Details
LINCOLN, ABRAHAM President. Letter signed ("A. Lincoln") as President, TO A PARTY OF EMINENT NEW-YORKERS including Robert B. Roosevelt, John J. Astor, Jr. and Nathaniel Sands, note in Lincoln's hand at top: "Private, except to Gen[eral] Dix," Washington, D.C., 9 November 1863. 1 page, 4to, on lined Executive Mansion stationery, paper lightly browned, two-inch loss in left-hand margin, clean tear at bottom (neither affecting text), Lincoln's letter neatly attached to another page which bears a clerk's transcription of the petition, with signatures, dated 7 November, to which Lincoln responds.
IN THE WAKE OF THE DRAFT RIOTS, LINCOLN DECLINES TO ENDORSE GENERAL DIX FOR MAYOR OF NEW YORK: "IT IS BEYOND MY PROVINCE TO INTERFERE WITH NEW YORK POLITICS"
A letter with very interesting political undercurrents. The right-hand portion of the document is a transcript of the petition from 21 of New York's wealthiest and most influential citizens, including John J. Astor, Jr., William B. Astor [chairman], M. Delano and Peter Cooper, who explain that the Mayoral nomination had been offered to Dix, a Democrat, and "finding some hesitation on his part arising from his official position," request President Lincoln "to request Gen[eral] Dix to accept the nomination." Lincoln, knowing the importance of a strong military official in New York, was no doubt reluctant to sacrifice Dix's military effectiveness in the troubled city. At the same time he was politically savvy enough to understand the risks of becoming embroiled in local politics. His reponse is a model of careful diplomacy, leaving the decision up to Dix, whom he praises.
Lincoln writes: "Upon the subject of your letter I have to say that it is beyond my province to interfere with New York City politics; that I am very grateful to Gen[eral] Dix for the zealous and able military and quasi civil support he has given the government during the war; and that if the people of New York should tender him the mayoralty and he accept it, nothing on that subject could be more satisfactory to me. In this I must not be understood as saying aught against any one or as attempting in the least d[egree] of dictation in the matter. To state it in another way, if Gen[eral] Dix's present relation to the general government lays any restraint upon him in this matter, I wish to remove that restraint..." (Basler, VII:5, with text of Dix's reply of 10 November stating "I am only anxious to be where you think I can be most useful to the country...").
John Adams Dix (1798-1879) had long been a political figure of stature in New York, serving as Senator from 1845 to 1850. Appointed Brigadier General of Volunteers in May 1861, he held several Departmental commands and following the very destructive New York Draft Riots of July 1863, Dix took up the appointment of Commander of the East and undertook the difficult task of controlling Copperhead elements and suppressing Confederate spies and saboteurs. He enjoyed great popularity with New Yorkers, but in the end decided not to accept the nomination for Mayor. President Johnson, as a reward for Dix's loyalty, appointed him Minister to France in 1866, and he remained in this capacity until 1869. In 1872, although Dix was a Democrat, New York Republicans nominated him for Governor, and he defeated incumbent Horace Greeley by a margin of 53,000 votes.
IN THE WAKE OF THE DRAFT RIOTS, LINCOLN DECLINES TO ENDORSE GENERAL DIX FOR MAYOR OF NEW YORK: "IT IS BEYOND MY PROVINCE TO INTERFERE WITH NEW YORK POLITICS"
A letter with very interesting political undercurrents. The right-hand portion of the document is a transcript of the petition from 21 of New York's wealthiest and most influential citizens, including John J. Astor, Jr., William B. Astor [chairman], M. Delano and Peter Cooper, who explain that the Mayoral nomination had been offered to Dix, a Democrat, and "finding some hesitation on his part arising from his official position," request President Lincoln "to request Gen[eral] Dix to accept the nomination." Lincoln, knowing the importance of a strong military official in New York, was no doubt reluctant to sacrifice Dix's military effectiveness in the troubled city. At the same time he was politically savvy enough to understand the risks of becoming embroiled in local politics. His reponse is a model of careful diplomacy, leaving the decision up to Dix, whom he praises.
Lincoln writes: "Upon the subject of your letter I have to say that it is beyond my province to interfere with New York City politics; that I am very grateful to Gen[eral] Dix for the zealous and able military and quasi civil support he has given the government during the war; and that if the people of New York should tender him the mayoralty and he accept it, nothing on that subject could be more satisfactory to me. In this I must not be understood as saying aught against any one or as attempting in the least d[egree] of dictation in the matter. To state it in another way, if Gen[eral] Dix's present relation to the general government lays any restraint upon him in this matter, I wish to remove that restraint..." (Basler, VII:5, with text of Dix's reply of 10 November stating "I am only anxious to be where you think I can be most useful to the country...").
John Adams Dix (1798-1879) had long been a political figure of stature in New York, serving as Senator from 1845 to 1850. Appointed Brigadier General of Volunteers in May 1861, he held several Departmental commands and following the very destructive New York Draft Riots of July 1863, Dix took up the appointment of Commander of the East and undertook the difficult task of controlling Copperhead elements and suppressing Confederate spies and saboteurs. He enjoyed great popularity with New Yorkers, but in the end decided not to accept the nomination for Mayor. President Johnson, as a reward for Dix's loyalty, appointed him Minister to France in 1866, and he remained in this capacity until 1869. In 1872, although Dix was a Democrat, New York Republicans nominated him for Governor, and he defeated incumbent Horace Greeley by a margin of 53,000 votes.