To Salmon P. Chase1Jump to section
I have signed and herewith return the tax commissions for Connecticut, except two, in which I substituted Henry Hammond for Rufus S. Matherson [sic], and David F. Hollister for Frederick S. Wildman. Yours truly, A. LINCOLN.
Annotation
[1] ALS- RPB NH, VIII, 9. Concerning the Connecticut appointments Chase wrote on August 7, 1862, ``In the Third District, Ezra Dean is recommended by the Governor . . . Henry Hammond by Messrs. Foster and Dixon, and Rufus L. Matherson [sic] by Mr. Burnham, the Representative from the District. . . . After conferring with Secretary Welles and Governor Buckingham, I am satisfied that the Representative . . . should prevail, and . . . advise the appointment of Mr. Matherson [sic].
``In the Fourth District, Frederick S. Wildman is recommended by the Governor . . . for collector; the same gentleman is recommended for Assessor by Senators Dixon and Foster; while David F. Hollister is recommended for Collector. . . . I . . . advise the appointment of . . . Wildman. . . .'' (DLC-RTL). On August 11, James Dixon telegraphed, ``If Hammond & Hollister are not appointed my humiliation & disgrace will be complete.'' (Ibid.). See further Lincoln to Dixon, August 15 and 21, infra.