At church in the morning.
Good, plain sermon. Wished much to join in communion, but felt myself to
subject to temptation to sin. After church went to see Cameron by appointment,
but being obliged to meet the President, etc., at one, could only excuse
myself. At President's, found Generals McDowell, Franklin, and Meigs, and
Seward and Blair. Meigs decided against dividing forces; in favor of battles in
front. President said McClellan's health was much improved; and thought it best
to adjourn until to-morrow; and have all then present, attend, with McC. at
three. Home, and talk, and reading. Dinner. Cameron came in. Advised loan in
Holland, and recommended Brooks, Lewis, and another whom I have forgotten. Then
turned to department matters; and we talked of his going to Russia, and Stanton
as successor; and he proposed I should again see the President. I first
proposed seeing Seward, to which he assented. He declared himself determined to
maintain himself at the head of his department, if he remained; and to resist,
hereafter, all interferences. I told him I would, in that event, stand by him
faithfully. He and I drove to Willard's, where I left him, and went myself to
Seward's. I told him, at once, what was in my mind — that I thought the
President and Cameron were both willing that C. should go to Russia. He seemed
to receive the matter as new; except so far as suggested by me last night.
Wanted to know who would succeed Cameron. I said Holt and Stanton had been
named; that I feared Holt might embarrass us, on the slavery question, and
might not prove quite equal to the emergency; that Stanton was a good lawyer
and full of energy; but I could not, of course, judge him as an executive
officer as well as he (S.) could, for he knew him when he was in Buchanan's
Cabinet. Seward replied that he saw much of him then; that he was of great
force; full of expedients, and thoroughly loyal. Finally, he agreed to the
whole thing; and promised to go with me, to talk with the President about it,
to-morrow. Just at this point, Cameron came in, with a letter from the President, proposing his nomination to Russia, in the morning. He was quite
offended; supposing the letter intended as a dismissal; and, therefore,
discourteous. We both assured him it could not be so. Finally, he concluded to
retain the letter till morning; and then go and see the President. Seward was
expecting General Butler; and Cameron said he ought to be sent off immediately.
I said, “Well, let's leave Seward to order him off at once.” C. laughed; and we
went off together, I taking him to his house. Before parting, I told him what
had passed between me and Seward concerning Stanton, with which he was gratified.
I advised him to go to the President in the morning, express his thanks
for the consideration with which his wishes, made known through me, as well as
by himself orally, had been treated, and tell him frankly, how desirable it was
to him that his successor should be a Pennsylvanian, and should be Stanton. I
said I thought that his wish, supported as it would be by Seward and myself,
would certainly be gratified, and told him that the President had already
mentioned Stanton, in a way which indicated that no objection on his part would
be made. I said, also, that, if he wished, I would see Seward, and would go to
the President, after he had left him, and urge the point. He asked, why not
come in when we should be there; and I assented to this. We parted, and I came
home. A day which may have — and, seemingly, must have — great bearing on
affairs. I fear Mr. Seward may think Cameron's coming into his house
pre-arranged, and that I was not dealing frankly. I feel satisfied, however,
that I have acted right, and with just deference to all concerned, and have in
no respect deviated from the truth.*
_______________
* Warden’s “Private Life and Public Services of Salmon P.
Chase.”
SOURCES: Frederick W. Seward, Seward at Washington as Senator and Secretary of State, p. 44-5; John
Niven, Editor, The Salmon P. Chase
Papers, Volume 1: Journals, 1828-1872, p. 324-6
