ay Cooke to go to Europe
for an indefinite time. Having been criticised by some of my countrymen,
for resigning the office of secretary of state at that time, I owe them
the following explanation: First: Personally, I was comparatively poor,
and the salary which I received from the government, with the great
draw-backs for all sorts of charities and public enterprises, which an
official in that position has to meet, was insufficient to support me
and my family, and I considered that I had the same rights as any other
citizen to better my pecuniary condition, which I did by accepting the
offer of Jay Cooke. Secondly: It was of greater importance to the
public, and I could render better service to the state at this period of
its early development, as agent for a great railroad company, which fact
was fully recognized by our leading public men, and it was with their
advice and at their earnest request that I took the step. I accordingly
tendered my resignation to the governor of our state, but he, out of
polite consideration, preferred that I should take a leave of absence
until fall, when the people would have an opportunity at the political
convention, to designate my successor, and wrote me the following
letter:

"STATE OF MINNESOTA,
"EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
"St. Paul, May 25, 1871.

"_Col. H. Mattson, Secretary of State_:

"Dear Sir: Learning that it is your intention, on taking your
departure for Europe, to resign your office of secretary of state,
allow me to ask you to reconsider that resolution. You will leave a
very competent deputy, perfectly acquainted with all the duties of the
office, and in whose integrity, as well as in his honesty, the public
have unlimited confidence. Within a few months your successor will be
indicated by the delegates chosen by the people, comprising the
dominant party of the state, and then he may be appointed, if you are
to resign at all, with no uncertainty as to the popular choice of the
individual who should fill that important post. For these reasons I
hope you will conclude to withhold your resignation, at least for the
present. I most cordially wish you a pleasant journey to the field of
your new labors, great success there, and a safe return to the land
you have served and loved so well.

"Very truly yours,