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Politics, Patronage, and Ramsey's Rise to Power, 1861-63

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Politics, Patronage, and Ramsey's Rise to Power, 1861-63 A portrait of Alexander Ramsey, probably taken in the 1860s POLITICS, PATRONAGE, and Ramsey's Rise to VOWER, 1861-63 JOHN C. HAUGLAND ON APRIL 14, 1861, when news of the fall How did Ramsey, chief executive of a re­ of Fort Sumter reached Washington, Alex­ mote frontier state, come to be so oppor­ ander Ramsey, governor of the three-year- tunely in the nation's capital at the moment old state of Minnesota, hurried "in company hostilities began? The answer has more to with Senator Wilkinson and Thos. J. Gal­ do with partisan politics than with patriot­ braith and tendered to Secy. War 1000 men ism. Ramsey's trip east in April, 1861, was on behalf of Minnesota." He thus became not prompted by concern with military af­ the first governor to offer troops for federal fairs or with the crisis the nation faced in service in the Civil War — a distinction that dark month. It was but one incident in which has been widely hailed in Minnesota, an internecine struggle for control of the and which in the eyes of posterity probably Republican party in Minnesota — a contest constitutes the summit of his long career.^ which extended from January, 1861, to Janu­ ary, 1863. MR. HAUGLAND is assistout profcssor of history The election of Abraham Lincoln to the in Wisconsin State College, Superior. This ar­ ticle is adapted from his dissertation on Ram­ ^ Ramsey Diary, April 14, 1861, Ramsey Papers, sey's political career. owned by the Minnesota Historical Society. 324 MINNESOTA History presidency in November, 1860, was the spark doubt they felt reason to fear his influence that ignited the flame of secession. It also as acknowledged leader of the Repubhcan gave Republicans, for the first time, control party in Minnesota.^ of the national administration, and with it a Ramsey himself apparently assumed that wealth of government jobs. When Lincoln he would bear a large share of responsibil­ moved to Washington he found that thou­ ity in the distribution of patronage. Writing sands had moved with him hoping to feast to Aldrich on February 26, 1861, concern­ at the trough of pubhc patronage. It was ing three possible appointees, the governor reported that seven hundred apphcants stated he had "no selfish motives in writing from Minnesota alone had hopes of securing you this but as party men we must have a federal appointments.^ preference. ... I trust you will see that There was at that time no civil service something of a geographical propriety is commission, nor were there statutes to regu­ preserved in . appointments. ... As I late the appointment of people to public may not come on to Washington until late office. A change in the national administra­ and possibly not at all I trust you will do tion was usually followed by wholesale re­ me the favor to consider these as merely moval or resignation of federal employees. friendly suggestions and not intended to The spoils system was an integral feature arrogate to yourself any special influence in of partisan politics, and for leaders in the the distribution of patronage."* Ramsey parties it was an opportunity to acquffe evidently wished to impress upon Aldrich power and provide remunerative positions that he was not to assume a greater role in for political supporters. The abihty of a patronage matters than any of the other party leader to secm-e appointments for his three members of the delegation. followers was a fair measure of his influence and standing within the organization on THE MOOD of friendly co-operation did both local and national levels. Minnesota not last long, however. Three considerations was not unlike any other state in this re­ militated against a mutual understanding spect, and the struggle for the spoils was between Governor Ramsey and the Con­ a hotly contested one. gressional delegation. First, there was the In the days immediately following Lin­ dffficulty in maintaining party unity once coln's election it appeared that the Minne­ the battle against a political foe had been sota Congressional delegation, consisting of won and the spoils of victory were avail­ Democratic Senator Henry M. Rice, Re­ able. A second factor of importance was the publican Senator Morton S. Wilkinson, and make-up of the delegation, which included Republican Representatives William Win­ individuals with high political aspirations dom and Cyrus Aldrich, would work hand- of their own. And finally, there was the in-hand with Governor Ramsey. Senator policy adopted by President Lincoln in de­ Wilkinson, a prominent attorney from Man­ termining the distribution of patronage. kato, and Representative Aldrich, a Minne­ The influx of job seekers to Washington apolis real-estate man who had been elected was so great in the early months of the new to Congress in 1859, had both signified Republican administration that the presi­ their intentions to "consult and satisfy" dent and his cabinet were tremendously Ramsey with regard to appointments. No overworked in attempting to place