"_Private._
"NEW YORK, _Wednesday_.
"MY DEAR TILDEN,--I understand that you are to be consulted this evg.
as to the propriety of assuming control of the Pres't and his adm'n
from this time forward on his promise to surrender everything to the
Democrats. This plan assumes that Church and yourself will enter
heartily into this movement, and that one of you will go into the
Cabinet.
"Whoever does so will, in my judgment, run a very serious risk of
damaging his own record; the adoption of the plan will hasten rather
than retard impeachment; it is not unlikely that the finances may be
deranged, which will be chargeable to us, and with Johnson's sins of
omission and commission on our backs, we stand a fair chance of defeat,
when otherwise we might win in the coming Presidential fight. I see
nothing to be gained except a few places, very few, too, with Congress
against us, for a few men who want position. I hope, if you agree with
me, you will not countenance the plan in any form.
"Y'rs,
S. L. M. BARLOW."
"_S. J. Tilden, Esq._"