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diff --git a/2658.txt b/2658.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8cf62cb --- /dev/null +++ b/2658.txt @@ -0,0 +1,16525 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Papers And Writings Of Abraham Lincoln, +Volume Six, by Abraham Lincoln + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Papers And Writings Of Abraham Lincoln, Volume Six + Constitutional Edition + +Author: Abraham Lincoln + +Commentator: Theodore Roosevelt, Carl Schurz, and Joseph Choate + +Editor: Arthur Brooks Lapsley + +Release Date: June, 2001 [Etext #2658] +Posting Date: July 5, 2009 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LINCOLN'S PAPERS *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +THE PAPERS AND WRITINGS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN + +VOLUME SIX + +CONSTITUTIONAL EDITION + +By Abraham Lincoln + + +Edited by Arthur Brooks Lapsley + + + + + +THE WRITINGS OF A. LINCOLN, Volume Six, 1862-1863 + + + + +1862 + + + + +RECOMMENDATION OF NAVAL OFFICERS + +MESSAGE TO CONGRESS. + +WASHINGTON, D.C., May 14, 1862. + +TO SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: + +The third section of the "Act further to promote the efficiency of the +Navy," approved 21st of December, 1861, provides: + +"That the President of the United States by and with the advice and +consent of the Senate, shall have the authority to detail from the retired +list of the navy for the command of squadrons and single ships such +officers as he may believe that the good of the service requires to be +thus placed in command; and such officers may, if upon the recommendation +of the President of the United States they shall receive a vote of thanks +of Congress for their services and gallantry in action against an enemy, +be restored to the active list, and not otherwise." + +In conformity with this law, Captain David G. Farragut was nominated to +the Senate for continuance as the flag-officer in command of the squadron +which recently rendered such important service to the Union by his +successful operations on the lower Mississippi and capture of New Orleans. + +Believing that no occasion could arise which would more fully correspond +with the intention of the law or be more pregnant with happy influence as +an example, I cordially recommend that Captain D. G. Farragut receive a +vote of thanks of Congress for his services and gallantry displayed in the +capture since 21st December, 1861, of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, city +of New Orleans, and the destruction of various rebel gunboats, rams, +etc..... + + + + +TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: + +I submit herewith a list of naval officers who commanded vessels +engaged in the recent brilliant operations of the squadron commanded by +Flag-officer Farragut which led to the capture of Forts Jackson and St. +Philip, city of New Orleans, and the destruction of rebel gunboats, rams, +etc., in April 1862. For their services and gallantry on those occasions I +cordially recommend that they should, by name, receive a vote of thanks of +Congress: + +LIST: + + Captain Theodorus Bailey. + Captain Henry W. Morris. + Captain Thomas T. Craven. + Commander Henry H. Bell. + Commander Samuel Phillips Lee. + Commander Samuel Swartwout. + Commander Melancton Smith. + Commander Charles Stewart Boggs + Commander John De Camp + Commander James Alden. + Commander David D. Porter. + Commander Richard Wainwright. + Commander William B. Renshaw. + Lieutenant Commanding Abram D. Harrell. + Lieutenant Commanding Edward Donaldson. + Lieutenant Commanding George H. Preble. + Lieutenant Commanding Edward T. Nichols. + Lieutenant Commanding Jonathan M. Wainwright. + Lieutenant Commanding John Guest. + Lieutenant Commanding Charles H. B. Caldwell. + Lieutenant Commanding Napoleon B. Harrison. + Lieutenant Commanding Albert N. Smith. + Lieutenant Commanding Pierce Crosby. + Lieutenant Commanding George M. Ransom. + Lieutenant Commanding Watson Smith. + Lieutenant Commanding John H. Russell. + Lieutenant Commanding Walter W. Queen. + Lieutenant Commanding K. Randolph Breese. + Acting Lieutenant Commanding Sellin E. Woolworth. + Acting Lieutenant Commanding Charles H. Baldwin. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +WASHINGTON, D.C., May 14, 1862 + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON CITY, May 15, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN, Cumberland, Virginia: + +Your long despatch of yesterday is just received. I will answer more fully +soon. Will say now that all your despatches to the Secretary of War have +been promptly shown to me. Have done and shall do all I could and can to +sustain you. Hoped that the opening of James River and putting Wool and +Burnside in communication, with an open road to Richmond, or to you, had +effected something in that direction. I am still unwilling to take all our +force off the direct line between Richmond and here. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +SPEECH TO THE 12TH INDIANA REGIMENT, MAY [15?] 1862 + +SOLDIERS, OF THE TWELFTH INDIANA REGIMENT: + +It has not been customary heretofore, nor will it be hereafter, for me +to say something to every regiment passing in review. It occurs too +frequently for me to have speeches ready on all occasions. As you have +paid such a mark of respect to the chief magistrate, it appears that I +should say a word or two in reply. Your colonel has thought fit, on his +own account and in your name, to say that you are satisfied with the +manner in which I have performed my part in the difficulties which have +surrounded the nation. For your kind expressions I am extremely grateful, +but on the other hand I assure you that the nation is more indebted to +you, and such as you, than to me. It is upon the brave hearts and strong +arms of the people of the country that our reliance has been placed in +support of free government and free institutions. + +For the part which you and the brave army of which you are a part have, +under Providence, performed in this great struggle, I tender more thanks +especially to this regiment, which has been the subject of good report. +The thanks of the nation will follow you, and may God's blessing rest upon +you now and forever. I hope that upon your return to your homes you will +find your friends and loved ones well and happy. I bid you farewell. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL I. McDOWELL. + +WASHINGTON, May 16, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McDOWELL: + +What is the strength of your force now actually with you? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +MEMORANDUM OF PROPOSED ADDITIONS TO INSTRUCTIONS OF ABOVE DATE + +TO GENERAL McDOWELL, AND GENERAL MEIGS'S INDORSEMENT THEREON. + +May 17, 1862. You will retain the separate command of the forces taken +with you; but while co-operating with General McClellan you will obey his +orders, except that you are to judge, and are not to allow your force to +be disposed otherwise than so as to give the greatest protection to this +capital which may be possible from that distance. + +[Indorsement.] + +TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR: + +The President having shown this to me, I suggested that it is dangerous to +direct a subordinate not to obey the orders of his superior in any case, +and that to give instructions to General McClellan to this same end and +furnish General McDowell with a copy thereof would effect the object +desired by the President. He desired me to say that the sketch of +instructions to General McClellan herewith he thought made this addition +unnecessary. + +Respectfully, M. C. M. + + + + +MILITARY EMANCIPATION + +INDORSEMENT RELATING TO GENERAL DAVID HUNTER'S ORDER OF MILITARY +EMANCIPATION, + +MAY 17, 1862 + +No commanding general shall do such a thing upon my responsibility without +consulting me. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +FROM SECRETARY STANTON TO GENERAL McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON, May 18, 1862. + +GENERAL: Your despatch to the President, asking reinforcements, has been +received and carefully considered. + +The President is not willing to uncover the capital entirely; and it is +believed that, even if this were prudent, it would require more time to +effect a junction between your army and that of the Rappahannock by +the way of the Potomac and York rivers than by a land march. In order, +therefore, to increase the strength of the attack upon Richmond at the +earliest moment, General McDowell has been ordered to march upon that city +by the shortest route. He is ordered, keeping himself always in position +to save the capital from all possible attack, so to operate as to put his +left wing in communication with your right wing, and you are instructed +to co-operate so as to establish this communication as soon as possible by +extending your right-wing to the north of Richmond. + +It is believed that this communication can be safely established either +north or south of the Pamunkey River. + +In any event, you will be able to prevent the main body of the enemy's +forces from leaving Richmond and falling in overwhelming force upon +General McDowell. He will move with between thirty-five and forty thousand +men. + +A copy of the instructions to General McDowell are with this. The specific +task assigned to his command has been to provide against any danger to the +capital of the nation. + +At your earnest call for reinforcements, he is sent forward to co-operate +in the reduction of Richmond, but charged, in attempting this, not to +uncover the city of Washington; and you will give no order, either before +or after your junction, which can put him out of position to cover +this city. You and he will communicate with each other by telegraph or +otherwise as frequently as may be necessary for efficient cooperation. +When General McDowell is in position on your right, his supplies must be +drawn from West Point, and you will instruct your staff-officers to be +prepared to supply him by that route. + +The President desires that General McDowell retain the command of the +Department of the Rappahannock and of the forces with which he moves +forward. + +By order of the President: EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + +MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE B. McCLELLAN, Commanding Army of the Potomac, before +Richmond. + + + + +PROCLAMATION REVOKING GENERAL HUNTER'S ORDER OF MILITARY EMANCIPATION, + +MAY 19, 1862. + +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: + +A Proclamation + +Whereas there appears in the public prints what purports to be a +proclamation of Major general Hunter, in the words and figures following, +to wit: + +(General Orders No. 11) HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, HILTON HEAD, +PORT ROYAL, S. C., May 9, 1862. + +"The three States of Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina, comprising the +military department of the South, having deliberately declared themselves +no longer under the protection of the United States of America, and +having taken up arms against the said United States, it became a military +necessity to declare martial law. This was accordingly done on the +25th day of April, 1862. Slavery and martial law in a free country are +altogether incompatible. The persons in these three States: Georgia +Florida, and South Carolina--heretofore held as slaves are therefore +declared forever free. + +"By command of Major-General D. Hunter: "(Official.)ED. W. SMITH, "Acting +Assistant Adjutant-General." + +And whereas the same is producing some excitement and misunderstanding: +therefore, + +I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, proclaim and declare +that the Government of the United States, had no knowledge, information, +or belief of an intention on the part of General Hunter to issue such a +proclamation; nor has it yet any authentic information that the document +is genuine. And further, that neither General Hunter nor any other +commander or person has been authorized by the Government of the United +States to make a proclamation declaring the slaves of any State free; and +that the supposed proclamation now in question, whether genuine or false, +is altogether void so far as respects such a declaration. + +I further make known that whether it be competent for me, as +commander-in-chief of the army and navy, to declare the slaves of any +State or States free, and whether, at any time, in any case, it shall have +become a necessity indispensable to the maintenance of the government to +exercise such supposed power, are questions which under my responsibility +I reserve to myself, and which I cannot feel justified in leaving to the +decision of commanders in the field. + +These are totally different questions from those of police regulations in +armies and camps. + +On the sixth day of March last, by special message, I recommended to +Congress the adoption of a joint resolution, to be substantially as +follows: + +Resolved, That the United States ought to co-operate with any State which +may adopt gradual abolishment of slavery, giving to such State pecuniary +aid, to be used by such State, in its discretion, to compensate for the +inconvenience, public and private, produced by such change of system. + +The resolution in the language above quoted was adopted by large +majorities in both branches of Congress, and now stands an authentic, +definite, and solemn proposal of the nation to the States and people +most immediately interested in the subject-matter. To the people of those +States I now earnestly appeal. I do not argue--I beseech you to make +arguments for yourselves. You cannot, if you would, be blind to the signs +of the times. I beg of you a calm and enlarged consideration of them, +ranging, if it may be, far above personal and partisan politics. This +proposal makes common cause for a common object, casting no reproaches +upon any. It acts not the Pharisee. The change it contemplates would come +gently as the dews of heaven, not rending or wrecking anything. Will you +not embrace it? So much good has not been done, by one effort, in all past +time, as in the providence of God it is now your high privilege to do. May +the vast future not have to lament that you have neglected it. + +In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the +United States to be affixed. + +Done at the city of Washington, this nineteenth day of May, in the year of +our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, and of the independence +of the United States the eighty-sixth. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +By the President: WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. E. McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON, May 21, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +I have just been waited on by a large committee who present a petition +signed by twenty-three senators and eighty-four representatives asking me +to restore General Hamilton to his division. I wish to do this, and yet I +do not wish to be understood as rebuking you. Please answer at once. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON CITY, May 22, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +Your long despatch of yesterday just received. You will have just such +control of General McDowell and his forces as you therein indicate. +McDowell can reach you by land sooner than he could get aboard of boats, +if the boats were ready at Fredericksburg, unless his march shall be +resisted, in which case the force resisting him will certainly not be +confronting you at Richmond. By land he can reach you in five days after +starting, whereas by water he would not reach you in two weeks, judging by +past experience. Franklin's single division did not reach you in ten days +after I ordered it. + + +A. LINCOLN, + +President United States. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON, May 24, 1862. 4 PM. + +MAJOR-GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN: + +In consequence of General Banks's critical position, I have been compelled +to suspend General McDowell's movements to join you. The enemy are making +a desperate push upon Harper's Ferry, and we are trying to throw General +Fremont's force and part of General McDowell's in their rear. + + +A. LINCOLN, President. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL McCLELLAN + +WASHINGTON May 24, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE B. McCLELLAN: + +I left General McDowell's camp at dark last evening. Shields's command is +there, but it is so worn that he cannot move before Monday morning, the +26th. We have so thinned our line to get troops for other places that it +was broken yesterday at Front Royal, with a probable loss to us of one +regiment infantry, two Companies cavalry, putting General Banks in some +peril. + +The enemy's forces under General Anderson now opposing General McDowell's +advance have as their line of supply and retreat the road to Richmond. + +If, in conjunction with McDowell's movement against Anderson, you +could send a force from your right to cut off the enemy's supplies from +Richmond, preserve the railroad bridges across the two forks of the +Pamunkey, and intercept the enemy's retreat, you will prevent the army +now opposed to you from receiving an accession of numbers of nearly 15,000 +men; and if you succeed in saving the bridges you will secure a line of +railroad for supplies in addition to the one you now have. Can you not +do this almost as well as not while you are building the Chickahominy +bridges? McDowell and Shields both say they can, and positively will, move +Monday morning. I wish you to move cautiously and safely. + +You will have command of McDowell, after he joins you, precisely as you +indicated in your long despatch to us of the 21st. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL RUFUS SAXTON. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, May, 24 1862. 2 P.M. + +GENERAL SAXTON: + +Geary reports Jackson with 20,000 moving from Ashby's Gap by the Little +River turnpike, through Aldie, toward Centreville. This he says is +reliable. He is also informed of large forces south of him. We know +a force of some 15,000 broke up Saturday night from in front of +Fredericksburg and went we know not where. Please inform us, if possible, +what has become of the force which pursued Banks yesterday; also any other +information you have. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO COLONEL D. S. MILES. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, May 24, 1862. 1.30 P.M. + +COLONEL MILES, Harper's Ferry, Virginia + +Could you not send scouts from Winchester who would tell whether enemy are +north of Banks, moving on Winchester? What is the latest you have? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. C. FREMONT. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, May 24, 1862. 4 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL FREMONT, Franklin: + +You are authorized to purchase the 400 horses, or take them wherever or +however you can get them. The exposed condition of General Banks makes +his immediate relief a point of paramount importance. You are therefore +directed by the President to move against Jackson at Harrisonburg and +operate against the enemy in such way as to relieve Banks. This movement +must be made immediately. You will acknowledge the receipt of this order, +and specify the hour it is received by you. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. C. FREMONT. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, May 24, 1862. 7.15 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL FREMONT, Franklin, Virginia: + +Many thanks for the promptness with which you have answered that you will +execute the order. Much--perhaps all--depends upon the celerity with which +you can execute it. Put the utmost speed into it. Do not lose a minute. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, May 24, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, near Corinth, Mississippi: + +Several despatches from Assistant Secretary Scott and one from Governor +Morton asking reinforcements for you have been received. I beg you to be +assured we do the best we can. I mean to cast no blame where I tell you +each of our commanders along our line from Richmond to Corinth supposes +himself to be confronted by numbers superior to his own. Under this +pressure We thinned the line on the upper Potomac, until yesterday it was +broken with heavy loss to us, and General Banks put in great peril, out of +which he is not yet extricated, and may be actually captured. We need men +to repair this breach, and have them not at hand. My dear General, I feel +justified to rely very much on you. I believe you and the brave officers +and men with you can and will get the victory at Corinth. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL I. McDOWELL + +WAR DEPARTMENT, May 24, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McDOWELL, Fredricksburg: + +General Fremont has been ordered by telegraph to move from Franklin on +Harrisonburg to relieve General Banks, and capture or destroy Jackson's +and Ewell's forces. You are instructed, laying aside for the present +the movement on Richmond, to put 20,000 men in motion at once for the +Shenandoah, moving on the line or in advance of the line of the Manassas +Gap railroad. Your object will be to capture the forces of Jackson and +Ewell, either in co-operation with General Fremont, or, in case want +of supplies or of transportation, interferes with his movements, it is +believed that the force which you move will be sufficient to accomplish +this object alone. The information thus far received here makes it +probable that if the enemy operate actively against General Banks, you +will not be able to count upon much assistance from him, but may even have +to release him. Reports received this moment are that Banks is fighting +with Ewell eight miles from Winchester. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL McDOWELL. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, D.C., May 24, 1862 + +MAJOR-GENERAL I. McDOWELL: + +I am highly gratified by your alacrity in obeying my order. The change was +as painful to me as it can possibly be to you or to any one. Everything +now depends upon the celerity and vigor of your movement. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. W. GEARY. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, May 25, 1862 1.45 P.M. + +GENERAL GEARY, White Plains: + +Please give us your best present impression as to the number of the +enemy's forces north of Strasburg and Front Royal. Are the forces still +moving north through the gap at Front Royal and between you and there? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON, May 25, 1862. 2 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +The enemy is moving north in sufficient force to drive General Banks +before him--precisely in what force we cannot tell. He is also threatening +Leesburg and Geary, on the Manassas Gap railroad, from both north and +south--in precisely what force we cannot tell. I think the movement is a +general and concerted one, such as would not be if he was acting upon the +purpose of a very desperate defense of Richmond. I think the time is near +when you must either attack Richmond or give up the job and come to the +defense of Washington. Let me hear from you instantly. + + +A. LINCOLN, President. + + + + +ORDER TAKING MILITARY POSSESSION OF RAILROADS. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, May 25, 1862. + +Ordered: By virtue of the authority vested by act of Congress, the +President takes military possession of all the railroads in the United +States from and after this date until further order, and directs that the +respective railroad companies, their officers and servants, shall +hold themselves in readiness for the transportation of such troops and +munitions of war as may be ordered by the military authorities, to the +exclusion of all other business. + +By order of the Secretary of War. + +M. C. MEIGS + + + + +TELEGRAM TO SECRETARY CHASE. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, May 25, 1862. + +SECRETARY CHASE, Fredericksburg, Virginia: + +It now appears that Banks got safely into Winchester last night, and is +this morning retreating on Harper's Ferry. This justifies the inference +that he is pressed by numbers superior to his own. I think it not +improbable that Ewell, Jackson, and Johnson are pouring through the gap +they made day before yesterday at Front Royal, making a dash northward. It +will be a very valuable and very honorable service for General McDowell +to cut them off. I hope he will put all possible energy and speed into the +effort. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL R. SAXTON. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, May 25, 1862. + +GENERAL SAXTON, Harper's Ferry: + +If Banks reaches Martinsburg, is he any the better for it? Will not the +enemy cut him from thence to Harper's Ferry? Have you sent anything to +meet him and assist him at Martinsburg? This is an inquiry, not an order. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL R. SAXTON. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, May 25, 1862. 6.30 P.M. + +GENERAL SAXTON, Harper's Ferry: + +One good six-gun battery, complete in its men and appointments, is now on +its way to you from Baltimore. Eleven other guns, of different sorts, +are on their way to you from here. Hope they will all reach you before +morning. As you have but 2500 men at Harper's Ferry, where are the rest +which were in that vicinity and which we have sent forward? Have any of +them been cut off? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL R. SAXTON. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, May 25, 1862. + +GENERAL SAXTON, Harper's Ferry: + +I fear you have mistaken me. I did not mean to question the correctness of +your conduct; on the contrary! I approve what you have done. As the 2500 +reported by you seemed small to me, I feared some had got to Banks and +been cut off with him. Please tell me the exact number you now have in +hand. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +[Sent in cipher.] + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, D. C., May 25,1862. 8.30 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +Your despatch received. General Banks was at Strasburg, with about 6,000 +men, Shields having been taken from him to swell a column for McDowell +to aid you at Richmond, and the rest of his force scattered at various +places. On the 23d a rebel force of 7000 to 10,000 fell upon one regiment +and two companies guarding the bridge at Front Royal, destroying it +entirely; crossed the Shenandoah, and on the 24th (yesterday) pushed to +get north of Banks, on the road to Winchester. Banks ran a race with them, +beating them into Winchester yesterday evening. This morning a battle +ensued between the two forces, in which Banks was beaten back into full +retreat toward Martinsburg, and probably is broken up into a total rout. +Geary, on the Manassas Gap railroad, just now reports that Jackson is +now near Front Royal, With 10,000, following up and supporting, as I +understand, the forces now pursuing Banks, also that another force of +10,000 is near Orleans, following on in the same direction. Stripped here, +as we are here, it will be all we can do to prevent them crossing the +Potomac at Harper's Ferry or above. We have about 20,000 of McDowell's +force moving back to the vicinity of Front Royal, and General Fremont, who +was at Franklin, is moving to Harrisonburg; both these movements intended +to get in the enemy's rear. + +One more of McDowell's brigades is ordered through here to Harper's Ferry; +the rest of his force remains for the present at Fredericksburg. We are +sending such regiments and dribs from here and Baltimore as we can spare +to Harper's Ferry, supplying their places in some sort by calling in +militia from the adjacent States. We also have eighteen cannon on the +road to Harper's Ferry, of which arm there is not a single one yet at that +point. This is now our situation. + +If McDowell's force was now beyond our reach, we should be utterly +helpless. Apprehension of something like this, and no unwillingness to +sustain you, has always been my reason for withholding McDowell's force +from you. Please understand this, and do the best you can with the force +you have. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +HISTORY OF CONSPIRACY OF REBELLION + +MESSAGE TO CONGRESS. + +MAY 16, 1862 + +TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: + +The insurrection which is yet existing in the United States and aims at +the overthrow of the Federal Constitution and the Union, was clandestinely +prepared during the Winter of 1860 and 1861, and assumed an open +organization in the form of a treasonable provisional government at +Montgomery, in Alabama on the 18th day of February, 1861. On the 12th day +of April, 1861, the insurgents committed the flagrant act of civil war by +the bombardment and the capture of Fort Sumter, Which cut off the hope of +immediate conciliation. Immediately afterward all the roads and avenues to +this city were obstructed, and the capital was put into the condition of +a siege. The mails in every direction were stopped and the lines of +telegraph cut off by the insurgents, and military and naval forces which +had been called out by the government for the defense of Washington were +prevented from reaching the city by organized and combined treasonable +resistance in the State of Maryland. There was no adequate and effective +organization for the public defense. Congress had indefinitely adjourned. +There was no time to convene them. It became necessary for me to choose +whether, using only the existing means, agencies, and processes which +Congress had provided, I should let the government fall at once into +ruin or whether, availing myself of the broader powers conferred by the +Constitution in cases of insurrection, I would make an effort to save it, +with all its blessings, for the present age and for posterity. + +I thereupon summoned my constitutional advisers, the heads of all the +departments, to meet on Sunday, the 20th day of April, 1861, at the +office of the Navy Department, and then and there, with their unanimous +concurrence, I directed that an armed revenue cutter should proceed to +sea to afford protection to the commercial marine, and especially the +California treasure ships then on their way to this coast. I also directed +the commandant of the navy-yard at Boston to purchase or charter and arm +as quickly as possible five steamships for purposes of public defense. I +directed the commandant of the navy-yard at Philadelphia to purchase +or charter and arm an equal number for the same purpose. I directed the +commandant at New York to purchase or charter and arm an equal number. I +directed Commander Gillis to purchase or charter and arm and put to sea +two other vessels. Similar directions were given to Commodore Dupont, +with a view to the opening of passages by water to and from the capital. +I directed the several officers to take the advice and obtain the aid and +efficient services, in the matter, of his Excellency Edwin D. Morgan, +the Governor of New York, or in his absence George D. Morgan, William M. +Evarts, R. M. Blatchford, and Moses H. Grinnell, who were by my directions +especially empowered by the Secretary of the Navy to act for his +department in that crisis in matters pertaining to the forwarding of +troops and supplies for the public defense. + +The several departments of the government at that time contained so large +a number of disloyal persons that it would have been impossible to provide +safely through official agents only for the performance of the duties +thus confided to citizens favorably known for their ability, loyalty, and +patriotism. + +The several orders issued upon these occurrences were transmitted by +private messengers, who pursued a circuitous way to the seaboard cities, +inland across the States of Pennsylvania and Ohio and the northern lakes. +I believe by these and other similar measures taken in that crisis, some +of which were without any authority of law, the government was saved from +overthrow. I am not aware that a dollar of the public funds thus confided +without authority of law to unofficial persons was either lost or wasted, +although apprehensions of such misdirection occurred to me as objections +to those extraordinary proceedings, and were necessarily overruled. + +I recall these transactions now because my attention has been directed to +a resolution which was passed by the House of Representatives on the 30th +day of last month, which is in these words: + +"Resolved, That Simon Cameron, late Secretary of War by investing +Alexander Cummings with the control of large sums of the public money +and authority to purchase military supplies without restriction, without +requiring from him any guaranty for the faithful performance of his +duties, when the services of competent public officers were available, and +by involving the government in a vast number of contracts with persons not +legitimately engaged in the business pertaining to the subject-matter of +such contracts, especially in the purchase of arms for future delivery, +has adopted a policy highly injurious to the public service, and deserves +the censure of the House." + +Congress will see that I should be wanting equally in candor and in +justice if I should leave the censure expressed in this resolution to rest +exclusively or chiefly upon Mr. Cameron. The same sentiment is unanimously +entertained by the heads of department who participated in the proceedings +which the House of Representatives have censured. It is due to Mr. Cameron +to say that although he fully approved the proceedings they were not moved +nor suggested by himself, and that not only the President, but all the +other heads of departments, were at least equally responsible with him for +whatever error, wrong, or fault was committed in the premises. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON, May 26, 1862. 12.40 + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +We have General Banks's official report. He has saved his army and +baggage, and has made a safe retreat to the river, and is probably safe at +Williamsport. He reports the attacking force at 15,000. + + +A. LINCOLN, President. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL I. McDOWELL. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, May 26, 1862. 1 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McDOWELL, Falmouth, Virginia: + +Despatches from Geary just received have been sent you. Should not +the remainder of your forces, except sufficient to hold the point at +Fredericksburg, move this way--to Manassas Junction or Alexandria? +As commander of this department, should you not be here? I ask these +questions. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON, May 26, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE B. McCLELLAN: + +Can you not cut the Alula Creek railroad? Also, what impression have you +as to intrenched works for you to contend with in front of Richmond? Can +you get near enough to throw shells into the city? + + +A. LINCOLN, President. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. C. FREMONT. + +May 27.1862. 9.58 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL FREMONT: + +I see that you are at Moorefield. You were expressly ordered to march to +Harrisonburg. What does this mean? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM FROM SECRETARY STANTON TO GOVERNOR ANDREW. + +WASHINGTON, May 27, 1862. + +GOVERNOR ANDREW, Boston: + +The President directs that the militia be relieved, and the enlistments +made for three years, or during the war. This, I think, will practically +not be longer than for a year. The latest intelligence from General Banks +states that he has saved nearly his whole command with small loss. + +Concentrations of our force have been made, which it is hoped will capture +the enemy. + +EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + + + + +TELEGRAM FROM SECRETARY STANTON TO GENERAL J. C. FREMONT, + +WASHINGTON, May 28, 1862 + +MAJOR-GENERAL FREMONT, Moorefield + +The President directs you to halt at Moorefield and await orders, unless +you hear of the enemy being in the general direction of Rodney, in which +case you will move upon him. Acknowledge the receipt of this order, and +the hour it is received. + +EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL I. McDOWELL. + +WASHINGTON, May 28, 1862. + +GENERAL McDOWELL, Manassas Junction: + +General McClellan at 6.30 P.M. yesterday telegraphed that Fitz-John +Porter's division had fought and driven 13,000 of the enemy, under General +Branch, from Hanover Court-House, and was driving them from a stand they +had made on the railroad at the time the messenger left. Two hours later +he telegraphed that Stoneman had captured an engine and six cars on +the Virginia Central, which he at once sent to communicate with Porter. +Nothing further from McClellan. + +If Porter effects a lodgment on both railroads near Hanover Court-House, +consider whether your forces in front of Fredericksburg should not push +through and join him. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON, May 28, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +What of F.J. Porter's expedition? Please answer. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL I. McDOWELL. + +WASHINGTON. May 28, 1862. 4 P.M. + +GENERAL McDOWELL, Manassas Junction: + +You say General Geary's scouts report that they find no enemy this side of +the Blue Ridge. Neither do I. Have they been to the Blue Ridge looking for +them. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL I. McDOWELL. + +WASHINGTON, May 28, 1862. 5.40 P.M. + +GENERAL McDOWELL, Manassas Junction: + +I think the evidence now preponderates that Ewell and Jackson are still +about Winchester. Assuming this, it is for you a question of legs. Put in +all the speed you can. I have told Fremont as much, and directed him to +drive at them as fast as possible. By the way, I suppose you know Fremont +has got up to Moorefield, instead of going into Harrisonburg. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN + +WASHINGTON May 28, 1862. 8.40 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +I am very glad of General F. J. Porter's victory. Still, if it was a +total rout of the enemy, I am puzzled to know why the Richmond and +Fredericksburg railroad was not seized again, as you say you have all the +railroads but the Richmond and Fredericksburg. I am puzzled to see how, +lacking that, you can have any, except the scrap from Richmond to +West Point. The scrap of the Virginia Central from Richmond to Hanover +Junction, without more, is simply nothing. That the whole of the enemy is +concentrating on Richmond, I think cannot be certainly known to you or +me. Saxton, at Harper's Ferry informs us that large forces, supposed to be +Jackson's and Ewells, forced his advance from Charlestown today. General +King telegraphs us from Fredericksburg that contrabands give certain +information that 15,000 left Hanover Junction Monday morning to reinforce +Jackson. I am painfully impressed with the importance of the struggle +before you, and shall aid you all I can consistently with my view of due +regard to all points. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM FROM SECRETARY STANTON TO GENERAL FREMONT. + +WASHINGTON, May 28, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN C. FREMONT, Moorefield: + +The order to remain at Moorefield was based on the supposition that it +would find you there. + +Upon subsequent information that the enemy were still operating in the +vicinity of Winchester and Martinsburg, you were directed to move against +the enemy. + +The President now again directs you to move against the enemy without +delay. Please acknowledge the receipt of this, and the time received. + +EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL MARCY. + +WASHINGTON, May 29, 1862. 10 A.M. + +GENERAL R. B. MARCY, McClellan's Headquarters: + +Yours just received. I think it cannot be certainly known whether the +force which fought General Porter is the same which recently confronted +McDowell. Another item of evidence bearing on it is that General Branch +commanded against Porter, while it was General Anderson who was in front +of McDowell. He and McDowell were in correspondence about prisoners. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, D. C., May 29, 1862. 10.30 A.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +I think we shall be able within three days to tell you certainly whether +any considerable force of the enemy--Jackson or any one else--is moving +on to Harper's Ferry or vicinity. Take this expected development into your +calculations. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL N. P. BANKS. + +WASHINGTON, May 29, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BANKS, Williamsport, Maryland: + +General McDowell's advance should, and probably will, be at or near +Front Royal at twelve (noon) tomorrow. General Fremont will be at or near +Strasburg as soon. Please watch the enemy closely, and follow and harass +and detain him if he attempts to retire. I mean this for General Saxton's +force as well as that immediately with you. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL FREMONT + +WASHINGTON, May 29, 1862. 12 M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL FREMONT, Moorefield, Virginia: + +General McDowell's advance, if not checked by the enemy, should, and +probably will, be at Front Royal by twelve (noon) to-morrow. His force, +when up, will be about 20,000. Please have your force at Strasburg, or, if +the route you are moving on does not lead to that point, as near Strasburg +as the enemy may be by the same time. Your despatch No.30 received and +satisfactory. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL I. McDOWELL. + +WASHINGTON, May 29, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McDOWELL, Manassas Junction: + +General Fremont's force should, and probably will, be at or near Strasburg +by twelve (noon) tomorrow. Try to have your force, or the advance of it, +at Front Royal as soon. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL MARCY. + +WASHINGTON, May 29, 1862. 1.20 P.M. + +GENERAL R. B. MARCY: + +Your despatch as to the South Anna and Ashland being seized by our forces +this morning is received. Understanding these points to be on the Richmond +and Fredericksburg railroad, I heartily congratulate the country, and +thank General McClellan and his army for their seizure. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL I. McDOWELL. + +WASHINGTON, May 30, 1862. 10 A.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McDOWELL, Manassas Junction: + +I somewhat apprehend that Fremont's force, in its present condition, may +not be quite strong enough in case it comes in collision with the enemy. +For this additional reason I wish you to push forward your column as +rapidly as possible. Tell me what number your force reaching Front Royal +will amount to. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL N. P. BANKS. + +WASHINGTON, May 30, 1862. 10.15 A.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BANKS, + +Williamsport, Maryland, via Harper's Ferry: + +If the enemy in force is in or about Martinsburg, Charlestown, and +Winchester, Or any or all of them, he may come in collision with Fremont, +in which case I am anxious that your force, with you and at Harper's +Ferry, should so operate as to assist Fremont if possible; the same if +the enemy should engage McDowell. This was the meaning of my despatch +yesterday. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL I. McDOWELL. + +WASHINGTON, May 30, 1862. 12.40. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McDOWELL, Rectortown: + +Your despatch of to-day received and is satisfactory. Fremont has +nominally 22,000, really about 17,000. Blenker's division is part of it. I +have a despatch from Fremont this morning, not telling me where he is; but +he says: + +"Scouts and men from Winchester represent Jackson's force variously at +30,000 to 60,000. With him Generals Ewell and Longstreet." + +The high figures erroneous, of course. Do you know where Longstreet is? +Corinth is evacuated and occupied by us. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL FREMONT. + +WASHINGTON, May 30, 1862. 2.30 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL FREMONT, Moorefield, Virginia: + +Yours, saying you will reach Strasburg or vicinity at 5 P.M. Saturday, has +been received and sent to General McDowell, and he directed to act in view +of it. You must be up to the time you promised, if possible. + +Corinth was evacuated last night, and is occupied by our troops to-day; +the enemy gone south to Okolotia, on the railroad to Mobile. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL I. McDOWELL. + +WAR DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON CITY, May 30, 1862.9.30 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McDOWELL, Rectortown, Va.: + +I send you a despatch just received from Saxton at Harper's Ferry: "The +rebels are in line of battle in front of our lines. They have nine pieces +of artillery, and in position, and cavalry. I shelled the woods in which +they were, and they in return threw a large number of shells into the +lines and tents from which I moved last night to take up a stronger +position. I expect a great deal from the battery on the mountain, having +three 9 inch Dahlgren bearing directly on the enemy's approaches. The +enemy appeared this morning and then retired, with the intention of +drawing us on. I shall act on the defensive, as my position is a strong +one. In a skirmish which took place this afternoon I lost one horse, The +enemy lost two men killed and seven wounded. + +"R. SAXTON, Brigadier General." + +It seems the game is before you. Have sent a copy to General Fremont. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON, May 31, 1862. 10.20 PM. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +A circle whose circumference shall pass through Harper's Ferry, Front +Royal, and Strasburg, and whose center shall be a little northeast of +Winchester, almost certainly has within it this morning the forces of +Jackson, Ewell, and Edward Johnson. Quite certainly they were within it +two days ago. Some part of their forces attacked Harper's Ferry at +dark last evening, and are still in sight this morning. Shields, with +McDowell's advance, retook Front Royal at 11 A.M. yesterday, with a +dozen of our own prisoners taken there a week ago, 150 of the enemy, two +locomotives, and eleven cars, some other property and stores, and saved +the bridge. + +General Fremont, from the direction of Moorefield, promises to be at or +near Strasburg at 5 P.M. to-day. General Banks at Williamsport, with his +old force and his new force at Harper's Ferry, is directed to co-operate. +Shields at Front Royal reports a rumor of still an additional force of the +enemy, supposed to be Anderson's, having entered the valley of Virginia. +This last may or may not be true. Corinth is certainly in the hands of +General Halleck. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM FROM SECRETARY STANTON + +TO GENERAL G. A. McCALL, WASHINGTON, May 31, 1562. + +GENERAL McCALL: + +The President directs me to say to you that there can be nothing to +justify a panic at Fredericksburg. He expects you to maintain your +position there as becomes a soldier and a general. + +EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON CITY, D.C., June 1, 1862. 9.30. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +You are probably engaged with the enemy. I suppose he made the attack. +Stand well on your guard, hold all your ground, or yield any only inch by +inch and in good order. This morning we merge General Wool's department +into yours, giving you command of the whole, and sending General Dix to +Port Monroe and General Wool to Fort McHenry. We also send General Sigel +to report to you for duty. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON, June 3, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +With these continuous rains I am very anxious about the Chickahominy so +close in your rear and crossing your line of communication. Please look to +it. + + +A. LINCOLN, President. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL I. McDOWELL. + +WASHINGTON, June 3, 1862. 6.15 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McDOWELL, Front Royal, Virginia: + +Anxious to know whether Shields can head or flank Jackson. Please tell +about where Shields and Jackson, respectively, are at the time this +reaches you. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK. + +WASHINGTON, June 4, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Corinth: + +Your despatch of to-day to Secretary of War received. Thanks for the good +news it brings. + +Have you anything from Memphis or other parts of the Mississippi River? +Please answer. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR JOHNSON. + +[cipher.] + +WASHINGTON, June 4, 1862. + +HON. ANDREW JOHNSON, Nashville, Tennessee: + +Do you really wish to have control of the question of releasing rebel +prisoners so far as they may be Tennesseeans? If you do, please tell us +so. Your answer not to be made public. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +[Cipher.] + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., June 7, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +Your despatch about Chattanooga and Dalton was duly received and sent to +General Halleck. I have just received the following answer from him: + +We have Fort Pillow, Randolph, and Memphis. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK. + +WASHINGTON, June 8, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Corinth, Mississippi: + +We are changing one of the departmental lines, so as to give you all +of Kentucky and Tennessee. In your movement upon Chattanooga I think it +probable that you include some combination of the force near Cumberland +Gap under General Morgan. + +Do you? