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Franklin County: Andrew G. Curtin to Simon Cameron, March 20, 1860

Summary:
Curtin writes Cameron about possible patronage appointment.

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Mar 20--1860

Bellefonte

Honorable Simon Cameron
Dear Sir

My letter of yesterday will draw your attention to our conversation in relation to our friend Taggart after [illeg.] election- Taggart found [unclear: out] yesterday [unclear: just commensing a court] [illeg.] by people and [illeg.] engaged--He left in the evening so that I did not see him more than an hour- In the night I looked over his claims and the prospect of getting him the place he aspires to, and [unclear: became] [illeg.] to the conclusion that we cannot get it for him- He will see you about the time this reaches you or I would have written him-

The merchants of Philadelphia will claim the collectorship- My friends in Philadelphia could not be induced to [unclear: fund] his appointment, and I have great doubts if you could [unclear: control] yours He was not as [unclear: conspicuous] in the context as others who will ask for the office, and the knowledge that we have selected him for the [unclear: last]

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place in the state will unite all the aspirants and their friends against him-

I write this because I wish to [illeg.] him and will do so with great pleasure but I am so fully [unclear: convinced] that our effort to place him in the collections office will excite a little fight and in disappointment to him and us, that [unclear: unless] satisfied that he can [illeg.] I will not got into it at all

He will not take a [illeg.] of a County--What do you say to the [illeg.] of the Patent office? Anything you incline to believe he can certainly make I will write with you--I submit to your better judgment after you [unclear: back] the matter and write me-

I wish to be frank with Taggart and you will of course communicate to him what I write

Yours truly

Andrew G. Curtin

P.S. I must go to court and you must understand what I meant by my hasty letter