Some Republicans maintained that Hunter had acted within the scope of his authority as a department commander; that the slaves freed by his order could not in good conscience be re-enslaved; and that the order would eliminate all possibility of European powers’ intervention on behalf of the Confederacy. Chase urged Lincoln to support Hunter, alleging that it was “of the highest importance, whether our relations at home or abroad be considered, that this order be not revoked. … It will be cordially approved, I assume, by more than nine tenths of the people on whom you must rely for support of your Administration.” The president, who “expressed great indignation” at Hunter’s action, curtly replied: “No commanding general shall do such a thing, upon my responsibility, without consulting me.” He explained that Hunter “was specially enjoined not to meddle with matters political” and had been forbidden to issue proclamations. Though Stanton approved of Hunter’s act, he deplored his lack of discretion: “Damn him, why didn’t he do it and say nothing about it.” Similarly, Lincoln remarked that he wished the general “to do it, not say it.”
Source: Abraham Lincoln ∶ A Life ▫𓂃