Uncommon pair of one-page ALSs from Lincoln cabinet members Simon Cameron and William P. Fessenden. The Cameron letter, 8 x 10, dated September 30, 1840, in part: "I have a great mind to buy your house & lot next to Alrich's in Harrisburg, at the price you mentioned. My object is to build a house in which I can live at some future day"; and the Fessenden letter, 5 x 8, dated July 18, 1860, in part: "I regret my inability to manifest the very high respect and regard I entertain for Mr. Johnson, by attending the Banquet to be given in his honor by citizens of Annapolis, on the 21st instant." In overall fine condition, with paper loss to the bottom of the Cameron letter, affecting no text.
Cameron served as the United States Secretary of War in Lincoln's cabinet from March 5, 1861 to January 14, 1862, before being replaced by Edwin M. Stanton. Cameron went on to serve as the United States Minister to Russia and then later as a senator for Pennsylvania. Fessenden was serving as a Maine senator when he was appointed by Lincoln as the United States Secretary of the Treasury; he reluctantly accepted the dire position and resigned the secretaryship on March 3, 1865, when the financial situation improved.
