Mr. Skinner at breakfast. — Soon after Mr. Hamilton (James
A.) came, and we conversed about the condition of things. He said the Committee
from New York had arrived, representing the views of the five New-England
Governors who met lately; and that they would insist on the resignation of
Messrs. S. and B. — I told him I thought the mission vain—that it might be
useful if all the Heads of Departments were to resign, and that I was not only
ready but anxious to do so, either with my associates or alone. — He criticized
severely some passages in Mr. Seward's Diplomatic Correspondence — especially
those in the letter of April 10, to Mr. Adams, which concede the proposition
that the Federal Government could not reduce the seceding States to obedience
by conquest, and affirm that "only an imperial or despotic Government
could subjugate thoroughly disaffected and insurrectionary members of the
State." He said in them was the key to the whole temporizing policy, civil
and military, which had been pursued. I could make no reply to this, except to
say that I had never known Mr. Seward to object to any action, however
vigorous, of a military nature, though his influence had been cast in favor of
harmonizing the various elements of support to the Administration, by retaining
Genl. McClellan in command, and by avoiding action which would be likely to
alienate the Border States. I added that in his wishes of harmony I concurred;
and that I credited him with good motives in the choice of means to ends,
though I could not always concur with him in judgment as to their adaptation.
After this conversation, I went to the Department and
transacted the routine business. I also examined the Tax Law for insurgent
States; Sent for Commissioner Boutwell; read and approved Regulations drafted
by Judge Smith; and determined to overcome the difficulties in the way of
putting the law into operation, arising from the omission of any appropriation
for the purpose by Congress, by applying, so far as the District of South
Carolina is concerned, the necessary amount from a small fund legally at my
disposal.
Received letter from Birney, desiring that his brother
should command Kearney's corps and sent it to the War Department with strong
recommendations.
Genl. Kane called to thank me for my support to his
appointment as Brigadier; to which I answered, most sincerely, that "he
was indebted for the appointment, not to my support, but to his own
merits." Indeed, while I will most gladly aid merit to place, and seek it out
in order to give it place, I am resolved never from sympathy or weak
compliance, to help unfit persons to position. The condition of the country is
too critical for it now, were it ever excusable.
At home, Mr. Hamilton told me of the interview between the
New York Committee and the President. The Committee urged a change of policy.
The President became vexed, and said in substance, "It is plain enough
what you want, you want to get Seward out of the Cabinet. There is not one of
you who would not see the country ruined, if you could turn out Seward."
After dinner, rode to Mr. Cutts' proposing to invite Mrs. D.
to ride; and was very sorry to learn from her mother that she was much
indisposed. — Went to the War Department. No satisfactory information yet from
army and no satisfactory account of numbers or position of the enemy. David
Taylor called with Mr. Northcott, of Champaign, who wants to be commissary.
Endorsed his paper, "Reccommended.”
Received telegram from McDowell, asking if it was not just
to publish his letter. Answered, "Will see it done."
SOURCE: Diary and correspondence of Salmon P. Chase, in the Annual
Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1902, Vol. 2, p.
72-3
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