Called on Secretary
of the Treasury in behalf of Pease of Janesville for collector. He, McCulloch,
defers too much to the dictates of Members of Congress, who have personal
objects in view, and many of them unfriendly to the Administration. Told him of
my interview with Sumner. McCulloch said in regard to Stanton that if he had
said to Sumner he approved of the Worcester speech, he was a double-dealer,
wore two faces, that if really opposed to the President's policy he ought not
to remain in the Cabinet.
On my way, returning
to the Navy Department, I called and had an interview with the President. Told
him of my conversation with Sumner, and that I was confirmed in the conviction
that a deep and extensive intrigue was going on against him. He seemed aware of
it, but not yet of its extent or of all the persons engaged in it. I remarked
that the patronage of the Executive had, I believed, been used to defeat the
policy of the Executive, and a summary removal of one or two mischievous men at
the proper time would be effective and salutary. He said he should not hesitate
one moment in taking off the heads of any of that class of busybodies.
I showed him a copy
of the New Orleans Tribune which Sumner had sent me, with passages underscored
in a memorial for the impeachment of the President. He wished the copy and I
gave it to him.
Called on Dennison
this evening and had a full and free interchange with him. He inquired if I had
ever heard a distinct avowal from Seward on the question of negro suffrage or
the provisional governments, or from Stanton explicitly in its favor. I replied
that I had not and he said he had not. He tells me that he hears from some of
Stanton's intimates that he will probably soon resign. This is mere trash,
unless he finds himself about being cornered; then he will make a merit of what
cannot be avoided. Dennison ridicules the flagrant humbug which Seward and the
papers have got up of Stanton's immense labors, which are really less than
those of his own, McCulloch's, or mine. Grant, Meigs, and others discharge the
labors for which S. gets credit. D. intends leaving to-morrow for Ohio, to be
absent for ten days. Wants me to accompany him in the morning to the President.
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