The President, speaking to-day about Missouri matters, said
he had heard some things of Schofield which had very much displeased him: — That
while Washburne was in Missouri, he saw or thought he saw that Schofield was
working rather energetically in the politics of the State, and that he approached
Schofield and proposed that he should use his influence to harmonize the
conflicting elements so as to elect one of each wing, Gratz Brown and
Henderson. Schofield’s reply was that he would not consent to the election of Gratz
Brown.
Again when Gratz Brown was about coming to Washington, he
sent a friend to Schofiled to say that he would not oppose his confirmation, if
he (S.) would, so far as his influence extended, agree to a Convention of Missouri
to make necessary alterations in her State Constitution. Schofield’s reply, as reported
by Brown to the President was that he would not consent to a State Convention.
These things, the President says, are obviously transcendent of his
instructions and must not be permitted. He has sent for Schofiled to come to Washington
and explain these grave matters.
The President is inclined to put Rosecrans in Schofield’s
place, and to give to Gen. Curtis the Department of Kansas. But Halleck and Stanton
stand in his way, and he has to use the strong hand so often with those
impractical gentlemen that he avoids it when he can.
To-night Hackett arrived and spent the evening with the
President. The conversation at first took a professional turn, the President
showing a very intimate knowledge of those plays of Shakespeare where Falstaff
figures. He was particularly anxious to know why one of the best scenes in the
play — that where Falstaff and Prince Hal alternately assume the character of
the king — is omitted in the representation. Hackett says it is admirable to
read, but ineffective on stage; — that there is generally nothing sufficiently
distinctive about the actor who plays Henry to make an imitation striking.
Hackett plays with stuffing of india-rubber; — says Shakespeare
refers to it when he says: “How now! blown Jack!” Hackett is a very amusing and
garrulous talker. He had some good reminiscences of Houston, Crockett (the former
he admires, the latter he thinks a dull man), McCarty and Prentiss. . . .
SOURCES: Clara B. Hay, Letters of John Hay and
Extracts from Diary, Volume 1, p. 139-40; For the whole diary entry
see Tyler Dennett, Editor, Lincoln and the Civil War in the Diaries and
letters of John Hay, p. 137-9.
