"NEW YORK, _Nov. 17, 1864_.
"MY DEAR SIR,--There are so many topics about which I desire to write
you that I must touch them rapidly.
"1. You and Wetmore are elected directors of the Iron Cliff. You will
be entitled to the information, advice, and aid which Wetmore shall be
able to give.
"You must represent the company and act in all cases where it is
necessary.
"2. _Information._ We need direct and frequent communications with the
Cliff Co.
"Mr. Curtis will have more time than the rest, and his occupations will
be more regular. He should write _twice a week_, giving information as
to all matters concerning the operations of the co., the no. of men,
the preparations to accommodate them, the work going on, etc.
"From you I should like to hear as often as you are able.
"Communications should be addressed S. J. Tilden, 12 Wall St., New York
City.
"3. Col. Foster left Mr. Ray in charge of the Tilden and Foster mines;
Mr. Foote in charge of the Ogden; Mr. Curtis managing the accounts
and finances, and Mr. Whitehead conducting explorations; and these
gentlemen, all in the main, independent of each other.
"I shall be surprised if disorganization does not develop the want of a
_head_ to enforce accountability and to govern and direct.
"For the time being you must assume and exercise whatever powers seem
to be necessary in order to keep harmony between all these different
authorities, and to see that all are working well.
"=> Whether we shall need a _mining_ head, independently of these
gentlemen, is a question upon which, after you have studied them, and
the working of the business, I should like your opinion. It may be that
a general business head will be all that will be required, and that Mr.
Ray and Mr. Foote will get along well in their respective departments.
Or it may be that some man like Mr. Merry or Mr. Ferguson will be
required.
"Between us, Mr. Merry told me, just before I left, that he wished me
to bear in mind that he expected to be with us next year. Mr. Stewart,
of the Jackson Co., rather complained to Col. Foster that Mr. Ogden had
interfered with them in respect to Merry.
"I mention the state of things that you may be advised of the actual
state of the case, and may be considering what information and advice
you can give me.
"As to Mr. Curtis--he was engaged by Col. Foster as a sort of cashier
when the former was about leaving without our having much knowledge
or experience in respect to him. I have been to see Mr. Booth, who
recommended him, and get the best accounts as to his trustworthiness.
"Whether we can hereafter enlarge his functions will depend upon how
his capacities shall develop in the experience of our business.
"In the mean time he should be required to _organize_ our _accounts_,
take an inventory of all materials and supplies sent up for the use
of the company, keep a record of their use, and be able to account
for them; open an account with each mine, and enable us to know that
all the expenditures of each are proper, keeping a sort of financial
supervision over their operations; corresponding with us, and keeping
us advised of everything which is going on.
"Col. Foster informs me that he instructed Ray and Foote to send here a
report each week of their doings.
"=> Consult with Mr. Wetmore and give me your views as to
"(1) What is necessary for the sale of ore and the management of
transportation at Cleveland or elsewhere; study the organization of the
other companies; see whether it is best, etc.
"(2) What will be necessary at Escanaba.
"(3) Whether anything further will be necessary at the mines.
"5. It will be quite necessary for us to have the branch to the Cliff
mines and the extension to the Cleveland done, and all the road in good
running order.
"6. It is very desirable that we have this winter the benefit of a
telegraphic communication with the Cliff mines.
"It is equally necessary for the Peninsular railroad. And for that--but
_especially for the Northwestern_--a winter road from Escanaba to Green
Bay is important.
"7. For the Iron Cliff mines see that all necessary supplies are
provided; see Ray and Foote on this subject, and have them closely
interrogated that nothing may be overlooked; Mr. Merry would aid with
all his experience in making provisions for winter work, and Mr.
Wetmore will also have much information on this subject.
"8. In respect to any question requiring experience in working mines,
Mr. Merry was good enough to say he would aid Mr. Ray (who is his
brother-in-law) and us generally. You can have recourse to him, if
necessary.
"9. It is thought that at the Ogden mine (Foote) accommodations ought
to be made for at least 50 men; and at the Tilden mine for 100 men.
"This is for immediate operations, looking, of course, to enlargement
as fast as possible.
"10. I intended to write to you on the subject of furnaces, but must
defer that subject to a future occasion.
"=> Please advise me of the condition of the Peninsular R. R., and give
me what information you can as to the mines, dock, branches, etc.
"One of the most serious inconveniences attending the construction of
the Peninsular--all through--has been the want of regular information
here.
"Truly Yours,
"S. J. TILDEN."
"_S. C. Baldwin, Esq._"
Charles P. Daly commenced his public career as a member of the New York
State Assembly soon after his admission to the bar. From the Assembly
he was appointed judge of the Court of Common Pleas, which position he
continued to hold by re-election until he was retired by age. Meantime
he had been prominent in founding the New York Geographical Society, of
which he was the first and only president until his death.
TILDEN TO CHARLES P. DALY, CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE ON INVITATIONS TO
THE MEETING, TO BE HELD IN UNION SQUARE, TO CELEBRATE RECENT NATIONAL
VICTORIES, ON MARCH 4, 1865
"2 UNION PLACE, _March 3rd, 1865_.
"GENTLEMEN,--Your letter, inviting me to 'address the great meeting,
to be held at Union Square to-morrow, to celebrate the recent national
victories,' reaches me while I am confined by illness, and expect to
be, at the time of the meeting, totally disabled from speaking. I
shall, however, none the less, join in rendering the most grateful
homage to the achievements of our gallant soldiers and sailors and
their skilful commanders, and the most cordial appreciation of the
value of these achievements towards preserving the unity of our Federal
Republic, and the nationality of the great people which has been formed
under the shelter of its rightful and beneficent sway.
"These sentiments have never been weakened, even when it has sometimes
seemed to me that this great object of our efforts and sacrifices was
imperilled, and those efforts and sacrifices made more costly, if
not fruitless, by errors of civil policy or of military or financial
administration. Nor, amid such errors, and all errors tolerated during
the 'throes and convulsions' of civil war, by the people, who were in
so unaccustomed a situation, and were intensely occupied by the great
struggle in which they were involved, have I ever lost faith that, when
the struggle should be once successfully over, they would completely
re-establish the great traditions of constitutional government, founded
on local self-control and on individual liberty and personal rights.
"Let me add that, in the present posture of our public affairs, it is
better to look forward than to look behind--to think of battles to be
fought rather than of victories already won, and in preparing that wise
and liberal statesmanship by which alone a complete pacification of the
country is to be attained, to remember that '_peace hath its victories,
not less renowned than war_.'
"To co-operate, candidly and cordially, with the existing public
agents in all measures for bringing the war to a successful close, and
to remove the evils it will have engendered in our civil and social
systems seems to me as plain a duty as it is at every election to
promote the choice of such public agents as will, in our judgment, best
attain these ends.
"With much respect, I remain,
"Truly yours,
"S. J. TILDEN."