After Cabinet-meeting walked over with Attorney-General
Bates to his office. Had a very full talk with him concerning the question of
captured mails, — the jurisdiction of the courts, the law, and usage, and
rights of the Government. He is unqualifiedly with me in my views and
principles, — the law and our rights. He dwelt with some feeling on the
courtesy which ought to exist between the several Departments and was by them
generally observed. Although cautious and guarded in his remarks, he did not
conceal his dissatisfaction with the conduct of the Secretary of State in
writing to attorneys and marshals, and assuming to instruct and direct them in
their official duties which were assigned to and required by law to be done by
the Attorney-General. We are getting vague rumors of army operations, but
nothing intelligible or reliable.
SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles,
Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 1: 1861 – March 30,
1864, p. 290
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