Samuel Chase Insist Oath of Treasury Employees to "support, protect, and defend the Constitution and Government of the United States against all enemies" 1861

This circular letter required all employees of the Treasury Department to take an oath to "support, protect, and defend the Constitution and Government of the United States against all enemies, whether domestic or foreign," as required by Congress. The letter also includes the text of the August 6, 1861, act of Congress.

[TREASURY DEPARTMENT.] Salmon P. Chase, Circular Letter, Printed Letter Signed in Type, August 16, 1861. 1 p., 8" x 10". Includes handwritten note in the margin, "Received August 26, 1861. / C. Almy, Coll." Pinholes in the left margin for binding; very good.

Excerpt
"Pursuant to the provisions of the act of August 6, 1861, entitled ‘An act requiring an oath of allegiance, and to support the Constitution of the United States to be administered to certain persons in the civil service of the United States,' the oath in the form therein prescribed will immediately be taken by each and every person now employed, or who may hereafter become in any way employed, in the collection of the revenue. The oaths, or affirmations, when taken, will be filed by collectors in their respective offices, with the exception of such as are usually transmitted for file in this Department, which will be forwarded as heretofore. Collectors will promptly report any instance of refusal to take and subscribe the oath in question."

Salmon P. Chase (1808-1873) was born in New Hampshire and studied law before establishing a law practice in Cincinnati, Ohio. He frequently defended fugitive slaves in court. He left the Whig Party for the Liberty Party in 1841 and helped create the Free Soil Party in 1848. He represented Ohio in the U.S. Senate from 1849 to 1855 and served as Governor of Ohio from 1856 to 1860. Abraham Lincoln appointed Chase as his first Secretary of the Treasury, a position he held from 1861 to mid-1864. In December 1864, Lincoln nominated Chase as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, a position he held until his death.

Charles Almy (1819-1886) was born in Rhode Island and began teaching school at age 17. He later opened a country store but soon moved to Boston, where he became an auction and commission merchant. He participated in the business of whaling in New Bedford, Massachusetts, until the Civil War. He served as Collector of Customs at Fall River, Massachusetts, from 1861 to 1865. He joined the insurance business in 1864 and continued in that work until his death. Originally a Democrat, he became a Free Soiler in 1848 and then a Republican. In 1880, 1881, and 1882, he was the Prohibition Party candidate for governor.

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