and sat­ isfy all those who sought public office. Pre­ 'State Atlas (Minneapolis), quoted in the Si. occupied with the deteriorating relationship Paul Daily Press, January 26, 1861. between the federal government and the " Stephen Miller to Ramsey, February 22, 1861, seceding states, and unable to bear the bur­ Ramsey Papers. * Ramsey to Aldrich (copy), February 26, 1861, den of meeting all the office seekers who Ramsey Papers. clamored for his attention, the president December 1961 325 instructed his cabinet to consult the appro­ Cloud, for the office of surveyor general. priate Congressional delegation when there Thomas Foster, Ramsey's personal secre­ were contests for particular positions. The tary, whom he had befriended many times delegation, directed Lincoln, must approve (especially in money matters), wanted the each applicant for office, and gubernatorial Winnebago Indian agency, and the office endorsements were to carry little weight. of postmaster at St. Paul was sought by By this means he hoped to ease the patron­ Robert F. Fisk, a St. Paul Republican. age problem and to weld the Republican Two of the aspirants, Fisk and North, party into a national organization.^ were in Washington during March, 1861, at The hand of the Congressional delega­ the time appointments were being made, tion was thus tremendously strengthened, and they were keenly aware of the delega­ and as the weeks passed many applicants tion's efforts to snub them. Frustrated at endorsed by Ramsey found themselves un­ every turn. North decided that forceful in­ able to secure appointments. Indicative of dividual initiative was necessary if he were the growing schism between Ramsey and to be at all successful. In desperation he the delegation was the unsuccessful attempt went to the private rooms of Aldrich and by the governor to place four men in the Windom in order to get papers and peti­ best patronage positions in Minnesota. John tions that the delegation had been holding W. North, a regular Republican and a dele­ back. Fisk summed up the trying situation gate to the national convention that had when he wrote to Ramsey: "We only call nominated Lincoln, aspired to the position on the delegation when it is absolutely of superintendent of Indian affairs in Min­ necessary. ... I have not yet let North nesota. Though North was endorsed by and Baker [James H. Baker, secretary of both Ramsey and the president, the delega­ state in Minnesota] know of your intention tion favored the candidacy of Clark W. not to come down until next month [April], Thompson, who had a milling establish­ for fear they would break down. We ment in Houston County. Senator Wilkin­ are using your name and influence, where son, who strongly recommended Thompson, we can, with propriety, and the Cabinet was so vehement in his espousal of the man understand now pretty fully that Wilk. and that he wrote William H. Seward, the sec­ the others, in their distribution of the pub­ retary of state, that "If the President should lic patronage, are not disposed to do it, think proper to appoint some other person for the benefit of the party." ^ to fill this office, I shall feel constrained to Senator Rice, being a Democrat, was sel­ refuse here after to present the name of dom consulted on appointments, but he, any person whatever for an appointment too, lamented the fact that Ramsey was not under this administration."^ in Washington when he was really needed North was naturally concerned when he by his supporters and by those whom he and other friends of Ramsey proved unsuc­ had recommended for office. The Senator cessful with the delegation. He lamented had the impression that the appointments the fact that the governor was not in Wash­ ington to intercede personally in his case '^WiUiam B. Hesseltine, Lincoln and the War Governors, 138 (New York, 1948). and charged that the delegation "evidently "Wilkinson to Seward, March 15, 1861, in the think that offices were invented for the Clark W. Thompson Papers, owned by the Miime­ purpose of employing men in their indi­ sota Historical Society. For an account of North's political background see Carlton C. Qualey, "John vidual service."'' W. North and the Minnesota Frontier," in Minne­ North, however, was not the only one to sota History, 35:101-116 (September, 1956). feel the coolness of the delegation. Ramsey 'North to Ramsey, March 13, 1861, Ramsey had also recommended Stephen Miller, an Papers. "Fisk to Ramsey, March 20, 1861, Ramsey Pa­ old personal and pohtical friend from St. pers. 326 MINNESOTA History being made were ones that Ramsey did not postmaster in St. Paul, lost out to Charles favor.** L. Nichols. Thus the best offices in Minne­ Stephen Miller was very critical of Ram­ sota— those that were most lucrative and sey and advised him "to lay off your coat, offered the greatest number of subordinate put down your foot, and be a politician appointments — went to the followers of with the rest of us." By doing this Miller Aldrich and the Congressional delegation felt that Ramsey would rally the support rather than to Ramsey's friends.^^ of most Minnesota Repubhcans.
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