Letter from Schuyler Colfax (South Bend, Ind.) to Joseph Medill, 1862-11-12

File — Box: 5A, Folder: C8

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The Eleanor Medill (Cissy) Patterson Papers consist chiefly of Medill, McCormick and Patterson family correspondence, Joseph Medill business and political letters, Chicago Tribune historical material, and a collection of letters of Joseph Medill and others to and from important people. The papers cover the years 1846-1910, approximately, with most of the material falling in the 1850-1899 period. The name of the collection reflects its provenance, not its contents. There is much information about Mrs. Patterson in letters written by her parents, grandparents, and others, but only a few childhood letters written by her.

Dates

1862-11-12

Creator

From the Collection: Patterson, Eleanor Medill, 1881-1948 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on use of the materials in the department for research; all patrons must comply with federal copyright regulations.

Extent

From the Collection: 17 Boxes

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

General

Text includes the following: "[Seward] has been "squat at the ear" of the President, determined to be President de facto. You know how often I have dropped in on Old Abe Sunday & evenings for a talk about his business (sometimes to read him your letters). Nine times out of ten Seward would be there, or come in before I left. ... Seward is to day the most unpopular man in America & ought to be out. ... Amongst the public, the radicals dislike him for his backing out of his old anti-slavery views. The Conservatives do not trust him. The War Dems. [Democrats] are down on him ... The Cabinet should be recast as to their form. ... I at first thought I would decline a place [in the Cabinet] if tendered ... If it comes, it will have to be voluntary."