Washington March 17, 1861
My dear wife
I have not had an hour of peace and quiet since the adjournment. I have new friends coming daily, and new matters to be attended to-directed by every mail.
I did hope to be at home to-day: but could not leave till I had secured some places beyond a peradventure.
I have now secured a place for Mr. Stanton, who has done a great deal of document work for me this winter, at 1200 a year He is also editor of the Washington paper. For Uncle Johnny I have secured after much labor the office of chief clerk in the Registers office 2000 a year which pleases him entirely.
I have also got Grinnell1 appointed Secret Mail agent, and the promise and order for a hoste of P. offices including Keokuk for Howell.
Of course I will disappoint thousands of active old influential poltical friends and to have given Goodril or James appointments would have exasperated such men as Stevens, Fulton, Genl Bridgemen and others who want the same offices. I will at a proper time try to get places for both but I must not and you must not encourage it; for I am determined to first try to secure places for our own boys who have really deserved places because of their public efforts in two territories. But they will be charged to me as family affairs, and I must not do too much of this. Sams appointment is safe. Henrys is not yet certain. Mr Stevens was a candidate for Marshall but we gave that to Hoxie2 who was a great worker as Chairman of the State Committee.
Conn, Bums, Shart, and fifty more, will complain because they could not be something. I have got along with appointments so as to hope to get home this week At any rate. I hope no new difficulties will arise. Uncle Johnny wants to stay till he is fully inaugerated. Of course I must see that all is done which is deemed necessary to aid such a working friend.
He has aided in arranging papers, writing letters &c &c, every since he came.
This is Sunday. I ought to go over and bid the Georgetown people goodby before I leave Jinny was over and left a note for her friend Hollingsworth to get a clerkship Everybody wants aid. Wallace Curtis is here, and I would like to aid him. He has been a working editor in Fulton and ought to be aided by Illinois Politicians. Ned is here yet. He has come down to demand a $2000 Consulate and I think stands some chance. But he can make no great political showing as he has not been much of a politician.
You see how my minds runs with my troubles. Hawkins Taylor and Mr Turner are also earnest and active workers in the general scramble. Hawkins will be Special Mail agent on Keokuk and St. Louis mail line. Sadie is very well and I am as ever
Affectionately yours
Saml. R. Curtis
1. Josiah Bushnell Grinnell, founder of Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa, was a member of the Iowa delegation at Chicago in 1860. Following two years as Special Mail Agent he served in Congress from 1863 to 1867.
2. H. M. “Hub” Hoxie.