Page 163
To Edwin M. Stanton1Jump to section
Hon. Sec. of War--- March 15, 1862.
My dear Sir It is represented to me that Messrs. Hedden & Hoey had a contract with the government, closed on the 26th. of October last, to deliver fifty thousand arms by the 15th. of the then next January---that within the time they delivered twenty-eight thousand which were accepted and paid for---that, not on time, but ten days after time, they were ready, and offered to deliver the remaining twenty two thousand, which were refused simply on the question of time.
If this statement be true, and these men acted in good faith, I think they should not be ruined by the transaction, but that the guns should be accepted & paid for. Of course I understand the principle of strict law, would not oblige the govt. to take them, even if it were an individual. Yours truly A. LINCOLN
Annotation
[1] ADfS, DLC-RTL. Josiah Hedden and John Hoey were contractors in New York City. See Lincoln's letter to Stanton, March 19, infra.