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL N. P. BANKS. + +WASHINGTON, June 9, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BANKS, Winchester: + +We are arranging a general plan for the valley of the Shenandoah, and in +accordance with this you will move your main force to the Shenandoah at or +opposite Front Royal as soon as possible. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. C. FREMONT. + +WASHINGTON, June 9, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL FREMONT: + +Halt at Harrisonburg, pursuing Jackson no farther. Get your force well in +hand and stand on the defensive, guarding against a movement of the enemy +either back toward Strasburg or toward Franklin, and await further orders, +which will soon be sent you. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR JOHNSON. + +[Cipher.] + +WASHINGTON, June 9, 1862. + +HON. ANDREW JOHNSON, Nashville, 'Tennessee: + +Your despatch about seizing seventy rebels to exchange for a like +number of Union men was duly received. I certainly do not disapprove the +proposition. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL J. C. FREMONT. WASHINGTON, June 12, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL FREMONT: + +Accounts, which we do not credit, represent that Jackson is largely +reinforced and turning upon you. Get your forces well in hand and keep us +well and frequently advised; and if you find yourself really pressed by a +superior force of the enemy, fall back cautiously toward or to Winchester, +and we will have in due time Banks in position to sustain you. Do not +fall back upon Harrisonburg unless upon tolerably clear necessity. We +understand Jackson is on the other side of the Shenandoah from you, and +hence cannot in any event press you into any necessity of a precipitate +withdrawal. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +P.S.--Yours, preferring Mount Jackson to Harrisonburg, is just received. +On this point use your discretion, remembering that our object is to give +such protection as you can to western Virginia. Many thanks to yourself, +officers, and men for the gallant battle of last Sunday. A. L. + + + + +MESSAGE TO CONGRESS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, + +June 13, 1862. + +FELLOW-CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: I herewith +transmit a memorial addressed and presented to me in behalf of the State +of New York in favor of enlarging the locks of the Erie and Oswego Canal. +While I have not given nor have leisure to give the subject a careful +examination, its great importance is obvious and unquestionable. The large +amount of valuable statistical information which is collated and presented +in the memorial will greatly facilitate the mature consideration of the +subject, which I respectfully ask for it at your hands. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL J. C. FREMONT. + +WASHINGTON; June 13. 1862 + +MAJOR-GENERAL FREMONT: + +We cannot afford to keep your force and Banks's and McDowell's engaged +in keeping Jackson south of Strasburg and Front Royal. You fought Jackson +alone and worsted him. He can have no substantial reinforcements so long +as a battle is pending at Richmond. Surely you and Banks in supporting +distance are capable of keeping him from returning to Winchester. But if +Sigel be sent forward to you, and McDowell (as he must) be put to other +work, Jackson will break through at Front Royal again. He is already on +the right side of the Shenandoah to do it, and on the wrong side of it to +attack you. The orders already sent you and Banks place you and him in the +proper positions for the work assigned you. Jackson cannot move his whole +force on either of you before the other can learn of it and go to his +assistance. He cannot divide his force, sending part against each of you, +because he will be too weak for either. Please do as I directed in the +order of the 8th and my despatch of yesterday, the 12th, and neither you +nor Banks will be overwhelmed by Jackson. By proper scout lookouts, and +beacons of smoke by day and fires by night you can always have timely +notice of the enemy's approach. I know not as to you, but by some this has +been too much neglected. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + +TO GENERAL J. C. FREMONT + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, D. C., June 15, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL FREMONT: + +MY DEAR SIR:--Your letter of the 12th by Colonel Zagonyi is just received. +In answer to the principal part of it, I repeat the substance of an order +of the 8th and one or two telegraphic despatches sent you since. + +We have no definite power of sending reinforcements; so that we are +compelled rather to consider the proper disposal of the forces we have +than of those we could wish to have. We may be able to send you some dribs +by degrees, but I do not believe we can do more. As you alone beat Jackson +last Sunday, I argue that you are stronger than he is to-day, unless he +has been reinforced; and that he cannot have been materially reinforced, +because such reinforcement could only have come from Richmond, and he +is much more likely to go to Richmond than Richmond is to come to him. +Neither is very likely. I think Jackson's game--his assigned work--now is +to magnify the accounts of his numbers and reports of his movements, and +thus by constant alarms keep three or four times as many of our troops +away from Richmond as his own force amounts to. Thus he helps his friends +at Richmond three or four times as much as if he were there. Our game is +not to allow this. Accordingly, by the order of the 8th, I directed you +to halt at Harrisonburg, rest your force, and get it well in hand, the +objects being to guard against Jackson's returning by the same route to +the upper Potomac over which you have just driven him out, and at the same +time give some protection against a raid into West Virginia. + +Already I have given you discretion to occupy Mount Jackson instead, +if, on full consideration, you think best. I do not believe Jackson will +attack you, but certainly he cannot attack you by surprise; and if he +comes upon you in superior force, you have but to notify us, fall back +cautiously, and Banks will join you in due time. But while we know not +whether Jackson will move at all, or by what route, we cannot safely put +you and Banks both on the Strasburg line, and leave no force on the Front +Royal line--the very line upon which he prosecuted his late raid. The true +policy is to place one of you on one line and the other on the other in +such positions that you can unite once you actually find Jackson moving +upon it. And this is precisely what we are doing. This protects that +part of our frontier, so to speak, and liberates McDowell to go to the +assistance of McClellan. I have arranged this, and am very unwilling to +have it deranged. While you have only asked for Sigel, I have spoken only +of Banks, and this because Sigel's force is now the principal part of +Bank's force. + +About transferring General Schenck's commands, the purchase of supplies, +and the promotion and appointment of officers, mentioned in your letter, I +will consult with the Secretary of War to-morrow. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL J. C. FREMONT. + +WASHINGTON, June 16, 1862 + +MAJOR-GENERAL FREMONT, Mount Jackson, Virginia: + +Your despatch of yesterday, reminding me of a supposed understanding +that I would furnish you a corps of 35,000 men, and asking of me the +"fulfilment of this understanding," is received. I am ready to come to a +fair settlement of accounts with you on the fulfilment of understandings. + +Early in March last, when I assigned you to the command of the Mountain +Department, I did tell you I would give you all the force I could, and +that I hoped to make it reach 35,000. You at the same time told me that +within a reasonable time you would seize the railroad at or east of +Knoxville, Tenn., if you could. There was then in the department a force +supposed to be 25,000, the exact number as well known to you as to me. +After looking about two or three days, you called and distinctly told +me that if I would add the Blenker division to the force already in the +department, you would undertake the job. The Blenker division contained +10,000, and at the expense of great dissatisfaction to General McClellan +I took it from his army and gave it to you. My promise was literally +fulfilled. I have given you all I could, and I have given you very nearly, +if not quite, 35,000. + +Now for yours. On the 23d of May, largely over two months afterward, you +were at Franklin, Va., not within 300 miles of Knoxville, nor within 80 +miles of any part of the railroad east of it, and not moving forward, but +telegraphing here that you could not move for lack of everything. Now, +do not misunderstand me. I do not say you have not done all you could. I +presume you met unexpected difficulties; and I beg you to believe that as +surely as you have done your best, so have I. I have not the power now to +fill up your Corps to 35,000. I am not demanding of you to do the work of +35,000. I am only asking of you to stand cautiously on the defensive, get +your force in order, and give such protection as you can to the valley of +the Shenandoah and to western Virginia. + +Have you received the orders, and will you act upon them? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL C. SCHURZ. + +WASHINGTON, June 16, 1862 + +BRIGADIER-GENERAL SCHURZ, Mount Jackson, Virginia: + +Your long letter is received. The information you give is valuable. You +say it is fortunate that Fremont did not intercept Jackson; that Jackson +had the superior force, and would have overwhelmed him. If this is so, how +happened it that Fremont fairly fought and routed him on the 8th? Or is +the account that he did fight and rout him false and fabricated? Both +General Fremont and you speak of Jackson having beaten Shields. By our +accounts he did not beat Shields. He had no engagement with Shields. He +did meet and drive back with disaster about 2000 of Shields's advance till +they were met by an additional brigade of Shields's, when Jackson himself +turned and retreated. Shields himself and more than half his force were +not nearer than twenty miles to any of it. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK. + +WASHINGTON, June 18, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Corinth, Mississippi: + +It would be of both interest and value to us here to know how the +expedition toward East Tennessee is progressing, if in your judgment you +can give us the information with safety. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., June 18, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +Yours of to-day, making it probable that Jackson has been reinforced by +about 10,000 from Richmond, is corroborated by a despatch from General +King at Fredericksburg, saying a Frenchman, just arrived from Richmond by +way of Gordonsville, met 10,000 to 15,000 passing through the latter place +to join Jackson. + +If this is true, it is as good as a reinforcement to you of an equal +force. I could better dispose of things if I could know about what day you +can attack Richmond, and would be glad to be informed, if you think you +can inform me with safety. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON, JUNE 19, 1862 + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +Yours of last night just received, and for which I thank you. + +If large reinforcements are going from Richmond to Jackson, it proves one +of two things: either they are very strong at Richmond, or do not mean to +defend the place desperately. + +On reflection, I do not see how reinforcements from Richmond to Jackson +could be in Gordonsville, as reported by the Frenchman and your deserters. +Have not all been sent to deceive? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, June 20, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +In regard to the contemplated execution of Captains Spriggs and Triplett +the government has no information whatever, but will inquire and advise +you. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON CITY, June 20, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +We have this morning sent you a despatch of General Sigel corroborative of +the proposition that Jackson is being reinforced from Richmond. This +may be reality, and yet may only be contrivance for deception, and to +determine which is perplexing. If we knew it was not true, we could send +you some more force; but as the case stands we do not think we safely can. +Still, we will watch the signs and do so if possible. + +In regard to a contemplated execution of Captains Spriggs and Triplett the +government has no information whatever, but will inquire and advise you. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON, June 21 1862 6 PM. + +MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE B. McCLELLAN: + +Your despatch of yesterday (2 P. M.) was received this morning. If it +would not divert too much of your time and attention from the army under +your immediate command, I would be glad to have your views as to the +present state of military affairs throughout the whole country, as you say +you would be glad to give them. I would rather it should be by letter than +by telegraph, because of the better chance of secrecy. As to the numbers +and positions of the troops not under your command in Virginia and +elsewhere, even if I could do it with accuracy, which I cannot, I would +rather not transmit either by telegraph or by letter, because of the +chances of its reaching the enemy. I would be very glad to talk with you, +but you cannot leave your camp, and I cannot well leave here. + + +A. LINCOLN, President + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL N. P. BANKS. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, June 22, 1862 + +MAJOR-GENERAL BANKS, Middletown: + +I am very glad you are looking well to the west for a movement of the +enemy in that direction. You know my anxiety on that point. + +All was quiet at General McClellan's headquarters at two o'clock to-day. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TREATY WITH MEXICO + +MESSAGE TO THE SENATE. + +WASHINGTON, June 23, 1862. + +TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES: + +On the 7th day of December, 1861, I submitted to the Senate the project of +a treaty between the United States and Mexico which had been proposed to +me by Mr. Corwin, our minister to Mexico, and respectfully requested the +advice of the Senate thereupon. + +On the 25th day of February last a resolution was adopted by the Senate to +the effect: + +"That it is not advisable to negotiate a treaty that will require the +United States to assume any portion of the principal or interest of the +debt of Mexico, or that will require the concurrence of European powers." + +This resolution having been duly communicated to me, notice thereof was +immediately given by the Secretary of State to Mr. Corwin, and he was +informed that he was to consider his instructions upon the subject +referred to modified by this resolution and would govern his course +accordingly. That despatch failed to reach Mr. Corwin, by reason of the +disturbed condition of Mexico, until a very recent date, Mr. Corwin being +without instructions, or thus practically left without instructions, to +negotiate further with Mexico. + +In view of the very important events Occurring there, he has thought that +the interests of the United States would be promoted by the conclusion +of two treaties which should provide for a loan to that republic. He has +therefore signed such treaties, and they having been duly ratified by the +Government of Mexico, he has transmitted them to me for my consideration. +The action of the Senate is of course conclusive against an acceptance +of the treaties On my part. I have, nevertheless, thought it just to our +excellent minister in Mexico and respectful to the Government of that +republic to lay the treaties before the Senate, together with the +correspondence which has occurred in relation to them. In performing this +duty I have only to add that the importance of the subject thus submitted +to the Senate, can not be over estimated, and I shall cheerfully receive +and consider with the highest respect any further advice the Senate may +think proper to give upon the subject. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +VETO OF A CURRENCY BILL + +MESSAGE TO THE SENATE, JUNE 23, 1862. + +TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES: + +The bill which has passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, +entitled "An act to repeal that part of an act of Congress which prohibits +the circulation of bank-notes of a less denomination than five dollars in +the District of Columbia," has received my attentive consideration, and +I now return it to the Senate, in which it originated, with the following +objections: + +1. The bill proposes to repeal the existing legislation prohibiting the +circulation of bank-notes of a less denomination than five dollars within +the District of Columbia, without permitting the issuing of such bills by +banks not now legally authorized to issue them. In my judgment, it will +be found impracticable, in the present condition of the currency, to make +such a discrimination. The banks have generally suspended specie payments, +and a legal sanction given to the circulation of the irredeemable notes +of one class of them will almost certainly be so extended, in practical +operation, as to include those of all classes, whether authorized or +unauthorized. If this view be correct, the currency of the District, +should this act become a law, will certainly and greatly deteriorate, to +the serious injury of honest trade and honest labor. + +2. This bill seems to contemplate no end which cannot be otherwise +more certainly and beneficially attained. During the existing war it is +peculiarly the duty of the National Government to secure to the people +a sound circulating medium. This duty has been, under existing +circumstances, satisfactorily performed, in part at least, by authorizing +the issue of United States notes, receivable for all government dues +except customs, and made a legal tender for all debts, public and private, +except interest on public debt. The object of the bill submitted to +me--namely, that of providing a small note currency during the present +suspension--can be fully accomplished by authorizing the issue, as part +of any new emission of United States notes made necessary by the +circumstances of the country, of notes of a similar character, but of +less denomination than five dollars. Such an issue would answer all the +beneficial purposes of the bill, would save a considerable amount to the +treasury in interest, would greatly facilitate payments to soldiers and +other creditors of small sums, and would furnish; to the people a currency +as safe as their own government. + +Entertaining these objections to the bill, I feel myself constrained to +withhold from it my approval and return it for the further consideration +and action of Congress. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +SPEECH AT JERSEY CITY, JUNE 24, 1862. + +When birds and animals are looked at through a fog, they are seen to +disadvantage, and so it might be with you if I were to attempt to tell +you why I went to see General Scott. I can only say that my visit to West +Point did not have the importance which has been attached to it; but it +concerned matters that you understand quite as well as if I were to tell +you all about them. Now, I can only remark that it had nothing whatever +to do with making or unmaking any general in the country. The Secretary of +War, you know, holds a pretty tight rein on the press, so that they shall +not tell more than they ought to; and I 'm afraid that if I blab too much, +he might draw a tight rein on me. + + + + +TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON, June 26, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +Your three despatches of yesterday in relation to the affair, ending with +the statement that you completely succeeded in making your point, are very +gratifying. + +The later one of 6.15 P.M., suggesting the probability of your +being overwhelmed by two hundred thousand, and talking of where the +responsibility will belong, pains me very much. I give you all I can, and +act on the presumption that you will do the best you can with what you +have, while you continue, ungenerously I think, to assume that I could +give you more if I would. I have omitted, and shall omit, no opportunity +to send you reinforcements whenever I possibly can. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +P. S. General Pope thinks if you fall back it would be much better towards +York River than towards the James. As Pope now has charge of the capital, +please confer with him through the telegraph. + + + + +ORDER CONSTITUTING THE ARMY OF VIRGINIA. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. C., June 26, 1862. + +Ordered: 1st. The forces under Major-Generals Fremont, Banks, and +McDowell, including the troops now under Brigadier-General Sturgis at +Washington, shall be consolidated and form one army, to be called the Army +of Virginia. + +2d. The command of the Army of Virginia is specially assigned to +Major-General John Pope, as commanding general. The troops of the Mountain +Department, heretofore under command of General Fremont, shall constitute +the First Army Corps, under the command of General Fremont; the troops of +the Shenandoah Department, now under General Banks, shall constitute the +Second Army Corps, and be commanded by him; the troops under the command +of General McDowell, except those within the fortifications and city of +Washington, shall form the Third Army Corps, and be under his command. + +3d. The Army of Virginia shall operate in such manner as, while protecting +western Virginia and the national capital from danger or insult, it shall +in the speediest manner attack and overcome the rebel forces under Jackson +and Ewell, threaten the enemy in the direction of Charlottesville, and +render the most effective aid to relieve General McClellan and capture +Richmond. + +4th. When the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Virginia shall be in +position to communicate and directly co-operate at or before Richmond, the +chief command, while so operating together, shall be governed, as in like +cases, by the Rules and Articles of War. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM FROM SECRETARY STANTON TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, June 28, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK: + +The enemy have concentrated in such force at Richmond as to render it +absolutely necessary, in the opinion of the President, for you immediately +to detach 25,000 of your force and forward it by the nearest and quickest +route by way of Baltimore and Washington to Richmond. It is believed +that the quickest route would be by way of Columbus, Ky., and up the Ohio +River. But in detaching your force the President directs that it be done +in such a way as to enable you to hold your ground and not interfere with +the movement against Chattanooga and East Tennessee. This condition being +observed, the forces to be detached and the routes they are to be sent are +left to your own judgment. + +The direction to send these forces immediately is rendered imperative by +a serious reverse suffered by General McClellan before Richmond yesterday, +the full extent of which is not yet known. + +You will acknowledge the receipt of this despatch, stating the day and +hour it is received, and inform me what your action will be, so that we +may take measures to aid in river and railroad transportation. + +EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + + + + +TELEGRAMS TO GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE. + +WASHINGTON, June 28, 1862. + +GENERAL BURNSIDE: + +I think you had better go, with any reinforcements you can spare, to +General McClellan. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +WAR DEPARTMENT, June, 28, 1862 + +MAJOR-GENERAL BURNSIDE, Newbern: + +We have intelligence that General McClellan has been attacked in large +force and compelled to fall back toward the James River. We are not +advised of his exact condition, but the President directs that you shall +send him all the reinforcements from your command to the James River that +you can safely do without abandoning your own position. Let it be infantry +entirely, as he said yesterday that he had cavalry enough. + +EDWIN M. STANTON, + +Secretary of War. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, June 28, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +Save your army, at all events. Will send reinforcements as fast as we can. +Of course they cannot reach you to-day, to-morrow, or next day. I have not +said you were ungenerous for saying you needed reinforcements. I thought +you were ungenerous in assuming that I did not send them as fast as I +could. I feel any misfortune to you and your army quite as keenly as you +feel it yourself. If you have had a drawn battle, or a repulse, it is +the price we pay for the enemy not being in Washington. We protected +Washington, and the enemy concentrated on you. Had we stripped Washington, +he would have been upon us before the troops could have gotten to you. +Less than a week ago you notified us that reinforcements were leaving +Richmond to come in front of us. It is the nature of the case, and neither +you nor the government is to blame. Please tell at once the present +condition and aspect of things. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TO SECRETARY SEWARD. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, June 28, 1862 + +HON. W. H. SEWARD. + +MY DEAR SIR:--My view of the present condition of the war is about as +follows: + +The evacuation of Corinth and our delay by the flood in the Chickahominy +have enabled the enemy to concentrate too much force in Richmond +for McClellan to successfully attack. In fact there soon will be no +substantial rebel force anywhere else. But if we send all the force from +here to McClellan, the enemy will, before we can know of it, send a force +from Richmond and take Washington. Or if a large part of the western army +be brought here to McClellan, they will let us have Richmond, and retake +Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, etc. What should be done is to hold what +we have in the West, open the Mississippi, and take Chattanooga and East +Tennessee without more. A reasonable force should in every event be +kept about Washington for its protection. Then let the country give us a +hundred thousand new troops in the shortest possible time, which, added to +McClellan directly or indirectly, will take Richmond without endangering +any other place which we now hold, and will substantially end the war. +I expect to maintain this contest until successful, or till I die, or am +conquered, or my term expires, or Congress or the country forsake me; and +I would publicly appeal to the country for this new force were it not that +I fear a general panic and stampede would follow, so hard it is to have a +thing understood as it really is. I think the new force should be all, or +nearly all, infantry, principally because such can be raised most cheaply +and quickly. + +Yours very truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. A. DIX. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., June 28,1862. + +GENERAL DIX: + +Communication with McClellan by White House is cut off. Strain every nerve +to open communication with him by James River, or any other way you can. +Report to me. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO FLAG-OFFICER L. M. GOLDSBOROUGH. + +WASHINGTON, D.C., June 28, 1862. + +FLAG-OFFICER GOLDS BOROUGH, Fort Monroe: + +Enemy has cut McClellan's communication with White House, and is driving +Stoneman back on that point. Do what you can for him with gunboats at or +near that place. McClellan's main force is between the Chickahominy and +the James. Also do what you can to communicate with him and support him +there. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +To GOVERNOR MORTON. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C. June 28, 1862. + + +GOVERNOR O. P. MORTON, Indianapolis, Ind: + +Your despatch of to-day is just received. I have no recollection of either +John R. Cravens or Cyrus M. Allen having been named to me for appointment +under the tax law. The latter particularly has been my friend, and I am +sorry to learn that he is not yours. No appointment has been or will be +made by me for the purpose of stabbing you. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO SECRETARY SEWARD. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, June 29, 1862.6 P.M. + +HON. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Astor House, New York: + +Not much more than when you left. Fulton of Baltimore American is now with +us. He left White House at 11 A.M. yesterday. He conversed fully with a +paymaster who was with Porter's force during the fight of Friday and fell +back to nearer McClellan's quarters just a little sooner than Porter did, +seeing the whole of it; stayed on the Richmond side of the Chickahominy +over night, and left for White House at 5 A.M. Saturday. He says Porter +retired in perfect order under protection of the guns arranged for the +purpose, under orders and not from necessity; and with all other of our +forces, except what was left on purpose to go to White House, was safely +in pontoons over the Chickahominy before morning, and that there was heavy +firing on the Richmond side, begun at 5 and ceased at 7 A.M. Saturday. On +the whole, I think we have had the better of it up to that point of time. +What has happened since we still know not, as we have no communication +with General McClellan. A despatch from Colonel Ingalls shows that he +thinks McClellan is fighting with the enemy at Richmond to-day, and will +be to-morrow. We have no means of knowing upon what Colonel Ingalls founds +his opinion. Confirmed about saving all property. Not a single unwounded +straggler came back to White House from the field, and the number of +wounded reaching there up to 11 A.M. Saturday was not large. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + +To what the President has above stated I will only add one or two points +that may be satisfactory for you to know. + +First. All the sick and wounded were safely removed + +Second. A despatch from Burnside shows that he is from White House; not a +man left behind in condition to afford efficient support, and is probably +doing so. + +Third. The despatch from Colonel Ingalls impresses me with the conviction +that the movement was made by General McClellan to concentrate on +Richmond, and was successful to the latest point of which we have any +information. + +Fourth. Mr. Fulton says that on Friday night, between twelve and one +o'clock, General McClellan telegraphed Commodore Goldsborough that the +result of the movement was satisfactory to him. + +Fifth. From these and the facts stated by the President, my inference is +that General McClellan will probably be in Richmond within two days. + +EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + +[Unfortunately McClellan did not do any of the things he was ordered, and +that it was very likely possible to do. It is still some mystery what he +was doing all these days other than hiding in the woods and staying out of +communication so he would not receive any more uncomfortable orders. This +was another place where the North was close to wining the war and did not. +D.W.] + + + + +TELEGRAM TO SECRETARY SEWARD. WAR DEPARTMENT, June 30, 1862. + +HON. WM. H. SEWARD, New York: + +We are yet without communication with General McClellan, and this absence +of news is our point of anxiety. Up to the latest point to which we are +posted he effected everything in such exact accordance with his plan, +contingently announced to us before the battle began, that we feel +justified to hope that he has not failed since. He had a severe engagement +in getting the part of his army on this side of the Chickahominy over to +the other side, in which the enemy lost certainly as much as we did. We +are not dissatisfied with this, only that the loss of enemies does not +compensate for the loss of friends. The enemy cannot come below White +House; certainly is not there now, and probably has abandoned the whole +line. Dix's pickets are at New Kent Court-House. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +CALL FOR TROOPS. NEW YORK, June 30, 1862. + +TO THE GOVERNORS OF THE SEVERAL STATES: + +The capture of New Orleans, Norfolk, and Corinth by the national forces +has enabled the insurgents to concentrate a large force at and about +Richmond, which place we must take with the least possible delay; in fact, +there will soon be no formidable insurgent force except at Richmond. +With so large an army there, the enemy can threaten us on the Potomac and +elsewhere. Until we have re-established the national authority, all these +places must be held, and we must keep a respectable force in front of +WASHINGTON. But this, from the diminished strength of our army by sickness +and casualties, renders an addition to it necessary in order to close the +struggle which has been prosecuted for the last three months with energy +and success. Rather than hazard the misapprehension of our military +condition and of groundless alarm by a call for troops by proclamation, I +have deemed it best to address you in this form. To accomplish the object +stated we require without delay 150,000 men, including those recently +called for by the Secretary of War. Thus reinforced our gallant army will +be enabled to realize the hopes and expectations of the government and the +people. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. A. DIX. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, June 30, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL Dix, Fort Monroe: + +Is it not probable that the enemy has abandoned the line between White +House and McClellan's rear? He could have but little object to maintain +it, and nothing to subsist upon. Would not Stoneman better move up and +see about it? I think a telegraphic communication can at once be opened to +White House from Williamsburg. The wires must be up still. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAMS TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, JUNE 30, 1862. 3 P. M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Corinth: + +Your telegram of this date just received. The Chattanooga expedition +must not on any account be given up. The President regards that and the +movement against East Tennessee as one of the most important movements +of the war, and its occupation nearly as important as the capture of +Richmond. He is not pleased with the tardiness of the movement toward +Chattanooga, and directs that no force be sent here if you cannot do it +without breaking up the operations against that point and East Tennessee. +Infantry only are needed; our cavalry and artillery are strong enough. +The first reports from Richmond were more discouraging than the truth +warranted. If the advantage is not on our side, it is balanced. General +McClellan has moved his whole force on the line of the James River, and +is supported there by our gunboats; but he must be largely strengthened +before advancing, and hence the call on you, which I am glad you answered +so promptly. Let me know to what point on the river you will send your +forces, so as to provide immediately for transportation. + +EDWIN M. STANTON, + +Secretary of War. + + + + +WASHINGTON, D.C., June 30, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Corinth, Mississippi: + +Would be very glad of 25,000 infantry; no artillery or cavalry; but please +do not send a man if it endangers any place you deem important to hold, +or if it forces you to give up or weaken or delay the expedition against +Chattanooga. To take and hold the railroad at or east of Cleveland, in +East Tennessee, I think fully as important as the taking and holding of +Richmond. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +CALL FOR 300,000 VOLUNTEERS, JULY 1, 1862. + +June 28, 1861. + +The undersigned, governors of States of the Union, impressed with the +belief that the citizens of the States which they respectively represent +are of one accord in the hearty desire that the recent successes of the +Federal arms may be followed up by measures which must insure the speedy +restoration of the Union, and believing that, in view of the present +state of the important military movements now in progress, and the reduced +condition of our effective forces in the field, resulting from the usual +and unavoidable casualties in the service, the time has arrived for prompt +and vigorous measures to be adopted by the people in support of the great +interests committed to your charge, respectfully request, if it meets with +your entire approval, that you at once call upon the several States +for such number of men as may be required to fill up all military +organizations now in the field, and add to the armies heretofore organized +such additional number of men as may, in your judgment, be necessary to +garrison and hold all the numerous cities and military positions that +have been captured by our armies, and to speedily crush the rebellion that +still exists in several of the Southern States, thus practically restoring +to the civilized world our great and good government. All believe that the +decisive moment is near at hand, and to that end the people of the United +States are desirous to aid promptly in furnishing all reinforcements that +you may deem needful to sustain our government. + + ISRAEL WASHBURN, JR., Governor of Maine. + H. S. BERRY, Governor of New Hampshire. + FREDERICK HOLBROOK, Governor of Vermont. + WILLIAM A. BUCKINGHAM, Governor of Connecticut. + E. D. MORGAN, Governor of New York. + CHARLES S. OLDEN, Governor of New Jersey. + A. G. CURTIN, Governor of Pennsylvania. + A. W. BRADFORD, Governor of Maryland. + F. H. PIERPOINT, Governor of Virginia. + AUSTIN BLAIR, Governor of Michigan. + J. B. TEMPLE, President Military Board of Kentucky. + ANDREW JOHNSON, Governor of Tennessee. + H. R. GAMBLE, Governor of Missouri. + O. P. MORTON, Governor of Indiana. + DAVID TODD, Governor of Ohio. + ALEXANDER RAMSEY, Governor of Minnesota. + RICHARD YATES, Governor of Illinois. + EDWARD SALOMON, Governor of Wisconsin. + +THE PRESIDENT + + + + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, July 1, 1862 + +GENTLEMEN:--Fully concurring in the wisdom of the views expressed to me +in so patriotic a manner by you, in the communication of the twenty-eighth +day of June, I have decided to call into the service an additional force +of 300,000 men. I suggest and recommend that the troops should be chiefly +of infantry. The quota of your State would be ------. I trust that +they may be enrolled without delay, so as to bring this unnecessary and +injurious civil war to a speedy and satisfactory conclusion. An order +fixing the quotas of the respective States will be issued by the War +Department to-morrow. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +PROCLAMATION CONCERNING TAXES IN REBELLIOUS STATES, JULY 1, 1862. + +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: + +A Proclamation. + +Whereas in and by the second section of an act of Congress passed on the +7th day of June, A. D. 1862, entitled "An act for the collection of direct +taxes in insurrectionary districts within the United States, and for other +purposes," it is made the duty of the President to declare, on or before +the first day of July then next following, by his proclamation, in what +States and parts of States insurrection exists: + +Now, therefore, be it known that I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the +United States of America, do hereby declare and proclaim that the +States of South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, +Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, and the State of +Virginia except the following counties-Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, +Wetzel, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Taylor, Pleasants, Tyler, Ritchie, +Doddridge, Harrison, Wood, Jackson, Wirt, Roane, Calhoun, Gilmer, Barbour, +Tucker, Lewis, Braxton, Upsbur, Randolph, Mason, Putnam, Kanawha, Clay, +Nicholas, Cabell, Wayne, Boone, Logan, Wyoming, Webster, Fayette, and +Raleigh-are now in insurrection and rebellion, and by reason thereof the +civil authority of the United States is obstructed so that the provisions +of the "Act to provide increased revenue from imports, to pay the interest +on the public debt, and for other purposes," approved August 5, 1861, can +not be peaceably executed; and that the taxes legally chargeable upon real +estate under the act last aforesaid lying within the States and parts +of States as aforesaid, together with a penalty of 50 per centum of said +taxes, shall be a lien upon the tracts or lots of the same, severally +charged, till paid. + +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the +United States to be affixed.............. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +By the President: F. W. SEWARD, Acting Secretary of State. + + + + +MESSAGE TO CONGRESS, JULY 1, 1862. + +TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES + +I most cordially recommend that Captain Andrew H. Foote, of the United +States Navy, receive a vote of thanks of Congress for his eminent services +in Organizing the flotilla on the western Waters, and for his gallantry at +Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Island Number Ten, and at various other places, +whilst in command of the naval forces, embracing a period of nearly ten +months. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +WASHINGTON, D. C. July 1, 1862 + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON, JULY 1,1862. 3.30 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE B. McCLELLAN: + +It is impossible to reinforce you for your present emergency. If we had a +million of men, We could not get them to you in time. We have not the men +to send. If you are not strong enough to face the enemy, you must find a +place of security, and wait, rest, and repair. Maintain your ground if +you can, but save the army at all events, even if you fall back to Fort +Monroe. We still have strength enough in the country, and will bring it +out. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., July 2, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +Your despatch of Tuesday morning induces me to hope your army is having +some rest. In this hope allow me to reason with you a moment. When you ask +for 50,000 men to be promptly sent you, you surely labor under some gross +mistake of fact. Recently you sent papers showing your disposal of forces +made last spring for the defense of WASHINGTON, and advising a return to +that plan. I find it included in and about WASHINGTON 75,000 men. Now, +please be assured I have not men enough to fill that very plan by 15,000. +All of Fremont's in the valley, all of Banks's, all of McDowell's not with +you, and all in WASHINGTON, taken together, do not exceed, if they reach, +60,000. With Wool and Dix added to those mentioned, I have not, outside of +your army, 75,000 men east of the mountains. Thus the idea of sending you +50,000, or any other considerable force, promptly, is simply absurd. If, +in your frequent mention of responsibility, you have the impression that +I blame you for not doing more than you can, please be relieved of +such impression. I only beg that in like manner you will not ask +impossibilities of me. If you think you are not strong enough to take +Richmond just now, I do not ask you to try just now. Save the army, +material and personal, and I will strengthen it for the offensive again +as fast as I can. The governors of eighteen States offer me a new levy of +300,000, which I accept. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK. + +WASHINGTON, D.C. July 2, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Corinth, Mississippi: + +Your several despatches of yesterday to Secretary of War and myself +received. I did say, and now repeat, I would be exceedingly glad for some +reinforcements from you. Still do not send a man if in your judgment it +will endanger any point you deem important to hold, or will force you to +give up or weaken or delay the Chattanooga expedition. + +Please tell me could you not make me a flying visit for consultation +without endangering the Service in your department. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +MESSAGE TO THE SENATE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, July 2, 1862. + +TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES: + +I herewith return to your honorable body, in which it originated, an +act entitled "An act to provide for additional medical officers of the +volunteer service," without my approval. + +My reason for so doing is that I have approved an act of the same title +passed by Congress after the passage of the one first mentioned for the +express purpose of correcting errors in and superseding the same, as I am +informed. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +CIRCULAR LETTER TO THE GOVERNORS. + +(Private and Confidential.) + +WAR DEPARTMENT, July 3, 1862.10.30 A.M. + +GOVERNOR WASHBURN, Maine [and other governors] I should not want the half +of 300,000 new troops if I could have them now. If I had 50,000 additional +troops here now, I believe I could substantially close the war in two +weeks. But time is everything, and if I get 50,000 new men in a month, I +shall have lost 20,000 old ones during the same month, having gained only +30,000, with the difference between old and new troops still against me. +The quicker you send, the fewer you will have to send. Time is everything. +Please act in view of this. The enemy having given up Corinth, it is not +wonderful that he is thereby enabled to check us for a time at Richmond. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WAR DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON, D.C., JULY 3, 1862 + +MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE B. McCLELLAN: + +Yours of 5.30 yesterday is just received. I am satisfied that yourself, +officers, and men have done the best you could. All accounts say better +fighting was never done. Ten thousand thanks for it. + +On the 28th we sent General Burnside an order to send all the force he +could spare to you. We then learned that you had requested him to go to +Goldsborough; upon which we said to him our order was intended for your +benefit, and we did not wish to be in conflict with your views. + +We hope you will have help from him soon. Today we have ordered General +Hunter to send you all he can spare. At last advices General Halleck +thinks he cannot send reinforcements without endangering all he has +gained. + + +A. LINCOLN, President + + + + +TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, D.C., July 4, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +I understand your position as stated in your letter and by General Marcy. +To reinforce you so as to enable you to resume the offensive within a +month, or even six weeks, is impossible. In addition to that arrived and +now arriving from the Potomac (about 10,000 men, I suppose), and about +10,000 I hope you will have from Burnside very soon, and about 5000 from +Hunter a little later, I do not see how I can send you another man within +a month. Under these circumstances the defensive for the present must be +your only care. Save the army first, where you are, if you can; secondly, +by removal, if you must. You, on the ground, must be the judge as to which +you will attempt, and of the means for effecting it. I but give it as my +opinion that with the aid of the gunboats and the reinforcements mentioned +above you can hold your present position--provided, and so long as, +you can keep the James River open below you. If you are not tolerably +confident you can keep the James River open, you had better remove as soon +as possible. I do not remember that you have expressed any apprehension as +to the danger of having your communication cut on the river below you, yet +I do not suppose it can have escaped your attention. + +Yours very truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + +P.S.--If at any time you feel able to take the offensive, you are not +restrained from doing so. A.L. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, July 4, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Corinth, Mississippi: + +You do not know how much you would oblige us if, without abandoning any of +your positions or plans, you could promptly send us even 10,000 infantry. +Can you not? Some part of the Corinth army is certainly fighting McClellan +in front of Richmond. Prisoners are in our hands from the late Corinth +army. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. A. DIX. + +WASHINGTON CITY, July 4,1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL Dix, Fort Monroe: + +Send forward the despatch to Colonel Hawkins and this also. Our order and +General McClellan's to General Burnside being the same, of course we wish +it executed as promptly as possible. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON, July 5, 1862. 9 A.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE B. McCLELLAN: + +A thousand thanks for the relief your two despatches of 12 and 1 P.M. +yesterday gave me. Be assured the heroism and skill of yourself and +officers and men is, and forever will be, appreciated. + +If you can hold your present position, we shall have the enemy yet. