f his
admirers have probably gone too far in claiming him as a sturdy supporter
of the old school who would despise the reforming idea. Letters of his
much earlier betray his doubts as to the old system, and he was exactly
the man who in quieter times could have improved matters with the least
possible fuss. However that may be, all the tiresome circumstances of
Chase's differences with him are well known, and in these instances
Lincoln was clearly in the right, and Chase quarrelled only because he
could not force upon him appointments that would have created fury. Once
Chase was overruled and wrote his resignation. Lincoln went to him with
the resignation in his hand, treated him with simple affection for a man
whom he still liked, and made him take it back. Later on Chase got his
own way on the whole, but was angry and sent another resignation. Some
one heard of it and came to Lincoln to say that the loss of Chase would
cause a financial panic. Lincoln's answer was to this effect: "Chase
thinks he has become indispensable to the country; that his intimate
friends know it, and he cannot comprehend why the country does not
understand it. He also thinks he ought to be President; has no doubt
whatever about that. It is inconceivable to him why people do not rise
as one man and say so. He is a great statesman, and at the bottom a
patriot. Ordinarily he discharges the duties of a public office with
greater ability than any man I know. Mind, I say 'ordinarily,' but he
has become irritable, uncomfortable, so that he is never perfectly happy
unless he is thoroughly miserable and able to make everybody else just as
uncomfortable as he is himself. He is either determined to annoy me, or
that I shall pat him on the shoulder and coax him to stay. I don't think
I ought to do it. I will not do it. I will take him at his word." So
he did. This was at the end of June, 1864, when Lincoln's apprehensions
about his own re-election were keen, and the resignation of Chase, along
with the retention of Blair, seemed likely to provoke anger which was
very dangerous to himself. An excellent successor to the indispensable
man was soon found. Chase found more satisfaction than ever in insidious
opposition to Lincoln. Lincoln's opportunity of requiting him was not
yet.

The question of the Presidency loomed large from the beginning of the
year to the election in November. At first, while the affairs of war
seemed to be in go