Very little done at the Cabinet. Stanton, Usher, and myself
were the only ones present. Some general talk and propositions. Last night the
President gave a dinner to the members of the Cabinet, judges of the Supreme
Court, and a few others, with their wives. It was pleasant. A little stiff and
awkward on the part of some of the guests, but passed off very well.
The challenge of Fox has created some noise. When read in
the Chamber of Commerce, Moses H. Grinnell appeared much disturbed, — said the
Navy had no fast boats, the challenge was improper, undignified, etc. Moses
unwittingly showed his true colors, — was drawn out. He has professed to be
friendly, but I have not been deceived by him, for I have been satisfied that
he was secretly inimical, though not with manly courage to avow it. Moses has
been a successful merchant, and generous with his money in a certain way. He
has some good and some weak qualities in his profession, but his great failing
has been in political aspirations. With commercial party principles, no sound
or correct knowledge of government, or of individual rights, he has hungered
for office and believed that money ought to secure it. He has seen with envy
the success of Morgan and some others, whom he believes no more capable or
deserving than himself, and had hoped the change of administration would bring
him into distinction. It had been his hope that Seward would have the
nomination at Chicago, and he showed grief and great vexation as well as others
over the result. When President Lincoln came to Washington, he was invited to,
and did, breakfast with Moses at his house in New York. But these attentions
failed to bring the coveted honors. He had been a large shipping merchant and
why should he not be Collector or even take charge of the Navy. His friend Seward
was in the Cabinet but from western New York. Moses lived in the city of New
York, and was from New England. All did not answer. After the blockade was
declared he came twice to Washington and wanted, evidently, to be consulted. On
one, and perhaps both occasions, he brought with him C. H. Marshall, an old
ship-master, opinionated, conceited, and infinitely worse than Grinnell. I
treated them courteously, listened to their opinions, invited them to be
communicative, but did not adopt their views. Marshall, however, declared
himself well satisfied with what he understood to be the management of the
Department, and Grinnell did not dissent. This was, I think, in May, 1861. Some
two months, perhaps, later, Moses was again in Washington; wanted the Department
to procure more vessels; urged the purchase of a fleet of merchant ships on
which there might be placed a small armament to establish an efficient
blockade. I gave but little attention to his advice or offers of service. Two
good steamers in my opinion would be more effective than the sixty sailing
vessels which he proposed to purchase. By the kindness of Mr. Seward he had an
interview with the President and laid before him his plans. Charleston he would
blockade with ten or a dozen ships lying off outside. I happened to enter the
President's room about the time Grinnell was leaving, and he spoke quite
oracularly about the “swash channel”'; repeated that expression several times.
He knew the harbor and the “swash channel.” Could blockade it with ten or a
dozen good ships. The President subsequently informed me of the plan of Mr.
Grinnell, in the presence of the Secretary of State, and each of them kindly
commended him. I told them I knew Mr. Grinnell well, but that my views did not
correspond with his, and my arrangements were not such as would admit of
employing him.
On several occasions since I have had the benefit of Mr.
G.'s advice and promptings, but am not aware that I was ever benefited by
either. His friend Marshall was sometimes artfully pushed forward and chafed
into an abuse of me personally. It has been some time, however, since I have been
assailed by him personally, and he does not appear to have united with Moses on
this occasion.
SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles,
Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 1: 1861 – March 30,
1864, p. 512-4
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