Secretary Chase had fallen into the habit of emphasising what he believed to be his indispensability in the Cabinet by threatening to resign, or even by submitting a resignation, whenever his suggestions or conclusions met with opposition.  These threats had been received with patience up to the point when patience seemed to be no longer a virtue; but finally, when (in May, 1864) such a resignation was tendered under some aggravation of opposition or of criticism, very much to Chase’s surprise the resignation was accepted.

The Secretary had had in train for some months active plans for becoming the Republican candidate for the Presidential campaign of 1864.  Evidence had from time to time during the preceding year been brought to Lincoln of Chase’s antagonism and of his hopes of securing the leadership of the party.  Chase’s opposition to certain of Lincoln’s policies was doubtless honest enough.  He had brought himself to believe that Lincoln did not possess the force and the qualities required to bring the War to a close.  He had also convinced himself that he, Chase, was the man, and possibly was the only man, who was fitted to meet the special requirements of the task.  Mr. Chase did possess the confidence of the more extreme of the anti-slavery groups throughout the country.  His administration of the Treasury had been able and valuable, but the increasing difficulty that had been found in keeping the Secretary of the Treasury in harmonious relations with the other members of the administration caused his retirement to be on the whole a relief.  Lincoln came to the conclusion that more effective service could be secured from some other man, even if possessing less ability, whose temperament made it possible for him to work in co-operation.  The unexpected acceptance of the resignation caused to Chase and to Chase’s friends no little bitterness, which found vent in sharp criticisms of the President.  Neither bitterness nor criticisms could, however, prevent Lincoln from retaining a cordial appreciation for the abilities and the patriotism of the man, and, later in the year, Lincoln sent in his nomination as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.  Chase himself, in his lack of capacity to appreciate the self-forgetfulness of Lincoln’s nature, was probably more surprised by his nomination as Chief Justice than he had been by the acceptance of his resignation as Secretary of the Treasury.

In July, 1864, comes a fresh risk of international complications through the invasion of Mexico by a French army commanded by Bazaine, seven years later to be known as the (more or less) hero of Metz.  Lotus Napoleon had been unwilling to give up his dream of a French empire, or of an empire instituted under French influence, in the Western Hemisphere.  He was still hopeful, if not confident, that the United States would not be able to maintain its existence; and he felt assured that if the Southern Confederacy should finally be established with the friendly co-operation