Had an early call from the President, who brought a
communication from Tassara to Seward, complaining of violation of neutral
rights by a small pilot-boat, having a gun mounted amidships and believed to be
an American vessel, which was annoying Spanish and other neutral vessels off the
coast of Cuba. The President expressed doubts whether it was one of our
vessels, but I told him I was inclined to believe it was, and that I had last
week written Mr. Seward concerning the same craft in answer to Lord Lyons, who
complained of outrage on the British schooner Dream, but I had also written
Admiral Bailey on the subject. I read my letter to the President. He spoke of
an unpleasant rumor concerning Grant, but on canvassing the subject we
concluded it must be groundless, originating probably in the fact that he does
not retain but has evacuated Jackson, after destroying the enemy's stores.
It is pretty evident that Senator John P. Hale, Chairman of
the Naval Committee of the Senate, is occupying his time in the vacation in
preparing for an attack on the Navy Department. He has a scheme for a tract of
land with many angles, belonging to a friend, which land he has procured from
Congress authority for the Secretary to purchase, but the Secretary does not
want the land in that shape. It is a “job,” and the object of this special
legislative permission to buy, palpable. Hale called on me, and has written me,
and I am given to understand, if I do not enter into his scheme, — make this
purchase, — I am to encounter continued and persistent opposition from him.
Hale has also sent me a letter of eight closely written
pages, full of disinterested, patriotic, and devoted loyalty, protesting
against my detailing Commodore Van Brunt to be one of a board on a requisition
from the War Department for a naval officer. Van Brunt has committed no wrong,
is accused of none, but Hale doesn't like him. I replied in half a page. I will
not waste time on a man like Hale.
SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles,
Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 1: 1861 – March 30,
1864, p. 307-8
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