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, D.C., July 6, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Corinth, Mississippi. + +MY DEAR SIR:--This introduces Governor William Sprague, of Rhode Island. +He is now Governor for the third time, and senator-elect of the United +States. + +I know the object of his visit to you. He has my cheerful consent to go, +but not my direction. He wishes to get you and part of your force, one or +both, to come here. You already know I should be exceedingly glad of +this if, in your judgment, it could be without endangering positions and +operations in the southwest; and I now repeat what I have more than once +said by telegraph: "Do not come or send a man if, in your judgment, it +will endanger any point you deem important to hold, or endangers or delays +the Chattanooga expedition." + +Still, please give my friend, Governor Sprague, a full and fair hearing. + +Yours very truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +MEMORANDUM OF AN INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL McCLELLAN + +AND OTHER OFFICERS DURING A VISIT TO THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC AT HARRISON'S +LANDING, VIRGINIA. + +July 9, 1862. + +THE PRESIDENT: What amount of force have you now? + + +GENERAL McCLELLAN: About 80,000, can't vary much, certainly 75,000. + +THE PRESIDENT:[to the corps commanders] What is the whole amount of your +corps with you now. + + GENERAL SUMNER: About 15,000. + GENERAL HEINTZELMAN: 15,000 for duty. + GENERAL KEYES: About 12,500. + GENERAL PORTER: About 23,000--fully 20,000 fit for duty. + GENERAL FRANKLIN: About 15,000. + +THE PRESIDENT: What is likely to be your condition as to health in this +camp? + +GENERAL McCLELLAN: Better than in any encampment since landing at Fortress +Monroe. + +PRESIDENT LINCOLN:[to the corps commanders] In your present encampment +what is the present and prospective condition as to health? + +GENERAL SUMNER: As good as any part of Western Virginia. + +GENERAL HEINTZELMAN: Excellent for health, and present health improving. + +GENERAL KEYES: A little improved, but think camp is getting worse. + +GENERAL PORTER: Very good. + +GENERAL FRANKLIN: Not good. + +THE PRESIDENT: Where is the enemy now? + +GENERAL McCLELLAN: From four to five miles from us on all the roads--I +think nearly the whole army--both Hills, Longstreet, Jackson, Magruder, +Huger. + +THE PRESIDENT: [to the corps commanders] Where and in what condition do +you believe the enemy to be now? + +GENERAL SUMNER: I think they have retired from our front; were very +much damaged, especially in their best troops, in the late actions, from +superiority of arms. + +GENERAL HEINTZELMAN: Don't think they are in force in our vicinity. + +GENERAL KEYES: Think he has withdrawn, and think preparing to go to +WASHINGTON. + +GENERAL PORTER: Believe he is mainly near Richmond. He feels he dare not +attack us here. + +GENERAL FRANKLIN: I learn he has withdrawn from our front and think that +is probable. + +THE PRESIDENT: [to the corps commanders] What is the aggregate of your +killed, wounded, and missing from the attack on the 26th ultimo till now? + + GENERAL SUMNER: 1175. + GENERAL HEINTZELMAN: Not large 745. + GENERAL KEYES: Less than 500. + GENERAL PORTER: Over 5000. + GENERAL FRANKLIN: Not over 3000. + +THE PRESIDENT: If you desired could you remove the army safely? + +GENERAL McCLELLAN: It would be a delicate and very difficult matter. + +THE PRESIDENT: [to the corps commanders] If it were desired to get the +army away, could it be safely effected? + +GENERAL SUMNER: I think we could, but I think we give up the cause if we +do. + +GENERAL HEINTZELMAN: Perhaps we could, but I think it would be ruinous to +the country. + +GENERAL KEYES: I think it could if done quickly. + +GENERAL PORTER: Impossible--move the army and ruin the country. + +GENERAL FRANKLIN: I think we could, and that we had better--think +Rappahannock the true line. + +THE PRESIDENT: [to the corps commanders] Is the army secure in its present +position? + + GENERAL SUMNER: Perfectly so, in my judgment. + GENERAL HEINTZELMAN: I think it is safe. + GENERAL KEYES: With help of General B. [Burnside] can hold position. + GENERAL PORTER: Perfectly so. Not only, but we are ready to begin + moving forward. + GENERAL FRANKLIN: Unless river can be closed it is. + + + + +ORDER MAKING HALLECK GENERAL-IN-CHIEF. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, July 11,1862. + +Ordered, That Major-General Henry W. Halleck be assigned to command the +whole land forces of the United States, as general-in-chief, and that he +repair to this capital so soon as he can with safety to the positions and +operations within the department now under his charge. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +ORDER CONCERNING THE SOUTHWEST BRANCH OF THE PACIFIC RAILROAD. + +Whereas, in the judgment of the President, the public safety does require +that the railroad line called and known as the Southwest Branch of the +Pacific Railroad in the State of Missouri be repaired, extended, and +completed from Rolla to Lebanon, in the direction to Springfield, in the +said State, the same being necessary to the successful and economical +conduct of the war and to the maintenance of the authority of the +government in the Southwest: + +Therefore, under and in virtue of the act of Congress entitled "An act +to authorize the President of the United States in certain cases to take +possession of railroad and telegraph lines, and for other purposes," +approved January 31, 1862, it is ordered, That the portion of the said +railroad line which reaches from Rolla to Lebanon be repaired, extended, +and completed, so as to be made available for the military uses of the +government, as speedily as may be. And, inasmuch as upon the part of the +said line from Rolla to the stream called Little Piney a considerable +portion of the necessary work has already been done by the railroad +company, and the road to this extent may be completed at comparatively +small cost, it is ordered that the said line from Rolla to and across +Little Piney be first completed, and as soon as possible. + +The Secretary of War is charged with the execution of this order. And +to facilitate the speedy execution of the work, he is directed, at his +discretion, to take possession and control of the whole or such part of +the said railroad line, and the whole or such part of the rolling stock, +offices, shops, buildings, and all their appendages and appurtenances, as +he may judge necessary or convenient for the early completion of the road +from Rolla to Lebanon. + +Done at the city of WASHINGTON, July 11, 1862. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +MESSAGE TO CONGRESS. + +WASHINGTON, D C., July 11, 1862 + +TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: + +I recommend that the thanks of Congress be given to the following officers +of the United States Navy: + +Captain James L. Lardner, for meritorious conduct at the battle of Port +Royal and distinguished services on the coast of the United States against +the enemy. + +Captain Charles Henry Davis, for distinguished services in conflict with +the enemy at Fort Pillow, at Memphis, and for successful operations at +other points in the waters of the Mississippi River. + +Commander John A. Dahlgren, for distinguished services in the line of his +profession, improvements in ordnance, and zealous and efficient labors in +the ordnance branch of the service. + +Commander Stephen C. Rowan, for distinguished services in the waters of +North Carolina, and particularly in the capture of Newbern, being in chief +command of the naval forces. + +Commander David D. Porter, for distinguished services in the conception +and preparation of the means used for the capture of the forts below +New Orleans, and for highly meritorious conduct in the management of the +mortar flotilla during the bombardment of Forts Jackson and St. Philip. + +Captain Silas H. Stringharn, now on the retired list, for distinguished +services in the capture of Forts Hatteras and Clark. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR JOHNSON. WAR DEPARTMENT, July 11, 1862. + +HON. ANDREW JOHNSON. + +MY DEAR SIR:--Yours of yesterday is received. Do you not, my good friend, +perceive that what you ask is simply to put you in command in the West? +I do not suppose you desire this. You only wish to control in your own +localities; but this you must know may derange all other posts. Can +you not, and will you not, have a full conference with General Halleck? +Telegraph him, and meet him at such place as he and you can agree upon. I +telegraph him to meet you and confer fully with you. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK. WAR DEPARTMENT, July 11, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Corinth: + +Governor Johnson, at Nashville, is in great trouble and anxiety about a +raid into Kentucky. The governor is a true and valuable man--indispensable +to us in Tennessee. Will you please get in communication with him, +and have a full conference with him before you leave for here? I have +telegraphed him on the subject. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +APPEAL TO BORDER-STATES IN FAVOR OF COMPENSATED EMANCIPATION. + +July 12, 1862. + +GENTLEMEN:--After the adjournment of Congress now very near, I shall have +no opportunity of seeing you for several months. Believing that you of +the border States hold more power for good than any other equal number of +members, I feel it a duty which I cannot justifiably waive to make this +appeal to you. I intend no reproach or complaint when I assure you +that, in my opinion, if you all had voted for the resolution in the +gradual-emancipation message of last March, the war would now be +substantially ended. And the plan therein proposed is yet one of the most +potent and swift means of ending it. Let the States which are in rebellion +see definitely and certainly that in no event will the States you +represent ever join their proposed confederacy, and they cannot much +longer maintain the contest. But you cannot divest them of their hope +to ultimately have you with them so long as you show a determination to +perpetuate the institution within your own States. Beat them at elections, +as you have overwhelmingly done, and, nothing daunted, they still claim +you as their own. You and I know what the lever of their power is. Break +that lever before their faces, and they can shake you no more forever. +Most of you have treated me with kindness and consideration and I trust +you will not now think I improperly touch what is exclusively your own, +when, for the sake of the whole country, I ask, Can you, for your States, +do better than to take the course I urge? Discarding punctilio and maxims +adapted to more manageable times, and looking only to the unprecedentedly +stern facts of our case, can you do better in any possible event? You +prefer that the constitutional relation of the States to the nation shall +be practically restored without disturbance of the institution; and if +this were done, my whole duty in this respect, under the Constitution +and my oath of office, would be performed. But it is not done, and we +are trying to accomplish it by war. The incidents of the war cannot be +avoided. If the war continues long, as it must if the object be not sooner +attained, the institution in your States will be extinguished by mere +friction and abrasion--by the mere incidents of the war. It will be gone, +and you will have nothing valuable in lieu of it. Much of its value is +gone already. How much better for you and for your people to take the step +which at once shortens the war and secures substantial compensation for +that which is sure to be wholly lost in any other event! How much better +to thus save the money which else we sink forever in war! How much better +to do it while we can, lest the war ere long render us pecuniarily unable +to do it! How much better for you as seller, and the nation as buyer, to +sell out and buy out that without which the war could never have been, +than to sink both the thing to be sold and the price of it in cutting +one another's throats! I do not speak of emancipation at once, but of +a decision at once to emancipate gradually. Room in South America for +colonization can be obtained cheaply and in abundance, and when numbers +shall be large enough to be company and encouragement for one another, the +freed people will not be so reluctant to go. + +I am pressed with a difficulty not yet mentioned--one which threatens +division among those who, united, are none too strong. An instance of it +is known to you. General Hunter is an honest man. He was, and I hope still +is, my friend. I valued him none the less for his agreeing with me in the +general wish that all men everywhere could be free. He proclaimed all men +free within certain States, and I repudiated the proclamation. He expected +more good and less harm from the measure than I could believe would +follow. Yet, in repudiating it, I gave dissatisfaction, if not offence, to +many whose support the country cannot afford to lose. And this is not +the end of it. The pressure in this direction is still upon me, and is +increasing. By conceding what I now ask you can relieve me, and, much +more, can relieve the country in this important point. + +Upon these considerations, I have again begged your attention to the +message of March last. Before leaving the Capital, consider and discuss it +among yourselves. You are patriots and statesmen, and as such I pray +you consider this proposition; and, at the least, commend it to the +consideration of your States and people. As you would perpetuate popular +government for the best people in the world, I beseech you that you do +in nowise omit this. Our common country is in great peril, demanding the +loftiest views and boldest action to bring a speedy relief. Once relieved, +its form of government is saved to the world; its beloved history and +cherished memories are vindicated, and its happy future fully assured +and rendered inconceivably grand. To you, more than to any others, the +privilege is given to assure that happiness and swell that grandeur, and +to link your own names therewith forever. + + + + +TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, July 13, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +MY DEAR SIR:--I am told that over 160,000 men have gone into your army +on the Peninsula. When I was with you the other day we made out 86,500 +remaining, leaving 73,500 to be accounted for. I believe 23,500 will cover +all the killed, wounded, and missing in all your battles and skirmishes, +leaving 50,000 who have left otherwise. No more than 5000 of these have +died, leaving 45,000 of your army still alive and not with it. I believe +half or two-thirds of them are fit for duty to-day. Have you any more +perfect knowledge of this than I have? If I am right, and you had these +men with you, you could go into Richmond in the next three days. How can +they be got to you, and how can they be prevented from getting away in +such numbers for the future? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, July 13, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Corinth, Mississippi: + +They are having a stampede in Kentucky. Please look to it. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. T. BOYLE. + +WASHINGTON, July 13, 1862. + +GENERAL J. T. BOYLE, Louisville, Kentucky: + +Your several despatches received. You should call on General Halleck. +Telegraph him at once. I have telegraphed him that you are in trouble. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. T. BOYLE. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, July 13, 1862. + +GENERAL J. T. BOYLE, Louisville, Kentucky: + +We cannot venture to order troops from General Buell. We know not what +condition he is in. He maybe attacked himself. You must call on General +Halleck, who commands, and whose business it is to understand and care for +the whole field If you cannot telegraph to him, send a messenger to him. A +dispatch has this moment come from Halleck at Tuscombia, Alabama. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +ACT OF COMPENSATED EMANCIPATION + +MESSAGE TO CONGRESS. + +July 4, 1862. + +FELLOW-CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: + +Herewith is the draft of the bill to compensate any State which may +abolish slavery within its limits, the passage of which, substantially as +presented, I respectfully and earnestly recommend. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + +Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United +States of America in Congress assembled:--That whenever the President of +the United States shall be satisfied that any State shall have lawfully +abolished slavery within and through-out such State, either immediately +or gradually, it shall be the duty of the President, assisted by the +Secretary of the Treasury, to prepare and deliver to each State an amount +of six per cent. interest-bearing bonds of the United States equal to the +aggregate value at ------ dollars per head of all the slaves within such +State, as reported by the census of 1860; the whole amount for any one +State to be delivered at once if the abolishment be immediate, or in equal +annual instalments if it be gradual, interest to begin running on each +bond at the time of delivery, and not before. + +And be it further enacted, That if any State, having so received any such +bonds, shall at any time afterwards by law reintroduce or tolerate slavery +within its limits, contrary to the act of abolishment upon which such +bonds shall have been received, said bonds so received by said State shall +at once be null and void, in whosesoever hands they may be, and such State +shall refund to the United States all interest which may have been paid on +such bonds. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, July 14, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Corinth, Mississippi: + +I am very anxious--almost impatient--to have you here. Have due regard to +what you leave behind. When can you reach here? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, July 14, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +General Burnside's force is at Newport News, ready to move, on short +notice, one way or the other, when ordered. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO SOLOMON FOOT. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, July 15, 1862. + +HON. SOLOMON FOOT, President pro tempore of the Senate. + +SIR:--Please inform the Senate that I shall be obliged if they will +postpone the adjournment at least one day beyond the time which I +understand to be now fixed for it. + +Your obedient servant, + + +A. LINCOLN. + +[The same message was addressed to Hon. Galusha A. Grow Speaker of the +House of Representatives.] + + + + +MESSAGE TO CONGRESS. July 17, 1862. + +FELLOW-CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: + +I have inadvertently omitted so long to inform you that in March last Mr. +Cornelius Vanderbilt, of New York, gratuitously presented to the United +States the ocean steamer Vanderbilt, by many esteemed the finest merchant +ship in the world. She has ever since been and still is doing valuable +service to the government. For the patriotic act of making this +magnificent and valuable present to the country I recommend that some +suitable acknowledgment be made. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +MESSAGE TO CONGRESS. July 17, 1862. + +FELLOW-CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: + +Considering the bill for "An act to suppress insurrection, to punish +treason and rebellion, to seize and confiscate the property of rebels, and +for other purposes," and the joint resolution explanatory of said act as +being substantially one, I have approved and signed both. + +Before I was informed of the passage of the resolution I had prepared the +draft of a message stating objections to the bill becoming a law, a copy +of which draft is herewith transmitted. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +FELLOW-CITIZENS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: + +I herewith return to your honorable body, in which it originated, the bill +for an act entitled "An act to suppress treason and rebellion, to seize +and confiscate the property of rebels, and for other purposes," together +with my objections to its becoming a law. + +There is much in the bill to which I perceive no objection. It is wholly +prospective, and touches neither person nor property of any loyal citizen, +in which particulars it is just and proper. The first and second sections +provide for the conviction and punishment of persons Who shall be guilty +of treason and persons who shall "incite, set on foot, assist, or engage +in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United +States or the laws thereof, or shall give aid and comfort thereto, or +shall engage in or give aid and comfort to any such existing rebellion or +insurrection." By fair construction persons within these sections are not +to be punished without regular trials in duly constituted courts, +under the forms and all the substantial provisions of law and of the +Constitution applicable to their several cases. To this I perceive +no objection, especially as such persons would be within the general +pardoning power and also the special provision for pardon and amnesty +contained in this act. + +It is also provided that the slaves of persons convicted under these +sections shall be free. I think there is an unfortunate form of expression +rather than a substantial objection in this. It is startling to say that +Congress can free a slave within a State, and yet if it were said the +ownership of the slave had first been transferred to the nation and that +Congress had then liberated him the difficulty would at once vanish. And +this is the real case. The traitor against the General Government forfeits +his slave at least as justly as he does any other property, and he +forfeits both to the government against which be offends. The government, +so far as there can be ownership, thus owns the forfeited slaves, and the +question for Congress in regard to them is, "Shall they be made free or +be sold to new masters?" I perceive no objection to Congress deciding in +advance that they shall be free. To the high honor of Kentucky, as I am +informed, she is the owner of some slaves by escheat, and has sold none, +but liberated all. I hope the same is true of some other States. Indeed, +I do not believe it will be physically possible for the General Government +to return persons so circumstanced to actual slavery. I believe there +would be physical resistance to it which could neither be turned aside +by argument nor driven away by force. In this view I have no objection to +this feature of the bill. Another matter involved in these two sections, +and running through other parts of the act, will be noticed hereafter. + +I perceive no objection to the third or fourth sections. + +So far as I wish to notice the fifth and sixth sections, they may be +considered together. That the enforcement of these sections would do no +injustice to the persons embraced within them, is clear. That those who +make a causeless war should be compelled to pay the cost of it, is too +obviously just to be called in question. To give governmental protection +to the property of persons who have abandoned it, and gone on a crusade to +overthrow the same government, is absurd, if considered in the mere light +of justice. The severest justice may not always be the best policy. +The principle of seizing and appropriating the property of the persons +embraced within these sections is certainly not very objectionable, but a +justly discriminating application of it would be very difficult and, to +a great extent, impossible. And would it not be wise to place a power of +remission somewhere, so that these persons may know they have something to +lose by persisting and something to gain by desisting? + +[A man without hope is a most dangerous man--he has nothing to lose!] + +I am not sure whether such power of remission is or is not in section +thirteen. Without any special act of Congress, I think our military +commanders, when--in military phrase, "they are within the enemy's +country," should, in an orderly manner, seize and use whatever of real or +personal property may be necessary or convenient for their commands; at +the same time preserving, in some way, the evidence of what they do. + +What I have said in regard to slaves, while commenting on the first and +second sections, is applicable to the ninth, with the difference that no +provision is made in the whole act for determining whether a particular +individual slave does or does not fall within the classes defined in +that section. He is to be free upon certain conditions but whether +those conditions do or do not pertain to him no mode of ascertaining is +provided. This could be easily supplied. + +To the tenth section I make no objection. The oath therein required seems +to be proper, and the remainder of the section is substantially identical +with a law already existing. + +The eleventh section simply assumes to confer discretionary power upon +the executive. Without the law, I have no hesitation to go as far in the +direction indicated as I may at any time deem expedient. And I am ready +to say now--I think it is proper for our military commanders to employ, as +laborers, as many persons of African descent as can be used to advantage. + +The twelfth and thirteenth sections are something better than +unobjectionable; and the fourteenth is entirely proper, if all other parts +of the act shall stand. + +That to which I chiefly object pervades most parts of the act, but more +distinctly appears in the first, second, seventh, and eighth sections. +It is the sum of those provisions which results in the divesting of title +forever. + +For the causes of treason and ingredients of treason, not amounting to +the full crime, it declares forfeiture extending beyond the lives of the +guilty parties; whereas the Constitution of the United States declares +that "no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood or forfeiture +except during the life of the person attainted." True, there is to be +no formal attainder in this case; still, I think the greater punishment +cannot be constitutionally inflicted, in a different form, for the same +offence. + +With great respect I am constrained to say I think this feature of the act +is unconstitutional. It would not be difficult to modify it. + +I may remark that the provision of the Constitution, put in language +borrowed from Great Britain, applies only in this country, as I +understand, to real or landed estate. + +Again, this act in rem forfeits property for the ingredients of treason +without a conviction of the supposed criminal, or a personal hearing given +him in any proceeding. That we may not touch property lying within our +reach, because we cannot give personal notice to an owner who is absent +endeavoring to destroy the government, is certainly not satisfactory. +Still, the owner may not be thus engaged; and I think a reasonable time +should be provided for such parties to appear and have personal hearings. +Similar provisions are not uncommon in connection with proceedings in rem. + +For the reasons stated, I return the bill to the House in which it +originated. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, D.C., July 21, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +This is Monday. I hope to be able to tell you on Thursday what is to be +done with Burnside. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +ORDER IN REGARD TO BEHAVIOR OF ALIENS + +WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, + +WASHINGTON, July 21, 1862. + +The following order has been received from the President of the United +States: + +Representations have been made to the President by the ministers of +various foreign powers in amity with the United States that subjects of +such powers have during the present insurrection been obliged or required +by military authorities to take an oath of general or qualified allegiance +to this government. It is the duty of all aliens residing in the United +States to submit to and obey the laws and respect the authority of +the government. For any proceeding or conduct inconsistent with this +obligation and subversive of that authority they may rightfully be +subjected to military restraints when this may be necessary. But they +cannot be required to take an oath of allegiance to this government, +because it conflicts with the duty they owe to their own sovereigns. All +such obligations heretofore taken are therefore remitted and annulled. +Military commanders will abstain from imposing similar obligations in +future, and will in lieu thereof adopt such other restraints of the +character indicated as they shall find necessary, convenient, and +effectual for the public safety. It is further directed that whenever any +order shall be made affecting the personal liberty of an alien reports of +the same and of the causes thereof shall be made to the War Department for +the consideration of the Department of State. + +By order of the Secretary of War: + +L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General. + + + + +ORDER AUTHORIZING EMPLOYMENT OF "CONTRABANDS." + +WAR DEPARTMENT, July 22, 1862. + +Ordered: + +1. That military commanders within the States of Virginia, South Carolina, +Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas in +an orderly manner seize and use any property, real or personal, which may +be necessary or convenient for their several commands as supplies or for +other military purposes; and that while property may be destroyed for +proper military objects, none shall be destroyed in wantonness or malice. + +2. That military and naval commanders shall employ as laborers within +and from said States so many persons of African descent as can be +advantageously used for military or naval purposes, giving them reasonable +wages for their labor. + +3. That as to both property and persons of African descent accounts shall +be kept sufficiently accurate and in detail to show quantities and amounts +and from whom both property and such persons shall have come, as a basis +upon which compensation can be made in proper cases; and the several +departments of this government shall attend to and perform their +appropriate parts toward the execution of these orders. + +By order of the President: EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + + + + +WARNING TO REBEL SYMPATHIZERS + +PROCLAMATION, JULY 25, 1862. + +THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: + +A Proclamation. + +In pursuance of the sixth section of the act of Congress entitled "An act +to suppress insurrection and to punish treason and rebellion, to seize and +confiscate property of rebels, and for other purposes," approved July +17, 1862, and which act and the joint resolution explanatory thereof are +herewith published, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do +hereby proclaim to and warn all persons within the contemplation of +said sixth section to cease participating in, aiding, countenancing, or +abetting the existing rebellion or any rebellion against the Government of +the United States and to return to their proper allegiance to the United +States, on pain of the forfeitures and seizures as within and by said +sixth section provided. + +In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. + +Done at the city of Washington, this twenty-fifth day of July, A.D. 1862, +and of the independence of the United States the eighty-seventh. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +By the President: WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. + + + + +HOLD MY HAND WHILST THE ENEMY STABS ME + +TO REVERDY JOHNSON. + +(Private.) + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, July 26, 1862. + +HON. REVERDY JOHNSON. + +MY DEAR SIR:--Yours of the 16th is received........... + +You are ready to say I apply to friends what is due only to enemies. I +distrust the wisdom if not the sincerity of friends who would hold my +hands while my enemies stab me. This appeal of professed friends has +paralyzed me more in this struggle than any other one thing. You remember +telling me, the day after the Baltimore mob in April, 1861, that it would +crush all Union feeling in Maryland for me to attempt bringing troops over +Maryland soil to Washington. I brought the troops notwithstanding, and +yet there was Union feeling enough left to elect a Legislature the +next autumn, which in turn elected a very excellent Union United States +senator! I am a patient man--always willing to forgive on the Christian +terms of repentance, and also to give ample time for repentance. Still, +I must save this government, if possible. What I cannot do, of course, I +will not do; but it may as well be understood, once for all, that I shall +not surrender this game leaving any available card unplayed. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO CUTHBERT BULLITT. + +(Private.) + +WASHINGTON, D. C., July 28, 1862. + + +CUTHBERT BULLITT, Esq., New Orleans, Louisiana. + +SIR:--The copy of a letter addressed to yourself by Mr. Thomas J. Durant +has been shown to me. The writer appears to be an able, a dispassionate, +and an entirely sincere man. The first part of the letter is devoted to +an effort to show that the secession ordinance of Louisiana was adopted +against the will of a majority of the people. This is probably true, +and in that fact may be found some instruction. Why did they allow the +ordinance to go into effect? Why did they not assert themselves? Why stand +passive and allow themselves to be trodden down by minority? Why did they +not hold popular meetings and have a convention of their own to express +and enforce the true sentiment of the State? If preorganization was +against them then, why not do this now that the United States army is +present to protect them? The paralysis--the dead palsy--of the government +in this whole struggle is that this class of men will do nothing for the +government, nothing for themselves, except demanding that the government +shall not strike its open enemies, lest they be struck by accident! + +Mr. Durant complains that in various ways the relation of master and slave +is disturbed by the presence of our army, and he considers it particularly +vexatious that this, in part, is done under cover of an act of Congress, +while constitutional guaranties are suspended on the plea of military +necessity. The truth is, that what is done and omitted about slaves +is done and omitted on the same military necessity. It is a military +necessity to have men and money; and we can get neither in sufficient +numbers or amounts if we keep from or drive from our lines slaves coming +to them. Mr. Durant cannot be ignorant of the pressure in this direction, +nor of my efforts to hold it within bounds till he and such as he shall +have time to help themselves. + +I am not posted to speak understandingly on all the police regulations +of which Mr. Durant complains. If experience shows any one of them to be +wrong, let them be set right. I think I can perceive in the freedom +of trade which Mr. Durant urges that he would relieve both friends and +enemies from the pressure of the blockade. By this he would serve the +enemy more effectively than the enemy is able to serve himself. I do not +say or believe that to serve the enemy is the purpose, of Mr. Durant, +or that he is conscious of any purpose other than national and patriotic +ones. Still, if there were a class of men who, having no choice of sides +in the contest, were anxious only to have quiet and comfort for themselves +while it rages, and to fall in with the victorious side at the end of it +without loss to themselves, their advice as to the mode of conducting +the contest would be precisely such as his is. He speaks of no +duty--apparently thinks of none--resting upon Union men. He even thinks it +injurious to the Union cause that they should be restrained in trade and +passage without taking sides. They are to touch neither a sail nor a pump, +but to be merely passengers--deadheads at that--to be carried snug and dry +throughout the storm, and safely landed right side up. Nay, more: even +a mutineer is to go untouched, lest these sacred passengers receive an +accidental wound. Of course the rebellion will never be suppressed in +Louisiana if the professed Union men there will neither help to do it nor +permit the government to do it without their help. Now, I think the true +remedy is very different from what is suggested by Mr. Durant. It does not +lie in rounding the rough angles of the war, but in removing the necessity +for the war. The people of Louisiana who wish protection to person and +property have but to reach forth their hands and take it. Let them in good +faith reinaugurate the national authority, and set up a State government +conforming thereto under the Constitution. They know how to do it and can +have the protection of the army while doing it. The army will be withdrawn +so soon as such State government can dispense with its presence; and the +people of the State can then, upon the old constitutional terms, govern +themselves to their own liking. This is very simple and easy. + +If they will not do this--if they prefer to hazard all for the sake +of destroying the government--it is for them to consider whether it is +probable I will surrender the government to save them from losing all. If +they decline what I suggest, you scarcely need to ask what I will do. What +would you do in my position? Would you drop the war where it is? Or would +you prosecute it in future with elder-stalk squirts charged with rose +water? Would you deal lighter blows rather than heavier ones? Would you +give up the contest, leaving any available means unapplied? I am in no +boastful mood. I shall not do more than I can, and I shall do all I can, +to save the government, which is my sworn duty as well as my personal +inclination. I shall do nothing in malice. What I deal with is too vast +for malicious dealing. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO LOYAL GOVERNORS. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., + +July 28, 1862. + +GOVERNORS OF ALL LOYAL STATES: + +It would be of great service here for us to know, as fully as you can +tell, what progress is made and making in recruiting for old regiments +in your State. Also about what day the first regiments can move with you, +what the second, what the third, and so on. This information is important +to us in making calculations. Please give it as promptly and accurately as +you call. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +BROKEN EGGS CANNOT BE MENDED + +EXTRACT FROM LETTER TO AUGUST BELMONT. + +July 31, 1862. + +Broken eggs cannot be mended; but Louisiana has nothing to do now but to +take her place in the Union as it was, barring the already broken eggs. +The sooner she does so, the smaller will be the amount of that which will +be past mending. This government cannot much longer play a game in +which it stakes all, and its enemies stake nothing. Those enemies must +understand that they cannot experiment for ten years trying to destroy the +government, and if they fail, still come back into the Union unhurt. If +they expect in any contingency to ever have the Union as it was, I join +with the writer in saying, "Now is the time." + +How much better it would have been for the writer to have gone at this, +under the protection of the army at New Orleans, than to have sat down in +a closet writing complaining letters northward! + +Yours truly, + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO COUNT GASPARIN. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, + +August 4, 1863. + +TO COUNT A. DE GASPARIN. + +DEAR SIR--Your very acceptable letter, dated Orbe, Canton de Vaud, +Switzerland, 18th of July, 1862, is received. The moral effect was the +worst of the affair before Richmond, and that has run its course downward. +We are now at a stand, and shall soon be rising again, as we hope. I +believe it is true that, in men and material, the enemy suffered more than +we in that series of conflicts, while it is certain that he is less able +to bear it. + +With us every soldier is a man of character, and must be treated with +more consideration than is customary in Europe. Hence our great army, for +slighter causes than could have prevailed there, has dwindled rapidly, +bringing the necessity for a new call earlier than was anticipated. We +shall easily obtain the new levy, however. Be not alarmed if you shall +learn that we shall have resorted to a draft for part of this. It seems +strange even to me, but it is true, that the government is now pressed +to this course by a popular demand. Thousands who wish not to personally +enter the service are nevertheless anxious to pay and send substitutes, +provided they can have assurance that unwilling persons, similarly +situated, will be compelled to do likewise. Besides this, volunteers +mostly choose to enter newly forming regiments, while drafted men can be +sent to fill up the old ones, wherein man for man they are quite doubly as +valuable. + +You ask, "Why is it that the North with her great armies so often is found +with inferiority of numbers face to face with the armies of the South?" +While I painfully know the fact, a military man, which I am not, would +better answer the question. The fact I know has not been overlooked, and +I suppose the cause of its continuance lies mainly in the other facts +that the enemy holds the interior and we the exterior lines, and that +we operate where the people convey information to the enemy, while he +operates where they convey none to us. + +I have received the volume and letter which you did me the honor of +addressing to me, and for which please accept my sincere thanks. You are +much admired in America for the ability of your writings, and much +loved for your generosity to us and your devotion to liberal principles +generally. + +You are quite right as to the importance to us, for its bearing upon +Europe, that we should achieve military successes, and the same is true +for us at home as well as abroad. Yet it seems unreasonable that a series +of successes, extending through half a year, and clearing more than +100,000 square miles of country, should help us so little, while a single +half-defeat should hurt us so much. But let us be patient. + +I am very happy to know that my course has not conflicted with your +judgment of propriety and policy I can only say that I have acted upon my +best convictions, without selfishness or malice, and that by the help of +God I shall continue to do so. + +Please be assured of my highest respect and esteem. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +SPEECH AT A WAR MEETING, WASHINGTON, AUGUST 6, 1862 + +FELLOW CITIZENS: I believe there is no precedent for my appearing before +you on this occasion, but it is also true that there is no precedent for +your being here yourselves, and I offer in justification of myself and +of you that, upon examination, I have found nothing in the Constitution +against it. I, however, have an impression that; there are younger +gentlemen who will entertain you better and better address your +understanding than I will or could, and therefore I propose but to detain +you a moment longer. I am very little inclined on any occasion to say +anything unless I hope to produce some good by it. The only thing I think +of just now not likely to be better said by some one else is a matter in +which we have heard some other persons blamed for what I did myself There +has been a very widespread attempt to have a quarrel between General +McClellan and the Secretary of War Now, I occupy a position that enables +me to believe that these two gentlemen are not nearly so deep in the +quarrel as some presuming to be their friends. General McClellan's +attitude is such that in the very selfishness of his nature he cannot but +wish to be successful--and I hope he will--and the Secretary of War is +precisely in the same situation. If the military commanders in the field +cannot be successful, not only the Secretary of War, but myself, for the +time being the master of both, cannot but be failures. I know General +McClellan wishes to be successful, and I know he does not wish it any more +than the Secretary of War for him, and both of them together no more +than I wish it. Sometimes we have a dispute about how many men General +McClellan has had, and those who would disparage him say he has had a very +large number, and those who would disparage the Secretary of War insist +that General McClellan has had a very small number. The basis for this is, +there is always a wide difference, and on this occasion perhaps a wider +one, between the grand total on McClellan's rolls and the men actually +fit for duty; and those who would disparage him talk of the grand total on +paper, and those who would disparage the Secretary of War talk of those +at present fit for duty. General McClellan has sometimes asked for things +that the Secretary of War did not give him. General McClellan is not to +blame for asking for what he wanted and needed, and the Secretary of War +is not to blame for not giving when he had none to give. And I say here, +so far as I know, the Secretary of War has withheld no one thing at any +time in my power to give him. I have no accusation against him. I believe +he is a brave and able man, and I stand here, as justice requires me to +do, to take upon myself what has been charged on the Secretary of War as +withholding from him. I have talked longer than I expected to do, and now +I avail myself of my privilege of saying no more. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR ANDREW. August 12, 1862. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, D.C. + +GOVERNOR ANDREW, Boston, Mass.: + +Your despatch saying "I can't get those regiments off because I can't +get quick work out of the V. S. disbursing officer and the paymaster" is +received. Please say to these gentlemen that if they do not work quickly I +will make quick work with them. In the name of all that is reasonable, how +long does it take to pay a couple of regiments? We were never more in need +of the arrival of regiments than now--even to-day. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR CURTIN. August 12, 1862. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C. + +GOVERNOR CURTIN, Harrisburg, Penn.: + +It is very important for some regiments to arrive here at once. What lack +you from us? What can we do to expedite matters? Answer. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL S. R. CURTIS. August 12, 1862. + +WASHINGTON, D. C. + +MAJOR-GENERAL CURTIS, St. Louis, Missouri: + +Would the completion of the railroad some distance farther in the +direction of Springfield, Mo., be of any military advantage to you? Please +answer. