himself, states, without
qualification, that "Barney was appointed through the influence of
Secretary Chase."[735] This may, in part, account for Weed's and
Seward's bitter hostility to the Ohioan's becoming a member of the
Cabinet; for, if Chase, before his appointment as secretary of the
treasury, had sufficient influence to control the principal federal
office in New York, what, might they not have asked, would be the
measure of this influence after the development of his great ability
as a financier has made him necessary to the President as well as to
the country?

[Footnote 733: Nicolay and Hay, _Abraham Lincoln_, Vol. 2, p. 217.]

[Footnote 734: New York _Herald_, March 14, 1861.]

[Footnote 735: Thurlow Weed Barnes, _Life of Thurlow Weed_, Vol. 2, p.
613.]

Inquiry, however, as to the one first suggesting Barney's name to
Lincoln does not lead to the open. Chase's entrance into the Cabinet
being settled, his influence firmly sustained Barney, but, before
that, very early after the election, between November 7 and Weed's
visit to Springfield on December 17, some one spoke the word in
Barney's behalf which left such a deep and lasting impression upon the
President's mind that he determined to advise Weed, before Seward
could accept the state portfolio, of his intention to appoint Barney
collector of the port of New York. The name of the person exerting
such an influence, however, is now unknown. During this period Chase
neither saw the President-elect, nor, so far as the records show,
wrote him more than a formal note of congratulations. Another possible
avenue of communication may have been Bryant or Greeley, but the
latter distinctly denied that he asked, or wanted, or manipulated the
appointment of any one.[736] Bryant, who had great influence with
Lincoln,[737] and who strongly opposed Seward's going into the
Cabinet,[738] had presided at the Cooper Institute meeting and sat
beside Hiram Barney. He knew that such a man, placed at the head of
the custom-house and wielding its vast patronage, could be a potent
factor in breaking Weed's control, but the editor's only published
letter to Lincoln during this period was confined to reasons for
making Chase secretary of state. In it he did not deprecate the
strengthening of the Weed machine which would probably ignore the
original New York supporters of Lincoln, or in any wise refer to local
matters. Bryant had been partial to Chase for President until after
L