Not long at Cabinet-meeting. Chase still feels that he did
not make a good case in the matter of the Princeton. He inquired with assumed
nonchalance how I got on with Lee and Butler in the matter of permits. I told
him the whole subject of trade belonged to the Treasury, and I gave myself no
further concern about it than to stop abuse through naval officers. He denied
that he had anything to do with matters of trade within the Rebel lines. I
replied that General Butler gave permits for trade and quoted the trade
regulations for his authority, and when I referred the matter to him for
explanation, he had taken no exception. Chase seemed stumped. Said the
regulations had not been officially promulgated. I told him that I knew not
whether they were or not, but if they had been I asked if they authorized the
proposed trade. He said they did not.
Told Mr. Wilson he must look into Johnson's case, for I did
not like it should be longer suspended.
SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles,
Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 1: 1861 – March 30,
1864, p. 548
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