JOHN A. DIX TO TILDEN
"Headquarters of the Army Corps,
"Fort Monroe, Va., 7 Sept., 1862.
"My dear Sir,—Your letter by some mischance got among those intended to go by flag of truce to Richmond, and I only received it the day before yesterday. Yesterday I wrote to Judge Pierrepont, saying that I cannot relinquish my position in the field. There is only one condition (and that an impossible one)—a call from the people of New York on me to be their Chief Magistrate for the purpose of carrying, if possible, greater vigor into the conduct of the war. I say this is impossible, because I see clearly that the Republicans will not relax their hold on anything they possess, and that the Democrats are taking the field under their old and everlasting office-seekers. I see no good to the country from such a contest, and I cannot go into it.
"Sincerely yours,
"John A. Dix."
"Saml. J. Tilden, Esq.
"Consider this confidential."
HORATIO SEYMOUR (RECENTLY ELECTED GOVERNOR) TO TILDEN
"Utica, Nov. 10, 1862.
"My dear Sir,—I have a very high opinion of young Mr. Ketcham. I have made partial arrangements about my secretary, but I hope it will be in my power to serve him in some other way. I wish you would so advise him.
"Now that you and others have got me into this scrape, I wish you would tell me what to do. Give me your suggestions. I shall need all the help my friends can furnish. It looks to-day as if the administration intended to push forward without regard to public opinion. If they do, the financial rope will hang them up.
"In haste,
"Truly yours, &c.,
"Horatio Seymour."
"Hon. S. J. Tilden."