THE EXPULSION OF CAMERON
Cameron and Alexander Cummings—Two million dollars placed in New York subject to Cummings's draft—The steamer Catiline chartered and laden by Cummings and Thurlow Weed—The House Committee on Government Contracts—Cummings's testimony—Congressman Dawes's exposure of horse contracts—An equine Golgotha around Washington City—The House censures Cameron—Lincoln removes him and appoints Stanton in his place—Cameron appointed Minister to Russia—Trumbull opposes confirmation—Cameron is confirmed, six Republican Senators voting in the negative178
ARBITRARY ARRESTS
Lincoln's first suspension of the writ of habeas corpus—Secretary Seward and John Hay give verbal instructions thereunder—Senate debate on arbitrary arrests—Wide differences of opinion as to legality thereof—Trumbull calls for information—Debate between Trumbull, Dixon, and Wilson—Was power to suspend the writ lodged in the executive or in the legislative department?—Chief Justice Taney held that the writ had not been lawfully suspended anywhere—Trumbull demands trial by jury, without delay, of civilians arrested in loyal states—Before Congress takes action the election of 1862 results in victory for Democrats—Republican leaders intimidated—Stanton discharges all civilian prisoners—Congress passes Trumbull's bill authorizing President to suspend writ, but requiring trial in civil courts and discharge of persons not indicted—Bill to indemnify the President for previous acts passed by both houses—Banishment of Vallandigham and suppression of the Chicago Times—Trumbull opposes the latter190
INCIDENTS OF THE YEARS 1863 AND 1864
The movement in the Senate for the retirement of Secretary Seward—Letters from Gustave Koerner, Alfred Iverson, and Walter B. Scates—The appointment of M. W. Delahay as judge of the U.S. District Court of Kansas—His subsequent impeachment and resignation—Letters of General John M. Palmer, Colonel Fred Hecker, and Jesse K. Dubois—Trumbull doubts the expediency of Lincoln's second nomination—He thinks that there is a lack of efficiency in the prosecution of the war—This opinion shared by Henry Wilson and by Congressmen generally in the beginning of 1864—The people, however, were for Lincoln's renomination—The Cleveland Convention, and nomination of General Frémont—Simultaneous retirement of Frémont and Postmaster-General Blair210