Was called on by
the Episcopal minister to-day, Dr. Sawyer having informed him that I was a member
of the church — the doctor being one also. He is an enthusiastic young man, and
though a native of the North, seems to sympathize with us very heartily. He
prays for the President of the Confederate States. The President himself
attends very regularly, and some intimate that he intends to become a candidate
for membership. I have not learned
whether he has been baptized. Gen. Cooper, the first on our list of generals in
the regular army, is a member of the church. The general was, I think,
adjutant-general at Washington. He is Northern born. Major Gorgas is likewise a
native of the North. He is Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance. The
Quartermaster-General, Major Myers, is said to be a Jew; while the
Commissary-General is almost a Jesuit, so zealous is he in the advocacy of the
Pope.
Mr. Mallory, the
Secretary of the Navy, I have seen but once; but I have heard him soundly
abused for not accepting some propositions and plans from Mobile and elsewhere,
to build ironclad steam rams to sink the enemy's navy. Some say Mr. M. is an Irishman
born. He was in the United States Senate, and embraced secession with the rest of
the “conspirators” at Washington.
I saw the
Vice-President to-day. I first saw Mr. Stephens at Washington in 1843. I was
behind him as he sat in the House of Representatives, and thought him a boy,
for he was sitting beside large members. But when I got in front of him, it was
apparent he was a man — every inch a man.
There is some
excitement in official circles here against Mr. Browne, the Assistant Secretary
of State, on the ground that he interfered in behalf of a Mr. Hurlbut, a Northern
man (probably arrested), a writer in the English Reviews against slavery in the
South, and a correspondent for the New York Tribune. Mr. B. is an Englishman,
who came from Washington on the invitation of Mr. Toombs, and through his
influence was appointed Assistant Secretary of State, and the Southern gorge
rises at it. I doubt whether he will be molested.
I saw Major Tochman
to-day, also a foreigner. He is authorized to enlist a regiment or two of Polanders
in New Orleans, where I am told there are none.
And there are
several Northern men here wanting to be generals. This does not look much like
Southern homogeneity. God save us, if we are not to save ourselves!
How hot it is! But
I like hot weather better than cold, and would soon become accustomed to this
climate. This morning Mr. Hunter really seemed distressed; but he has four
inches on his ribs, and I not the eighth of an inch.
Since writing the
foregoing, I have seen Mr. Hunter again, and although there is no diminution of
heat, he is quite cheerful. Congress has again passed the resolution to remove
the seat of government to Richmond, and it is said the President will not veto
it this time. The President himself came into our office today and sat some
time conversing with Secretary Walker. He did not appear vexed at the
determination of Congress, which he must have been apprised of.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States
Capital, Volume 1, p. 42-4
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