Had some side talk with Seward at the Cabinet-meeting, on
letters of marque. He persists in the policy, but I think begins to have some
misgivings. Insists on having a naval officer assigned him, on whom he can
devolve the labor. I requested him to employ some of his own Department force
or a civilian in whom he had confidence; told him the subject belonged
exclusively to the State Department; the Secretary of State had it in charge in
the War of 1812 by law, and I desired the Navy should not now be blended with
the proceeding. He admitted his object in asking for a naval officer was to be
relieved of responsibility and details. The truth is, he has pressed forward
this measure without knowledge or examination, or practical experience, but has
vague indefinite notions that privateers may be efficient against the Rebels,
that they will constitute a force appendant to his Department, that there will
be many of them, and that he will derive credit from their exploits. If his
scheme fails, and a naval officer has charge of that part of his duties, the
Navy and Navy Department will bear the censure. Foote, whom he most desires
should be detailed, adroitly declines the honor of being attached to the State
Department in this work, and has recommended Admiral Davis, who is acceptable
and willing to take the position which Foote declines.
Seward tells me he already has an application from
responsible parties who want a letter of marque, and assures me there will be a
flood of applications, but I am still incredulous. Our merchants will not spend
their money in the idle scheme of attempting to spear sharks for wool. In the
case of this first application Seward wishes me, as he is not yet prepared and
the parties are ready, to take the case as I have suggested might be done under
the Act of July, 1861; says it will only be temporary.
Late in the day Davis came to me from the State Department
with the papers in this case. I find they are not unknown to me. One Sybert, a
Prussian, I believe, by birth but a citizen of South Carolina, wants to go
privateering. He called on me some days ago for papers, and I sent him to the
State Department. I warned Davis to beware of adventurers, and expressed my
want of confidence in the man and the movement, though Seward declared the
parties were responsible.
SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles,
Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 1: 1861 – March 30,
1864, p. 259-60
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