GDG- Seward vs Chase - Round one

[Dennis Lawrence]

Saturday, March 2, 1861.

Deputation headed by Simeon Draper, New York merchant and friend of Sen. 
Seward (N.Y.), protests appointment of Sen.-elect Chase (Ohio) to cabinet. 
Lincoln proposes alternate slate without Seward's name. Delegation retires 
nonplussed.
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Seward writes Lincoln asking leave to withdraw from cabinet appointment. .

``Circumstances which have occurred since I expressed to you in December 
last my willingness to accept the office of Secretary of State seem to me 
to render it my duty to ask leave to withdraw that consent.'' (DLC-RTL).

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

To William H. Seward [1]
Executive Mansion. March 4 1861.

My dear Sir: Your note of the 2nd. Inst. asking to withdraw your acceptance 
of my invitation to take charge of the State Department, was duly received.

It is the subject of most painful solicitude with me; and I feel 
constrained to beg that you will countermand the withdrawal. The public 
interest, I think, demands that you should; and my personal feelings are 
deeply inlisted in the same direction. Please consider, and answer by 9 
o'clock, A.M. to-morrow. Your Obt. Servt.

  A. LINCOLN