THURLOW WEED

Greeley, one of the most powerful and influential newspaper Editors of his day was always bitter that he did not get a patronage job. Newspapers did not make much money then and patronage and cronyism was even more rife than in modern times.

Ever since the beginning of the Republic, the major source of Federal revenue was customs duty from New York. The collector employed a massive bureaucracy and was then one of the largest patronage controller in the country. Thurlow Weed and other New York political bosses offered Abraham Lincoln their political support if Lincoln would give them control of the patronage. On September 5, 1864 Lincoln fired his man, Hiram Barney, and replaced him with Draper. The new collector promptly replaced key personnel down the line and stated publicly:

The margin of victory was 50,000 votes; however, there were accusations that Buchanan had “bought” the election.

The margin of victory was 50,000 votes; however, there were accusations that Buchanan had “bought” the election.