Despite Chase's political enmity to him, President Lincoln said of
Salmon Portland Chase: "I consider him one of the best, ablest, and
most reliable men in the country." But he had to "let him slide" off
upon the Supreme Court bench to have "knee-room" at the council-table.
He explained: "He wants to be President, and, if he does not give that
up, it will be a great injury to him and a great injury to me. He can
never be President."--(Ex-Secretary Boutwell, the authority.)
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