A lonesome sort of Christmas. I breakfasted, dined and
supped alone. Went to the Theatre and saw Macbeth alone.
The President to-day got up a plan for extending to the
people of the rebellious districts the practical benefits of the Proclamation.
He is to send record-books to various points to receive subscriptions to the
Oath, for which certificates will be given to the man taking the oath. He has
also prepared a placard himself giving notice of the opening of the books and
the nature of the oath required.
He sent the first of the books to Pierpoint to be used in
Virginia. The second he will probably send to Arkansas.
The President was greatly amused at Greeley’s hasty Chase
explosion and its elaborate explanation in the Tribune. He defended Gov.
Chase from Phillips’ unjust attacks, saying that he thought Chase’s banking
system rested on a sound basis of principle; that is, causing the capital of
the country to become interested in the sustaining of the National credit. That
this was the principal financial measure of Mr. Chase, in which he (L.) has
taken an especial interest. Mr. C had frequently consulted him in regard to it.
He had generally delegated to Mr. C exclusive control of those matters falling
within the province of his Department. This matter he had shared in to some
extent. . . .
SOURCES: Clara B. Hay, Letters of John Hay and
Extracts from Diary, Volume 1, p. 144-5; for the entire diary entry
see Tyler Dennett, Editor, Lincoln and the Civil War in the
Diaries and Letter of John Hay, p. 144-5.