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +ADDRESS ON COLONIZATION TO A DEPUTATION OF COLORED MEN. + +WASHINGTON, Thursday, August 14, 1862. + +This afternoon the President of the United States gave an audience to a +committee of colored men at the White House. They were introduced by +Rev. J. Mitchell, Commissioner of Emigration, E. M. Thomas, the chairman, +remarked that they were there by invitation to hear what the Executive had +to say to them. + +Having all been seated, the President, after a few preliminary +observations, informed them that a sum of money had been appropriated by +Congress, and placed at his disposition, for the purpose of aiding the +colonization, in some country, of the people, or a portion of them, of +African descent, thereby making it his duty, as it had for a long time +been his inclination, to favor that cause. And why, he asked, should the +people of your race be colonized, and where? Why should they leave this +country? This is, perhaps, the first question for proper consideration. +You and we are different races. We have between us a broader difference +than exists between almost any other two races. Whether it is right +or wrong I need not discuss; but this physical difference is a great +disadvantage to us both, as I think. Your race suffer very greatly, many +of them, by living among us, while ours suffer from your presence. In a +word, we suffer on each side. If this is admitted, it affords a reason, at +least, why we should be separated. You here are free men, I suppose. + +[A voice--"Yes, sir!"] + +Perhaps you have long been free, or all your lives. Your race are +suffering, in my judgment, the greatest wrong inflicted on any people. +But even when you cease to be slaves, you are yet far removed from being +placed on an equality with the white race. You are cut off from many of +the advantages which the other race enjoys. The aspiration of men is to +enjoy equality with the best when free, but on this broad continent not +a single man of your race is made the equal of a single man of ours. Go +where you are treated the best, and the ban is still upon you. I do not +propose to discuss this, but to present it as a fact, with which we have +to deal. I cannot alter it if I would. It is a fact about which we all +think and feel alike, I and you. We look to our condition. Owing to the +existence of the two races on this continent, I need not recount to you +the effects upon white men, growing out of the institution of slavery. + +I believe in its general evil effects on the white race. See our present +condition--the country engaged in war--white men cutting one another's +throats--none knowing how far it will extend--and then consider what we +know to be the truth: But for your race among us there could not be war, +although many men engaged on either side do not care for you one way or +the other. Nevertheless I repeat, without the institution of slavery and +the colored race as a basis, the war could not have an existence. It is +better for us both, therefore, to be separated. I know that there are free +men among you, who, even if they could better their condition, are not as +much inclined to go out of the country as those who, being slaves, could +obtain their freedom on this condition. I suppose one of the principal +difficulties in the way of colonization is that the free colored man +cannot see that his comfort would be advanced by it. You may believe +that you can live in WASHINGTON, or elsewhere in the United States, the +remainder of your life, as easily, perhaps more so, than you can in any +foreign Country; and hence you may come to the conclusion that you have +nothing to do with the idea of going to a foreign country. + +This is (I speak in no unkind sense) an extremely selfish view of the +case. You ought to do something to help those who are not so fortunate as +yourselves. There is an unwillingness on the part of our people, harsh +as it may be, for you free colored people to remain with us. Now, if you +could give a start to the white people, you would open a wide door for +many to be made free. If we deal with those who are not free at the +beginning, and whose intellects are clouded by slavery, we have very poor +material to start with. If intelligent colored men, such as are before me, +would move in this matter, much might be accomplished. + +It is exceedingly important that we have men at the beginning capable +of thinking as white men, and not those who have been systematically +oppressed. There is much to encourage you. For the sake of your race you +should sacrifice something of your present comfort for the purpose of +being as grand in that respect as the white people. It is a cheering +thought throughout life that something can be done to ameliorate the +condition of those who have been subject to the hard usages of the world. +It is difficult to make a man miserable while he feels he is worthy of +himself and claims kindred to the great God who made him. In the American +Revolutionary war sacrifices were made by men engaged in it, but they were +cheered by the future. General WASHINGTON himself endured greater physical +hardships than if he had remained a British subject, yet he was a happy +man because he had engaged in benefiting his race, in doing something for +the children of his neighbors, having none of his own. + +The colony of Liberia has been in existence a long time. In a certain +sense it is a success. The old President of Liberia, Roberts, has just +been with me--the first time I ever saw him. He says they have within the +bounds of that colony between three and four hundred thousand people, or +more than in some of our old States, such as Rhode Island or Delaware, +or in some of our newer States, and less than in some of our larger ones. +They are not all American colonists or their descendants. Something less +than 12,000 have been sent thither from this country. Many of the original +settlers have died; yet, like people else-where, their offspring outnumber +those deceased. The question is, if the colored people are persuaded to go +anywhere, why not there? + +One reason for unwillingness to do so is that some of you would rather +remain within reach of the country of your nativity. I do not know how +much attachment you may have toward our race. It does not strike me that +you have the greatest reason to love them. But still you are attached to +them, at all events. + +The place I am thinking about for a colony is in Central America. It is +nearer to us than Liberia not much more than one fourth as far as Liberia, +and within seven days' run by steamers. Unlike Liberia, it is a great line +of travel--it is a highway. The country is a very excellent one for any +people, and with great natural resources and advantages, and especially +because of the similarity of climate with your native soil, thus being +suited to your physical condition. The particular place I have in view is +to be a great highway from the Atlantic or Caribbean Sea to the Pacific +Ocean, and this particular place has all the advantages for a colony. On +both sides there are harbors--among the finest in the world. Again, there +is evidence of very rich coal-mines. A certain amount of coal is valuable +in any country. Why I attach so much importance to coal is, it will afford +an opportunity to the inhabitants for immediate employment till they get +ready to settle permanently in their homes. If you take colonists where +there is no good landing, there is a bad show; and so where there is +nothing to cultivate and of which to make a farm. But if something is +started so that you can get your daily bread as soon as reach you there, +it is a great advantage. Coal land is the best thing I know of with which +to commence an enterprise. To return--you have been talked to upon this +subject, and told that a speculation is intended by gentlemen who have an +interest in the country, including the coal-mines. We have been mistaken +all our lives if we do not know whites, as well as blacks, look to their +self-interest. Unless among those deficient of intellect, everybody +you trade with makes something. You meet with these things here and +everywhere. If such persons have what will be an advantage to them, +the question is whether it cannot be made of advantage to you. You are +intelligent, and know that success does not so much depend on external +help as on self-reliance. Much, therefore, depends upon yourselves. As to +the coal-mines, I think I see the means available for your self-reliance. +I shall, if I get a sufficient number of you engaged, have provision made +that you shall not be wronged. If you will engage in the enterprise, +I will spend some of the money intrusted to me. I am not sure you will +succeed. The government may lose the money; but we cannot succeed unless +we try, and we think with care we can succeed. The political affairs in +Central America are not in quite as satisfactory a condition as I wish. +There are contending factions in that quarter, but it is true all the +factions are agreed alike on the subject of colonization, and want it, and +are more generous than we are here. + +To your colored race they have no objection I would endeavor to have +you made the equals, and have the best assurance that you should be the +equals, of the best. + +The practical thing I want to ascertain is whether I can get a number of +able-bodied men, with their wives and children, who are willing to go when +I present evidence of encouragement and protection. Could I get a hundred +tolerably intelligent men, with their wives and children, and able to +"cut their own fodder," so to speak? Can I have fifty? If I could find +twenty-five able-bodied men, with a mixture of women and children--good +things in the family relation, I think,--I could make a successful +commencement. I want you to let me know whether this can be done or not. +This is the practical part of my wish to see you. These are subjects of +very great importance, worthy of a month's study, instead of a speech +delivered in an hour. I ask you, then, to consider seriously, not +pertaining to yourselves merely, nor for your race and ours for the +present time, but as one of the things, if successfully managed, the good +of mankind--not confined to the present generation, but as + + "From age to age descends the lay + To millions yet to be, + Till far its echoes roll away + Into eternity." + +The above is merely given as the substance of the President's remarks. + +The chairman of the delegation briefly replied that they would hold a +consultation, and in a short time give an answer. + +The President said: Take your full time-no hurry at all. + +The delegation then withdrew. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO OFFICER AT CAMP CHASE, OHIO. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., August 14, 1862. + +OFFICER in charge of Confederate prisoners at Camp Chase, Ohio: + +It is believed that a Dr. J. J. Williams is a prisoner in your charge, and +if so tell him his wife is here and allow him to telegraph to her. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO HIRAM BARNEY. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, August 16, 1862. + +HON. HIRAM BARNEY, New York: + +Mrs. L. has $1000 for the benefit of the hospitals and she will be +obliged, and send the pay, if you will be so good as to select and send +her $200 worth of good lemons and $100 worth of good oranges. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +NOTE OF INTRODUCTION. + +The Secretary of the Treasury and the Commissioner of Internal Revenue +will please see Mr. Talcott, one of the best men there is, and, if any +difference, one they would like better than they do me. + +August 18, 1862 + + +A. LINCOLN + + + +TELEGRAM TO S. B. MOODY + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON August 18, 1862 + +S. B. MOODY, Springfield, Ill.: + +Which do you prefer--commissary or quartermaster? If appointed it must be +without conditions. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +Operator please send above for President. JOHN HAY + + + + +TO Mrs. PRESTON. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., August 21, 1862. + +Mrs. MARGARET PRESTON, Lexington, Ky.: + +Your despatch to Mrs. L. received yesterday. She is not well. Owing to +her early and strong friendship for you, I would gladly oblige you, but I +cannot absolutely do it. If General Boyle and Hon. James Guthrie, one +or both, in their discretion see fit to give you the passes, this is my +authority to them for doing so. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL BURNSIDE OR GENERAL PARKE. + +WASHINGTON, August 21. + +TO GENERAL BURNSIDE OR GENERAL PARKE: + +What news about arrival of troops? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO G. P. WATSON. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. C., August 21, 1862. + +GILLET F. WATSON, Williamsburg, Va.: + +Your telegram in regard to the lunatic asylum has been received. It +is certainly a case of difficulty, but if you cannot remain, I cannot +conceive who under my authority can. Remain as long as you safely can and +provide as well as you can for the poor inmates of the institution. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO HORACE GREELEY. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, August 22, 1862. + +HON. HORACE GREELEY. + +DEAR SIR:--I have just read yours of the 19th, addressed to myself through +the New York Tribune. If there be in it any statements or assumptions of +fact which I may know to be erroneous, I do not now and here controvert +them. If there be in it any inferences which I may believe to be falsely +drawn, I do not now and here argue against them. If there be perceptible +in it an impatient and dictatorial tone, I waive it in deference to an old +friend, whose heart I have always supposed to be right. + +As to the policy I "seem to be pursuing," as you say, I have not meant to +leave any one in doubt. + +I would save the Union. I would save it the shortest way under the +Constitution. The sooner the national authority can be restored, the +nearer the Union will be, "the Union as it was." If there be those who +would not save the Union unless they could at the same time save slavery, +I do not agree with them. If there be those who would not save the Union +unless they could at the same time destroy slavery, I do not agree with +them. My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is +not either to save or destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without +freeing any slave, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing +all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could do it by freeing some and +leaving others alone, I would also do that. What I do about slavery and +the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save this Union; and +what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save +the Union. I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts +the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will +help the cause. I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors; and +I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views. I +have here stated my purpose according to my view of official duty, and +I intend no modification of my oft expressed personal wish that all men, +everywhere, could be free. + +Yours, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR YATES. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., August 13.1862. 8 A.M. + +HON. R. YATES, Springfield, Ill.: + +I am pained to hear that you reject the service of an officer we sent +to assist in organizing and getting off troops. Pennsylvania and Indiana +accepted such officers kindly, and they now have more than twice as many +new troops in the field as all the other States together. If Illinois +had got forward as many troops as Indiana, Cumberland Gap would soon be +relieved from its present peril. Please do not ruin us on punctilio. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR RAMSEY. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, August 27, 1862 + +GOVERNOR RAMSEY, St. Paul, Minnesota: + +Yours received. Attend to the Indians. If the draft cannot proceed, of +course it will not proceed. Necessity knows no law. The government cannot +extend the time. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON CITY, August 27, 1862 4 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN, Alexandria, Virginia: + +What news from the front? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE. + +August 27, 1862 4.30 p.m. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BURNSIDE, Falmouth, Virginia: + +Do you hear anything from Pope? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE. + +August 28, 1862. 2.40 P. M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BURNSIDE, Falmouth, Virginia: + +Any news from General Pope? + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO COLONEL HAUPT. + +August 28, 1862. 2.40 p. m. + +COLONEL HAUPT, Alexandria, Virginia: + +Yours received. How do you learn that the rebel forces at Manassas are +large and commanded by several of their best generals? + + +A. LINCOLN, + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., August 29, 1862. 2.30 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BURNSIDE, Falmouth, Virginia: + +Any further news? Does Colonel Devon mean that sound of firing was +heard in direction of Warrenton, as stated, or in direction of Warrenton +Junction? + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON, August 29, 1862. 2.30 p.m. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN + +What news from direction of Manassas Junction? What generally? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON, August 29, 1862. 4.10 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: Yours of to-day just received. I think your first +alternative--to wit, "to concentrate all our available forces to open +communication with Pope"--is the right one, but I wish not to control. +That I now leave to General Halleck, aided by your counsels. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO COLONEL HAUPT. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., August 30, 1862. 10.20 A.M. + +COLONEL HAUPT Alexandria, Virginia: + +What news? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO COLONEL HAUPT. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, August 30, 1862. 3.50 P.M. COLONEL HAUPT, Alexandria, +Virginia + +Please send me the latest news. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL BANKS. + +August 30, 1862. 8.35 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BANKS, Manassas Junction, Virginia: + +Please tell me what news. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. T. BOYLE. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, August 31, 1862. + +GENERAL BOYLE, Louisville, Kentucky: + +What force, and what the numbers of it, which General Nelson had in the +engagement near Richmond yesterday? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +ORDER TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., September 3, 1862. + +Ordered, That the general-in-chief, Major-General Halleck, immediately +commence, and proceed with all possible despatch; to organize an army, +for active operations, from all the material within and coming within his +control, independent of the forces he may deem necessary for the defense +of Washington when such active army shall take the field. + +By order of the President: + +EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + +[Indorsement.] + +Copy delivered to Major-General Halleck, September 3, 1862, at 10 p.m. + +E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant-Adjutant General. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL H. G. WRIGHT. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., September 7, 1862. + +GENERAL WRIGHT, Cincinnati, Ohio: + +Do you know to any certainty where General Bragg is? May he not be in +Virginia? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. T. BOYLE. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., September 7, 1862. + +GENERAL BOYLE, Louisville, Kentucky: + +Where is General Bragg? What do you know on the subject? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. E. WOOL. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C. + +September 7, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL Wool, Baltimore: + +What about Harper's Ferry? Do you know anything about it? How certain is +your information about Bragg being in the valley of the Shenandoah? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B, McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON, September 8, 1862. 5 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN, Rockville, Maryland: + +How does it look now? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL D. C. BUELL. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, September 8, 1862. 7.20 P.M. + +GENERAL BUELL: + +What degree of certainty have you that Bragg, with his command, is not now +in the valley of the Shenandoah, Virginia? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO T. WEBSTER. + +WASHINGTON, September 9, 1862. + +THOMAS WEBSTER, Philadelphia: + +Your despatch received, and referred to General Halleck, who must control +the questions presented. While I am not surprised at your anxiety, I do +not think you are in any danger. If half our troops were in Philadelphia, +the enemy could take it, because he would not fear to leave the other half +in his rear; but with the whole of them here, he dares not leave them in +his rear. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, September 10, 1862. 10.15 AM. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN, Rockville, Maryland: + +How does it look now? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GOVERNOR CURTIN. September 11, 1862. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., + + + +HIS EXCELLENCY ANDREW G. CURTIN, Governor of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, +Pennsylvania. + +SIR:--The application made to me by your adjutant general for authority +to call out the militia of the State of Pennsylvania has received careful +consideration. It is my anxious desire to afford, as far as possible, +the means and power of the Federal Government to protect the State +of Pennsylvania from invasion by the rebel forces; and since, in your +judgment, the militia of the State are required, and have been called upon +by you, to organize for home defense and protection, I sanction the call +that you have made, and will receive them into the service and pay of +the United States to the extent they can be armed, equipped, and usefully +employed. The arms and equipments now belonging to the General Government +will be needed for the troops called out for the national armies, so that +arms can only be furnished for the quota of militia furnished by the draft +of nine months' men, heretofore ordered. But as arms may be supplied by +the militia under your call, these, with the 30,000 in your arsenal, will +probably be sufficient for the purpose contemplated by your call. You will +be authorized to provide such equipments as may be required, according +to the regulations of the United States service, which, upon being turned +over to the United States Quartermaster's Department, will be paid for +at regulation prices, or the rates allowed by the department for such +articles. Railroad transportation will also be paid for, as in other +cases. Such general officers will be supplied as the exigencies of the +service will permit. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR CURTIN. + +WASHINGTON, September 11, 1862 12M + +HON. ANDREW G. CURTIN: + +Please tell me at once what is your latest news from or toward Hagerstown, +or of the enemy's movement in any direction. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL C. B. McCLELLAN. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, SEPTEMBER 11, 1862. 6 PM + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +This is explanatory. If Porter, Heintzelman, and Sigel were sent you, it +would sweep everything from the other side of the river, because the new +troops have been distributed among them, as I understand. Porter reports +himself 21,000 strong, which can only be by the addition of new troops. +He is ordered tonight to join you as quickly as possible. I am for sending +you all that can be spared, and I hope others can follow Porter very soon, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON CITY, D.C., SEPTEMBER 12, 1862 + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN, Clarksburg, Maryland: + +How does it look now? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR CURTIN. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON D.C., SEPTEMBER 12, 1862 10.35 AM + +HON. ANDREW G. CURTIN, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: + +Your despatch asking for 80,000 disciplined troops to be sent to +Pennsylvania is received. Please consider we have not to exceed 80,000 +disciplined troops, properly so called, this side of the mountains; and +most of them, with many of the new regiments, are now close in the rear +of the enemy supposed to be invading Pennsylvania. Start half of them to +Harrisburg, and the enemy will turn upon and beat the remaining half, and +then reach Harrisburg before the part going there, and beat it too when +it comes. The best possible security for Pennsylvania is putting the +strongest force possible in rear of the enemy. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL H. G. WRIGHT. + +MILITARY TELEGRAPH, WASHINGTON, September 12, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL WRIGHT, Cincinnati, Ohio: + +I am being appealed to from Louisville against your withdrawing troops +from that place. While I cannot pretend to judge of the propriety of what +you are doing, you would much oblige me by furnishing me a rational answer +to make to the governor and others at Louisville. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. T. BOYLE. + +WASHINGTON, September 12, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BOYLE, Louisville, Kentucky: + +Your despatch of last evening received. Where is the enemy which you dread +in Louisville? How near to you? What is General Gilbert's opinion? With +all possible respect for you, I must think General Wright's military +opinion is the better. He is as much responsible for Louisville as +for Cincinnati. General Halleck telegraphed him on this very subject +yesterday, and I telegraph him now; but for us here to control him +there on the ground would be a babel of confusion which would be utterly +ruinous. Where do you understand Buell to be, and what is he doing? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO A. HENRY. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C, September 12, 1862. + +HON. ALEXANDER HENRY, Philadelphia: + +Yours of to-day received. General Halleck has made the best provision he +can for generals in Pennsylvania. Please do not be offended when I assure +you that in my confident belief Philadelphia is in no danger. Governor +Curtin has just telegraphed me: "I have advices that Jackson is crossing +the Potomac at Williamsport, and probably the whole rebel army will be +drawn from Maryland." At all events, Philadelphia is more than 150 miles +from Hagerstown, and could not be reached by the rebel army in ten days, +if no hindrance was interposed. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WASHINGTON CITY, D.C., September 12, 1862. 5.45 PM + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +Governor Curtin telegraphs me: + +"I have advices that Jackson is crossing the Potomac at Williamsport, and +probably the whole rebel army will be down from Maryland." + +Receiving nothing from Harper's Ferry or Martinsburg to-day, and positive +information from Wheeling that the line is cut, corroborates the idea that +the enemy is crossing the Potomac. Please do not let him get off without +being hurt. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + [But he did! D.W.] + + + + +REPLY TO REQUEST THE PRESIDENT ISSUE A PROCLAMATION OF EMANCIPATION. + +A COMMITTEE FROM THE RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS OF CHICAGO, + + + +September 13,1862. + +The subject presented in the memorial is one upon which I have thought +much for weeks past, and I may even say for months. I am approached with +the most opposite opinions and advice, and that by religious men, who are +equally certain that they represent the Divine will. I am sure that either +the one or the other class is mistaken in that belief, and perhaps in some +respects both. I hope it will not be irreverent for me to say that if +it is probable that God would reveal his will to others, on a point so +connected with my duty, it might be supposed he would reveal it directly +to me; for, unless I am more deceived in myself than I often am, it is my +earnest desire to know the will of Providence in this matter. And if I +can learn what it is I will do it! These are not, however, the days of +miracles, and I suppose it will be granted that I am not to expect a +direct revelation. I must study the plain physical facts of the case, +ascertain what is possible, and learn what appears to be wise and right. + +The subject is difficult, and good men do not agree. For instance, the +other day, four gentlemen of standing and intelligence from New York +called as a delegation on business connected with the war; but +before leaving two of them earnestly besought me to proclaim general +emancipation, upon which the other two at once attacked them. You +know also that the last session of Congress had a decided majority of +antislavery men, yet they could not unite on this policy. And the same is +true of the religious people. Why, the rebel soldiers are praying with a +great deal more earnestness, I fear, than our own troops, and expecting +God to favor their side: for one of our soldiers who had been taken +prisoner told Senator Wilson a few days since that he met nothing so +discouraging as the evident sincerity of those he was among in their +prayers. But we will talk over the merits of the case. + +What good would a proclamation of emancipation from me do, especially +as we are now situated? I do not want to issue a document that the whole +world will see must necessarily be inoperative, like the Pope's bull +against the comet! Would my word free the slaves, when I cannot even +enforce the Constitution in the rebel States? Is there a single court, or +magistrate or individual that would be influenced by it there? And what +reason is there to think it would have any greater effect upon the +slaves than the late law of Congress, which I approved, and which offers +protection and freedom to the slaves of rebel masters who come within our +lines? Yet I cannot learn that that law has caused a single slave to come +over to us. And suppose they could be induced by a proclamation of freedom +from me to throw themselves upon us, what should we do with them? How can +we feed and care for such a multitude? General Butler wrote me a few days +since that he was issuing more rations to the slaves who have rushed to +him than to all the white troops under his command. They eat, and that is +all; though it is true General Butler is feeding the whites also by the +thousand; for it nearly amounts to a famine there. If, now, the pressure +of the war should call off our forces from New Orleans to defend some +other point, what is to prevent the masters from reducing the blacks +to slavery again? for I am told that whenever the rebels take any black +prisoners, free or slave, they immediately auction them off. They did so +with those they took from a boat that was aground in the Tennessee River +a few days ago. And then I am very ungenerously attacked for it! For +instance, when, after the late battles at and near Bull Run, an expedition +went out from Washington under a flag of truce to bury the dead and bring +in the wounded, and the rebels seized the blacks who went along to help, +and sent them into slavery, Horace Greeley said in his paper that the +government would probably do nothing about it. What could I do? + +Now, then, tell me, if you please, what possible result of good would +follow the issuing of such a proclamation as you desire? Understand, I +raise no objections against it on legal or constitutional grounds; for, as +commander-in-chief of the army and navy, in time of war I suppose I have +a right to take any measure which may best subdue the enemy; nor do I +urge objections of a moral nature, in view of possible consequences of +insurrection and massacre at the South. I view this matter as a practical +war measure, to be decided on according to the advantages or disadvantages +it may offer to the suppression of the rebellion. + +I admit that slavery is the root of the rebellion, or at least its sine +qua non. The ambition of politicians may have instigated them to act, but +they would have been impotent without slavery as their instrument. I will +also concede that emancipation would help us in Europe, and convince them +that we are incited by something more than ambition. I grant, further, +that it would help somewhat at the North, though not so much, I fear, as +you and those you represent imagine. Still, some additional strength would +be added in that way to the war, and then, unquestionably, it would weaken +the rebels by drawing off their laborers, which is of great importance; +but I am not so sure we could do much with the blacks. If we were to arm +them, I fear that in a few weeks the arms would be in the hands of the +rebels; and, indeed, thus far we have not had arms enough to equip our +white troops. I will mention another thing, though it meet only your scorn +and contempt. There are fifty thousand bayonets in the Union armies from +the border slave States. It would be a serious matter if, in consequence +of a proclamation such as you desire, they should go over to the rebels. I +do not think they all would--not so many, indeed, as a year ago, or as +six months ago--not so many to-day as yesterday. Every day increases their +Union feeling. They are also getting their pride enlisted, and want to +beat the rebels. Let me say one thing more: I think you should admit that +we already have an important principle to rally and unite the people, in +the fact that constitutional government is at stake. This is a fundamental +idea going down about as deep as anything. + +Do not misunderstand me because I have mentioned these objections. They +indicate the difficulties that have thus far prevented my action in some +such way as you desire. I have not decided against a proclamation of +liberty to the slaves, but hold the matter under advisement; and I can +assure you that the subject is on my mind, by day and night, more than any +other. Whatever shall appear to be God's will, I will do. I trust that +in the freedom with which I have canvassed your views I have not in any +respect injured your feelings. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL H. G. WRIGHT. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., September 14, 1862. + +GENERAL WRIGHT, Cincinnati, Ohio: + +Thanks for your despatch. Can you not pursue the retreating enemy, and +relieve Cumberland Gap? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, + +September 15, 1862. 2.45 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +Your despatch of to-day received. God bless you, and all with you. Destroy +the rebel army if possible. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO J. K. DUBOIS. WASHINGTON, D.C., + +September 15, 1862. 3 P.M. + +HON. K. DUBOIS, Springfield, Illinois: + +I now consider it safe to say that General McClellan has gained a great +victory over the great rebel army in Maryland, between Fredericktown and +Hagerstown. He is now pursuing the flying foe. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +[But not very fast--and he did not catch them! D.W.] + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR CURTIN, + +WASHINGTON, D. C., September 16, 1862. Noon. + +GOVERNOR CURTIN, Harrisburg: + +What do you hear from General McClellan's army? We have nothing from him +to-day. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR MORTON. + +WASHINGTON, D.C., September 17, 1862. + +GOVERNOR O. P. MORTON, Indianapolis, Indiana: + +I have received your despatch in regard to recommendations of General +Wright. I have received no such despatch from him, at least not that I can +remember. I refer yours for General Halleck's consideration. + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL KETCHUM. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, September 20, 1862. + +GENERAL KETCHUM, Springfield, Illinois: + +How many regiments are there in Illinois, ready for service but for want +of arms? How many arms have you there ready for distribution? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +PRELIMINARY EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION, SEPTEMBER 22, 1862. + +THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: + +A Proclamation. + +I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of America and +Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy thereof, do hereby proclaim and +declare that hereafter, as heretofore, the war will be prosecuted for the +object of practically restoring the constitutional relation between the +United States and each of the States and the people thereof in which +States that relation is or may be suspended or disturbed. + +That it is my purpose, upon the next meeting of Congress, to again +recommend the adoption of a practical measure tendering pecuniary aid +to the free acceptance or rejection of all slave States, so called, the +people whereof may not then be in rebellion against the United States, +and which States may then have voluntarily adopted, or thereafter may +voluntarily adopt, immediate or gradual abolishment of slavery within +their respective limits; and that the effort to colonize persons of +African descent with their consent upon this continent or elsewhere, with +the previously obtained consent of the governments existing there, will be +continued. + +That on the 1st day of January, A.D. 1863, all persons held as slaves +within any State or designated part of a State the people whereof +shall then be in rebellion against the United States shall be then, +thenceforward, and forever free; and the executive government of the +United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will +recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons and will do no act or +acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make +for their actual freedom. + + +That the Executive will on the 1st day of January aforesaid, by +proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which +the people thereof, respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the +United States; and the fact that any State or the people thereof shall on +that day be in good faith represented in the Congress of the United States +by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a majority of the qualified +voters of such State shall have participated shall, in the absence of +strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such +State and the people thereof are not then in rebellion against the United +States. + +That attention is hereby called to an act of Congress entitled "An act to +make an additional article of war," approved March 13, 1862, and which act +is in the words and figure following: + +"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United +States of America in Congress assembled, That hereafter the following +shall be promulgated as an additional article of war for the government of +the Army of the United States and shall be obeyed and observed as such. + +"ART. All officers or persons in the military or naval service of the +United States are prohibited from employing any of the forces under their +respective commands for the purpose of returning fugitives from service or +labor who may have escaped from any person, to whom such service or labor +is claimed to be due, and any officer who shall be found guilty by a +court-martial of violating this article shall be dismissed from the +service. + +"SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this act shall take effect from +and after its passage." + +Also to the ninth and tenth sections of an act entitled "An act to +suppress insurrection, to punish treason and rebellion, to seize and +confiscate the property of rebels, and for other purposes," approved July +17, 1862, and which sections are in the words and figures following: + + +"SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That all slaves of persons who shall +hereafter be engaged in rebellion against the Government of the United +States, or who shall in any way give aid or comfort thereto, escaping +from such persons and taking refuge within the lines of the army, and all +slaves captured from such persons or deserted by them and coming under +the control of the Government of the United States, and all slaves of such +persons found on (or) being within any place occupied by rebel forces and +afterwards occupied by the forces of the United States, shall be deemed +captives of war and shall be forever free of their servitude and not again +held as slaves. + +"SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That no slave escaping into any State, +Territory, or the District of Columbia from any other State shall be +delivered up or in any way impeded or hindered of his liberty, except for +crime, or some offence against the laws, unless the person claiming +said fugitive shall first make oath that the person to whom the labor or +service of such fugitive is alleged to be due is his lawful owner, and has +not borne arms against the United States in the present rebellion, nor +in any way given aid and comfort thereto; and no person engaged in the +military or naval service of the United States shall, under any pretense +whatever, assume to decide on the validity of the claim of any person to +the service or labor of any other person, or surrender up any such person +to the claimant, on pain of being dismissed from the service." + +And I do hereby enjoin upon and order all persons engaged in the military +and naval service of the United States to observe, obey, and enforce, +within their respective spheres of service, the act and sections above +recited. + +And the Executive will in due time recommend that all citizens of the +United States who shall have remained loyal thereto throughout the +rebellion shall (upon the restoration of the constitutional relation +between the United States and their respective States and people, if that +relation shall have been suspended or disturbed) be compensated for all +losses by acts of the United States, including the loss of slaves. + +In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the +United States to be affixed. + +Done at the City of Washington, this twenty-second day of September, in +the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, and of the +independence of the United States the eighty-seventh. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +By the President: WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. + + + + +PROCLAMATION SUSPENDING THE WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS, + +SEPTEMBER 24, 1862. + +THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA + +A Proclamation + +Whereas it has become necessary to call into service not only volunteers, +but also portions of the militia of the States by draft, in order to +suppress the insurrection existing in the United States, and disloyal +persons are not adequately restrained by the ordinary processes of law +from hindering this measure, and from giving aid and comfort in various +ways to the insurrection: + +Now, therefore, be it ordered + +First. That during the existing insurrection, and as a necessary measure +for suppressing the same, all rebels and insurgents, their aiders and +abettors within the United States, and all persons discouraging volunteer +enlistments, resisting militia drafts, or guilty of any disloyal practice +affording aid and comfort to rebels against the authority of the +United States, shall be subject to martial law, and liable to trial and +punishment by courts-martial or military commissions. + +Second. That the writ of habeas corpus is suspended in respect to all +persons arrested, or who are now, or hereafter during the rebellion shall +be, imprisoned in any fort camp, arsenal, military prison or other +place of confinement by any military authority or by the sentence of any +court-martial or military commission. + +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the +United States to be affixed. + +Done at the city of WASHINGTON, this twenty-fourth day of September. A.D. +eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and of the independence of the United +States the eighty-seventh. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +By the President: WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. + + + + +REPLY TO SERENADE, SEPTEMBER 24, 1862. + +I appear before you to do little more than acknowledge the courtesy you +pay me, and to thank you for it. I have not been distinctly informed +why it is that on this occasion you appear to do me this honor, though I +suppose it is because of the proclamation. What I did, I did after a +very full deliberation, and under a very heavy and solemn sense of +responsibility. I can only trust in God I have made no mistake. I shall +make no attempt on this occasion to sustain what I have done or said by +any comment. It is now for the country and the world to pass judgment and, +maybe, take action upon it. + +I will say no more upon this subject. In my position I am environed with +difficulties. Yet they are scarcely so great as the difficulties of those +who upon the battle-field are endeavoring to purchase with their blood and +their lives the future happiness and prosperity of this country. Let us +never forget them. On the fourteenth and seventeenth days of this present +month there have been battles bravely, skillfully, and successfully +fought. We do not yet know the particulars. Let us be sure that, in giving +praise to certain individuals, we do no injustice to others. I only ask +you, at the conclusion of these few remarks, to give three hearty cheers +for all good and brave officers and men who fought those successful +battles. + + + + +RECORD EXPLAINING THE DISMISSAL OF MAJOR JOHN J. KEY + +FROM THE MILITARY SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, + +September 26, 1862. + +MAJOR JOHN J. KEY: + +I am informed that, in answer to the question, "Why was not the rebel army +bagged immediately after the battle near Sharpsburg?" propounded to you +by Major Levi C. Turner, Judge Advocate, etc., you said: "That is not the +game. The object is, that neither army shall get much advantage of the +other; that both shall be kept in the field till they are exhausted, when +we will make a compromise and save slavery." + +I shall be very happy if you will, within twenty-four hours from the +receipt of this, prove to me by Major Turner that you did not, either +literally or in substance, make the answer stated. + +[Above delivered to Major Key at 10.25 a.m. September 27th.] + +At about 11 o'clock A.M., September 27, 1862, Major Key and Major Turner +appeared before me. Major Turner says: + +"As I remember it, the conversation was: 'Why did we not bag them after +the battle of Sharpsburg?' Major Key's reply was: 'That was not the game; +that we should tire the rebels out and ourselves; that that was the +only way the Union could be preserved, we come together fraternally, and +slavery be saved.'" + +On cross-examination, Major Turner says he has frequently heard Major Key +converse in regard to the present troubles, and never heard him utter +a sentiment unfavorable to the maintenance of the Union. He has never +uttered anything which he, Major T., would call disloyalty. The particular +conversation detailed was a private one. + + [Indorsement on the above.] + +In my view, it is wholly inadmissible for any gentleman holding a military +commission from the United States to utter such sentiments as Major Key is +within proved to have done. Therefore, let Major John J. Key be forthwith +dismissed from the military service of the United States. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO HANNIBAL HAMLIN. + +(Strictly private.) + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, + +September 28, 1862. + +HON. HANNIBAL HAMLIN. + +MY DEAR SIR: Your kind letter of the 25th is just received. It is known to +some that, while I hope something from the proclamation, my expectations +are not as sanguine as are those of some friends. The time for its effect +southward has not come; but northward the effect should be instantaneous. +It is six days old, and, while commendation in newspapers and by +distinguished individuals is all that a vain man could wish, the stocks +have declined, and troops come forward more slowly than ever. This, looked +soberly in the face, is not very satisfactory. We have fewer troops in +the field at the end of the six days than we had at the beginning--the +attrition among the old outnumbering the addition by the new. The North +responds to the proclamation sufficiently in breath; but breath alone +kills no rebels. + +I wish I could write more cheerfully; nor do I thank you the less for the +kindness of your letter. + +Yours very truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL HALLECK. + +McCLELLAN'S HEADQUARTERS, October 3, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK: + +General Stuart, of the rebel army, has sent in a few of our prisoners +under a flag of truce, paroled with terms to prevent their fighting the +Indians, and evidently seeking to commit us to their right to parole +prisoners in that way. My inclination is to send the prisoners back with +a definite notice that we will recognize no paroles given to our prisoners +by the rebels as extending beyond a prohibition against fighting them, +though I wish your opinion upon it, based both upon the general law and +our cartel. I wish to avoid violations of the law and bad faith. Answer as +quickly as possible, as the thing, if done at all, should be done at once. + + +A. LINCOLN, President + + + + +REMARKS TO THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC AT FREDERICK, MARYLAND, + +OCTOBER, 4, 1862. + +I am surrounded by soldiers and a little farther off by the citizens of +this good City of Frederick. Nevertheless I can only say, as I did five +minutes ago, it is not proper for me to make speeches in my present +position. I return thanks to our soldiers for the good services they have +rendered, the energy they have shown, the hardships they have endured, and +the blood they have shed for this Union of ours; and I also return thanks, +not only to the soldiers, but to the good citizens of Frederick, and to +the good men, women, and children in this land of ours, for their devotion +to this glorious cause; and I say this with no malice in my heart towards +those who have done otherwise. May our children and children's children, +for a thousand generations, continue to enjoy the benefits conferred upon +us by a united country, and have cause yet to rejoice under these glorious +institutions, bequeathed to us by WASHINGTON and his compeers. Now, my +friends, soldiers and citizens, I can only say once more-farewell. + + + + +TELEGRAM FROM GENERAL HALLECK + +TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN., WASHINGTON, D. C., October 6, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +I am instructed to telegraph you as follows: The President directs that +you cross the Potomac and give battle to the enemy, or drive him south. +Your army must move now, while the roads are good. If you cross the river +between the enemy and Washington, and cover the latter by your operation, +you can be reinforced by thirty thousand men. If you move up the valley of +the Shenandoah, not more than twelve or fifteen thousand can be sent you. +The President advises the interior line between Washington and the enemy, +but does not order it. He is very desirous that your army move as soon as +possible. You will immediately report what line you adopt, and when you +intend to cross the river; also to what point the reinforcements are to +be sent. It is necessary that the plan of your operations be positively +determined on, before orders are given for building bridges and repairing +railroads. I am directed to add that the Secretary of War and the +General-in-chief fully concur with the President in these directions. + +H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL McCLELLAN. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, October 7, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN, Hdqs. Army of the Potomac: + +You wish to see your family and I wish to oblige you. It might be left +to your own discretion; certainly so, if Mrs. M. could meet you here at +Washington. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO T. H. CLAY. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, October 8, 1862. + +THOMAS H. CLAY, Cincinnati, Ohio: + +You cannot have reflected seriously when you ask that I shall order +General Morgan's command to Kentucky as a favor because they have marched +from Cumberland Gap. The precedent established by it would evidently break +up the whole army. Buell's old troops, now in pursuit of Bragg, have done +more hard marching recently; and, in fact, if you include marching and +fighting, there are scarcely any old troops east or west of the mountains +that have not done as hard service. I sincerely wish war was an easier +and pleasanter business than it is; but it does not admit of holidays. +On Morgan's command, where it is now sent, as I understand, depends the +question whether the enemy will get to the Ohio River in another place. