrifices was imperilled, and those efforts and sacrifices made more costly, if not fruitless, by errors of civil policy or of military or financial administration. Nor, amid such errors, and all errors tolerated during the 'throes and convulsions' of civil war, by the people, who were in so unaccustomed a situation, and were intensely occupied by the great struggle in which they were involved, have I ever lost faith that, when the struggle should be once successfully over, they would completely re-establish the great traditions of constitutional government, founded on local self-control and on individual liberty and personal rights.

"Let me add that, in the present posture of our public affairs, it is better to look forward than to look behind--to think of battles to be fought rather than of victories already won, and in preparing that wise and liberal statesmanship by which alone a complete pacification of the country is to be attained, to remember that '_peace hath its victories, not less renowned than war_.'

"To co-operate, candidly and cordially, with the existing public agents in all measures for bringing the war to a successful close, and to remove the evils it will have engendered in our civil and social systems seems to me as plain a duty as it is at every election to promote the choice of such public agents as will, in our judgment, best attain these ends.

"With much respect, I remain,

"Truly yours, "S. J. TILDEN."

PETER W. COOPER AND OTHERS TO TILDEN

"EIGHTEENTH WARD, "NEW YORK, _April 3rd, 1865_.

"DEAR SIR,--We appeal to your generous kindness and well-known liberality in all public concerns to aid us in the effort to avoid the necessity of having the draft enforced in this ward.

"A number of citizens have contributed to a fund for this purpose, and we venture to hope that you will not withhold your assistance to save a number of good and useful citizens from being taken from their families.

"Please enclose your contribution to either of the undersigned.

"PET. W. COOPER, "JAMES KELLY, "CHARLES P. KIRKLAND."

SAMUEL L. M. BARLOW TO TILDEN

"NEW YORK, _Aug. 31, 1865_.

"MY DEAR SIR,--My friend, Mr. Houston, of Ky., has returned from Washington. I am more satisfied than ever before of the position of the President, but I think you should at once go to Washington and have an interview with him. I enclose Mr. Houston's card, which will insure an early meeting after your arrival.

"I am entirely in favor of a hearty and earnest support of the Prest. by our convention, and I hope the _tone_ of the resolutions to be passed will be more moderate than in New Jersey, or Pa. or Ohio. On one subject only is it necessary to be entirely free from ambiguity--I mean on the question of the civil rights of the people, North and South, and their right to know that the first fruits of peace, to wit., freedom from the military power, are fully assured. "I will see you on your return.

"Yours truly, SAMUEL L. M. BARLOW."

"_S. J. Tilden Esq._

"On one other question I think our convention should act explicitly. I refer to the pledge of the public faith of the govt. to its creditors, towards whom the highest order of national honor is pledged.

"S. L. M. B."

F. P. BLAIR TO TILDEN

"WASH., _19 Oct., 1865_.

"MY DEAR TILDEN,--I have a letter from Frank, written at Cincinnati previously to his speech in St. Louis, in which he refers to you and myself to judge of _the circumstances_, the _when_ and the _how_, he shall do what it seems he has declared to the country publicly he is ready to do, if necessary, to advance the cause of the party which nominated him to the Vice-Presidency. If, therefore, any change is to be made in the persons to represent our cause in the Novr. elections, please telegraph and I will come instantly to meet you.

"So much as concerns Frank's position.

"Now let me say a word about the intrigue which produces our difficulties.

"Seward and Chase, who never were identified with the Democracy, have entered into a coalition to control its destiny. They were 'unco-thick and thrang thegither' last winter, and Seward disclosed to an ardent Democrat the other night the cause for which they combined. Seward approached a brother-in-law of Voorhees and made an eloquent appeal to him to convince a company brought together for the purpose that it was necessary that Chase should supplant Seymour, and, of course, that the nominations of our convention should be surrendered. Now it is clear that the Chief Justice and the Secretary of State have undertaken to dispose of our party. Neither ever had its endorsement for any station. Why should they be allowed to dispose of the highest without having consulted the people?

"If we are to change _front_, why not take McClellan and Pendleton, who have been endorsed by national convention and the party at the polls? Why not Hancock and Hendricks, who had high votes in our late convention? Why not McClellan and Hendricks? Or Hancock and Adams? We might bring Indiana and Penna., or Indiana and Ohio by their most famous Democratic sons to increase the vote of the last election in these States. I think these or many other combinations might be made to strengthen our ticket.

"In my opinion the copulation of Seward and Chase would bring not only defeat, but eternal disgrace on the Democracy.

"This, however, all for yourself. What I have to say further about the second to Mr. Seymour will be in person and in consonance with your joint wishes.

"Your af. friend, "F. P. BLAIR."

GENL. DANIEL BUTTERFIELD TO S. J. TILDEN AND OTHERS TESTIMONIAL TO GENERAL ULYSSES S. GRANT

"NEW YORK, _Feb. 19th, 1866_.

"DEAR SIR,--I have the pleasure to enclose you (_facsimile_) copy of Lt.-Genl. Grant's acknowledgment of the testimonial to which you were a contributor; also a list of the subscriptions and copy of the correspondence.

"In furnishing this information to contributors I am requested to ask that no copy of these documents may be allowed to be printed, as many subscriptions were made with that understanding. Please consider this my receipt for your subscription.

"I am, very resp'y, "Yours, &c., "DANL. BUTTERFIELD."

"Please acknowledge."

* * * * *

"NEW YORK, _Feb. 15th, 1866_.

"LT.-GENL U. S. GRANT, &c., &c., &c.

"GENERAL,--In accordance with the request of many citizens of New York, whose names are herewith transmitted, I have the honor to ask your acceptance of the enclosed testimonial of their appreciation of your services.

"I am, very resp'y, "Your obt. servt., "DANL. BUTTERFIELD."

"Enclosed find:

"Mortgage and interest $30,437.50 55,000 7.30s U. S. 1st series $54,725.00 Cash $19,837.50 ----------- "$105,000.00"

TESTIMONIAL TO LIEUT.-GENL. U. S. GRANT

LIST OF SUBSCRIPTIONS