Seward read the
dispatches which he proposed to send to Mr. Motley,—the first, protesting
against the sending of troops to Mexico by the Austrian Government, the second,
in case they did send, after being thus notified, that he ask for his papers
and withdraw from Vienna.
McCulloch favored
the first paper, but objected to the last; deprecated war under any
circumstances, and even at any time for so worthless a people as the Mexicans.
Stanton was for both. Dennison was most emphatic for both and for maintaining
the Monroe Doctrine. Was ready to fight the European Powers, if they presumed
to interfere with the American states; considered the honor and welfare of the
country involved in this. Speed concurred with McCulloch, Harlan with Dennison.
I suggested it would have been better, and would now be better, to meet the
real party if we were to do anything; that we should take the head of France
rather than the tail of Austria. That I did not mean to object to the measures
marked out by the Secretary of State, which I looked upon as a menace, but that
to fire off an ultimatum to remote Austria, while we had done nothing of the
kind as regards France, whose troops were on our Southwestern frontiers, did
not strike me favorably.
Seward said he was
only waiting Bigelow's dispatches to take the same course towards France, if
she did not recede. Have a telegram this evening from Commander Cooper of the
Winooski that the Ocean Spray had arrived at Eastport with five hundred stand
of arms and asking if he should permit them to land. Within five minutes
Colonel Seward came in with papers from the Secretary of State, consisting of a
note from Sir Frederick Bruce, inclosing two telegrams from Eastport in regard
to arms on the Spray, urging that the arms and the Fenians should not be
permitted to meet. These had been sent to Stanton, who had returned them with a
note [to the effect] that General Meade was on his way to Eastport, but he
disliked to send an order by telegraph, for that would apprize the Fenians of
his coming, and suggesting that the Navy could take some action. Seward wrote
in pencil on the back of the envelope inclosing the papers, that I "could
send orders to restrain action, or another to that effect."
I observe that these
men are very chary about disturbing the Fenians, and I do not care to travel
out of the line of duty to relieve them. I therefore sent word that I was
content to leave the subject with Cooper till to-morrow, when General Meade
would doubtless be at Eastport; if not, the civil authorities were there, with
whom the Navy would coƶperate, or whom they could assist.
Speed and Stanton
expressed an opinion, in which others of the Cabinet concurred, that property
once taken and used by the Rebel Government became forfeited to the original
owner and was legal capture. I had so previously decided last fall on the
question of twenty-two rollers and machinery captured at Charlotte and now at
Norfolk.
Thad Stevens yesterday
introduced a resolution directing that three copies of Forney's Chronicle
should be sent to our legations and consuls abroad and be paid for out of the
contingent of the House, — a monstrous proposition made in wanton recklessness
and supported by sixty votes. Forney in return puffs Stevens as the "Great
Commoner."
SOURCE: Gideon
Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and
Johnson, Vol. 2: April 1, 1864 — December 31, 1866, p. 485-7
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