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL U. S. GRANT. + +WASHINGTON, D.C., October 8, 1862 + +MAJOR-GENERAL GRANT: + +I congratulate you and all concerned in your recent battles and victories. +How does it all sum up? I especially regret the death of General +Hackleman, and am very anxious to know the condition of General Oglesby, +who is an intimate personal friend. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. T. BOYLE. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, October 11,1862. 4 P.M. + +GENERAL BOYLE, Louisville, Kentucky: + +Please send any news you have from General Buell to-day. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. T. BOYLE. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, October 12, 1862. 4.10 P.M. + +GENERAL BOYLE, Louisville, Kentucky: + +We are anxious to hear from General Buell's army. We have heard nothing +since day before yesterday. Have you anything? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL CURTIS. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., October 12, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL CURTIS, Saint Louis, Missouri: + +Would the completion of the railroad some distance further in the +direction of Springfield, Mo., be of any military advantage to you? Please +answer. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, October 13, 1862. + +MY DEAR SIR--You remember my speaking to you of what I called your +over-cautiousness. Are you not over-cautious when you assume that you +cannot do what the enemy is constantly doing? Should you not claim to be +at least his equal in prowess, and act upon the claim? + +As I understand, you telegraphed General Halleck that you cannot subsist +your army at Winchester unless the railroad from Harper's Ferry to that +point be put in working order. But the enemy does now subsist his army +at Winchester, at a distance nearly twice as great from railroad +transportation as you would have to do, without the railroad last named. +He now wagons from Culpepper Court-House, which is just about twice as far +as you would have to do from Harper's Ferry. He is certainly not more +than half as well provided with wagons as you are. I certainly should be +pleased for you to have the advantage of the railroad from Harper's Perry +to Winchester; but it wastes an the remainder of autumn to give it to you, +and, in fact, ignores the question of time, which cannot and must not be +ignored. + +Again, one of the standard maxims of war, as you know, is "to operate +upon the enemy's communications as much as possible, without exposing your +own." You seem to act as if this applies against you, but cannot apply in +your favor. Change positions with the enemy, and think you not he would +break your communication with Richmond within the next twenty-four hours? +You dread his going into Pennsylvania. But if he does so in full force, he +gives up his communications to you absolutely, and you have nothing to do +but to follow and ruin him; if he does so with less than full force, fall +upon and beat what is left behind all the easier. + +Exclusive of the water line, you are now nearer to Richmond than the enemy +is, by the route that you can and he must take. Why can you not reach +there before him, unless you admit that he is more than your equal on a +march? His route is the arc of a circle, while yours is the chord. The +roads are as good on yours as on his. + +You know I desired, but did not order, you to cross the Potomac below +instead of above the Shenandoah and Blue Ridge. My idea was, that this +would at once menace the enemy's communications, which I would seize if +he would permit. If he should move northward, I would follow him +closely, holding his communications. If he should prevent our seizing his +communications, and move toward Richmond, I would press closely to him, +fight him if a favorable opportunity should present, and at least try to +beat him to Richmond on the inside track. I say "try;" if we never try, +we shall never succeed. If he makes a stand at Winchester, moving neither +north or south, I would fight him there, on the idea that if we cannot +beat him when he bears the wastage of coming to us, we never can when we +bear the wastage of going to him. This proposition is a simple truth, +and is too important to be lost sight of for a moment. In coming to us +he tenders us an advantage which we should not waive. We should not so +operate as to merely drive him away. As we must beat him somewhere or fail +finally, we can do it, if at all, easier near to us than far away. If we +cannot beat the enemy where he now is, we never can, he again being within +the entrenchments of Richmond. + +[And, indeed, the enemy was let back into Richmond and it took another two +years and thousands of dead for McClelland cowardice--if that was all that +it was. I still suspect, and I think the evidence is overwhelming that he +was, either secretly a supporter of the South, or, what is more likely, +a politician readying for a different campaign: that of the Presidency of +the United States.] + +Recurring to the idea of going to Richmond on the inside track, the +facility of supplying from the side away from the enemy is remarkable, as +it were, by the different spokes of a wheel extending from the hub toward +the rim, and this whether you move directly by the chord or on the inside +arc, hugging the Blue Ridge more closely. The chord line, as you see, +carries you by Aldie, Hay Market, and Fredericksburg; and you see how +turnpikes, railroads, and finally the Potomac, by Aquia Creek, meet you at +all points from WASHINGTON; the same, only the lines lengthened a little, +if you press closer to the Blue Ridge part of the way. + +The gaps through the Blue Ridge I understand to be about the following +distances from Harper's Ferry, to wit: Vestal's, 5 miles; Gregory's, 13; +Snicker's, 18; Ashby's, 28; Manassas, 38; Chester, 45; and Thornton's, +53. I should think it preferable to take the route nearest the enemy, +disabling him to make an important move without your knowledge, and +compelling him to keep his forces together for dread of you. The gaps +would enable you to attack if you should wish. For a great part of the +way you would be practically between the enemy and both WASHINGTON and +Richmond, enabling us to spare you the greatest number of troops from +here. When at length running for Richmond ahead of him enables him to +move this way, if he does so, turn and attack him in rear. But I think he +should be engaged long before such a point is reached. It is all easy +if our troops march as well as the enemy, and it is unmanly to say they +cannot do it. This letter is in no sense an order. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR PIERPOINT. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, D. C., October 16, 1862. + +GOVERNOR PIERPOINT, Wheeling, Virginia: + +Your despatch of to-day received. I am very sorry to have offended you. I +appointed the collector, as I thought, on your written recommendation, and +the assessor also with your testimony of worthiness, although I know you +preferred a different man. I will examine to-morrow whether I am mistaken +in this. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +EXECUTIVE ORDER ESTABLISHING A PROVISIONAL COURT IN LOUISIANA. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON CITY, + +October 20, 1862. + +The insurrection which has for some time prevailed in several of the +States of this Union, including Louisiana, having temporarily subverted +and swept away the civil institutions of that State, including the +judiciary and the judicial authorities of the Union, so that it has +become necessary to hold the State in military Occupation, and it being +indispensably necessary that there shall be some judicial tribunal +existing there capable of administering justice, I have therefore thought +it proper to appoint, and I do hereby constitute, a provisional court, +which shall be a court of record, for the State of Louisiana; and I do +hereby appoint Charles A Peabody, of New York, to be a provisional judge +to hold said court, with authority to hear, try, and determine all +causes, civil and criminal, including causes in law, equity, revenue, and +admiralty, and particularly all such powers and jurisdiction as belong +to the district and circuit courts of the United States, conforming his +proceedings so far as possible to the course of proceedings and practice +which has been customary in the courts of the United States and Louisiana, +his judgment to be final and conclusive. And I do hereby authorize and +empower the said judge to make and establish such rules and regulations +as may be necessary for the exercise of his jurisdiction, and empower the +said judge to appoint a prosecuting attorney, marshal, and clerk of the +said court, who shall perform the functions of attorney, marshal, and +clerk according to such proceedings and practice as before mentioned and +such rules and regulations as may be made and established by said judge. +These appointments are to continue during the pleasure of the President, +not extending beyond the military occupation of the city of New Orleans +or the restoration of the civil authority in that city and in the State of +Louisiana. These officers shall be paid, out of the contingent fund of the +War Department, compensation as follows: + +The judge at the rate of $3500 per annum; the prosecuting attorney, +including the fees, at the rate of $3000 per annum; the marshal, including +the fees, at the rate of $3000 per annum; and the clerk, including the +fees, at the rate of $2500 per annum; such compensations to be certified +by the Secretary of War. A copy of this order, certified by the Secretary +of War and delivered to such judge, shall be deemed and held to be a +sufficient commission. + + +A. LINCOLN, + +President of the United States. + + + + +TO GENERAL U.S. GRANT. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, + +October 21, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL U. S. GRANT: + +The bearer of this, Thomas R. Smith, a citizen of Tennessee, goes to that +State seeking to have such of the people thereof as desire to avoid the +unsatisfactory prospect before them, and to have peace again upon the +old terms, under the Constitution of the United States, to manifest +such desire by elections of members to the Congress of the United States +particularly, and perhaps a Legislature, State officers, and a United +States senator friendly to their object. + +I shall be glad for you and each of you to aid him, and all others acting +for this object, as much as possible. In all available ways give the +people a show to express their wishes at these elections. + +Follow law, and forms of law, as far as convenient, but at all events get +the expression of the largest number of the people possible. All see how +such action will connect with and affect the proclamation of September +22. Of course the men elected should be gentlemen of character, willing +to swear support to the Constitution as of old, and known to be above +reasonable suspicion of duplicity. + +Yours very respectfully, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL JAMESON. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, October 21, 1862. + +GENERAL JAMESON, Upper Stillwater, Me.: + +How is your health now? Do you or not wish Lieut. R. P. Crawford to be +restored to his office? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +GENERAL McCLELLAN'S TIRED HORSES + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, October 24 [25?], 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +I have just read your despatch about sore-tongued and fatigued horses. +Will you pardon me for asking what the horses of your army have done since +the battle of Antietam that fatigues anything? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION WASHINGTON, October 26, 1862. 11.30am + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +Yours, in reply to mine about horses, received. Of course you know the +facts better than I; still two considerations remain: Stuart's cavalry +outmarched ours, having certainly done more marked service on the +Peninsula and everywhere since. Secondly, will not a movement of our army +be a relief to the cavalry, compelling the enemy to concentrate instead +of foraging in squads everywhere? But I am so rejoiced to learn from +your despatch to General Halleck that you begin crossing the river this +morning. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL DIX. + +(Private and confidential.) + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON October 26, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL Dix, Fort Monroe, Virginia: + +Your despatch to Mr. Stanton, of which the enclosed is a copy, has been +handed me by him. It would be dangerous for me now to begin construing and +making specific applications of the proclamation. + +It is obvious to all that I therein intended to give time and opportunity. +Also, it is seen I left myself at liberty to exempt parts of States. +Without saying more, I shall be very glad if any Congressional district +will, in good faith, do as your despatch contemplates. + +Could you give me the facts which prompted you to telegraph? + +Yours very truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, October 27, 1862, 12.10 + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +Yours of yesterday received. Most certainly I intend no injustice to any, +and if I have done any I deeply regret it. To be told, after more than +five weeks' total inaction of the army, and during which period we have +sent to the army every fresh horse we possibly could, amounting in the +whole to 7918, that the cavalry horses were too much fatigued to move, +presents a very cheerless, almost hopeless, prospect for the future, +and it may have forced something of impatience in my despatch. If not +recruited and rested then, when could they ever be? I suppose the river is +rising, and I am glad to believe you are crossing. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, October 27, 1862. 3.25pm + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +Your despatch of 3 P.M. to-day, in regard to filling up old regiments with +drafted men, is received, and the request therein shall be complied with +as far as practicable. + +And now I ask a distinct answer to the question, Is it your purpose not +to go into action again until the men now being drafted in the States are +incorporated into the old regiments? + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, October 29, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN: + +Your despatches of night before last, yesterday, and last night all +received. I am much pleased with the movement of the army. When you get +entirely across the river let me know. What do you know of the enemy? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR CURTIN. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, October 30, 1862. + +GOVERNOR CURTIN, Harrisburg: + +By some means I have not seen your despatch of the 27th about order No.154 +until this moment. I now learn, what I knew nothing of before, that the +history of the order is as follows: + +When General McClellan telegraphed asking General Halleck to have the +order made, General Halleck went to the Secretary of War with it, stating +his approval of the plan. The Secretary assented and General Halleck wrote +the order. It was a military question, which the Secretary supposed the +General understood better than he. + +I wish I could see Governor Curtin. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR JOHNSON. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, October 31, 1862. + +GOV. ANDREW JOHNSON, Nashville, Tenn., via Louisville, Ky.: + +Yours of the 29th received. I shall take it to General Halleck, but I +already know it will be inconvenient to take General Morgan's command from +where it now is. I am glad to hear you speak hopefully of Tennessee. I +sincerely hope Rosecrans may find it possible to do something for her. +David Nelson, son of the M. C. of your State, regrets his father's final +defection, and asks me for a situation. Do you know him? Could he be of +service to you or to Tennessee in any capacity in which I could send him? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +MEMORANDUM. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, + +November 1, 1862. + +TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Captain Derrickson, with his company, has been for +some time keeping guard at my residence, now at the Soldiers' Retreat. He +and his company are very agreeable to me, and while it is deemed proper +for any guard to remain, none would be more satisfactory than Captain +Derrickson and his company. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +ORDER RELIEVING GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN + +AND MAKING OTHER CHANGES. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION WASHINGTON, November 5, 1862. + +By direction of the President, it is ordered that Major-General McClellan +be relieved from the command of the Army of the Potomac, and that +Major-General Burnside take the command of that army. Also that +Major-General Hunter take command of the corps in said army which is now +commanded by General Burnside. That Major-General Fitz. John Porter be +relieved from command of the corps he now commands in said army, and that +Major-General Hooker take command of said corps. + +The general-in-chief is authorized, in [his] discretion, to issue an order +substantially as the above forthwith, or so soon as he may deem proper. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO M. F. ODELL. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION WASHINGTON, November 5, 1862. + +HON. M. F. ODELL, Brooklyn, New York: + +You are re-elected. I wish to see you at once will you come? Please +answer. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO COLONEL LOWE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, November 7,1862. + +COL. W. W. LOWE, Fort Henry, Tennessee: + +Yours of yesterday received. Governor Johnson, Mr. Ethridge, and others +are looking after the very thing you telegraphed about. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. POPE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, November 10, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL POPE, St. Paul, Minnesota: + +Your despatch giving the names of 300 Indians condemned to death is +received. Please forward as soon as possible the full and complete record +of their convictions; and if the record does not fully indicate the more +guilty and influential of the culprits, please have a careful statement +made on these points and forwarded to me. Send all by mail. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO COMMODORE FARRAGUT. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, November 11, 1862. + +COMMODORE FARRAGUT: + +DEAR SIR:--This will introduce Major-General Banks. He is in command of +a considerable land force for operating in the South, and I shall be glad +for you to co-Operate with him and give him such assistance as you can +consistently with your orders from the Navy Department. + +Your obedient servant, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +ORDER CONCERNING BLOCKADE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, November 12, 1862. + +Ordered, First: that clearances issued by the Treasury Department for +vessels or merchandise bound for the port of Norfolk, for the military +necessities of the department, certified by the military commandant at +Fort Monroe, shall be allowed to enter said port. + +Second: that vessels and domestic produce from Norfolk, permitted by +the military commandant at Fort Monroe for the military purposes of his +command, shall on his permit be allowed to pass from said port to their +destination in any port not blockaded by the United States. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +ORDER CONCERNING THE CONFISCATION ACT. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, November 13, 1862. + +Ordered, by the President of the United States, That the Attorney-General +be charged with the superintendence and direction of all proceedings to be +had under the act of Congress of the 17th of July, 1862, entitled "An act +to suppress insurrection, to punish treason and rebellion, to seize and +confiscate the property of rebels, and for other purposes," in so far +as may concern the seizure, prosecution, and condemnation of the estate, +property, and effects of rebels and traitors, as mentioned and provided +for in the fifth, sixth, and seventh sections of the said act of Congress. +And the Attorney-General is authorized and required to give to the +attorneys and marshals of the United States such instructions and +directions as he may find needful and convenient touching all such +seizures, prosecutions, and condemnations, and, moreover, to authorize all +such attorneys and marshals, whenever there may be reasonable ground to +fear any forcible resistance to them in the discharge of their respective +duties in this behalf, to call upon any military officer in command of +the forces of the United States to give to them such aid, protection, +and support as may be necessary to enable them safely and efficiently to +discharge their respective duties; and all such commanding officers are +required promptly to obey such call, and to render the necessary service +as far as may be in their power consistently with their other duties. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +By the President: EDWARD BATES, Attorney-General + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR JOHNSON. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, November 14, 1862. + +GOV. ANDREW JOHNSON, Nashville, Tennessee: + +Your despatch of the 4th, about returning troops from western Virginia to +Tennessee, is just received, and I have been to General Halleck with it. +He says an order has already been made by which those troops have already +moved, or soon will move, to Tennessee. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +GENERAL ORDER RESPECTING THE OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH DAY + +IN THE ARMY AND NAVY. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, November 15, 1862. + + +The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, desires and +enjoins the orderly observance of the Sabbath by the officers and men in +the military and naval service. The importance for man and beast of +the prescribed weekly rest, the sacred rights of Christian soldiers and +sailors, a becoming deference to the best sentiment of a Christian people, +and a due regard for the divine will demand that Sunday labor in the army +and navy be reduced to the measure of strict necessity. + +The discipline and character of the national forces should not suffer nor +the cause they defend be imperilled by the profanation of the day or name +of the Most High. "At this time of public distress," adopting the words of +Washington in 1776, "men may find enough to do in the service of God and +their country without abandoning themselves to vice and immorality." +The first general order issued by the Father of his Country after the +Declaration of Independence indicates the spirit in which our institutions +were founded and should ever be defended: + +"The General hopes and trusts that every officer and man will endeavor to +live and act as becomes a Christian soldier defending the dearest rights +and liberties of his country." + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL BLAIR + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, November 17,1862. + +HON. F. P. BLAIR: + +Your brother says you are solicitous to be ordered to join General +McLernand. I suppose you are ordered to Helena; this means that you are +to form part of McLernand's expedition as it moves down the river; and +General McLernand is so informed. I will see General Halleck as to whether +the additional force you mention can go with you. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. A. DIX. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., November 18, 1861. + +MAJOR-GENERAL Dix, Fort Monroe: + +Please give me your best opinion as to the number of the enemy now at +Richmond and also at Petersburg. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GOVERNOR SHEPLEY. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, November 21, 1862. + +HON. G. F. SHEPLEY. + +DEAR SIR:--Dr. Kennedy, bearer of this, has some apprehension that +Federal officers not citizens of Louisiana may be set up as candidates for +Congress in that State. In my view there could be no possible object in +such an election. We do not particularly need members of Congress from +there to enable us to get along with legislation here. What we do want is +the conclusive evidence that respectable citizens of Louisiana are willing +to be members of Congress and to swear support to the Constitution, and +that other respectable citizens there are willing to vote for them and +send them. To send a parcel of Northern men here as representatives, +elected, as would be understood (and perhaps really so), at the point of +the bayonet, would be disgusting and outrageous; and were I a member of +Congress here, I would vote against admitting any such man to a seat. + +Yours very truly, + + +A. LINCOLN, + + + + +ORDER PROHIBITING THE EXPORT OF ARMS AND MUNITIONS OF WAR. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, + +November 21, 1862. + +Ordered, That no arms, ammunition, or munitions of war be cleared or +allowed to be exported from the United States until further orders. That +any clearance for arms, ammunition, or munitions of war issued heretofore +by the Treasury Department be vacated, if the articles have not passed +without the United States, and the articles stopped. That the Secretary +of War hold possession of the arms, etc., recently seized by his order at +Rouse's Point, bound for Canada. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +DELAYING TACTICS OF GENERALS + +TO GENERAL N. P. BANKS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, November 22, 1862. + +MY DEAR GENERAL BANKS:--Early last week you left me in high hope with your +assurance that you would be off with your expedition at the end of that +week, or early in this. It is now the end of this, and I have just been +overwhelmed and confounded with the sight of a requisition made by you +which, I am assured, cannot be filled and got off within an hour short of +two months. I enclose you a copy of the requisition, in some hope that +it is not genuine--that you have never seen it. My dear General, this +expanding and piling up of impedimenta has been, so far, almost our ruin, +and will be our final ruin if it is not abandoned. If you had the articles +of this requisition upon the wharf, with the necessary animals to make +them of any use, and forage for the animals, you could not get vessels +together in two weeks to carry the whole, to say nothing of your twenty +thousand men; and, having the vessels, you could not put the cargoes +aboard in two weeks more. And, after all, where you are going you have no +use for them. When you parted with me you had no such ideas in your mind. +I know you had not, or you could not have expected to be off so soon as +you said. You must get back to something like the plan you had then, or +your expedition is a failure before you start. You must be off before +Congress meets. You would be better off anywhere, and especially where +you are going, for not having a thousand wagons doing nothing but hauling +forage to feed the animals that draw them, and taking at least two +thousand men to care for the wagons and animals, who otherwise might be +two thousand good soldiers. Now, dear General, do not think this is an +ill-natured letter; it is the very reverse. The simple publication of this +requisition would ruin you. + +Very truly your friend, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO CARL SCHURZ. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, November 24, 1862. + +GENERAL CARL SCHURZ. + +MY DEAR SIR--I have just received and read your letter of the 20th. The +purport of it is that we lost the late elections and the administration +is failing because the war is unsuccessful, and that I must not flatter +myself that I am not justly to blame for it. I certainly know that if +the war fails the administration fails, and that I will be blamed for +it, whether I deserve it or not. And I ought to be blamed if I could do +better. You think I could do better; therefore you blame me already. +I think I could not do better; therefore I blame you for blaming me. I +understand you now to be willing to accept the help of men who are not +Republicans, provided they have "heart in it." Agreed. I want no others. +But who is to be the judge of hearts, or of "heart in it"? If I must +discard my own judgment and take yours, I must also take that of others +and by the time I should reject all I should be advised to reject, I +should have none left, Republicans or others not even yourself. For be +assured, my dear sir, there are men who have "heart in it" that think you +are performing your part as poorly as you think I am performing mine. I +certainly have been dissatisfied with the slowness of Buell and McClellan; +but before I relieved them I had great fears I should not find successors +to them who would do better; and I am sorry to add that I have seen little +since to relieve those fears. + +I do not see clearly the prospect of any more rapid movements. I fear we +shall at last find out that the difficulty is in our case rather than in +particular generals. I wish to disparage no one certainly not those +who sympathize with me; but I must say I need success more than I need +sympathy, and that I have not seen the so much greater evidence of getting +success from my sympathizers than from those who are denounced as the +contrary. It does seem to me that in the field the two classes have been +very much alike in what they have done and what they have failed to do. +In sealing their faith with their blood, Baker and Lyon and Bohien and +Richardson, Republicans, did all that men could do; but did they any +more than Kearny and Stevens and Reno and Mansfield, none of whom were +Republicans, and some at least of whom have been bitterly and repeatedly +denounced to me as secession sympathizers? I will not perform the +ungrateful task of comparing cases of failure. + +In answer to your question, "Has it not been publicly stated in the +newspapers, and apparently proved as a fact, that from the commencement of +the war the enemy was continually supplied with information by some of the +confidential subordinates of as important an officer as Adjutant-General +Thomas?" I must say "No," as far as my knowledge extends. And I add that +if you can give any tangible evidence upon the subject, I will thank you +to come to this city and do so. + +Very truly your friend, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, November 25, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BURNSIDE, Falmouth, Virginia: + +If I should be in boat off Aquia Creek at dark tomorrow (Wednesday) +evening, could you, without inconvenience, meet me and pass an hour or two +with me? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO ATTORNEY-GENERAL BATES. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, + +November 29, 1862. + +HON. ATTORNEY-GENERAL. + +MY DEAR SIR:--Few things perplex me more than this question between +Governor Gamble and the War Department, as to whether the peculiar force +organized by the former in Missouri are State troops or United States +troops. Now, this is either an immaterial or a mischievous question. +First, if no more is desired than to have it settled what name the force +is to be called by, it is immaterial. Secondly, if it is desired for more +than the fixing a name, it can only be to get a position from which to +draw practical inferences; then it is mischievous. Instead of settling one +dispute by deciding the question, I should merely furnish a nest-full of +eggs for hatching new disputes. I believe the force is not strictly either +"State troops" or "United States troops." It is of mixed character. I +therefore think it is safer, when a practical question arises, to +decide that question directly, and not indirectly by deciding a general +abstraction supposed to include it, and also including a great deal more. +Without dispute Governor Gamble appoints the officers of this force, and +fills vacancies when they occur. The question now practically in dispute +is: Can Governor Gamble make a vacancy by removing an officer or accepting +a resignation? Now, while it is proper that this question shall be +settled, I do not perceive why either Governor Gamble or the government +here should care which way it is settled. I am perplexed with it only +because there seems to be pertinacity about it. It seems to me that it +might be either way without injury to the service; or that the offer of +the Secretary of War to let Governor Gamble make vacancies, and he (the +Secretary) to ratify the making of them, ought to be satisfactory. + +Yours truly, + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL CURTIS. + +[Cipher.] + +WASHINGTON, November 30, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL CURTIS, Saint Louis, Missouri: + +Frank Blair wants Manter's Thirty-second, Curly's Twenty seventh, Boyd's +Twenty-fourth and the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry to go with him down the +river. I understand it is with you to decide whether he shall have them +and if so, and if also it is consistent with the public service, you will +oblige me a good deal by letting him have them. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +ON EXECUTING 300 INDIANS + +LETTER TO JUDGE-ADVOCATE-GENERAL. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, December 1, 1862. + +JUDGE-ADVOCATE-GENERAL. + +SIR:--Three hundred Indians have been sentenced to death in Minnesota by +a military commission, and execution only awaits my action. I wish your +legal opinion whether if I should conclude to execute only a part of them, +I must myself designate which, or could I leave the designation to some +officer on the ground? + +Yours very truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +ANNUAL MESSAGE TO CONGRESS, DECEMBER 1, 1862. + +FELLOW-CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES--Since your +last annual assembling another year of health and bountiful harvests +has passed; and while it has not pleased the Almighty to bless us with a +return of peace, we can but press on, guided by the best light he gives +us, trusting that in his own good time and wise way all will yet be well. + +The correspondence touching foreign affairs which has taken place during +the last year is herewith submitted, in virtual compliance with a request +to that effect, made by the House of Representatives near the close of the +last session of Congress. + +If the condition of our relations with other nations is less gratifying +than it has usually been at former periods, it is certainly more +satisfactory than a nation so unhappily distracted as we are might +reasonably have apprehended. In the month of June last there were some +grounds to expect that the maritime powers which, at the beginning of +our domestic difficulties, so unwisely and unnecessarily, as we think, +recognized the insurgents as a belligerent, would soon recede from that +position, which has proved only less injurious to themselves than to +our own country. But the temporary reverses which afterward befell the +national arms, and which were exaggerated by our own disloyal citizens +abroad, have hitherto delayed that act of simple justice. + +The civil war, which has so radically changed, for the moment, the +occupations and habits of the American people, has necessarily disturbed +the social condition, and affected very deeply the prosperity, of the +nations with which we have carried on a commerce that has been steadily +increasing throughout a period of half a century. It has, at the same +time, excited political ambitions and apprehensions which have produced +a profound agitation throughout the civilized world. In this unusual +agitation we have forborne from taking part in any controversy between +foreign states, and between parties or factions in such states. We have +attempted no propagandism and acknowledged no revolution, but we have left +to every nation the exclusive conduct and management of its own affairs. +Our struggle has been, of course, contemplated by foreign nations +with reference less to its own merits than to its supposed and often +exaggerated effects and consequences resulting to those nations +themselves, nevertheless, complaint on the part of this government, even +if it were just, would certainly be unwise. + +The treaty with Great Britain for the suppression of the slave trade has +been put into operation with a good prospect of complete success. It is +an occasion of special pleasure to acknowledge that the execution of it +on the part of her Majesty's government has been marked with a jealous +respect for the authority of the United States and the rights of their +moral and loyal citizens. + +The convention with Hanover for the abolition of the state dues has been +carried into full effect under the act of Congress for that purpose. + +A blockade of 3000 miles of seacoast could not be established and +vigorously enforced in a season of great commercial activity like +the present without committing occasional mistakes and inflicting +unintentional injuries upon foreign nations and their subjects. + +A civil war occurring in a country where foreigners reside and carry on +trade under treaty stipulations is necessarily fruitful of complaints +of the violation of neutral rights. All such collisions tend to excite +misapprehensions, and possibly to produce mutual reclamations between +nations which have a common interest in preserving peace and friendship. +In clear cases of these kinds I have so far as possible heard and +redressed complaints which have been presented by friendly powers. There +is still, however, a large and an augmenting number of doubtful cases +upon which the government is unable to agree with the governments whose +protection is demanded by the claimants. There are, moreover, many cases +in which the United States or their citizens suffer wrongs from the naval +or military authorities of foreign nations which the governments of those +states are not at once prepared to redress. I have proposed to some of the +foreign states thus interested mutual conventions to examine and adjust +such complaints. This proposition has been made especially to Great +Britain, to France, to Spain, and to Prussia. In each case it has been +kindly received, but has not yet been formally adopted. + +I deem it my duty to recommend an appropriation in behalf of the owners of +the Norwegian bark Admiral P. Tordenskiold, which vessel was in May, 1861, +prevented by the commander of the blockading force off Charleston from +leaving that port with cargo, notwithstanding a similar privilege had +shortly before been granted to an English vessel. I have directed the +Secretary of State to cause the papers in the case to be communicated to +the proper committees. + +Applications have been made to me by many free Americans of African +descent to favor their emigration, with a view to such colonization as +was contemplated in recent acts of Congress, Other parties, at home +and abroad--some from interested motives, others upon patriotic +considerations, and still others influenced by philanthropic +sentiments--have suggested similar measures, while, on the other hand, +several of the Spanish American republics have protested against the +sending of such colonies to their respective territories. Under these +circumstances I have declined to move any such colony to any state without +first obtaining the consent of its government, with an agreement on its +part to receive and protect such emigrants in all the rights of freemen; +and I have at the same time offered to the several states situated within +the Tropics, or having colonies there, to negotiate with them, subject to +the advice and consent of the Senate, to favor the voluntary emigration +of persons of that class to their respective territories, upon conditions +which shall be equal, just, and humane. Liberia and Haiti are as yet the +only countries to which colonists of African descent from here could go +with certainty of being received and adopted as citizens; and I regret +to say such persons contemplating colonization do not seem so willing to +migrate to those countries as to some others, nor so willing as I think +their interest demands. I believe, however, opinion among them in this +respect is improving, and that ere long there will be an augmented and +considerable migration to both these countries from the United States. + +The new commercial treaty between the United States and the Sultan of +Turkey has been carried into execution. + +A commercial and consular treaty has been negotiated, subject to the +Senate's consent, with Liberia, and a similar negotiation is now pending +with the Republic of Haiti. A considerable improvement of the national +commerce is expected to result from these measures. + +Our relations with Great Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Russia, +Prussia, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy, Rome, and the +other European states remain undisturbed. Very favorable relations also +continue to be maintained with Turkey, Morocco, China, and Japan. + +During the last year there has not only been no change of our previous +relations with the independent states of our own continent, but more +friendly sentiments than have heretofore existed are believed to +be entertained by these neighbors, whose safety and progress are so +intimately connected with our own. This statement especially applies to +Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras, Peru, and Chile. + +The commission under the convention with the Republic of New Granada +closed its session without having audited and passed upon all the claims +which were submitted to it. A proposition is pending to revive the +convention, that it may be able to do more complete justice. The joint +commission between the United States and the Republic of Costa Rica has +completed its labors and submitted its report. + +I have favored the project for connecting the United States with Europe by +an Atlantic telegraph, and a similar project to extend the telegraph from +San Francisco to connect by a Pacific telegraph with the line which is +being extended across the Russian Empire. + +The Territories of the United States, with unimportant exceptions, have +remained undisturbed by the civil war; and they are exhibiting such +evidence of prosperity as justifies an expectation that some of them will +soon be in a condition to be organized as States and be constitutionally +admitted into the Federal Union. + +The immense mineral resources of some of those Territories ought to be +developed as rapidly as possible. Every step in that direction would have +a tendency to improve the revenues of the government and diminish the +burdens of the people. It is worthy of your serious consideration whether +some extraordinary measures to promote that end cannot be adopted. The +means which suggests itself as most likely to be effective is a scientific +exploration of the mineral regions in those Territories with a view to the +publication of its results at home and in foreign countries--results which +cannot fail to be auspicious. + +The condition of the finances win claim your most diligent consideration. +The vast expenditures incident to the military and naval operations +required for the suppression of the rebellion have hitherto been met with +a promptitude and certainty unusual in similar circumstances, and the +public credit has been fully maintained. The continuance of the war, +however, and the increased disbursements made necessary by the augmented +forces now in the field demand your best reflections as to the best modes +of providing the necessary revenue without injury to business and with the +least possible burdens upon labor. + +The suspension of specie payments by the banks soon after the commencement +of your last session made large issues of United States notes unavoidable. +In no other way could the payment of troops and the satisfaction of other +just demands be so economically or so well provided for. The judicious +legislation of Congress, securing the receivability of these notes for +loans and internal duties and making them a legal tender for other debts, +has made them an universal currency, and has satisfied, partially at +least, and for the time, the long-felt want of an uniform circulating +medium, saving thereby to the people immense sums in discounts and +exchanges. + +A return to specie payments, however, at the earliest period compatible +with due regard to all interests concerned should ever be kept in view. +Fluctuations in the value of currency are always injurious, and to reduce +these fluctuations to the lowest possible point will always be a +leading purpose in wise legislation. Convertibility, prompt and certain +convertibility, into coin is generally acknowledged to be the best and +surest safeguard against them; and it is extremely doubtful whether a +circulation of United States notes payable in coin and sufficiently large +for the wants of the people can be permanently, usefully, and safely +maintained. + +Is there, then, any other mode in which the necessary provision for the +public wants can be made and the great advantages of a safe and uniform +currency secured? + +I know of none which promises so certain results and is at the same time +so unobjectionable as the organization of banking associations, under +a general act of Congress, well guarded in its provisions. To such +associations the government might furnish circulating notes, on the +security of United States bonds deposited in the treasury. These notes, +prepared under the supervision of proper officers, being uniform in +appearance and security and convertible always into coin, would at once +protect labor against the evils of a vicious currency and facilitate +commerce by cheap and safe exchanges. + +A moderate reservation from the interest on the bonds would compensate +the United States for the preparation and distribution of the notes and +a general supervision of the system, and would lighten the burden of +that part of the public debt employed as securities. The public credit, +moreover, would be greatly improved and the negotiation of new loans +greatly facilitated by the steady market demand for government bonds which +the adoption of the proposed system would create. + +It is an additional recommendation of the measure, of considerable weight, +in my judgment, that it would reconcile as far as possible all existing +interests by the opportunity offered to existing institutions to +reorganize under the act, substituting only the secured uniform national +circulation for the local and various circulation, secured and unsecured, +now issued by them. + +The receipts into the treasury from all sources, including loans and +balance from the preceding year, for the fiscal year ending on the 30th +June, 1862, were $583,885,247.06, of which sum $49,056,397.62 were derived +from customs; $1,795,331.73 from the direct tax; from public lands, +$152,203.77; from miscellaneous sources, $931,787.64; from loans in all +forms, $529,692,460.50. The remainder, $2,257,065.80, was the balance from +last year. + +The disbursements during the same period were: For congressional, +executive, and judicial purposes, $5,939,009.29; for foreign intercourse, +$1,339,710.35; for miscellaneous expenses, including the mints, loans, +post-office deficiencies, collection of revenue, and other like charges, +$14,129,771.50; for expenses under the Interior Department, $3,102,985.52; +under the War Department, $394,368,407.36; under the Navy Department, +$42,674,569.69; for interest on public debt, $13,190,324.45; and for +payment of public debt, including reimbursement of temporary loan and +redemptions, $96,096,922.09; making an aggregate of $570,841,700.25, +and leaving a balance in the treasury on the 1st day of July, 1862, of +$13,043,546.81. + +It should be observed that the sum of $96,096,922.09, expended for +reimbursements and redemption of public debt, being included also in the +loans made, may be properly deducted both from receipts and expenditures, +leaving the actual receipts for the year $487,788,324.97, and the +expenditures $474,744,778.16. + +Other information on the subject of the finances will be found in the +report of the Secretary of the Treasury, to whose statements and views I +invite your most candid and considerate attention. + +The reports of the Secretaries of War and of the Navy are herewith +transmitted. These reports, though lengthy, are scarcely more than brief +abstracts of the very numerous and extensive transactions and operations +conducted through those departments. Nor could I give a summary of them +here upon any principle which would admit of its being much shorter than +the reports themselves. I therefore content myself with laying the reports +before you and asking your attention to them. + +It gives me pleasure to report a decided improvement in the financial +condition of the Post-Office Department as compared with several preceding +years. The receipts for the fiscal year 1861 amounted to $8,349,296.40, +which embraced the revenue from all the States of the Union for three +quarters of that year. Notwithstanding the cessation of revenue from the +so-called seceded States during the last fiscal year, the increase of +the correspondence of the loyal States has been sufficient to produce a +revenue during the same year of $8,299,820.90, being only $50,000 less +than was derived