On the morning of Sunday the 3rd, went with
Postmaster-General Blair and family and my own family, also Mr. Fox, Mr. Faxon,
Dr. Horwitz, on an excursion down the Potomac and Bay to
the Capes, to Norfolk, and Fortress Monroe, returning to Washington this A.M.
at five o’clock. National salutes were fired from the American, English, and
French frigates and also from the Fortress at meridian on the 4th. The jaunt
was very pleasant.
Telegrams this A.M. inform us that the pirate Alabama was
sunk on the 19th of June off Cherbourg by the steamer Kearsarge, Commodore
Winslow, after a fight of one hour and a half. Informed the President and Cabinet
of the tidings, which was a matter of general congratulation and rejoicing.
Mr. Fessenden appeared at Cabinet-meeting as the successor
of Mr. Chase. Although the regular day of meeting, all were specially notified,
and all promptly attended. The President appeared more constrained and formal
than usual. When Mr. Stanton came in, he was accompanied by a clerk, whom he
seated at the President's table. The subject of trade and especially trade in
cotton with the Rebels, was the subject of general interest which the President
desired to lay before us. He appeared to have no fixed purpose in his own mind.
Alluded to a Mr. Atkinson who had called on him. Said that Mr. A. had impressed
him with some very striking facts. The most prominent was, that although the
Rebels sold less cotton they received about as much for it in consequence of
high price as when they had more of the article. The President thought it might
be well to take measures to secure the cotton, but was opposed to letting the
Rebels have gold.
Seward was voluble but not clear and pointed. Fessenden had
seen Atkinson, had interview with him, thought him intelligent. On the subject
of trade with the Rebels was not posted. Stanton made extended, and in the main
sensible and correct, remarks, being wholly opposed to fighting and trading at
the same time with the Rebels, ground which I have uniformly taken, but have
not always been supported. Blair made a few sensible remarks, as did Mr. Bates.
Usher, thinking it apparently a duty to say something, talked without much
point or force, on a subject he did not understand, nor to which he had given
much attention. Mr. Bates made a legal suggestion. As Stanton had pretty
clearly expressed my views, I did not care to multiply words farther than to
say so, and to regret that a bill had passed the last moment of the session
depriving the Mississippi Squadron of prize.
This was done, I understand, at the instigation of Chase, who
could not have been aware of the effect of what he urged. The incidental
remarks of some of the gentlemen on the subject of trade, and especially of
restrictions on gold, struck me as the wretched remnants of error which I hope
will go out with Mr. Chase. I also trust we shall get rid of his trade
regulations, trading agents, and other mischievous machinery.
The subject of the arrest and trial of General Dix in New
York for suspending the publication of the World and Journal of Commerce was
brought forward. There was a little squeamishness with some on the subject. The
President very frankly avowed the act to be his, and he thought the government
should protect Dix. Seward was positive and bold on that.
I expressed no opinion, nor did Blair or Bates. While I
regret that the papers should have been suppressed or meddled with, I would
not, I think, permit a general officer to be arrested and tried by a State
judge for obeying an order of the President. If there is a disposition to try
the question before the United States tribunals, it would be well to permit it.
This was my hasty conclusion.
SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon
Welles, Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 2: April 1, 1864
— December 31, 1866, p. 65-7
