k less time and raised less disturbance than it is the custom of our
politics to accord to a change in our tariff or a modification of a
commercial treaty. Another special instance of difficult and complicated
administration was that of the renewal of the intercourse of trade, to
follow closely the success of our arms, and subdue the interests of the
recovered region to the requirements of the Government. But I cannot
insist on details, where all was vast and surprising and prosperous. I
hazard nothing in saying that the management of the finances of the
civil war was the marvel of Europe and the admiration of our own people.
For a great part of the wisdom, the courage, and the overwhelming force
of will which carried us through the stress of this stormy sea, the
country stands under deep obligations to Mr. Chase as its pilot through
its fiscal perils and perplexities. Whether the genius of Hamilton,
dealing with great difficulties and with small resources, transcended
that of Chase, meeting the largest exigencies with great resources, is
an unprofitable speculation. They stand together, in the judgment of
their countrymen, the great financiers of our history.

A somewhat persistent discrepancy of feeling and opinion between the
President and the Secretary, in regard to an important office in the
public service, induced Mr. Chase to resign his portfolio, and Mr.
Lincoln to acquiesce in his desire. No doubt, it is not wholly fortunate
in our Government that the distribution of patronage, a mixed question
of party organization and public service, should so often harass and
embarrass administration, even in difficult and dangerous times. Mr.
Lincoln's ludicrous simile is an incomparable description of the system
as he found it. He said, at the outset of his administration, that "he
was like a man letting rooms at one end of his house, while the other
end was on fire." Some criticism of the Secretary's resignation and of
the occasion of it, at the time, sought to impute to them consequences
of personal acerbity between these eminent men, and the mischiefs of
competing ambitions and discordant counsels for the public interests.
But the appointment of Mr. Chase to the chief-justiceship of the United
States silenced all this evil speech and evil surmise.

There is no doubt that Mr. Chase greatly desired this office, its
dignity and durability both considered, the greatest gratification, to
personal desires, and the worthiest i