The President has
finally issued a proclamation in regard to the Fenians. It should have appeared
earlier, but Seward has counseled delay. Speed put out a preliminary order,
which appeared to me to be designedly mischievous. I so said to the President,
who remarked that it had struck him as offensive, and he so told Speed before
it was published, yet it was not altered. The effect will be likely to throw
the Irish against the Administration, or make them, at all events, indifferent
towards it, whereas this all might have been different.
It is one of many
little things which impresses me there is intended mischief towards the
President. Speed acts with Seward and Stanton thoroughly, and his peculiarly
worded order, if not suggested by them, is just what they wished.
SOURCE: Gideon
Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and
Johnson, Vol. 2: April 1, 1864 — December 31, 1866, p. 523-4
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