"SPRING HOUSE, RICHFIELD SPRINGS, N. Y., _July 11, 1876_.
"MY DEAR SIR,--Your kind expressions of me when at your
house yesterday have induced me to make a suggestion to you in
_confidence_.
"If uncommitted on the question, and if you could do no better (of
course) as Secretary of the Treasury, I venture to submit that in
that important [post] I might be able to command confidence to a
large extent where I am known.
"With your views as expressed, one word from _you_ at St. Louis
would have given me the nomination for the 'second place.' I suppose
the place above mentioned is of more importance to the public in
a 'reform' point of view than the second place. These things,
Govr., are only for your consideration, with neither claims nor
representations on my part, only asking that if not approved they
will not further be thought of.
"When I left St. L., Gen. Preston, of Ky., and other influential
friends from other States requested permission to use my name for
the V.-P. shd. Govr. H. on any account decline, etc.
In much haste,
"Your frd. & obt. St.,
"C. H. MCCORMICK."