John S. Loomis to Richard Yates

Treasury Department Washington June 30th 1865

Dear Governor,

I have been very sick (with dysentery) for two weeks past and came up here Sunday evening for a little rest and to arrange for sale of the captured, abandoned & confiscable property collected in my Agency since going to Richmond. I have now on hand about five hundred thousand dollars worth of tobacco - and an immense amt of lumber - iron metals and other property - all of which will sell at Richmond, Petersuburg, Lynchburg, Danville, and Fredericksburg during the months of July and August. I wrote you a long letter while sick explaining delay in writing you and posting you up about all matters in which you feel an interest. I have seen General Grant several times since I came - my wife & I passed an hour with the Genl & [illegible] last evening and I had another interview with him today. He decidedly and unequivocally eschews politics and says "not any of it for him." I mentioned in my last a scheme gotten or rather "getting up" among

the National Banks. Have heard something more about it here but I still think there is not any definite shape yet given to the movement, though the men having the matter in charge are influential - rich - and politically rather strong - and seem sanguine about making a strong combination - whatever conclusions they arrive at will be made known soon and I will write you more about it.

In pursuance of proclamation of the President all Treasury Agents are or will be out of office on first of July. I will still be connected with the Department & Mr Risley for two or three months in settling up and selling out property received from the Army and collected by agents in Va. & elsewhere. Mr Risley is made the General Disbursing Agent of the Dept and all other supervising & asst special agts report to and settle up with him. This may make my connection with the Department more permanent than I have supposed but the length of time it will take to wind up affairs of the agencies is yet all speculation.

My agency has been conducted to the entire satisfaction of the Department and Mr McCulloch has recommended me to the President strongly for Collector of the Port of Richmond. The citizens have also sent a strong recommendation and I may get the office. It is worth

$3,000 to 3500 per annum. Have become very intimately and favorably acquainted with Gov. Pierpont and have aided him considerably about starting in at Richmond under the Alexandria Constitution. He has considerable to contend with and does not find his new executive position a "bed of roses." Reconstruction bothers him wonderfully - and nearly all our politicians in Va. seem afraid to take decided ground on the negro suffrage questions which next to enfranchisement of the rebel, of various grades is the absorbing question. There is a wonderful absence here and in Virginia of the positive and decided tone always assumed by you (in advance of the press and people) at Springfield. Phillips, Sumner & Greely have given the party and the administration a kick which they really staggered under and now the publication of Chase's letter to Mr Lincoln has awakened apprehensions that are discouraging to those who have striven to keep up party organization under this administration. One wing claims that Johnson is after the War Democracy and expects to run his administration to their advantage and win their support in the future for a recompense. Chase it is presumed will modify his views to suit the conservative Republicans and that Phillips Greely & Co will consent to this and keep up the party as organized. The Pomeroy movement of which I wrote you before rather cuts between and they expect all the advantages which can be gained by dissensions in all parties and come in on the "Financial Situation" - ignoring past political dogmas - and have a party devoted to the material development of the country. You will observe that the Ohio State Convention carefully ignored the suffrage question and the party is held (in that State at least) to take the popular platform presented by either the Chase-Johnson - or National Bk. wing of the present Republican or Union organization (of '64).

At one time I thought there would be a breach between Stanton and the Administration and that a Sherman (War Democratic & Conciliation party) would loom up - but Sherman shook Stanton just enough to scare him into support and adhesion - and damaged himself (Sherman) enough to keep his Democratic sympathizers from rallying - leaving Grant master of all the advantage that final successes of our Armies could give a General. I have talked frequently with the friends of Genl. Grant who are watching jealously all the points in his favor and they are fully aware of my preferences in the next National Convention and they will act fully in concert with us in whatever may be deemed most expedient.

The salary of Lieut General ought to be increased to $20,000 - per annum - and the country owes it to Grant & his family to so provide for him. I do not know your

views about increasing salaries of military officers - but think you can afford to modify your ideas about public economy &c &c to reward a man who has done so much for his country. You have said more good things than any other man about providing for the families of soldiers - and it does not seem improper that the man who has led our armies through to final triumph should be fittingly remembered by the country. Grant went into the war almost penniless - left wife and children without adequate provision against contingency of death in the service. His personal gallantry in many fields (& on some of them you have been a personal witness) has given us victory where defeat seemed certain. If he had fallen - think of possible prolongation of the war with all its miseries under a new and untried Commander - and think also, Governor of how slow the Republic might be in providing for his family - especially if he had fallen at Vicksburg or Chattanooga. He seeks no office - I heard him say - yesterday - General

Meade and I only being present, that "I have all I want and all that I deserve" "I would rather be a constable (if it was my duty to serve the people anywhere in a civil capacity) than to have the highest political office as the gift of the people." He refuses all invitations that look like display and he has declined to go to Saratoga, Albany & other places on the fourth of July fearing his going around so much would be misconstrued or misunderstood. He prefers and wants to go to Gettysburg on the 4th but as the other invitations (Saratoga) came first he has felt compelled to decline all. Mrs. Grant told us about meeting you at Chicago and spoke to my wife in the same kind, appreciative way that she did to us about your "kind support of her husband throughout the war" and "hope you would always be his friend."

They are living in Georgetown very quietly and pleasantly and the same un-ostentatious style which has always been characteristic of Grant - marks the household and all its surroundings.

I am writing near Mr Risley - who often speaks of you with pride and genuine friendly kindness and now asks to ---- be remembered to you. He will be glad to do anything possible for you here and in my absence at Richmond would attend to any important matter you might wish him to look after.

I shall leave here Sunday night or Monday morning for New York and after remaining a day will return to Richmond - where I hope you will write me - especially your views about Reconstruction and Suffrage - the latter I desire very much to have your views upon.

Please remember my wife & I to Mrs Yates and believe me as ever

Faithfully yours, John S. Loomis

Col J.S. Loomis

Ans'd July 15, 1865