from all the States of the Union during the previous +year. The expenditures show a still more favorable result. The amount +expended in 1861 was $13,606,759.11. For the last year the amount has been +reduced to $11,125,364.13, showing a decrease of about $2,481,000 in the +expenditures as compared with the preceding year, and about $3,750,000 as +compared with the fiscal year 1860. The deficiency in the department +for the previous year was $4,551,966.98. For the last fiscal year it was +reduced to $2,112,814.57. These favorable results are in part owing to the +cessation of mail service in the insurrectionary States and in part to a +careful review of all expenditures in that department in the interest of +economy. The efficiency of the postal service, it is believed, has +also been much improved. The Postmaster-General has also opened a +correspondence through the Department of State with foreign governments +proposing a convention of postal representatives for the purpose of +simplifying the rates of foreign postage and to expedite the foreign +mails. This proposition, equally important to our adopted citizens and to +the commercial interests of this country, has been favorably entertained +and agreed to by all the governments from whom replies have been received. + +I ask the attention of Congress to the suggestions of the +Postmaster-General in his report respecting the further legislation +required, in his opinion, for the benefit of the postal service. + +The Secretary of the Interior reports as follows in regard to the public +lands: + +"The public lands have ceased to be a source of revenue. From the 1st +July, 1861, to the 30th September, 1862, the entire cash receipts from the +sale of lands were $137,476.2--a sum much less than the expenses of our +land system during the same period. The homestead law, which will take +effect on the 1st of January next, offers such inducements to settlers +that sales for cash cannot be expected to an extent sufficient to meet the +expenses of the General Land Office and the cost of surveying and bringing +the land into market." + +The discrepancy between the sum here stated as arising from the sales of +the public lands and the sum derived from the same source as reported from +the Treasury Department arises, as I understand, from the fact that the +periods of time, though apparently were not really coincident at the +beginning point, the Treasury report including a considerable sum now +which had previously been reported from the Interior, sufficiently large +to greatly overreach the sum derived from the three months now reported +upon by the Interior and not by the Treasury. + +The Indian tribes upon our frontiers have during the past year manifested +a spirit of insubordination, and at several points have engaged in open +hostilities against the white settlements in their vicinity. The tribes +occupying the Indian country south of Kansas renounced their allegiance to +the United States and entered into treaties with the insurgents. Those +who remained loyal to the United States were driven from the country. The +chief of the Cherokees has visited this city for the purpose of restoring +the former relations of the tribe with the United States. He alleges that +they were constrained by superior force to enter into treaties with the +insurgents, and that the United States neglected to furnish the protection +which their treaty stipulations required. + +In the month of August last the Sioux Indians in Minnesota attacked +the settlements in their vicinity with extreme ferocity, killing +indiscriminately men, women, and children. This attack was wholly +unexpected, and therefore no means of defense had been provided. It is +estimated that not less than 800 persons were killed by the Indians, and +a large amount of property was destroyed. How this outbreak was induced is +not definitely known, and suspicions, which may be unjust, need not to +be stated. Information was received by the Indian Bureau from different +sources about the time hostilities were commenced that a simultaneous +attack was to be made upon white settlements by all the tribes between +the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. The State of Minnesota +has suffered great injury from this Indian war. A large portion of her +territory has been depopulated, and a severe loss has been sustained +by the destruction of property. The people of that State manifest much +anxiety for the removal of the tribes beyond the limits of the State as +a guaranty against future hostilities. The Commissioner of Indian Affairs +will furnish full details. I submit for your especial consideration +whether our Indian system shall not be remodeled. Many wise and good men +have impressed me with the belief that this can be profitably done. + +I submit a statement of the proceedings of commissioners, which shows the +progress that has been made in the enterprise of constructing the Pacific +Railroad. And this suggests the earliest completion of this road, and also +the favorable action of Congress upon the projects now pending before them +for enlarging the capacities of the great canals in New York and Illinois, +as being of vital and rapidly increasing importance to the whole nation, +and especially to the vast interior region hereinafter to be noticed at +some greater length. I purpose having prepared and laid before you at an +early day some interesting and valuable statistical information upon this +subject. The military and commercial importance of enlarging the Illinois +and Michigan Canal and improving the Illinois River is presented in the +report of Colonel Webster to the Secretary of War, and now transmitted to +Congress. I respectfully ask attention to it. + +To carry out the provisions of the act of Congress of the 15th of May +last, I have caused the Department of Agriculture of the United States to +be organized. + +The Commissioner informs me that within the period of a few months this +department has established an extensive system of correspondence and +exchanges, both at home and abroad, which promises to effect highly +beneficial results in the development of a correct knowledge of recent +improvements in agriculture, in the introduction of new products, and in +the collection of the agricultural statistics of the different States. + +Also, that it will soon be prepared to distribute largely seeds, cereals, +plants, and cuttings, and has already published and liberally diffused +much valuable information in anticipation of a more elaborate report, +which will in due time be furnished, embracing some valuable tests in +chemical science now in progress in the laboratory. + +The creation of this department was for the more immediate benefit of a +large class of our most valuable citizens, and I trust that the +liberal basis upon which it has been organized will not only meet your +approbation, but that it will realize at no distant day all the fondest +anticipations of its most sanguine friends and become the fruitful source +of advantage to all our people. + +On the 22d day of September last a proclamation was issued by the +Executive, a copy of which is herewith submitted. + +In accordance with the purpose expressed in the second paragraph of that +paper, I now respectfully recall your attention to what may be called +"compensated emancipation." + +A nation may be said to consist of its territory, its people, and its +laws. The territory is the only part which is of certain durability. +"One generation passeth away and another generation cometh, but the earth +abideth forever." It is of the first importance to duly consider and +estimate this ever enduring part. That portion of the earth's surface +which is owned and inhabited by the people of the United States is well +adapted to be the home of one national family, and it is not well +adapted for two or more. Its vast extent and its variety of climate and +productions are of advantage in this age for one people, whatever they +might have been in former ages. Steam, telegraphs, and intelligence have +brought these to be an advantageous combination for one united people. + +In the inaugural address I briefly pointed out the total inadequacy of +disunion as a remedy for the differences between the people of the +two sections. I did so in language which I cannot improve, and which, +therefore, I beg to repeat: + +"One section of our country believes slavery is right and ought to +be extended, while the other believes it is wrong and ought not to be +extended. This is the only substantial dispute. The fugitive-slave clause +of the Constitution and the laws for the suppression of the foreign slave +trade are each as well enforced, perhaps, as any law can ever be in a +community where the moral Sense of the people imperfectly supports the law +itself. The great body of the people abide by the dry legal obligation +in both cases, and a few break over in each. This, I think, cannot be +perfectly cured, and it would be worse in both cases after the separation +of the sections than before. The foreign slave trade, now imperfectly +suppressed, would be ultimately revived without restriction in one +section, while fugitive slaves, now only partially surrendered, would not +be surrendered at all by the other. + +"Physically speaking, we can not separate. We can not remove our +respective sections from each other nor build an impassable wall between +them. A husband and wife may be divorced and go out of the presence and +beyond the reach of each other, but the different parts of our country +cannot do this. They cannot but remain face to face, and intercourse, +either amicable or hostile, must continue between them. Is it possible, +then, to make that intercourse more advantageous or more satisfactory +after separation than before? Can aliens make treaties easier than friends +can make laws? Can treaties be more faithfully enforced between aliens +than laws can among friends? Suppose you go to war, you cannot fight +always; and when, after much loss on both sides and no gain on either, you +cease fighting, the identical old questions, as to terms of intercourse, +are again upon you." + +There is no line, straight or crooked, suitable for a national boundary +upon which to divide. Trace through, from east to west, upon the line +between the free and slave country, and we shall find a little more than +one third of its length are rivers, easy to be crossed, and populated, +or soon to be populated, thickly upon both sides; while nearly all its +remaining length are merely surveyors' lines, over which people may walk +back and forth without any consciousness of their presence. No part of +this line can be made any more difficult to pass by writing it down on +paper or parchment as a national boundary. The fact of separation, if it +comes, gives up on the part of the seceding section the fugitive-slave +clause along with all other constitutional obligations upon the section +seceded from, while I should expect no treaty stipulation would ever be +made to take its place. + +But there is another difficulty. The great interior region bounded east +by the Alleghenies, north by the British dominions, west by the Rocky +Mountains, and south by the line along which the culture of corn and +cotton meets, and which includes part of Virginia, part of Tennessee, +all of Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, +Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, and the Territories of Dakota, Nebraska, and part +of Colorado, already has above 10,000,000 people, and will have 50,000,000 +within fifty years if not prevented by any political folly or mistake. +It contains more than one third of the country owned by the United +States--certainly more than 1,000,000 square miles. Once half as populous +as Massachusetts already is, it would have more than 75,000,000 people. A +glance at the map shows that, territorially speaking, it is the great +body of the Republic. The other parts are but marginal borders to it, the +magnificent region sloping west from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific +being the deepest and also the richest in undeveloped resources. In the +production of provisions, grains, grasses, and all which proceed from them +this great interior region is naturally one of the most important in the +world. Ascertain from statistics the small proportion of the region which +has yet been brought into cultivation, and also the large and rapidly +increasing amount of products, and we shall be overwhelmed with +the magnitude of the prospect presented. And yet this region has no +seacoast--touches no ocean anywhere. As part of one nation, its people +now find, and may forever find, their way to Europe by New York, to South +America and Africa by New Orleans, and to Asia by San Francisco; but +separate our common country into two nations, as designed by the present +rebellion, and every man of this great interior region is thereby cut off +from some one or more of these outlets, not perhaps by a physical barrier, +but by embarrassing and onerous trade regulations. + +And this is true, wherever a dividing or boundary line may be fixed. Place +it between the now free and slave country, or place it south of Kentucky +or north of Ohio, and still the truth remains that none south of it can +trade to any port or place north of it, and none north of it can trade to +any port or place south of it, except upon terms dictated by a government +foreign to them. These outlets, east, west, and south, are indispensable +to the well-being of the people inhabiting and to inhabit this vast +interior region. Which of the three may be the best is no proper question. +All are better than either, and all of right belong to that people and to +their successors forever. True to themselves, they will not ask where a +line of separation shall be, but will vow rather that there shall be no +such line. + +Nor are the marginal regions less interested in these communications to +and through them to the great outside world. They, too, and each of them, +must have access to this Egypt of the West without paying toll at the +crossing of any national boundary. + +Our national strife springs not from our permanent part; not from the land +we inhabit; not from our national homestead. There is no possible severing +of this but would multiply and not mitigate evils among us. In all its +adaptations and aptitudes it demands union and abhors separation. In fact, +it would ere long force reunion, however much of blood and treasure the +separation might have cost. + +Our strife pertains to ourselves--to the passing generations of men--and +it can without convulsion be hushed forever with the passing of one +generation. + +In this view I recommend the adoption of the following resolution and +articles amendatory to the Constitution of the United States: + +Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States +of America, in Congress assembled, (two thirds of both Houses concurring), +That the following articles be proposed to the Legislatures (or +conventions) of the several States as amendments to the Constitution of +the United States, all or any of which articles, when ratified by three +fourths of the said Legislatures (or conventions), to be valid as part or +parts of the said Constitution, viz. + +ART.--Every State wherein slavery now exists which shall abolish the same +therein at any time or times before the 1st day of January, A.D. 1900, +shall receive compensation from the United States as follows, to wit: + +The President of the United States shall deliver to every such State bonds +of the United States bearing interest at the rate of -- per cent. per +annum to an amount equal to the aggregate sum of ------ for each slave +shown to have been therein by the Eighth Census of the United States, said +bonds to be delivered to such State by instalments or in one parcel at +the completion of the abolishment, accordingly as the same shall have been +gradual or at one time within such State; and interest shall begin to run +upon any such bond only from the proper time of its delivery as aforesaid. +Any State having received bonds as aforesaid and afterwards reintroducing +or tolerating slavery therein shall refund to the United States the bonds +so received, or the value thereof, and all interest paid thereon. + +ART.--All slaves who shall have enjoyed actual freedom by the chances of +the war at any time before the end of the rebellion shall be forever +free; but all owners of such who shall not have been disloyal shall be +compensated for them at the same rates as is provided for States adopting +abolishment of slavery, but in such way that no slave shall be twice +accounted for. + +ART.--Congress may appropriate money and otherwise provide for colonizing +free colored persons with their own consent at any place or places without +the United States. + +I beg indulgence to discuss these proposed articles at some length. +Without slavery the rebellion could never have existed; without slavery it +could not continue. + +Among the friends of the Union there is great diversity of sentiment and +of policy in regard to slavery and the African race amongst us. Some +would perpetuate slavery; some would abolish it suddenly and without +compensation; some would abolish it gradually and with compensation; some +would remove the freed people from us, and some would retain them with us; +and there are yet other minor diversities. Because of these diversities we +waste much strength in struggles among ourselves. By mutual concession we +should harmonize and act together. This would be compromise, but it would +be compromise among the friends and not with the enemies of the Union. +These articles are intended to embody a plan of such mutual concessions. +If the plan shall be adopted, it is assumed that emancipation will follow, +at least in several of the States. + +As to the first article, the main points are, first, the emancipation; +secondly, the length of time for consummating it (thirty-seven years); +and, thirdly, the compensation. + +The emancipation will be unsatisfactory to the advocates of perpetual +slavery, but the length of time should greatly mitigate their +dissatisfaction. The time spares both races from the evils of sudden +derangement--in fact, from the necessity of any derangement--while most +of those whose habitual course of thought will be disturbed by the measure +will have passed away before its consummation. They will never see it. +Another class will hail the prospect of emancipation, but will deprecate +the length of time. They will feel that it gives too little to the now +living slaves. But it really gives them much. It saves them from the +vagrant destitution which must largely attend immediate emancipation in +localities where their numbers are very great, and it gives the inspiring +assurance that their posterity shall be free forever. The plan leaves to +each State choosing to act under it to abolish slavery now or at the end +of the century, or at any intermediate tune, or by degrees extending +over the whole or any part of the period, and it obliges no two States to +proceed alike. It also provides for compensation, and generally the +mode of making it. This, it would seem, must further mitigate the +dissatisfaction of those who favor perpetual slavery, and especially of +those who are to receive the compensation. Doubtless some of those who are +to pay and not to receive will object. Yet the measure is both just and +economical. In a certain sense the liberation of slaves is the destruction +of property--property acquired by descent or by purchase, the same as any +other property. It is no less true for having been often said that the +people of the South are not more responsible for the original introduction +of this property than are the people of the North; and when it is +remembered how unhesitatingly we all use cotton and sugar and share the +profits of dealing in them, it may not be quite safe to say that the South +has been more responsible than the North for its continuance. If, then, +for a common object this property is to be sacrificed, is it not just that +it be done at a common charge? + +And if with less money, or money more easily paid, we can preserve the +benefits of the Union by this means than we can by the war alone, is it +not also economical to do it? Let us consider it, then. Let us ascertain +the sum we have expended in the war Since compensated emancipation +was proposed last March, and consider whether if that measure had been +promptly accepted by even some of the slave States the same sum would not +have done more to close the war than has been otherwise done. If so, +the measure would save money, and in that view would be a prudent and +economical measure. Certainly it is not so easy to pay something as it is +to pay nothing, but it is easier to pay a large sum than it is to pay a +larger one. And it is easier to pay any sum when we are able than it is to +pay it before we are able. The war requires large sums, and requires +them at once. The aggregate sum necessary for compensated emancipation of +course would be large. But it would require no ready cash, nor the bonds +even any faster than the emancipation progresses. This might not, and +probably would not, close before the end of the thirty-seven years. At +that time we shall probably have a hundred millions of people to share the +burden, instead of thirty-one millions as now. And not only so, but the +increase of our population may be expected to continue for a long time +after that period as rapidly as before, because our territory will not +have become full. I do not state this inconsiderately. At the same ratio +of increase which we have maintained, on an average, from our first +national census, in 1790, until that of 1860, we should in 1900 have a +population of 103,208,415. And why may we not continue that ratio far +beyond that period? Our abundant room, our broad national homestead, +is our ample resource. Were our territory as limited as are the British +Isles, very certainly our population could not expand as stated. Instead +of receiving the foreign born as now, we should be compelled to send part +of the native born away. But such is not our condition. We have 2,963,000 +square miles. Europe has 3,800,000, with a population averaging 73 persons +to the square mile. Why may not our country at some time average as many? +Is it less fertile? Has it more waste surface by mountains, rivers, +lakes, deserts, or other causes? Is it inferior to Europe in any natural +advantage? If, then, we are at some time to be as populous as Europe, how +soon? As to when this may be, we can judge by the past and the present; +as to when it will be, if ever, depends much on whether we maintain the +Union............... + + [a page of tables of projected statistics] + +These figures show that our country may be as populous as Europe now is +at some point between 1920 and 1930, say about 1925--our territory, at 73 +persons to the square mile, being of capacity to contain 217,186,000. + +And we will reach this, too, if we do not ourselves relinquish the chance +by the folly and evils of disunion or by long and exhausting war springing +from the only great element of national discord among us. While it cannot +be foreseen exactly how much one huge example of secession, breeding +lesser ones indefinitely, would retard population, civilization, and +prosperity, no one can doubt that the extent of it would be very great and +injurious. + +The proposed emancipation would shorten the war, perpetuate peace, +insure this increase of population, and proportionately the wealth of +the country. With these we should pay all the emancipation would cost, +together with our other debt, easier than we should pay our other debt +without it. If we had allowed our old national debt to run at six per +cent. per annum, simple interest, from the end of our revolutionary +struggle until to-day, without paying anything on either principal or +interest, each man of us would owe less upon that debt now than each man +owed upon it then; and this because our increase of men through the +whole period has been greater than six per cent.--has run faster than the +interest upon the debt. Thus time alone relieves a debtor nation, so long +as its population increases faster than unpaid interest accumulates on its +debt. + +This fact would be no excuse for delaying payment of what is justly due, +but it shows the great importance of time in this connection--the great +advantage of a policy by which we shall not have to pay until we number +100,000,000 what by a different policy we would have to pay now, when +we number but 31,000,000. In a word, it shows that a dollar will be much +harder to pay for the war than will be a dollar for emancipation on the +proposed plan. And then the latter will cost no blood, no precious life. +It will be a saving of both. + +As to the second article, I think it would be impracticable to return +to bondage the class of persons therein contemplated. Some of them, +doubtless, in the property sense belong to loyal owners, and hence +Provision is made in this article for compensating such. + +The third article relates to the future of the freed people. It does not +oblige, but merely authorizes Congress to aid in colonizing such as may +consent. This ought nut to be regarded as objectionable on the one hand or +on the other, insomuch as it comes to nothing unless by the mutual +consent of the people to be deported and the American voters through their +representatives in Congress. + +I cannot make it better known than it already is that I strongly favor +colonization; and yet I wish to say there is an objection urged against +free colored persons remaining in the country which is largely imaginary, +if not sometimes malicious. + +It is insisted that their presence would injure and displace white labor +and white laborers. If there ever could be a proper time for mere catch +arguments that time surely is not now. In times like the present men +should utter nothing for which they would not willingly be responsible +through time and in eternity. Is it true, then, that colored people can +displace any more white labor by being free than by remaining slaves? +If they stay in their old places, they jostle no white laborers; if they +leave their old places, they leave them open to white laborers. Logically, +there is neither more nor less of it. Emancipation, even without +deportation, would probably enhance the wages of white labor, and very +surely would not reduce them. Thus the customary amount of labor would +still have to be performed. The freed people would surely not do more than +their old proportion of it, and very probably for a time would do less, +leaving an increased part to white laborers, bringing their labor +into greater demand, and consequently enhancing the wages of it. With +deportation, even to a limited extent, enhanced wages to white labor +is mathematically certain. Labor is like any other commodity in the +market-increase the demand for it and you increase the price of it. Reduce +the supply of black labor by colonizing the black laborer out of the +country, and by precisely so much you increase the demand for and wages of +white labor. + +But it is dreaded that the freed people will swarm forth and cover the +whole land. Are they not already in the land? Will liberation make them +any more numerous? Equally distributed among the whites of the whole +country, and there would be but one colored to seven whites. Could the +one in any way greatly disturb the seven? There are many communities now +having more than one free colored person to seven whites, and this without +any apparent consciousness of evil from it. The District of Columbia +and the States of Maryland and Delaware are all in this condition. The +District has more than one free colored to six whites, and yet in its +frequent petitions to Congress I believe it has never presented the +presence of free colored persons as one of its grievances. But why should +emancipation South send the free people North? People of any color seldom +run unless there be something to run from. Heretofore colored people to +some extent have fled North from bondage, and now, perhaps, from both +bondage and destitution. But if gradual emancipation and deportation be +adopted, they will have neither to flee from. Their old masters will give +them wages at least until new laborers can be procured, and the freedmen +in turn will gladly give their labor for the wages till new homes can be +found for them in congenial climes and with people of their own blood and +race. This proposition can be trusted on the mutual interests involved. +And in any event, cannot the North decide for itself whether to receive +them? + +Again, as practice proves more than theory in any case, has there been +any irruption of colored people northward because of the abolishment of +slavery in this District last spring? + +What I have said of the proportion of free colored persons to the whites +in the District is from the census of 1860, having no reference to +persons called contrabands nor to those made free by the act of Congress +abolishing slavery here. + +The plan consisting of these articles is recommended, not but that a +restoration of the national authority would be accepted without its +adoption. + +Nor will the war nor proceedings under the proclamation of September 22, +1862, be stayed because of the recommendation of this plan. Its timely +adoption, I doubt not, would bring restoration, and thereby stay both. + +And notwithstanding this plan, the recommendation that Congress provide +by law for compensating any State which may adopt emancipation before this +plan shall have been acted upon is hereby earnestly renewed. Such would be +only an advance part of the plan, and the same arguments apply to both. + +This plan is recommended as a means, not in exclusion of, but additional +to, all others for restoring and preserving the national authority +throughout the Union. The subject is presented exclusively in its +economical aspect. The plan would, I am confident, secure peace more +speedily and maintain it more permanently than can be done by force alone, +while all it would cost, considering amounts and manner of payment and +times of payment, would be easier paid than will be the additional cost of +the war if we rely solely upon force. It is much, very much, that it would +cost no blood at all. + +The plan is proposed as permanent constitutional law. It cannot become +such without the concurrence of, first, two thirds of Congress, and +afterwards three fourths of the States. The requisite three fourths of +the States will necessarily include seven of the slave States. Their +concurrence, if obtained, will give assurance of their severally adopting +emancipation at no very distant day upon the new constitutional terms. +This assurance would end the struggle now and save the Union forever. + +I do not forget the gravity which should characterize a paper addressed to +the Congress of the nation by the chief magistrate of the nation, nor do +I forget that some of you are my seniors, nor that many of you have more +experience than I in the conduct of public affairs. Yet I trust that in +view of the great responsibility resting upon me you will perceive no want +of respect to yourselves in any undue earnestness I may seem to display. + +Is it doubted, then, that the plan I propose, if adopted, would shorten +the war, and thus lessen its expenditure of money and of blood? Is +it doubted that it would restore the national authority and national +prosperity and perpetuate both indefinitely? Is it doubted that we +here--Congress and executive--can secure its adoption? Will not the good +people respond to a united and earnest appeal from us? Can we, can they, +by any other means so certainly or so speedily assure these vital objects? +We can succeed only by concert. It is not "Can any of us imagine better?" +but "Can we all do better?" Object whatsoever is possible, still the +question recurs, "Can we do better?" The dogmas of the quiet past +are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with +difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we +must think anew and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we +shall save our country. + +Fellow-citizens, we can not escape history. We of this Congress and this +administration will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal +significance or insignificance can spare one or another of us. The fiery +trial through which we pass will light us down in honor or dishonor to the +latest generation. We say we are for the Union. The world will not forget +that we say this. We know how to save the Union. The world knows we +do know how to save it. We, even we here, hold the power and bear the +responsibility. In giving freedom to the slave we assure freedom to the +free--honorable alike in what we give and what we preserve. We shall nobly +save or meanly lose the last, best hope of earth. Other means may succeed; +this could not fail. The way is plain, peaceful, generous, just--a way +which if followed the world will forever applaud and God must forever +bless. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +MESSAGE TO CONGRESS. + +WASHINGTON, December 3, 1862. + +TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: + +On the 3d of November, 1861, a collision took place off the coast of Cuba +between the United States war steamer San Jacinto and the French brig +Jules et Marie, resulting in serious damage to the latter. The obligation +of this Government to make amends therefor could not be questioned if the +injury resulted from any fault On the part of the San Jacinto. With a view +to ascertain this, the subject was referred to a commission of the United +States and French naval officers at New York, with a naval officer of +Italy as an arbiter. The conclusion arrived at was that the collision was +occasioned by the failure of the San Jacinto seasonably to reverse +her engine. It then became necessary to ascertain the amount of +indemnification due to the injured party. The United States consul-general +at Havana was consequently instructed to confer with the consul of France +on this point, and they have determined that the sum of $9,500 is an +equitable allowance under the circumstances. + +I recommend an appropriation of this sum for the benefit of the owners of +the Jules et Marie. + +A copy of the letter of Mr. Shufeldt, the consul-general of the United +States at Havana, to the Secretary of State on the subject is herewith +transmitted. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO H. J. RAYMOND. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, + +December 7, 1862. + +Hon. H. J. RAYMOND, Times Office, New York: + +Yours of November 25 reached me only yesterday. Thank you for it. I shall +consider and remember your suggestions. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO B. G. BROWN. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON December 7, 1862. + +HON. B. GRATZ BROWN, Saint Louis, Missouri: + +Yours of the 3d received yesterday. Have already done what I can in the +premises. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR JOHNSON. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, December 8, 1862. GOVERNOR ANDREW JOHNSON, +Nashville, Tenn.: + +Jesse H. Strickland is here asking authority to raise a regiment of +Tennesseeans. Would you advise that the authority be given him? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +MESSAGE TO CONGRESS. December 8, 1862. + +WASHINGTON, D. C. + +TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: + +In conformity to the law of July 16, 1862, I most cordially recommend, +that Commander John L. Worden, United States Navy, receive a vote of +thanks of Congress for the eminent skill and gallantry exhibited by him +in the late remarkable battle between the United States ironclad steamer +Monitor, under his command, and the rebel ironclad steamer Merrimac, in +March last. + +The thanks of Congress for his services on the occasion referred to were +tendered by a resolution approved July 11, 1862, but the recommendation is +now specially made in order to comply with the requirements of the ninth +section of the act of July 16, 1862, which is in the following words, +viz.: + +"That any line officer of the navy or marine corps may be advanced one +grade if upon recommendation of the President by name he receives the +thanks of Congress for highly distinguished conduct in conflict with the +enemy or for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession." + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL S. R. CURTIS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, + +December 10, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL CURTIS, St. Louis, Missouri: + +Please suspend, until further order, all proceeding on the order made by +General Schofield, on the twenty-eighth day of August last, for assessing +and collecting from secessionists and Southern sympathizers the sum of +five hundred thousand dollars, etc., and in the meantime make out and +send me a statement of facts pertinent to the question, together with your +opinion upon it. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO J. K. DUBOIS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, + +December 10, 1862. + +Hon. J. K. DuBois. + +MY DEAR SIR:--In the summer of 1859, when Mr. Freeman visited Springfield, +Illinois, in relation to the McCallister and Stebbins bonds I promised him +that, upon certain conditions, I would ask members of the Legislature to +give him a full and fair hearing of his case. I do not now remember, nor +have I time to recall, exactly what the conditions were, nor whether they +were completely performed; but there can be in no case any harm [in] his +having a full and fair hearing, and I sincerely wish it may be given him. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +MESSAGE TO THE SENATE. + +December 11, 1862. + +TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES: + +In compliance with your resolution of December 5, 1862, requesting the +President "to furnish the Senate with all information in his possession +touching the late Indian barbarities in the State of Minnesota, and also +the evidence in his possession upon which some of the principal actors +and head men were tried and condemned to death," I have the honor to +state that on receipt of said resolution, I transmitted the same to the +Secretary of the Interior, accompanied by a note, a copy of which is +herewith inclosed, marked A, and in response to which I received, through +that department, a letter of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, a copy of +which is herewith inclosed, marked B. + +I further state that on the eighth day of November last I received a long +telegraphic despatch from Major-General Pope, at St. Paul, Minnesota, +simply announcing the names of the persons sentenced to be hanged. I +immediately telegraphed to have transcripts of the records in all cases +forwarded to me, which transcripts, however, did not reach me until two +or three days before the present meeting of Congress. Meantime I received, +through telegraphic despatches and otherwise, appeals in behalf of the +condemned, appeals for their execution, and expressions of opinion as to +the proper policy in regard to them and to the Indians generally in that +vicinity, none of which, as I understand, falls within the scope of your +inquiry. After the arrival of the transcripts of records, but before I had +sufficient opportunity to examine them, I received a joint letter from +one of the senators and two of the representatives from Minnesota, which +contains some statements of fact not found in the records of the trials, +and for which reason I herewith transmit a copy, marked C. I also, for +the same reason, inclose a printed memorial of the citizens of St. Paul, +addressed to me, and forwarded with the letter aforesaid. + +Anxious to not act with so much clemency as to encourage another outbreak +on the one hand, nor with so much severity as to be real cruelty on the +other, I caused a careful examination of the records of trials to be made, +in view of first ordering the execution of such as had been proved guilty +of violating females. Contrary to my expectation, only two of this class +were found. I then directed a further examination and a classification of +all who were proven to have participated in massacres, as distinguished +from participation in battles. This class numbered forty, and included +the two convicted of female violation. One of the number is strongly +recommended, by the commission which tried them, for commutation to ten +years imprisonment I have ordered the other thirty-nine to be executed on +Friday the 19th instant. The order was despatched from here on Monday, the +8th instant, by a messenger to General Sibley, and a copy of which order +is herewith transmitted, marked D. + +An abstract of the evidence as to the forty is herewith inclosed, marked +E. + +To avoid the immense amount of copying, I lay before the Senate the +original transcripts of the records of trials, as received by me. + +This is as full and complete a response to the resolution as it is in my +power to make. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +MESSAGE TO CONGRESS. + +December 12, 1862. + +FELLOW-CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: + +I have in my possession three valuable swords, formerly the property of +General David E. Twiggs, which I now place at the disposal of Congress. +They are forwarded to me from New Orleans by Major-General Benjamin F. +Butler. If they or any of them shall be by Congress disposed of in reward +or compliment of military service, I think General Butler is entitled to +the first consideration. A copy of the General's letter to me accompanying +the swords is herewith transmitted. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO FERNANDO WOOD. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON DECEMBER 12, 1862. + +HON. FERNANDO WOOD. + +MY DEAR SIR:--Your letter of the 8th, with the accompanying note of same +date, was received yesterday. The most important paragraph in the letter, +as I consider, is in these words: + +"On the 25th of November last I was advised by an authority which I deemed +likely to be well informed, as well as reliable and truthful, that the +Southern States would send representatives to the next Congress, provided +that a full and general amnesty should permit them to do so. No guarantee +or terms were asked for other than the amnesty referred to." + +I strongly suspect your information will prove to be groundless; +nevertheless, I thank you for communicating it to me. Understanding the +phrase in the paragraph just quoted--"the Southern States would send +representatives to the next Congress"--to be substantially the same as +that "the people of the Southern States would cease resistance, and would +reinaugurate, submit to, and maintain the national authority within the +limits of such States, under the Constitution of the United States," I say +that in such case the war would cease on the part of the United States; +and that if within a reasonable time "a full and general amnesty" were +necessary to such end, it would not be withheld. + +I do not think it would be proper now to communicate this, formally or +informally, to the people of the Southern States. My belief is that they +already know it; and when they choose, if ever, they can communicate +with me unequivocally. Nor do I think it proper now to suspend military +operations to try any experiment of negotiation. + +I should nevertheless receive with great pleasure the exact information +you now have, and also such other as you may in any way obtain. Such +information might be more valuable before the 1st of January than +afterwards. + +While there is nothing in this letter which I shall dread to see in +history, it is, perhaps, better for the present that its existence should +not become public. I therefore have to request that you will regard it as +confidential. + +Your obedient servant, + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL CURTIS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, December 14, 1862 + +MAJOR-GENERAL CURTIS, St. Louis, Missouri: + +If my friend Dr. William Fithian, of Danville, Ill., should call on YOU, +please give him such facilities as you consistently can about recovering +the remains of a step-son, and matters connected therewith. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL H. H. SIBLEY. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, December 16, 1862. + +BRIG. GEN. H. H. SIBLEY, Saint Paul, Minn.: + +As you suggest, let the executions fixed for Friday the 19th instant be +postponed to, and be done on, Friday the 26th instant. + + +A. LINCOLN. (Private.) Operator please send this very carefully and +accurately. A. L. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL CURTIS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, December 16, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL CURTIS, Saint Louis, Missouri: + +N. W. Watkins, of Jackson, Mo., (who is half brother to Henry Clay), +writes me that a colonel of ours has driven him from his home at Jackson. +Will you please look into the case and restore the old man to his home if +the public interest will admit? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL BURNSIDE. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, D. C., December 16, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BURNSIDE, Falmouth: + +Your despatch about General Stahel is received. Please ascertain from +General Sigel and his old corps whether Stahel or Schurz is preferable +and telegraph the result, and I will act immediately. After all I shall be +governed by your preference. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL CURTIS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, December 17, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL CURTIS: + +Could the civil authority be reintroduced into Missouri in lieu of the +military to any extent, with advantage and safety? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL BURNSIDE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, December 17, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BURNSIDE + +George Patten says he was a classmate of yours and was in the same +regiment of artillery. Have you a place you would like to put him in? And +if so what is it? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR GAMBLE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, December 18, 1862. + +GOVERNOR GAMBLE, Saint Louis, MO.: + +It is represented to me that the enrolled militia alone would now maintain +law and order in all the counties of your State north of the Missouri +River. If so all other forces there might be removed south of the river, +or out of the State. Please post yourself and give me your opinion upon +the subject. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL CURTIS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, + +December 19, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL CURTIS, Saint Louis, Mo.: + +Hon. W. A. Hall, member of Congress here, tells me, and Governor Gamble +telegraphs me; that quiet can be maintained in all the counties north of +the Missouri River by the enrolled militia. Confer with Governor Gamble +and telegraph me. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE. + +WASHINGTON, December 19, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BURNSIDE: + +Come, of course, if in your own judgment it is safe to do so. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO SECRETARIES SEWARD AND CHASE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, + +December 20, 1862. + +HON. WILLIAM H. SEWARD AND HON. SALMON P. CHASE. + +GENTLEMEN:--You have respectively tendered me your resignations as +Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury of the United States. I +am apprised of the circumstances which may render this course personally +desirable to each of you; but after most anxious consideration my +deliberate judgment is that the public interest does not admit of it. +I therefore have to request that you will resume the duties of your +departments respectively. + +Your obedient servant, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR ANDREW. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., December 20, 1862. + +GOVERNOR ANDREW, Boston, Mass.: + +Neither the Secretary of War nor I know anything except what you tell us +about the "published official document" you mention. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO T. J. HENDERSON. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, December 20, 1862. + +HON. T. J. HENDERSON. + +DEAR SIR:-Your letter of the 8th to Hon. William Kellogg has just been +shown me. You can scarcely overestimate the pleasure it would give me to +oblige you, but nothing is operating so ruinously upon us everywhere as +"absenteeism." It positively will not do for me to grant leaves of absence +in cases not sufficient to procure them under the regular rules. + +It would astonish you to know the extent of the evil of "absenteeism." We +scarcely have more than half the men we are paying on the spot for service +anywhere. + +Yours very truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, + +December 22, 1862. + +TO THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC: + +I have just read your general's report of the battle of Fredericksburg. +Although you were not successful, the attempt was not an error, nor the +failure other than accident. The courage with which you, in an open field, +maintained the contest against an intrenched foe, and the consummate skill +and success with which you crossed and recrossed the river in the face of +the enemy, show that you possess all the qualities of a great army, +which will yet give victory to the cause of the country and of popular +government. + +Condoling with the mourners for the dead, and sympathizing with +the severely wounded, I congratulate you that the number of both is +comparatively so small. + +I tender to you, officers and soldiers, the thanks of the nation. