Annotation
[1] Warden, Life of Chase, p. 508. Chase's lengthy reply of the same date is as follows:
``I intended going to Philadelphia this afternoon, but shall, of course, observe your `direction' not to leave town
``Will you allow me to say that something you said or looked, when I handed you my resignation this morning, made on my mind the impression that, having received the resignations both of Gov. Seward and myself, you felt you could relieve yourself from trouble by declining to accept either and that the feeling was one of gratification.
``Let me assure you few things could give me so much satisfaction as to promote in any way your comfort, especially if I might promote at the same time the success of your administration, and the good of the country which is so near your heart.
``But I am very far from desiring you to decline accepting my resignation---very far from thinking, indeed, that its non-acceptance and my continuance in the Treasury Department will be most for your comfort or further benefit of the country.
``On the contrary I could not if I would conceal from myself that recent events have too rudely jostled the unity of your cabinet and disclosed an opinion too deeply seated and too generally received in Congress & the Country to be safely disregarded that the concord in judgment and action essential to successful administration does not prevail among its members.
``By some the embarrassment of administration is attributed to me; by others to Mr. Seward; by others, still to other Heads of Departments. Now neither Mr Seward nor myself is essential to you or to the Country; we both earnestly wish to be relieved from the oppressive charge of our respective Departments; and we both have placed our resignations in your hands.
``A resignation is a grave act; never performed by a right minded man without forethought or with reserve. I tendered mine from a sense of duty to the country, to you, and to myself---and I tendered it to be accepted. So did, as you have been fully assured, Mr. Seward tender his.
``I trust therefore that you will regard yourself as completely relieved from all personal considerations. It is my honest judgment that we can both better serve you and the country at this time, as private citizens, than in your cabinet. . . .'' (DLC-RTL).