Governor Thomas of Maryland called on me to-day in behalf of
Commodore Ringgold, who wants a vote of thanks on the recommendation of the
President. He says that he and other Members of Congress — Senators and Representatives
— have had an interview with the President, who is ready to send in the
recommendation, if I will make it out. Told the Governor that it was all wrong;
that I well understood Ringgold's intrigue; that the movement was contrary to
the policy of the Department, was not to be thought of, would be injustice to
others; and that it would be better to repeal the whole law than do anything of
the kind. I promised him, however, to see the President, and did so.
I called on the President in the afternoon, who said he
should be governed entirely by my views in the matter. The subject was
therefore soon disposed of. I then brought up the subject of promoting Colonel
Hawley. He said the measure was full now, but he hoped to be able to do justice
to H. one of these days. I remarked that I had avoided pressing him on the
subject of military appointments, but this was one for a meritorious man from
my own State, that I had it much at heart, and had repeatedly brought it to his
notice, etc., etc. He gave me credit for forbearance beyond others and assured
me he should try not to forget this case when there was opportunity. I have no
aid from the Members of Congress in this matter, and from some of them I
apprehend there is opposition, or something akin to it. I regret that Hawley
fails to appreciate Dahlgren and his service, and rightly to comprehend the
whole question of naval and military operations at Charleston. But this
partisan weakness shall not prevent me from doing him justice.
SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles,
Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 1: 1861 – March 30,
1864, p. 534-5
