TILDEN TO HUGH MCCULLOCH
"Confidential.
"New York, Sep. 17, 1866.
"Hon. Hugh McCulloch,
"Secretary of the Treasury,
"Washington, D. C.
"My dear Sir,—There is a rumor here that some changes in the Federal appointments for this city are being projected. My object in writing you this morning, in too much haste to allow of any discussion, is to say that before anything of this character is done those who represent the mass of President Johnson's supporters in this State, in an authentic and authoritative form, wish an opportunity of submitting their views to him.
"It is important, in the last degree, that in any changes which are made in the great appointments here, and, indeed, in any of them, the influence which these offices are capable of exercising should be held and exerted as a sacred trust for the success of the administration and the policy of President Johnson.
"To give them away as mere personal benefactions—to allow them to become the mere aids to ambition or interest of a selfish individual or clique, to be disposed of by him or it as mere patronage or for pecuniary gain—would be suicide on the part of the President and a betrayal of his supporters and his cause.
"In the course of a week or ten days I shall have the pleasure to see you and to discuss these matters.
"In the mean time, please do me the favor to communicate to the President the request contained in this note, and let it remain strictly confidential between you and him.
"You will notice that the Times of this morning staggers a little. The real difficulty is that it is losing subscribers.
"Up to the time of Mr. Richmond's death the arrangement for the State nominations was that the Democrats should take the Governor and the Republicans the Lieut. Governor. The only chance that Dix had was in a movement which was originated by me. It was contingent on events which could not be controlled, and on the failure of which it was only to be persisted in under circumstances which could not be prudently defied. But enough till I see you. Let us be firm and courageous and go forward.
"Truly Yours,
"S. J. Tilden."