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Sale 61
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Lot 391
Chase, Salmon P (1808-1873) As Secretary of the Treasury under Lincoln, he directed the nation's finances during the Civil War and originated the national banking system. His disagreements with the administration led him to proffer his resignation several times before Lindoln finally accepted it in 1864. Lincoln later appointed him as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court; his portrait is on the $10,000 bill. Autograph Letter Signed "S.P. Chase," one page, 7¾ x 6¼ in., Washington, Jan. 6, 1853. To an unidentified correspondent, with excellent political content. Scattered foxing; one tape repair is visible at top edge. Matted with an engraving of Chase by Ritchie and framed to an overall size of 16½ x 21 in.; frame has a few scratches and dings.
In part: "…What hinders the liberal Whigs from making common cause with the Independent Democrats? Why not form one party with the Independent Democracy vs Baltimore Democracy. True, some fogy Whigs will join the Baltimore Democrats. Let them go. Their places will be more than made good by slavery-hating Democrats….I want a real Democracy - but it must be a Democracy & bear the name, or be beaten. The people will prefer the name of Democracy without the substance - to the substance even without the name. Thanks for publishing my letter to Edgerton. He was too strong meat I see for the Republicans…."
Chase was active in the Free Soil movement of 1848, helping to draft the platform which declared "no more slave states and no more slave territory" and was was elected to the U.S. Senate on the Free Soil party ticket. He opposed the Compromise of 1850 and introduced an amendment to Douglas's Kansas-Nebraska bill affirming the right of the people of a territory to prohibit slavery if they wished; it was rejected. Sidney Edgerton, to whom Chase refers in this letter, was a delegate to the 1848 convention that formed the Free Soil party.
Chase's suggestion that the liberal Whigs make common cause with the Independent Democrats presages the establishment of the Republican party, which would combine Northern Whigs, Free Soilers, members of the Know-Nothing movement, and Northern Democrats who deserted the party over the slavery issue. In January 1854, Chase co-authored with Ohio congressman Joshua Giddings "The Appeal of the Independent Democrats in Congress to the People of the United States," which was published in the New York Times and is often regarded as the earliest draft of the Republican party creed.
Estimated Value $2,000 - 3,000.
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