Brown, the Navy
Agent, did not call on me yesterday as he promised. I therefore sent a
paymaster to take charge of the office and directed a transfer to be made at
two o'clock. But the messenger returned about that hour with a letter from
Brown, stating that a consultation had been had with the President, who would
see me, but if no change of programme was ordered by 5 P.M. he would
immediately thereafter transfer. About three I received a note that the
President wished to see me. He said Hamlin had been to see him and was very
vehement, from some cause, in behalf of Brown. I stated what had been done;
that I felt a little delicate in consequence of my relations with H., so had
President Lincoln and himself also. I informed him I had a frank conversation
with Brown, who said he wanted time to consider, but had obviously telegraphed
to Hamlin. The President said he could not understand why H. should take such
extraordinary interest in this case. He then got me the statutes and showed me
a law on which Hamlin dwelt with some emphasis. We read it over together. I
told the President the law offered no serious obstacle to me. He said he took
the same view and would not deviate from his convictions. But Hamlin was
vehement, and he wished to treat him with courtesy, and give him time to fully
examine the case.
The paymaster
(Fulton), who called to have the transfer made, said Brown told him he should
not be prepared to transfer at two. F. then said he would wait, when a man whom
he did not know, but who sat smoking a cigar, said it would be of no use, F.
could wait or not. This man was Hamlin. Fulton replied that his business was
with the Navy Agent and not with him (Hamlin.) The latter soon re marked he
would go over and see Harlan, Secretary of the Interior.
Postmaster-General
Dennison took a walk with me this evening. Returning, we had a cup of tea
together. A shower came on, which detained him through the evening, and among a
variety of topics we got on this of Hamlin and the Navy Agent. He thought the
proceeding most extraordinary, and was especially surprised at the conduct of
Hamlin. This led to some exposure of Hamlin's conduct which I have made to no
others.
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