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +LETTER OF CONDOLENCE + +TO MISS FANNY McCULLOUGH. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, December, 23, 1862. + +DEAR FANNY:--It is with deep regret that I learn of the death of your kind +and brave father, and especially that it is affecting your young heart +beyond what is common in such cases. In this sad world of ours sorrow +comes to all, and to the young it comes with bittered agony because it +takes them unawares. + +The older have learned ever to expect it. I am anxious to afford some +alleviation of your present distress, perfect relief is not possible, +except with time. You cannot now realize that you will ever feel better. +Is not this so? And yet it is a mistake. You are sure to be happy again. +To know this, which is certainly true, will make you some less miserable +now. I have had experience enough to know what I say, and you need only to +believe it to feel better at once. The memory of your dear father, instead +of an agony, will yet be a sad, sweet feeling in your heart, of a purer +and holier sort than you have known before. + +Please present my kind regards to your afflicted mother. + +Your sincere friend, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO SECRETARY OF WAR. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, December 26, 1862 + +HONORABLE SECRETARY OF WAR. + +Sir:--Two Ohio regiments and one Illinois regiment which were captured at +Hartsville have been paroled and are now at Columbus, Ohio. This brings +the Ohio regiments substantially to their homes. I am strongly impressed +with the belief that the Illinois regiment better be sent to Illinois, +where it will be recruited and put in good condition by the time they are +exchanged so as to re-enter the service. They did not misbehave, as I +am satisfied, so that they should receive no treatment nor have anything +withheld from them by way of punishment. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL CURTIS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, December 27, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL CURTIS, Saint Louis, Mo.: + +Let the order in regard to Dr. McPheeters and family be suspended until +you hear from me. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR GAMBLE. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, December 27, 1862. + +HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR GAMBLE: + +I do not wish to leave the country north of the Missouri to the care of +the enrolled militia except upon the concurrent judgment of yourself and +General Curtis. His I have not yet obtained. Confer with him, and I shall +be glad to act when you and he agree. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, D.C., December 30, 1862. 3.30 PM. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BURNSIDE: + +I have good reason for saying you must not make a general movement of the +army without letting me know. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL DIX. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, December 31, 1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL Dix, Fort Monroe, Va.: + +I hear not a word about the Congressional election of which you and I +corresponded. Time clearly up. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO H. J. RAYMOND. + +(Private.) + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, December 31, 1862. + +HON. H. J. RAYMOND: + +The proclamation cannot be telegraphed to you until during the day +to-morrow. + +JNO. G. NICOLAY. + +[Same to Horace Greeley] + + + + + +1863 + + + + +EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION, JANUARY 1, 1863. + +THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: + +A Proclamation. + +Whereas on the 22d day of September, A.D. 1862, a proclamation was issued +by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the +following, to wit: + +"That on the 1st day of January, A.D., 1863, all persons held as slaves +within any State or designated part of a State the people whereof +shall then be in rebellion against the United States shall be then, +thenceforward, and forever free; and the executive government of the +United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will +recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons and will do no act or +acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make +for their actual freedom. + +"That the executive will on the 1st day of January aforesaid, by +proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which +the people thereof, respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the +United States; and the fact that any State or the people thereof shall on +that day be in good faith represented in the Congress of the United States +by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a majority of the qualified +voters of such States shall have participated shall, in the absence of +strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such +State and the people thereof are not then in rebellion against the United +States." + +Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by +virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-in-Chief of the Army and +Navy of the United States in time of actual armed rebellion against the +authority and government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary +war measure for suppressing said rebellion, do, on this 1st day of +January, A. D. 1863, and in accordance with my purpose so to do, publicly +proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days from the first day +above mentioned, order and designate as the States and parts of States +wherein the people thereof, respectively, are this day in rebellion +against the United States the following, to wit: + +Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana (except the parishes of St. Bernard, +Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. John, St. Charles, St. James, Ascension, +Assumption, Terre Bonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Martin, and Orleans, +including the city of New Orleans), Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, +Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia (except the +forty-eight counties designated as West Virginia, and also the counties of +Berkeley, Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Anne, +and Norfolk, including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth), and which +excepted parts are for the present left precisely as if this proclamation +were not issued. + +And by virtue of the power and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and +declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States +and parts of States are, and henceforward shall be, free; and that the +Executive Government of the United States, including the military and +naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said +persons. + +And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from +all violence, unless in necessary self-defense; and I recommend to them +that, in all cases when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable +wages. + +And I further declare and make known that such persons of suitable +condition will be received into the armed service of the United States to +garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels +of all sorts in said service. + +And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted +by the Constitution upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate +judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty God. + +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the +United States to be affixed. + +Done at the city of Washington, this first day of January, A.D. 1863, and +of the independence of the United States of America the eighty-seventh. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +By the President: WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. + + + + +TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON January 1, 1863 + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK. + +DEAR SIR:--General Burnside wishes to cross the Rappahannock with his +army, but his grand division commanders all oppose the movement. If in +such a difficulty as this you do not help, you fail me precisely in the +point for which I sought your assistance You know what General Burnside's +plan is, and it is my wish that you go with him to the ground, examine it +as far as practicable, confer with the officers, getting their judgment, +and ascertaining their temper--in a word, gather all the elements for +forming a judgment of your own, and then tell General Burnside that you +do approve or that you do not approve his plan. Your military skill is +useless to me if you will not do this. + +Yours very truly, + + +A. LINCOLN + +[Indorsement] + +January 1, 1863 Withdrawn, because considered harsh by General Halleck. + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +MESSAGE TO CONGRESS + +WASHINGTON, January 2, 1863 + +TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: + +I submit to Congress the expediency of extending to other departments +of the government the authority conferred on the President by the eighth +section of the act of the 8th of May, 1792, to appoint a person to +temporarily discharge the duties of Secretary of State, Secretary of the +Treasury, and Secretary of War, in case of the death, absence from the +seat of government, or sickness of either of those officers. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL S. R. CURTIS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON JANUARY 2, 1863 + +MAJOR-GENERAL CURTIS. + +MY DEAR SIR:--Yours of December 29 by the hand of Mr. Strong is just +received. The day I telegraphed you suspending the order in relation to +Dr. McPheeters, he, with Mr. Bates, the Attorney-General, appeared before +me and left with me a copy of the order mentioned. The doctor also showed +me the Copy of an oath which he said he had taken, which is indeed very +strong and specific. He also verbally assured me that he had constantly +prayed in church for the President and government, as he had always done +before the present war. In looking over the recitals in your order, I do +not see that this matter of the prayer, as he states it, is negatived, +nor that any violation of his oath is charged nor, in fact, that anything +specific is alleged against him. The charges are all general: that he has +a rebel wife and rebel relations, that he sympathies with rebels, and +that he exercises rebel influence. Now, after talking with him, I tell +you frankly I believe he does sympathize with the rebels, but the question +remains whether such a man, of unquestioned good moral character, who has +taken such an oath as he has, and cannot even be charged with violating +it, and who can be charged with no other specific act or omission, can, +with safety to the government, be exiled upon the suspicion of his secret +sympathies. But I agree that this must be left to you, who are on the +spot; and if, after all, you think the public good requires his removal, +my suspension of the order is withdrawn, only with this qualification, +that the time during the suspension is not to be counted against him. I +have promised him this. But I must add that the United States Government +must not, as by this order, undertake to run the churches. When an +individual in a church or out of it becomes dangerous to the public +interest, he must be checked; but let the churches, as such, take care +of themselves. It will not do for the United States to appoint trustees, +supervisors, or other agents for the churches. + +Yours very truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + +P. S.--The committee composed of Messrs. Yeatman and Filley (Mr. Broadhead +not attending) has presented your letter and the memorial of sundry +citizens. On the whole subject embraced exercise your best judgment, +with a sole view to the public interest, and I will not interfere without +hearing you. + +A. LINCOLN., January 3, 1863. + + + + +TO SECRETARY WELLES. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, January 4, 1863. + +HON. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy. + +DEAR SIR:--As many persons who come well recommended for loyalty and +service to the Union cause, and who are refugees from rebel oppression in +the State of Virginia, make application to me for authority and permission +to remove their families and property to protection within the Union +lines, by means of our armed gunboats on the Potomac River and Chesapeake +Bay, you are hereby requested to hear and consider all such applications, +and to grant such assistance to this class of persons as in your judgment +their merits may render proper, and as may in each case be consistent with +the perfect and complete efficiency of the naval service and with military +expediency. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL S. L CURTIS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, January 5, 1863 + +MAJOR-GENERAL CURTIS. + +MY DEAR SIR:--I am having a good deal of trouble with Missouri matters, +and I now sit down to write you particularly about it. One class of +friends believe in greater severity and another in greater leniency in +regard to arrests, banishments, and assessments. As usual in such cases, +each questions the other's motives. On the one hand, it is insisted that +Governor Gamble's unionism, at most, is not better than a secondary spring +of action; that hunkerism and a wish for political influence stand +before Unionism with him. On the other hand, it is urged that arrests, +banishments, and assessments are made more for private malice, revenge, +and pecuniary interest than for the public good. This morning I was told, +by a gentleman who I have no doubt believes what he says, that in one +case of assessments for $10,000 the different persons who paid compared +receipts, and found they had paid $30,000. If this be true, the inference +is that the collecting agents pocketed the odd $20,000. And true or not +in the instance, nothing but the sternest necessity can justify the +making and maintaining of a system so liable to such abuses. Doubtless the +necessity for the making of the system in Missouri did exist, and whether +it continues for the maintenance of it is now a practical and very +important question. Some days ago Governor Gamble telegraphed me, asking +that the assessments outside of St. Louis County might be suspended, as +they already have been within it, and this morning all the members of +Congress here from Missouri but one laid a paper before me asking the same +thing. Now, my belief is that Governor Gamble is an honest and true man, +not less so than yourself; that you and he could confer together on this +and other Missouri questions with great advantage to the public; that each +knows something which the other does not; and that acting together you +could about double your stock of pertinent information. May I not hope +that you and he will attempt this? I could at once safely do (or you could +safely do without me) whatever you and he agree upon. There is absolutely +no reason why you should not agree. + +Yours as ever, + + +A. LINCOLN. + +P. S.--I forgot to say that Hon. James S. Rollins, member of Congress +from one of the Missouri districts, wishes that, upon his personal +responsibility, Rev. John M. Robinson, of Columbia, Missouri; James L. +Matthews, of Boone County, Missouri; and James L. Stephens, also of Boone +County, Missouri, may be allowed to return to their respective homes. +Major Rollins leaves with me very strong papers from the neighbors of +these men, whom he says he knows to be true men. He also says he has many +constituents who he thinks are rightly exiled, but that he thinks these +three should be allowed to return. Please look into the case, and oblige +Major Rollins if you consistently can. + +Yours truly, + +A. LINCOLN. + +[Copy sent to Governor Gamble.] + + + + +TO CALEB RUSSELL AND SALLIE A. FENTON. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, January 5, 1863. + +MY GOOD FRIENDS: The Honorable Senator Harlan has just placed in my hands +your letter of the 27th of December, which I have read with pleasure and +gratitude. + +It is most cheering and encouraging for me to know that in the efforts +which I have made and am making for the restoration of a righteous peace +to our country, I am upheld and sustained by the good wishes and prayers +of God's people. No one is more deeply than myself aware that without His +favor our highest wisdom is but as foolishness and that our most strenuous +efforts would avail nothing in the shadow of His displeasure. + +I am conscious of no desire for my country's welfare that is not in +consonance with His will, and of no plan upon which we may not ask His +blessing. It seems to me that if there be one subject upon which all good +men may unitedly agree, it is imploring the gracious favor of the God of +Nations upon the struggles our people are making for the preservation of +their precious birthright of civil and religious liberty. + +Very truly your friend; + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL ROSECRANS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, January 5. 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL W. S. ROSECRANS, Murfreesborough, Tenn.: Your despatch +announcing retreat of enemy has just reached here. God bless you and all +with you! Please tender to all, and accept for yourself, the nation's +gratitude for your and their skill, endurance, and dauntless courage. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL DIX. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., January 7, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL DIX, Fort Monroe, Va.: + +Do Richmond papers of 6th say nothing about Vicksburg, or if anything, +what? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON January 7, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK. + +MY DEAR SIR:--What think you of forming a reserve cavalry corps of, say, +6000 for the Army of the Potomac? Might not such a corps be constituted +from the cavalry of Sigel's and Slocum's corps, with scraps we could pick +up here and there? + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO B. G. BROWN. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., January 7, 1863. 5.30 P.M. + +HON. B. GRATZ BROWN, Jefferson City, Mo.: + +Yours of to-day just received. The administration takes no part between +its friends in Missouri, of whom I, at least, consider you one; and I have +never before had an intimation that appointees there were interfering, or +were inclined to interfere. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +CORRESPONDENCE WITH GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE, JANUARY 8, 1863. + + +HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC January 5, 1863. + +HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: + +Since my return to the army I have become more than ever convinced that +the general officers of this command are almost unanimously opposed to +another crossing of the river; but I am still of the opinion that the +crossing should be attempted, and I have accordingly issued orders to the +engineers and artillery to prepare for it. There is much hazard in it, as +there always is in the majority of military movements, and I cannot begin +the movement without giving you notice of it, particularly as I know so +little of the effect that it may have upon other movements of distant +armies. + +The influence of your telegram the other day is still upon me, and has +impressed me with the idea that there are many parts of the problem which +influence you that are not known to me. + +In order to relieve you from all embarrassment in my case, I inclose with +this my resignation of my commission as major-general of volunteers, which +you can have accepted if my movement is not in accordance with the views +of yourself and your military advisers. + +I have taken the liberty to write to you personally upon this subject, +because it was necessary, as I learned from General Halleck, for you to +approve of my general plan, written at Warrenton, before I could commence +the movement; and I think it quite as necessary that you should know of +the important movement I am about to make, particularly as it will have to +be made in opposition to the views of nearly all my general officers, and +after the receipt of a despatch from you informing me of the opinion of +some of them who had visited you. + +In conversation with you on New Year's morning I was led to express some +opinions which I afterward felt it my duty to place on paper, and to +express them verbally to the gentleman of whom we were speaking, which I +did in your presence, after handing you the letter. You were not disposed +then, as I saw, to retain the letter, and I took it back, but I now return +it to you for record if you wish it. + +I beg leave to say that my resignation is not sent in in any spirit of +insubordination, but, as I before said, simply to relieve you from any +embarrassment in changing commanders where lack of confidence may have +rendered it necessary. + +The bearer of this will bring me any answer, or I should be glad to hear +from you by telegraph in cipher. + +I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +A. E. BURNSIDE, + +Major-General, Commanding Army of the Potomac. + + + + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, WASHINGTON, January 7, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BURNSIDE, Commanding, etc., Falmouth: + +GENERAL:--Your communication of the 5th was delivered to me by your +aide-de-camp at 12 M. to-day. + +In all my communications and interviews with you since you took command +of the Army of the Potomac I have advised a forward movement across the +Rappahannock. At our interview at Warrenton I urged that you should cross +by the fords above Fredericksburg rather than to fall down to that +place; and when I left you at Warrenton it was understood that at least +a considerable part of your army would cross by the fords, and I so +represented to the President. It was this modification of the plan +proposed by you that I telegraphed you had received his approval. When +the attempt at Fredericksburg was abandoned, I advised you to renew the +attempt at some other point, either in whole or in part, to turn the +enemy's works, or to threaten their wings or communications; in other +words, to keep the enemy occupied till a favorable opportunity offered to +strike a decisive blow. I particularly advised you to use your cavalry +and light artillery upon his communications, and attempt to cut off his +supplies and engage him at an advantage. + +In all our interviews I have urged that our first object was, not +Richmond, but the defeat or scattering of Lee's army, which threatened +Washington and the line of the upper Potomac. I now recur to these things +simply to remind you of the general views which I have expressed, and +which I still hold. + +The circumstances of the case, however, have somewhat changed since the +early part of November. The chances of an extended line of operations +are now, on account of the advanced season, much less than then. But +the chances are still in our favor to meet and defeat the enemy on the +Rappahannock, if we can effect a crossing in a position where we can meet +the enemy on favorable or even equal terms. I therefore still advise a +movement against him. The character of that movement, however, must depend +upon circumstances which may change any day and almost any hour. If the +enemy should concentrate his forces at the place you have selected for a +crossing, make it a feint and try another place. Again, the circumstances +at the time may be such as to render an attempt to cross the entire +army not advisable. In that case, theory suggests that, while the enemy +concentrates at that point, advantages can be gained by crossing smaller +forces at other points to cut off his lines, destroy his communication, +and capture his rear-guards, outposts, etc. The great object is to occupy +the enemy to prevent his making large detachments or distant raids, and to +injure him all you can with the least injury to yourself. If this can +be best accomplished by feints of a general crossing and detached real +crossings, take that course; if by an actual general crossing, with feints +on other points, adopt that course. There seem to me to be many reasons +why a crossing at some point should be attempted. It will not do to keep +your large army inactive. As you yourself admit, it devolves on you to +decide upon the time, place, and character of the crossing which you +may attempt. I can only advise that an attempt be made, and as early as +possible. + +Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. + + +[Indorsement.] + +January 8, 1863. + +GENERAL BURNSIDE: + +I understand General Halleck has sent you a letter of which this is a +copy. I approve this letter. I deplore the want of concurrence with you +in opinion by your general officers, but I do not see the remedy. Be +cautious, and do not understand that the government or country is driving +you. I do not yet see how I could profit by changing the command of the +Army of the Potomac; and if I did, I should not wish to do it by accepting +the resignation of your commission. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR JOHNSON. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, January 8, 1863. + +GOVERNOR JOHNSON, Nashville Tenn.: + +A dispatch of yesterday from Nashville says the body of Captain Todd, of +the Sixth Kentucky, was brought in to-day. + +Please tell me what was his Christian name, and whether he was in our +service or that of the enemy. I shall also be glad to have your impression +as to the effect the late operations about Murfreesborough will have on +the prospects of Tennessee. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL S. R. CURTIS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, January 10, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL CURTIS, St. Louis, MO.: + +I understand there is considerable trouble with the slaves in Missouri. +Please do your best to keep peace on the question for two or three weeks, +by which time we hope to do something here toward settling the question in +Missouri. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR JOHNSON. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, January 10, 1863 + +GOVERNOR JOHNSON, Nashville, Tenn.: + +Yours received. I presume the remains of Captain Todd are in the hands of +his family and friends, and I wish to give no order on the subject; but +I do wish your opinion of the effects of the late battles about +Murfreesborough upon the prospects of Tennessee. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +INSTRUCTION TO THE JUDGE-ADVOCATE-GENERAL. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, January 12, 1863. + +The Judge-Advocate-General is instructed to revise the proceedings of the +court-martial in the case of Major-General Fitz-John Porter, and to report +fully upon any legal questions that may have arisen in them, and upon the +bearing of the testimony in reference to the charges and specifications +exhibited against the accused, and upon which he was tried. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +MESSAGE TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. JANUARY 14, 1863. + +TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: The Secretary of State has submitted to +me a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 5th instant, which +has been delivered to him, and which is in the following words: + +"Resolved, That the Secretary of State be requested to communicate to this +House, if not, in his judgment, incompatible with the public interest, +why our Minister in New Granada has not presented his credentials to +the actual government of that country; also the reasons for which +Senor Murillo is not recognized by the United States as the diplomatic +representative of the Mosquera government of that country; also, +what negotiations have been had, if any, with General Herran as the +representative of Ospina's government in New Granada since it went into +existence." + +On the 12th day of December, 1846, a treaty of amity, peace, and concord +was concluded between the United States of America and the Republic of +New Granada, which is still in force. On the 7th day of December, 1847, +General Pedro Alcantara Herran, who had been duly accredited, was received +here as the envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of that, +republic. On the 30th day of August, 1849, Senor Don Rafael Rivas was +received by this government as charge d'affaires of the same republic. On +the 5th day of December, 1851, a consular convention was concluded between +that republic and the United States, which treaty was signed on behalf of +the Republic of Granada by the same Senor Rivas. This treaty is still in +force. On the 27th of April, 1852, Senor Don Victoriano de Diego Paredes +was received as charge d'affaires of the Republic of New Granada. On the +20th of June, 1855, General Pedro Alcantara Herran was again received as +envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, duly accredited by the +Republic of New Granada, and he has ever since remained, under the same +credentials, as the representative of that republic near the Government of +the United States. On the 10th of September, 1857, a claims convention +was concluded between the United States and the Republic of Granada. This +convention is still in force, and has in part been executed. In May, 1858, +the constitution of the republic was remodelled; and the nation assumed +the political title of "The Granadian Confederacy." This fact was +formally announced to this Government, but without any change in +their representative here. Previously to the 4th day of March, 1861, a +revolutionary war against the Republic of New Granada, which had thus +been recognized and treated with by the United States, broke out in New +Granada, assuming to set up a new government under the name of "United +States of Colombia." This war has had various vicissitudes, sometimes +favorable, sometimes adverse, to the revolutionary movements. The +revolutionary organization has hitherto been simply a military +provisionary power, and no definitive constitution of government has +yet been established in New Granada in place of that organized by the +constitution of 1858. The minister of the United States to the Granadian +Confederacy, who was appointed on the 29th day of May, 1861, was directed, +in view of the occupation of the capital by the revolutionary party and of +the uncertainty of the civil war, not to present his credentials to either +the government of the Granadian Confederacy or to the provisional military +government, but to conduct his affairs informally, as is customary in such +cases, and to report the progress of events and await the instructions of +this Government. The advices which have been received from him have not +hitherto, been sufficiently conclusive to determine me to recognize the +revolutionary government. General Herran being here, with full authority +from the Government of New Canada, which has been so long recognized +by the United States, I have not received any representative from the +revolutionary government, which has not yet been recognized, because such +a proceeding would be in itself an act of recognition. + +Official communications have been had on various incidental and occasional +questions with General Herran as the minister plenipotentiary and envoy +extraordinary of the Granadian Confederacy, but in no other character. No +definitive measure or proceeding has resulted from these communications, +and a communication of them at present would not, in my judgment, be +compatible with the public interest. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO SECRETARY OF WAR. + +WASHINGTON, January 15, 1863. + +SECRETARY OF WAR: + +Please see Mr. Stafford, who wants to assist in raising colored troops in +Missouri. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +PRINTING MONEY + +MESSAGE TO CONGRESS. + +January 17, 1863. + +TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: + +I have signed the joint resolution to provide for the immediate payment +of the army and navy of the United States, passed by the House of +Representatives on the 14th and by the Senate on the 15th instant. + +The joint resolution is a simple authority, amounting, however, under +existing circumstances, to a direction, to the Secretary of the Treasury +to make an additional issue of $100,000,000 in United States notes, if so +much money is needed, for the payment of the army and navy. + +My approval is given in order that every possible facility may be afforded +for the prompt discharge of all arrears of pay due to our soldiers and our +sailors. + +While giving this approval, however, I think it my duty to express my +sincere regret that it has been found necessary to authorize so large an +additional issue of United States notes, when this circulation and that +of the suspended banks together have become already so redundant as to +increase prices beyond real values, thereby augmenting the cost of living +to the injury of labor, and the cost of supplies to the injury of the +whole country. + +It seems very plain that continued issues of United States notes without +any check to the issues of suspended banks, and without adequate provision +for the raising of money by loans and for funding the issues so as to keep +them within due limits, must soon produce disastrous consequences; and +this matter appears to me so important that I feel bound to avail myself +of this occasion to ask the special attention of Congress to it. + +That Congress has power to regulate the currency of the country can hardly +admit of doubt, and that a judicious measure to prevent the deterioration +of this currency, by a seasonable taxation of bank circulation or +otherwise, is needed seems equally clear. Independently of this general +consideration, it would be unjust to the people at large to exempt banks +enjoying the special privilege of circulation from their just proportion +of the public burdens. + +In order to raise money by way of loans most easily and cheaply, it is +clearly necessary to give every possible support to the public credit. To +that end a uniform currency, in which taxes, subscriptions to loans, and +all other ordinary public dues as well as all private dues may be paid, +is almost if not quite indispensable. Such a currency can be furnished +by banking associations organized under a general act of Congress, as +suggested in my message at the beginning of the present session. The +securing of this circulation by the pledge of United States bonds, as +therein suggested, would still further facilitate loans, by increasing the +present and causing a future demand for such bonds. + +In view of the actual financial embarrassments of the government, and of +the greater embarrassment sure to come if the necessary means of relief +be not afforded, I feel that I should not perform my duty by a simple +announcement of my approval of the joint resolution, which proposes relief +only by increased circulation, without expressing my earnest desire that +measures such in substance as those I have just referred to may receive +the early sanction of Congress. By such measures, in my opinion, will +payment be most certainly secured, not only to the army and navy, but to +all honest creditors of the government, and satisfactory provision made +for future demands on the treasury. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO THE WORKING-MEN OF MANCHESTER, ENGLAND. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, January, 1863. + +TO THE WORKING-MEN OF MANCHESTER: + +I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the address and resolutions +which you sent me on the eve of the new year. When I came, on the 4th of +March, 1861, through a free and constitutional election to fireside in +the Government of the United States, the country was found at the verge of +civil war. Whatever might have been the cause, or whosesoever the fault, +one duty, paramount to all others, was before me, namely, to maintain +and preserve at once the Constitution and the integrity of the Federal +Republic. A conscientious purpose to perform this duty is the key to +all the measures of administration which have been and to all which will +hereafter be pursued. Under our frame of government and my official oath, +I could not depart from this purpose if I would. It is not always in the +power of governments to enlarge or restrict the scope of moral results +which follow the policies that they may deem it necessary for the public +safety from time to time to adopt. + +I have understood well that the duty of self-preservation rests solely +with the American people; but I have at the same time been aware that +favor or disfavor of foreign nations might have a material influence +in enlarging or prolonging the struggle with disloyal men in which the +country is engaged. A fair examination of history has served to authorize +a belief that the past actions and influences of the United States were +generally regarded as having been beneficial toward mankind. I have, +therefore, reckoned upon the forbearance of nations. Circumstances--to +some of which you kindly allude--induce me especially to expect that if +justice and good faith should be practised by the United States, they +would encounter no hostile influence on the part of Great Britain. It is +now a pleasant duty to acknowledge the demonstration you have given of +your desire that a spirit of amity and peace toward this country may +prevail in the councils of your Queen, who is respected and esteemed in +your own country only more than she is by the kindred nation which has its +home on this side of the Atlantic. + +I know and deeply deplore the sufferings which the workingmen at +Manchester, and in all Europe, are called to endure in this crisis. It has +been often and studiously represented that the attempt to overthrow this +government, which was built upon the foundation of human rights, and to +substitute for it one which should rest exclusively on the basis of human +slavery, was likely to obtain the favor of Europe. Through the action of +our disloyal citizens, the working-men of Europe have been subjected to +severe trials, for the purpose of forcing their sanction to that attempt. +Under the circumstance, I cannot but regard your decisive utterances upon +the question as an instance of sublime Christian heroism which has not +been surpassed in any age or in any country. It is indeed an energetic and +inspiring assurance of the inherent power of truth and of the ultimate and +universal triumph of justice, humanity, and freedom. I do not doubt that +the sentiments, you have expressed will be sustained by your great nation; +and, on the other hand, I have no hesitation in assuring you that they +will excite admiration, esteem, and the most reciprocal feelings of +friendship among the American people. + +I hail this interchange of sentiment, therefore, as an augury that +whatever else may happen, whatever misfortune may befall your country or +my own, the peace and friendship which now exist between the two nations +will be, as it shall be my desire to make them, perpetual. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +MESSAGE TO CONGRESS. + +WASHINGTON, January 21, 1863. + +GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: + +I submit herewith for your consideration the joint resolutions of the +corporate authorities of the city of Washington, adopted September a 7, +1862, and a memorial of the same under date of October 28, 1862, both +relating to and urging the construction of certain railroads concentrating +upon the city of Washington. + +In presenting this memorial and the joint resolutions to you, I am not +prepared to say more than that the subject is one of great practical +importance, and that I hope it will receive the attention of Congress. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +FITZ-JOHN PORTER COURT-MARTIAL. + +INDORSEMENT ON THE PROCEEDINGS AND SENTENCE + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, WASHINGTON, + +January 13, 1863. + +In compliance with the Sixty-fifth Article of War, these whole proceedings +are transmitted to the Secretary of War, to be laid before the President +of the United States. + +H. W. HALLECK, + +General-in-Chief. + +January 21, 1863. + + +The foregoing proceedings, findings, and sentence in the foregoing case +of Major-General Fitz-John Porter are approved and confirmed, and it is +ordered that the said Fitz-John Porter be, and he hereby is, cashiered +and dismissed from the service of the United States as a major-general +of volunteers, and as colonel and brevet brigadier-general in the regular +service of the United States, and forever disqualified from holding any +office of trust or profit under the Government of the United States. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +FROM GENERAL HALLECK TO GENERAL U. S. GRANT. + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, WASHINGTON + +January 21, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL GRANT, Memphis. + +GENERAL:--The President has directed that so much of Arkansas as you may +desire to control be temporarily attached to your department. This will +give you control of both banks of the river. + +In your operations down the Mississippi you must not rely too confidently +upon any direct co-operation of General Banks and the lower flotilla, as +it is possible that they may not be able to pass or reduce Port Hudson. +They, however, will do everything in their power to form a junction with +you at Vicksburg. If they should not be able to effect this, they will +at least occupy a portion of the enemy's forces, and prevent them from +reinforcing Vicksburg. I hope, however, that they will do still better and +be able to join you. + +It may be proper to give you some explanation of the revocation of your +order expelling all Jews from your department. The President has no +objection to your expelling traitors and Jew peddlers, which, I suppose, +was the object of your order; but as it in terms proscribed an entire +religious class, some of whom are fighting in our ranks, the President +deemed it necessary to revoke it. + +Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL BURNSIDE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, January 23, 1863 + +GENERAL BURNSIDE: + +Will see you any moment when you come. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +ORDER RELIEVING GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE AND MAKING OTHER CHANGES. + +(General Orders No.20.) + +WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D.C. JANUARY 25, +1863. + +I. The President of the United States has directed: + +1st. That Major-General A. E. Burnside, at his own request, be relieved +from the command of the Army of the Potomac. + +2d. That Major-General E. V. Sumner, at his own request, be relieved from +duty in the Army of the Potomac. + +3d. That Major-General W. B. Franklin be relieved from duty in the Army of +the Potomac. + +4th. That Major-General J. Hooker be assigned to the command of the Army +of the Potomac. + +II. The officers relieved as above will report in person to the +adjutant-general of the army. + +By order of the Secretary of War: D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General + + + + +TO GENERAL J. HOOKER. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. C., January 26, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER. + +GENERAL:--I have placed you at the head of the Army of the Potomac. Of +course I have done this upon what appear to me to be sufficient reasons, +and yet I think it best for you to know that there are some things in +regard to which I am not quite satisfied with you. I believe you to be a +brave and skillful soldier, which of course I like. I also believe you do +not mix politics with your profession, in which you are right. You have +confidence in yourself, which is a valuable if not an indispensable +quality. You are ambitious, which within reasonable bounds does good +rather than harm; but I think that during General Burnside's command of +the army you have taken counsel of your ambition and thwarted him as much +as you could, in which you did a great wrong to the country and to a most +meritorious and honorable brother officer. I have heard, in such a way +as to believe it, of your recently saying that both the army and the +government needed a dictator. Of course it was not for this, but in spite +of it, that I have given you the command. Only those generals who gain +successes can set up dictators. What I now ask of you is military success, +and I will risk the dictatorship. The government will support you to the +utmost of its ability, which is neither more nor less than it has done +and will do for all commanders. I much fear that the spirit that you +have aided to infuse into the army, of criticizing their commander and +withholding confidence from him, will now turn upon you. I shall assist +you as far as I can to put it down. Neither you nor Napoleon, if he +were alive again, could get any good out of an army while such a spirit +prevails in it. And now beware of rashness. Beware of rashness, but with +energy and sleepless vigilance go forward and give us victories. + +Yours very truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +MESSAGE TO CONGRESS. + +WASHINGTON CITY, January 28,1863, + +TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: + +In conformity to the law of July 16, 1862, I most cordially recommend +that Commander David D. Porter, United States Navy, acting rear-admiral, +commanding the Mississippi Squadron, receive a vote of thanks of Congress +for the bravery and skill displayed in the attack on the post of Arkansas, +which surrendered to the combined military and naval forces on the 10th +instant. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL BUTLER + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, January 28, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BUTLER, Lowell, Mass.: + +Please come here immediately. Telegraph me about what time you will +arrive. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL DIX. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, January 29, 1863 + +MAJOR-GENERAL DIx, Fort Monroe, Va.: + +Do Richmond papers have anything from Vicksburg? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO THURLOW WEED. + +WASHINGTON, January 29, 1863. + +HON. THURLOW WEED. + +DEAR SIR:--Your valedictory to the patrons of the Albany Evening journal +brings me a good deal of uneasiness. What does it mean? + +Truly Yours, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL DIX. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, + +January 30, 1863. 5.45 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL Dix, Fort Monroe, Va.: + +What iron-clads, if any, have gone out of Hampton Roads within the last +two days? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL DIX. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, D. C., January 31, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL Dix, Fort Monroe, Va.: Corcoran's and Pryor's battle +terminated. Have you any news through Richmond papers or otherwise? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL SCHENCK. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, D. C., January 31, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL SCHENCK, Baltimore, Md.: + +I do not take jurisdiction of the pass question. Exercise your own +discretion as to whether Judge Pettis shall have a pass. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO THE WORKING-MEN OF LONDON, ENGLAND. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 1, 1863. + +TO THE WORKING-MEN OF LONDON: + +I have received the New Year's address which you have sent me, with a +sincere appreciation of the exalted and humane sentiments by which it was +inspired. + +As these sentiments are manifestly the enduring support of the free +institutions of England, so I am sure also that they constitute the only +reliable basis for free institutions throughout the world. + +The resources, advantages, and powers of the American people are +very great, and they have consequently succeeded to equally great +responsibilities. It seems to have devolved upon them to test whether +a government established on the principles of human freedom can be +maintained against an effort to build one upon the exclusive foundation of +human bondage. They will rejoice with me in the new evidences which your +proceedings furnish that the magnanimity they are exhibiting is justly +estimated by the true friends of freedom and humanity in foreign +countries. + +Accept my best wishes for your individual welfare, and for the welfare and +happiness of the whole British people. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL SCHENCK. [Cipher.] WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., + +February 4, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL SCHENCK, Baltimore, Md.: + +I hear of some difficulty in the streets of Baltimore yesterday. What is +the amount of it? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +MESSAGE TO THE SENATE. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., February 12, 1863. + +TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES: + +On the 4th of September, 1862, Commander George Henry Preble, United +States Navy, then senior officer in command of the naval force off the +harbor of Mobile, was guilty of inexcusable neglect in permitting the +armed steamer Oreto in open daylight to run the blockade. For his omission +to perform his whole duty on that occasion, and the injury thereby +inflicted on the service and the country, his name was stricken from the +list of naval officers and he was dismissed [from] the service. + +Since his dismissal earnest application has been made for his restoration +to his former position by senators and naval officers, on the ground that +his fault was an error of judgment, and that the example in his case has +already had its effect in preventing a repetition of similar neglect. + +I therefore on this application and representation, and in consideration +of his previous fair record, do hereby nominate George Henry Preble to +be a commander in the navy from the 16th July, 1862, to take rank on the +active list next after Commander Edward Donaldson, and to fill a vacancy +occasioned by the death of Commander J. M. Wainwright. