Abraham Lincoln Orders Secretary of War Edwin Stanton to “Set Right” an Error of Disgraced Former Secretary of War Simon Cameron

An unpublished document giving a fascinating glimpse into how Lincoln's cabinet worked and how he managed his men

At the Republican Convention in 1860, Abraham Lincoln was nominated in part because he received the support of a number of his rivals as their own hopes dimmed. To get them to swing behind Lincoln, his operatives promised the other candidates' managers that their men would receive cabinet posts. All of the candidates campaigned for Lincoln in the general election in November, and with their help he was elected. Salmon Chase, Edward Bates and William Seward went into cabinet; these were competent men, with whose performance Lincoln was satisfied. However, among the more important men who threw his support to Lincoln at the Convention, and then campaigned actively for him in a key state, was Pennsylvania Senator Simon Cameron. Lincoln let it be known that he intended to reward Cameron too; but Cameron was widely considered corrupt, and this possibility brought out anti-Cameron pressure from Cameron's own state, led by Republicans allied with newly elected Governor Andrew Curtain and Pennsylvania Republican Chairman Alexander K. McClure. Nonetheless Lincoln named Cameron Secretary of War in March 1861, though he was not entirely content with the choice. This discontent increased when, after the launch of hostilities, reports came back to the President about possibly shady transactions in the War Department.

With the war on, Lincoln was inundated with requests for offices, contracts, and promotions from candidates and their relatives and friends, and from people seeking something from him and the Government.  Since these often involved people wanting to enter, be promoted in, or deal with the military service, this required Lincoln working with Cameron. Mostly these contacts went smoothly, but when Cameron's self-interest was involved, that was clearly not so.  He, from time to time, simply ignored the President's request or refused to act on it regardless of from which state it emanated, even where the President had provided clear reasons.

In January 1862, Lincoln replaced Cameron with Stanton, whose management of the War Department was exemplary.

One such incident with Cameron occurred with James McKay of Chicago, who was serving as quartermaster of the military depot at Cairo, Illinois at the very start of the war in April 1861. When he turned the quartermaster stores over to the United States, he applied for a similar position in the U.S. service, laying his credentials before President Lincoln. Lincoln attested to his merit, and endorsed the request, so McKay reported for duty. However, Cameron did not provide his commission. A few months later he appealed to Lincoln, meeting with the President himself.

Lincoln recognized that his order had not been followed and attempted to make it right. He wanted Cameron's error remedied and contacted Stanton, who by now had replaced Cameron.

Autograph endorsement signed, April 7, 1862, to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. "Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War. This is a very meritorious case, and I hope Capt. McKay may be set right."  The original plea, perhaps in a McKay's hand, is present and Lincoln has written his endorsement on the free panel on this piece.

Stanton immediately complied with Lincoln's request. According to the "Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln", "James H. McKay of Illinois was nominated to the Senate as captain and Assistant Quartermaster of Volunteers, April 7, and confirmed April 14, 1862."