Senators Doolittle
and Foster and Mr. Ford, who have been on a mission to the Plains, visiting New
Mexico, Colorado, etc., had an interview with the President and Cabinet of an
hour and a half. Their statement in relation to the Indians and Indian affairs
exhibits the folly and wickedness of the expedition which has been gotten up by
somebody without authority or the knowledge of the government.
Their strong
protestations against an Indian war, and their statement of the means which
they had taken to prevent it came in very opportunely. Stanton said General
Grant had already written to restrict operations; he had also sent to General
Meigs. I have no doubt a check has been put on a very extraordinary and unaccountable
proceeding, but I doubt if an entire stop is yet put to war expenses.
Stanton is still
full of apprehension and stories of plots and conspiracies. I am inclined to
believe he has fears, and he evidently wishes the President to be alarmed. He
had quite a story to-day, and read quite a long affidavit from some one whom I
do not recall, stating he had been in communication with C. C. Clay and others
in Canada, that they wanted him to be one of a party to assassinate President
Lincoln and his whole Cabinet. Dennison and McCulloch and I thought the President
seemed inclined to give this rigmarole some credence. I think the story, though
plausibly got up, was chiefly humbug. Likely Stanton believes me stupid because
I give so little heed to his sensational communications; but really a large
portion of them seem to me ludicrous and puerile. He still keeps up a guard
around his house, and never ventures out without a stout man to accompany him
who is ordinarily about ten feet behind him. This body-guard is, I have no
doubt, paid for by the public. He urged a similar guard for me and others.
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