McCulloch, Hugh (1808-1895) to John Murray Forbes
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02727 Author/Creator: McCulloch, Hugh (1808-1895) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Letter signed Date: 3 May 1866 Pagination: 2 p. ; 25 x 19.7 cm. Order a Copy
McCulloch, writing as Secretary of the Treasury, discusses opinions on currency and a bill for "equalizing bounties." He also mentions Forbes's complaint of injustice on the part of "Mr. Seward" (possible William Henry Seward) regarding the steamship Meteor court case. (The case involved America's neutrality policy.)
Hugh McCulloch served as Secretary of the Treasury under Lincoln, Johnson and Arthur (1865-1869, 1884-1885). John Murray Forbes, was a railroad magnate and ardent abolitionist who had served as counsel to Lincoln's cabinet.
Excerpt:
"…Mr. Ropes is a very intelligent gentleman, and in my judgment both Sound and practical upon the Subject of the currency … Mr. Bradford's predictions have not been verified, and I trust they will not be. I hardly know how he can reconcile with his predictions the steady decline of gold with an increasing paper circulation…Mr. Wells does not pretend to have pointed out all the objections to the bill for equalizing bounties… It has, however, done great good, and is not unlikely to prevent appropriations which would have been made without it…There is no merit whatever in the bill referred to. If anybody has any claims which the Government ought to recognize in the present condition of the Treasury it is the orphans and widows of our gallant Soldiers who are now destitute of the means of support, or the Soldiers themselves who have been maimed by the war. I have never paid any attention of this 'Meteor case,' and am sorry to learn that you think you have reason to complain of injustice or oppression on the part of Mr. Seward…."
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