Sunday March 3, 1861
Washington DC
Lincoln remains in quarters all day, presumably working on Inaugural Address and cabinet appointments. Is willing to have convention of all states to adjust differences between North and South.
["Would it not be well to have the New York Legislature apply to Congress to call a National Convention? It would be agreeable to the Administration—in all parts," Seward to Weed, March 11, 1861, Thurlow Weed Papers, Rush Rhees Library, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.] Sen. Seward (N.Y.) confers at length with Lincoln regarding cabinet appointments.
In morning interview President offers navy cabinet post to Gideon Welles, Connecticut newspaperman and politician, who accepts.
Horatio N. Taft, chief examiner in Patent Office, and wife call on President-elect and Mrs. Lincoln and find few Washington ladies present. The Lincolns are "not welcome."
Lincoln gives dinner for William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, Gideon Welles, Montgomery Blair, Simon Cameron, Caleb B. Smith, and Edward Bates, whose names he forwards to Senate as members of cabinet.
Goes to Senate for Sen. Crittenden's (Ky.) farewell speech.