On October 22, Lincoln told the cabinet that “it was now clear that Fremont was not fit for the command” and that “Hunter was better.” Seward dissented, arguing that the Pathfinder was too popular with the army to dismiss. Chase and Cameron concurred, to the disgust of Bates, who urged Lincoln “to avoid the timorous and vacillating course that could but degrade the Adm[inistration]n and make it weak and helpless—to assume the powers of his place and speak in the language of command.” To leave Frémont in charge after Cameron had countermanded his orders, repudiated his contracts, denounced his contractors, suspended his officers, and halted construction of fortifications at St. Louis would convince the public that the administration feared him. Heatedly the attorney general protested against having his home state sacrificed. Despite this passionate appeal, Lincoln agreed to delay action. Bates said the president hung “in painful and mortyfying doubt” and that his suffering was “evidently great.” (Bates conceded that he had “demanded the recall of Genl. Frémont, possibly with too much emphasis & too often repeated.”)
Source: Abraham Lincoln ∶ A Life ▫𓂃