December 16 Monday – Sam announced to his Territorial Enterprise readers that he had resigned his secretaryship, and that “E.A. Pretois, formerly of Virginia and Sacramento, is Senator Stewart’s private secretary, now” [MTL 2: 139n4]. Note: Sam and Senator Stewart did not hit it off, and the position had not kept Sam’s interest. Once again the vagabond itch came over Sam.

Sam’s article, “A New Cabinet ‘Regulator’” dated Dec. 14, ran in the Washington Evening Star [Camfield, bibliog.]. Note: this may be the same article as the “Fenians” in the Dec. 14 entry.

Elisha Bliss replied to Sam (whose letter not extant), pleading illness; he asked for “a few days longer” when he would respond to “your questions & give you such information upon the subject under consideration as I think you will wish. Trusting you will not negotiate with others until you hear from me…” [MTP]. Note: see Dec. 24 from Bliss, who made good his promise.