Hiram Barney, Collector at New York, called on me. Is
feeling depressed. The late frauds, or lately discovered frauds, annoy him. . .
.
Chase sends me a letter in relation to Pensacola and the
suggestions I made to open Trans-Mississippi to trade and commerce. In each
case he fails to respond to my propositions favorably. Although late, I am for
means that will bring peace and kindly feeling. Commerce and intercourse will
help.
The trial of Stover, a contractor, by court martial at
Philadelphia has come to a close. He is found guilty on three charges and is
fined $5000, and is to suffer one year's imprisonment in such prison as the Secretary
of the Navy may select. It is, in my opinion, a proper punishment for a
dishonest man, but the law is in some of its features of a questionable
character. Likely it will be tested, for Stover has money, obtained by
fraudulent means from the government. I have deliberated over the subject and
come to the conclusion to approve the proceedings, and send Stover to Fort
Lafayette instead of a penitentiary. Captain Latimer writes that Stover has
left Philadelphia and gone to New York. I have therefore written to Admiral
Paulding to arrest and send him to Fort L. The President concurs.
SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles,
Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 1: 1861 – March 30,
1864, p. 514-5
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