Prepared a
necessarily long letter to Mr. Sumner in answer to his application for
President Lincoln's indorsement on Smith's papers. Found an immense crowd at
the President's when I went there at 3 P.M on a little business which I could
not take time to explain as I wished. It related to the dismissal of Cartter, a
marine officer, whose father is presiding judge in this District, a coarse,
vulgar, strong-minded man, who will not be willing that his son should leave
the service, however undeserving. His son ran away and enlisted in the marines
as a private, was made an officer on his father's importunity, has been no
honor to the service at any time, and cannot be retained. Wants self-respect
and decent deportment. Undoubtedly I shall incur the resentment of the judge,
who has a vigorous as well as a vulgar intellect, and can make himself felt.
Still there is a duty to perform which I must not evade.
Edgar returned from
Narragansett this morning. Says Chief Justice Chase was there, and Hooper of
Boston. They seem to have a revenue steamer at their disposal.
