Mrs. Welles and John
departed today for Narragansett, leaving me lonely and alone for two months. I
submit because satisfied it is best, yet it is a heavy deprivation, quite a shadow
on life's brief journey, — the little that is left for me.
On receiving a
letter to-day from General Terry, saying the Treasury agent needed specific
instructions from the Secretary of the Treasury, I called on Mr. McCulloch. He
thought all could be put right without difficulty. The way to effect it was for
me to send a requisition, or request the naval officer to make a requisition
for the timber, and the agent would grant it. I told him that neither I nor any
naval officer would make requisition; that the order in the President's
proclamation was sufficient authority for me and for naval officers, though it
might not do for the Treasury agents, who were presuming and self-sufficient.
He thought I was more a stickler for forms than he had supposed; said they had
receipted for this timber to the War Department. I told him I knew not what
business either they or the War Department had with it, but because they had
committed irregularities, I would not, unless the President countermanded his
own very proper order. He still declared they wanted something to show for
this, after having receipted for it. I told him I would instruct an officer to
make demand, and the demand would be his voucher if he needed one. He said very
well, perhaps it would. I accordingly so sent.
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