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +MESSAGE TO THE SENATE. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., February 12, 1863. + +TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES: + +On the 24th August, 1861, Commander Roger Perry, United. States Navy, +was dismissed from the service under a misapprehension in regard to his +loyalty to the Government, from the circumstance that several oaths +were transmitted to him and the Navy Department failed to receive any +recognition of them. After his dismissal, and upon his assurance that +the oath failed to reach him and his readiness to execute it, he was +recommissioned to his original position on the 4th September following. +On the same day, 4th September, he was ordered to command the sloop of war +Vandalia; on the 22d this order was revoked and he was ordered to duty in +the Mississippi Squadron, and on the 23d January, 1862, was detached sick, +and has since remained unemployed. The advisory board under the act of +16th July, 1862, did not recommend him for further promotion. + +This last commission, having been issued during the recess of the Senate, +expired at the end of the succeeding session, 17th July, 1862, from which +date, not having been nominated to the Senate, he ceased to be a commander +in the navy. + +To correct the omission to nominate this officer to the Senate at its last +session, I now nominate Commander Roger Perry to be a commander in the +navy from the 14th September, 1855, to take his relative position on the +list of commanders not recommended for further promotion. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL W. S. ROSECRANS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, February 12,1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL ROSECRANS, Murfreesborough, Tenn.: + +Your despatch about "river patrolling" received. I have called the +Secretary of the Navy, Secretary of War, and General-in-Chief together, +and submitted it to them, who promise to do their very best in the case. I +cannot take it into my own hands without producing inextricable confusion. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO SIMON CAMERON. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, February 13, 1863. + +HON. SIMON CAMERON, Harrisburg, Pa.: General Clay is here and I suppose +the matter we spoke of will have to be definitely settled now. Please +answer. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO ALEXANDER REED. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, February 22, 1863. + +REV. ALEXANDER REED. MY DEAR SIR:--Your note, by which you, as General +Superintendent of the United States Christian Commission, invite me to +preside at a meeting to be held this day at the hall of the House of +Representatives in this city, is received. + +While, for reasons which I deem sufficient, I must decline to preside, I +cannot withhold my approval of the meeting and its worthy objects. + +Whatever shall be, sincerely and in God's name, devised for the good of +the soldiers and seamen in their hard spheres of duty, can scarcely fail +to be blessed; and whatever shall tend to turn our thoughts from the +unreasoning and uncharitable passions, prejudices, and jealousies incident +to a great national trouble such as ours, and to fix them on the vast and +long enduring consequences, for weal or for woe, which are to result from +the struggle, and especially to strengthen our reliance on the Supreme +Being for the final triumph of the right, cannot but be well for us all. + +The birthday of Washington and the Christian Sabbath coinciding this year, +and suggesting together the highest interests of this life and of that to +come, is most propitious for the meeting proposed. + +Your obedient servant, + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO J. K. DUBOIS. + +[Cipher] + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C. February 26,1863. + +HON. J. K. DuBois, Springfield, Ill.: General Rosecrans respectfully urges +the appointment of William P. Caslin as a brigadier-general, What say you? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL HOOKER + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, February 27,1863 + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER: + +If it will be no detriment to the service I will be obliged for Capt. +Henry A. Marchant, of Company I, Twenty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, to +come here and remain four or five days. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +PROCLAMATION CONVENING THE SENATE, FEBRUARY 28, 1863 + +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA + +A Proclamation. + +Whereas objects of interest to the United States require that the Senate +should be convened at 12 o'clock on the 4th of March next to receive +and act upon such communications as may be made to it on the part of the +Executive: + +Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, have +considered it to be my duty to issue this my proclamation, declaring that +an extraordinary occasion requires the Senate of the United States to +convene for the transaction of business at the Capitol, in the city of +Washington, on the 4th day of March next, at 12 o'clock at noon on that +day, of which all who shall at that time be entitled to act as members of +that body are hereby required to take notice. + +Given under my hand and the seal of the United States, at Washington, the +twenty eighth day of February A.D. 1863, and of the independence of the +United States of America, the eighty-seventh. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +By the President WILLIAM H. SEWARD, + Secretary o f State. + + + + +TO SECRETARY SEWARD. + +WASHINGTON, March, 7,1863. + +Mr. M. is now with me on the question of the Honolulu Commissioner. It +pains me some that this tilt for the place of Colonel Baker's friend +grows so fierce, now that the Colonel is no longer alive to defend him. +I presume, however, we shall have no rest from it. In self-defense I am +disposed to say, "Make a selection and send it to me." + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR TOD, + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, March 9, 1863. + +GOVERNOR DAVID TOD, Columbus, Ohio: + +I think your advice with that of others would be valuable in the selection +of provost-marshals for Ohio. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +PROCLAMATION RECALLING SOLDIERS TO THEIR REGIMENTS, MARCH 10, 1863 + +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: + +A Proclamation + +In pursuance of the twenty-sixth section of the act of Congress entitled +"An act for enrolling and calling out the national forces, and for other +purposes," approved on the 3d day of March, 1863, I, Abraham Lincoln, +President and Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the United +States, do hereby order and command that all soldiers enlisted or drafted +in the service of the United States now absent from their regiments +without leave shall forthwith return to their respective regiments. + +And I do hereby declare and proclaim that all soldiers now absent from +their respective regiments without leave who shall, on or before the first +day of April, 1863, report themselves at any rendezvous designated by +the general orders of the War Department No. 58, hereto annexed, may be +restored to their respective regiments without punishment, except the +forfeiture of pay and allowances during their absence; and all who do not +return within the time above specified shall be arrested as deserters and +punished as the law provides; and + +Whereas evil-disposed and disloyal persons at sundry places have +enticed and procured soldiers to desert and absent themselves from their +regiments, thereby weakening the strength of the armies and prolonging the +war, giving aid and comfort to the enemy, and cruelly exposing the gallant +and faithful soldiers remaining in the ranks to increased hardships and +danger: + +I do therefore call upon all patriotic and faithful citizens to oppose and +resist the aforementioned dangerous and treasonable crimes, and to aid +in restoring to their regiments all soldiers absent without leave, and to +assist in the execution of the act of Congress "for enrolling and calling +out the national forces, and for other purposes," and to support the +proper authorities in the prosecution and punishment of offenders against +said act and in suppressing the insurrection and rebellion. + +In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. Done at the city of +Washington, this tenth day of March, A.D. 1863, and of the independence of +the United States the eighty-seventh. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +By the President: EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL HOOKER. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, March 13, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER: + +General Stahel wishes to be assigned to General Heintzelman and General +Heintzelman also desires it. I would like to oblige both if it would not +injure the service in your army, or incommode you. What say you? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO SECRETARY SEWARD. + +WASHINGTON, Match 15, 1863. + +I am very glad of your note saying "recent despatches from him are able, +judicious, and loyal," and that if I agree; we will leave him there. I am +glad to agree, so long as the public interest does not seem to require his +removal. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO J. O. MORTON. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, March 16, 1863. + +HON. J. O. MORTON, Joliet, Ill.: William Chumasero is proposed for +provost-marshal of your district. What think you of it? I understand he is +a good man. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +GRANT'S EXCLUSION OF A NEWSPAPER REPORTER + +REVOCATION OF SENTENCE OF T. W. KNOX. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, March 20, 1863. + +WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:--Whereas, it appears to my satisfaction that Thomas +W. Knox, a correspondent of the New York Herald, has been by the sentence +of a court-martial excluded from the military department under command +of Major-General Grant, and also that General Thayer, president of the +court-martial which rendered the sentence, and Major-General McClernand, +in command of a corps of that department, and many other respectable +persons, are of opinion that Mr. Knox's offense was technical rather than +wilfully wrong, and that the sentence should be revoked: now, therefore, +said sentence is hereby so far revoked as to allow Mr. Knox to return to +General Grant's headquarters, and to remain if General Grant shall give +his express assent, and to again leave the department if General Grant +shall refuse such assent. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO BENJAMIN GRATZ. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, March 25,1863. + +Mr. BENJAMIN GRATZ, Lexington, Ky.: + +Show this to whom it may concern as your authority for allowing Mrs. Selby +to remain at your house, so long as you choose to be responsible for what +she may do. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL ROSECRANS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, March 25, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL ROSECRANS, Murfreesborough, Tenn.: + +Your dispatches about General Davis and General Mitchell are received. +General Davis' case is not particular, being simply one of a great many +recommended and not nominated because they would transcend the number +allowed by law. General Mitchell (was) nominated and rejected by the +Senate and I do not think it proper for me to renominate him without a +change of circumstances such as the performance of additional service, or +an expressed change of purpose on the part of at least some senators who +opposed him. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL S. A. HURLBUT. + +WASHINGTON, March 25, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HURLBUT, Memphis: + +What news have you? What from Vicksburg? What from Yazoo Pass? What from +Lake Providence? What generally? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +QUESTION OF RAISING NEGRO TROOPS + +TO GOVERNOR JOHNSON. + +(Private.) + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON March 26, 1863. + +HON. ANDREW JOHNSON. + +MY DEAR SIR:--I am told you have at least thought of raising a negro +military force. In my opinion the country now needs no specific thing so +much as some man of your ability and position to go to this work. When I +speak of your position, I mean that of an eminent citizen of a slave State +and himself a slaveholder. The colored population is the great available +and yet unavailed of force for restoring the Union. The bare sight of +fifty thousand armed and drilled black soldiers upon the banks of the +Mississippi would end the rebellion at once; and who doubts that we +can present that sight if we but take hold in earnest? If you have been +thinking of it, please do not dismiss the thought. + +Yours very truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +PROCLAMATION APPOINTING A NATIONAL FAST-DAY. + +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: + +A Proclamation. + +March 30, 1863. + +Whereas the Senate of the United States, devoutly recognizing the supreme +authority and just government of Almighty God in all the affairs of men +and of nations, has by a resolution requested the President to designate +and set apart a day for national prayer and humiliation: + +And whereas it is the duty of nations as well as men to own their +dependence upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and +transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine +repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime +truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that +those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord: + +And insomuch as we know that by His divine law nations, like individuals, +are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world, may we not +justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the +land may be but a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, +to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people? We +have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been +preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in +numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown; but we have +forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in +peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly +imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings +were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated +with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the +necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God +that made us: + +It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to +confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness: + +Now, therefore, in compliance with the request, and fully concurring in +the views, of the Senate, I do by this my proclamation designate and +set apart Thursday, the 30th day of April, 1863, as a day of national +humiliation, fasting, and prayer. And I do hereby request all the people +to abstain on that day from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to unite +at their several places of public worship and their respective homes in +keeping the day holy to the Lord, and devoted to the humble discharge of +the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion. All this being done +in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope, authorized by +the divine teachings, that the united cry of the nation will be heard on +high, and answered with blessings no less than the pardon of our national +sins, and the restoration of our now divided and suffering country to its +former happy condition of unity and peace. + +In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. + +Done at the city of Washington, this thirtieth day of March, in the +year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the +independence of the United States the eighty-seventh. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +By the President: WILLIAM H. SEWARD, + Secretary of State. + + + + +LICENSE OF COMMERCIAL INTERCOURSE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, March 31, 1863. + +Whereas by the act of Congress approved July 13, 1861, entitled "An act to +provide for the collection of duties on imports, and for other purposes," +all commercial intercourse between the inhabitants of such States as +should by proclamation be declared in insurrection against the United +States and the citizens of the rest of the United States was prohibited +so long as such condition of hostility should continue, except as the +same shall be licensed and permitted by the President to be conducted and +carried on only in pursuance of rules and regulations prescribed by the +Secretary of the Treasury; and: + +Whereas it appears that a partial restoration of such intercourse between +the inhabitants of sundry places and sections heretofore declared in +insurrection in pursuance of said act and the citizens of the rest of the +United States will favorably affect the public interests: + +Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, +exercising the authority and discretion confided to me by the said act of +Congress, do hereby license and permit such commercial intercourse between +the citizens of loyal States and the inhabitants of such insurrectionary +States in the cases and under the restrictions described and expressed in +the regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury bearing +even date with these presents, or in such other regulations as he may +hereafter, with my approval, prescribe. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL D. HUNTER. + +(Private.) EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. C April 1, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HUNTER. + +MY DEAR SIR:--I am glad to see the accounts of your colored force at +Jacksonville, Florida. I see the enemy are driving at them fiercely, as is +to be expected. It is important to the enemy that such a force shall not +take shape and grow and thrive in the South, and in precisely the same +proportion it is important to us that it shall. Hence the utmost caution +and vigilance is necessary on our part. The enemy will make extra efforts +to destroy them, and we should do the same to preserve and increase them. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +PROCLAMATION ABOUT COMMERCIAL INTERCOURSE, APRIL 2, 1863 + +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: + +A Proclamation. + +Whereas, in pursuance of the act of Congress approved July 13, 1861, I +did, by proclamation dated August 16, 1861, declare that the inhabitants +of the States of Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, North Carolina, +Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Florida +(except the inhabitants of that part of Virginia lying west of the +Alleghany Mountains, and of such other parts of that State and the other +States hereinbefore named as might maintain a legal adhesion to the Union +and the Constitution or might be from time to time occupied and controlled +by forces of the United States engaged in the dispersion of said +insurgents) were in a state of insurrection against the United States, +and that all commercial intercourse between the same and the inhabitants +thereof, with the exceptions aforesaid, and the citizens of other States +and other parts of the United States was unlawful and would remain +unlawful until such insurrection should cease or be suppressed, and that +all goods and chattels, wares and merchandise, coming from any of said +States, with the exceptions aforesaid, into other parts of the United +States without the license and permission of the President, through the +Secretary of the Treasury, or proceeding to any of said States, with +the exceptions aforesaid, by land or water, together with the vessel or +vehicle conveying the same to or from said States, with the exceptions +aforesaid, would be forfeited to the United States, and: + +Whereas experience has shown that the exceptions made in and by said +proclamation embarrass the due enforcement of said act of July 13, 1861, +and the proper regulation of the commercial intercourse authorized by said +act with the loyal citizens of said States: + +Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do +hereby revoke the said exceptions, and declare that the inhabitants of +the States of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, +Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Florida, and Virginia (except the +forty-eight counties of Virginia designated as West Virginia, and except +also the ports of New Orleans, Key West; Port Royal, and Beaufort in North +Carolina) are in a state of insurrection against the United States, and +that all commercial intercourse not licensed and conducted as provided +in said act between the said States and the inhabitants thereof, with the +exceptions aforesaid, and the citizens of other States and other parts +of the United States is unlawful and will remain unlawful until such +insurrection shall cease or has been suppressed and notice thereof has +been duly given by proclamation; and all cotton, tobacco, and other +products, and all other goods and chattels, wares and merchandise, coming +from any of said States, with the exceptions aforesaid, into other parts +of the United States, or proceeding to any of said States, with the +exceptions aforesaid, without the license and permission of the President, +through the Secretary of the Treasury, will together with the vessel or +vehicle conveying the same, be forfeited to the United States. + +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the +United States to be affixed. + +Done at the city of Washington, this second day of April, A.D. 1863, and +of the independence of the United States of America the eighty-seventh. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +By the President: WILLIAM H. SEWARD, + Secretary of State. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL HOOKER. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, April 3, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER: + +Our plan is to pass Saturday night on the boat, go over from Aquia Creek +to your camp Sunday morning, remain with you till Tuesday morning, and +then return. Our party will probably not exceed six persons of all sorts. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +OPINION ON HARBOR DEFENSE. + +April 4, 1863. + +On this general subject I respectfully refer Mr.------__ to the +Secretaries of War and Navy for conference and consultation. I have a +single idea of my own about harbor defense. It is a steam ram, built so +as to sacrifice nearly all capacity for carrying to those of speed and +strength, so as to be able to split any vessel having hollow enough in her +to carry supplies for a voyage of any distance. Such ram, of course, could +not herself carry supplies for a voyage of considerable distance, and her +business would be to guard a particular harbor as a bulldog guards his +master's door. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. + +HEADQUARTERS ARMY POTOMAC, April 9, 1863. + +HON. SECRETARY OF THE NAVY: + +Richmond Whig of the 8th has no telegraphic despatches from Charleston, +but has the following as editorial: + +"All thoughts are now centred upon Charleston. Official intelligence was +made public early yesterday morning that the enemy's iron-clad fleet +had attempted to cross the bar and failed, but later in the day it was +announced that the gunboats and transports had succeeded in crossing and +were at anchor. Our iron-clads lay between the forts quietly awaiting the +attack. Further intelligence is looked for with eager anxiety. The Yankees +have made no secret of this vast preparation for an attack on Charleston, +and we may well anticipate a desperate conflict. At last the hour of trial +has come for Charleston, the hour of deliverance or destruction, for no +one believes the other alternative, surrender, possible. The heart of the +whole country yearns toward the beleaguered city with intense solicitude, +yet with hopes amounting to confidence. Charleston knows what is expected +of her, and which is due to her fame, and to the relation she sustains to +the cause. The devoted, the heroic, the great-hearted Beauregard is there, +and he, too, knows what is expected of him and will not disappoint that +expectation. We predict a Saragossa defense, and that if Charleston is +taken it will be only a heap of ruins." + +The rebel pickets are reported as calling over to our pickets today that +we had taken some rebel fort. This is not very intelligible, and I think +is entirely unreliable. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO OFFICER IN COMMAND AT NASHVILLE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, April 11,1863. + +OFFICER IN COMMAND at Nashville, Tenn: Is there a soldier by the name +of John R. Minnick of Wynkoop's cavalry under sentence of death, by a +court-martial or military commission, in Nashville? And if so what was his +offense, and when is he to be executed? + + +A. LINCOLN. + +If necessary let the execution be staid till I can be heard from again. + +A. LINCOLN. + + [President Lincoln sent many telegrams similar in form to + this one in order to avoid tiresome repetition the editor + has omitted all those without especial interest. Hardly a + day went by that there were not people in the White House + begging mercy for a sentenced soldier. A mother one day, + pleaded with Lincoln to remit the sentence of execution on + her son. "Well, I don't think it will do him a bit of good" + said Mr. Lincoln--"Pardoned." D.W.] + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL HOOKER. + +WASHINGTON D.C., April 12, 1863 + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER: + +Your letter by the hand of General Butterfield is received, and will be +conformed to. The thing you dispense with would have been ready by mid-day +to-morrow. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO ADMIRAL S. P. DUPONT. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, April 13, 1863 + +ADMIRAL DUPONT: + +Hold your position inside the bar near Charleston; or, if you shall have +left it, return to it, and hold it until further orders. Do not allow the +enemy to erect new batteries or defenses on Morris Island. If he has begun +it, drive him out. I do not herein order you to renew the general attack. +That is to depend on your own discretion or a further order. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL D. HUNTER AND ADMIRAL S. F. DUPONT. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, April 54, 1863. + +GENERAL HUNTER AND ADMIRAL DUPONT: + +This is intended to clear up an apparent inconsistency between the recent +order to continue operations before Charleston and the former one to +remove to another point in a certain contingency. No censure upon you, or +either of you, is intended. We still hope that by cordial and judicious +co-operation you can take the batteries on Morris Island and Sullivan's +Island and Fort Sumter. But whether you can or not, we wish the +demonstration kept up for a time, for a collateral and very important +object. We wish the attempt to be a real one, though not a desperate one, +if it affords any considerable chance of success. But if prosecuted as a +demonstration only, this must not become public, or the whole effect will +be lost. Once again before Charleston, do not leave until further orders +from here. Of course this is not intended to force you to leave unduly +exposed Hilton Head or other near points in your charge. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + +P. S.--Whoever receives this first, please send a copy to the other +immediately. A.L. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL S. HOOKER. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., April 15, 1863. 10.15 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER: + +It is now 10.15 P.M. An hour ago I received your letter of this morning, +and a few moments later your despatch of this evening. The latter gives me +considerable uneasiness. The rain and mud of course were to be calculated +upon. General S. is not moving rapidly enough to make the expedition come +to anything. He has now been out three days, two of which were unusually +fair weather, and all three without hindrance from the enemy, and yet +he is not twenty-five miles from where he started. To reach his point he +still has sixty to go, another river (the Rapidan) to cross, and will be +hindered by the enemy. By arithmetic, how many days will it take him to +do it? I do not know that any better can be done, but I greatly fear it is +another failure already. Write me often. I am very anxious. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +ON COLONIZATION ARRANGEMENTS + +REPUDIATION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH BERNARD KOCK + +APRIL 16, 1863. + + +A. LINCOLN, + + +PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, + +TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, + +GREETING: + +Know ye that, whereas a paper bearing date the 3rd day of December last, +purporting to be an agreement between the United States and one Bernard +Kock for immigration of persons of African extraction to a dependency +of the Republic of Haiti, was signed by me on behalf of the party of the +first part; but whereas the said instrument was and has since remained +incomplete in consequence of the seal of the United States not having been +thereunto affixed; and whereas I have been moved by considerations by me +deemed sufficient to withhold my authority for affixing the said seal: + +Now, therefore, be it known that I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the +United States, do hereby authorize the Secretary of State to cancel my +signature to the instrument aforesaid. + +Done at Washington, this sixteenth day of April, A.D. 1863. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +By the President: WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. + + + + +STATEHOOD FOR WEST VIRGINIA, APRIL 20, 1863. + +PROCLAMATION ADMITTING WEST VIRGINIA INTO THE UNION, + +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: + +A Proclamation. + +Whereas by the act of Congress approved the 31st day of December last +the State of West Virginia was declared to be one of the United States +of America, and was admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the +original States in all respects whatever, upon the condition that certain +changes should be duly made in the proposed constitution for that State; +and + +Whereas proof of a compliance with that condition, as required by the +second section of the act aforesaid, has been submitted to me: + +Now, therefore, be it known that I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the +United States, do hereby, in pursuance of the act of Congress aforesaid, +declare and proclaim that the said act shall take effect and be in force +from and after sixty days from the date hereof. + +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the +United States to be affixed. + +Done at the city of Washington, this twentieth day of April, A.D. 1863, +and of the independence of the United States the eighty-seventh. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL W. S. ROSECRANS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, APRIL 23, 1863 10.10am + +MAJOR-GENERAL ROSECRANS, Murfreesborough, Tenn.: + +Your despatch of the 21st received. I really cannot say that I have +heard any complaint of you. I have heard complaint of a police corps at +Nashville, but your name was not mentioned in connection with it, so far +as I remember. It may be that by inference you are connected with it, but +my attention has never been drawn to it in that light. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. HOOKER. + +WASHINGTON, D.C., April 27, 1863. 3.30 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER: + +How does it look now? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR CURTIN. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, April 28, 1863. + +HON. A. O. CURTIN, Harrisburg, Penn.: + +I do not think the people of Pennsylvania should be uneasy about an +invasion. Doubtless a small force of the enemy is flourishing about in +the northern part of Virginia, on the "skewhorn" principle, on purpose to +divert us in another quarter. I believe it is nothing more. We think we +have adequate force close after them. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO W. A. NEWELL. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, April 29, 1863. + +HON. W. A. NEWELL, Allentown, N.J.: + +I have some trouble about provost-marshal in your first district. +Please procure HON. Mr. Starr to come with you and see me, or come to an +agreement with him and telegraph me the result. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR CURTIN, + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, MAY 1, 1863 + +GOVERNOR CURTIN, Harrisburg, Penn.: + +The whole disposable force at Baltimore and else where in reach have +already been sent after the enemy which alarms you. The worst thing the +enemy could do for himself would be to weaken himself before Hooker, and +therefore it is safe to believe he is not doing it; and the best thing +he could do for himself would be to get us so scared as to bring part +of Hooker's force away, and that is just what he is trying to do. I will +telegraph you in the morning about calling out the militia. + + +A. LINCOLN, + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR CURTIN + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, MAY 2, 1863 + +GOVERNOR CURTIN, Harrisburg, Penn.: + +General Halleck tells me he has a despatch from General Schenck this +morning, informing him that our forces have joined, and that the enemy +menacing Pennsylvania will have to fight or run today. I hope I am not +less anxious to do my duty to Pennsylvania than yourself, but I really +do not yet see the justification for incurring the trouble and expense of +calling out the militia. I shall keep watch, and try to do my duty. + + +A. LINCOLN P. S.--Our forces are exactly between the enemy and +Pennsylvania. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL D. BUTTERFIELD. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., May 3, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BUTTERFIELD, Chief of Staff: + +The President thanks you for your telegrams, and hopes you will keep him +advised as rapidly as any information reaches you. + +EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + + + + +GENERALS LOST + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL D. BUTTERFIELD. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., May 3, 1863. 4.35 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BUTTERFIELD: + +Where is General Hooker? Where is Sedgwick Where is Stoneman? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. HOOKER. + +WASHINGTON, D.C., May 4, 1863. 3.10 P M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER: + +We have news here that the enemy has reoccupied heights above +Fredericksburg. Is that so? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL BURNSIDE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, May 4, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BURNSIDE, Cincinnati, O.: + +Our friend General Sigel claims that you owe him a letter. If you so +remember please write him at once. He is here. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL HOOKER. + +WASHINGTON, D.C., May 6, 1863. 2.25. P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER: + +We have through General Dix the contents of Richmond papers of the 5th. +General Dix's despatch in full is going to you by Captain Fox of the navy. +The substance is General Lee's despatch of the 3d (Sunday), claiming +that he had beaten you and that you were then retreating across the +Rappahannock, distinctly stating that two of Longstreet's divisions fought +you on Saturday, and that General [E. F.] Paxton was killed, Stonewall +Jackson severely wounded, and Generals Heth and A. P. Hill slightly +wounded. The Richmond papers also stated, upon what authority not +mentioned, that our cavalry have been at Ashland, Hanover Court-House, +and other points, destroying several locomotives and a good deal of other +property, and all the railroad bridges to within five miles of Richmond. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL HOOKER + +WASHINGTON, D.C., May 6, 1863. 12.30 P.M. + +Just as I telegraphed you contents of Richmond papers showing that our +cavalry has not failed, I received General Butterfield's of 11 A.M. +yesterday. This, with the great rain of yesterday and last night securing +your right flank, I think puts a new face upon your case; but you must be +the judge. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO COLONEL R. INGALLS. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., May 6, 1863 1.45 PM + +COLONEL INGALLS: + +News has gone to General Hooker which may change his plans. Act in view of +such contingency. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL J. HOOKER. + +HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, May 7, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER. + +MY DEAR SIR:--The recent movement of your army is ended without effecting +its object, except, perhaps, some important breakings of the enemy's +communications. What next? If possible, I would be very glad of another +movement early enough to give us some benefit from the fact of the enemy's +communication being broken; but neither for this reason nor any other do +I wish anything done in desperation or rashness. An early movement would +also help to supersede the bad moral effect of there certain, which is +said to be considerably injurious. Have you already in your mind a plan +wholly or partially formed? If you have, prosecute it without interference +from me. If you have not, please inform me, so that I, incompetent as I +may be, can try and assist in the formation of some plan for the army. + +Yours as ever, + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +DRAFTING OF ALIENS + +PROCLAMATION CONCERNING ALIENS, + +MAY 8, 1863. + +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: + +A Proclamation + +Whereas the Congress of the United States, at its last session, enacted a +law entitled "An act for enrolling and calling out the national forces and +for other purposes," which was approved on the 3d day of March last; and + +Whereas it is recited in the said act that there now exists in the United +States an insurrection and rebellion against the authority thereof, and +it is, under the Constitution of the United States, the duty of the +government to suppress insurrection and rebellion, to guarantee to +each State a republican form of government, and to preserve the public +tranquillity; and + +Whereas for these high purposes a military force is indispensable, to +raise and support which all persons Ought willingly to contribute; and + +Whereas no service can be more praiseworthy and honorable than that which +is rendered for the maintenance of the Constitution and the Union, and the +consequent preservation of free government; and + +Whereas, for the reasons thus recited, it was enacted by the said statute +that all able-bodied male citizens of the United States, and persons of +foreign birth who shall have declared on oath their intention to become +citizens under and in pursuance of the laws thereof, between the ages of +twenty and forty-five years (with certain exceptions not necessary to be +here mentioned), are declared to constitute the national forces, and shall +be liable to perform military duty in the service of the United States +when called out by the President for that purpose; and + +Whereas it is claimed by and in behalf of persons of foreign birth within +the ages specified in said act, who have heretofore declared on oath their +intentions to become citizens under and in pursuance of the laws of the +United States, and who have not exercised the right of suffrage or any +other political franchise under the laws of the United States, or of any +of the States thereof, that they are not absolutely concluded by their +aforesaid declaration of intention from renouncing their purpose to become +citizens, and that, on the contrary, such persons under treaties or the +law of nations retain a right to renounce that purpose and to forego the +privileges of citizenship and residence within the United States under the +obligations imposed by the aforesaid act of Congress: + +Now, therefore, to avoid all misapprehensions concerning the liability of +persons concerned to perform the service required by such enactment, and +to give it full effect, I do hereby order and proclaim that no plea +of alienage will be received or allowed to exempt from the obligations +imposed by the aforesaid act of Congress any person of foreign birth +who shall have declared on oath his intention to become a citizen of the +United States under the laws thereof, and who shall be found within +the United States at any time during the continuance of the present +insurrection and rebellion, at or after the expiration of the period of +sixty-five days from the date of this proclamation; nor shall any such +plea of alienage be allowed in favor of any such person who has so, +as aforesaid, declared his intention to become a citizen of the United +States, and shall have exercised at any time the right of suffrage, or +any other political franchise, within the United States, under the laws +thereof, or under the laws of any of the several States. + +In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington, this +eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred +and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the +eighty-seventh. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +By the President: WILLIAM H. SEWARD + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. HOOKER. + +WASHINGTON, D. C. May 8, 1863. 4 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER: + +The news is here of the capture by our forces of Grand Gulf--a large and +very important thing. General Willich, an exchanged prisoner just from +Richmond, has talked with me this morning. He was there when our cavalry +cut the roads in that vicinity. He says there was not a sound pair of legs +in Richmond, and that our men, had they known it, could have safely +gone in and burned everything and brought in Jeff Davis. We captured and +paroled 300 or 400 men. He says as he came to City Point there was an army +three miles long (Longstreet's, he thought) moving toward Richmond. + +Muroy has captured a despatch of General Lee, in which he says his loss +was fearful in his last battle with you. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. A. DIX. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, May 9,1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL DIX: + +It is very important for Hooker to know exactly what damage is done to +the railroads at all points between Fredericksburg and Richmond. As yet we +have no word as to whether the crossings of the North and South Anna, or +any of them, have been touched. There are four of these Crossings; +that is, one on each road on each stream. You readily perceive why this +information is desired. I suppose Kilpatrick or Davis can tell. Please +ascertain fully what was done, and what is the present condition, as near +as you can, and advise me at once. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO SECRETARY SEWARD. + +WASHINGTON, May 9, 1863 + +I believe Mr. L. is a good man, but two things need to be remembered. + +1st. Mr. R.'s rival was a relative of Mr. L. + +2d. I hear of nobody calling Mr. R. a "Copperhead," but Mr. L. However, +let us watch. + +A. L. + + + + +TO SECRETARY STANTON. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, MAY 11, 1863 + +HON. SECRETARY OF WAR. + +DEAR SIR:--I have again concluded to relieve General Curtis. I see no +other way to avoid the worst consequences there. I think of General +Schofield as his successor, but I do not wish to take the matter of a +successor out of the hands of yourself and General Halleck. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL DIX. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, May 11, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL DIX: + +Do the Richmond papers have anything about Grand Gulf or Vicksburg? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL BUTTERFIELD. + +[Cipher.] + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, May 11, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BUTTERFIELD: + +About what distance is it from the observatory we stopped at last Thursday +to the line of enemies' works you ranged the glass upon for me? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR SEYMOUR + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, May 12, 1863. + +GOVERNOR SEYMOUR, Albany, N.Y.: + +Dr. Swinburne and Mr. Gillett are here, having been refused, as they say, +by the War Department, permission to go to the Army of the Potomac. They +now appeal to me, saying you wish them to go. I suppose they have been +excluded by a rule which experience has induced the department to deem +proper; still they shall have leave to go, if you say you desire it. +Please answer. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO A. G. HENRY. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON May 13,1863. + +Dr. A. G. HENRY, Metropolitan Hotel, New York: + +Governor Chase's feelings were hurt by my action in his absence. Smith is +removed, but Governor Chase wishes to name his successor, and asks a day +or two to make the designation. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL J. HOOKER. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D.C. May 14, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER, Commanding. + +MY DEAR SIR:--When I wrote on the 7th, I had an impression that possibly +by an early movement you could get some advantage from the supposed facts +that the enemy's communications were disturbed and that he was somewhat +deranged in position. That idea has now passed away, the enemy having +re-established his communications, regained his positions, and actually +received reinforcements. It does not now appear probable to me that +you can gain anything by an early renewal of the attempt to cross the +Rappahannock. I therefore shall not complain if you do no more for a time +than to keep the enemy at bay and out of other mischief by menaces and +occasional cavalry raids, if practicable, and to put your own army in good +condition again. Still, if in your own clear judgment you can renew the +attack successfully, I do not mean to restrain you. Bearing upon this last +point, I must tell you that I have some painful intimations that some +of your corps and division commanders are not giving you their entire +confidence. This would be ruinous, if true, and you should therefore, +first of all, ascertain the real facts beyond all possibility of doubt. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +FACTIONAL QUARRELS + +TELEGRAM TO H. T. BLOW AND OTHERS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, May 15, 1863. + +HON. H. T. BLOW, C. D. DRAKE, AND OTHERS, St. Louis, Mo.: + +Your despatch of to-day is just received. It is very painful to me that +you in Missouri cannot or will not settle your factional quarrel among +yourselves. I have been tormented with it beyond endurance for months +by both sides. Neither side pays the least respect to my appeals to your +reason. I am now compelled to take hold of the case. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO JAMES GUTHRIE. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, May 16, 1863. + +HON. JAMES GUTHRIE, Louisville, Ky.: + +Your despatch of to-day is received. I personally know nothing of Colonel +Churchill, but months ago and more than once he has been represented to me +as exerting a mischievous influence at Saint Louis, for which reason I +am unwilling to force his continuance there against the judgment of our +friends on the ground; but if it will oblige you, he may come to and +remain at Louisville upon taking the oath of allegiance, and your pledge +for his good behavior. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO SECRETARY OF WAR. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, May 16, 1863. + +HON. SECRETARY OF WAR. + +MY DEAR SIR:--The commander of the Department at St. Louis has ordered +several persons south of our military lines, which order is not +disapproved by me. Yet at the special request of the HON. James Guthrie +I have consented to one of the number, Samuel Churchill, remaining at +Louisville, Ky., upon condition of his taking the oath of allegiance and +Mr. Gutlirie's word of honor for his good behavior. + +Yours truly, + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +ORDERS SENDING C. L. VALLANDIGHAM BEYOND MILITARY LINES. + +[Cipher.] + +UNITED STATES MILITARY TELEGRAPH, May 10, 1863. By telegraph from +Washington, 9.40 PM, 1863 + +TO MAJOR-GENERAL BURNSIDE, Commanding Department of Ohio. + +SIR:--The President directs that without delay you send C. L. Vallandigham +under secure guard to the Headquarters of General Rosecrans, to be put by +him beyond our military lines; and in case of his return within our lines, +he be arrested and kept in close custody for the term specified in his +sentence. + +By order of the President: E. R. S. CANBY, Assistant Adjutant-General. + + + + +WAR DEPARTMENT, May 20, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL A. B. BURNSIDE, Commanding Department of Ohio, Cincinnati, +O. + +Your despatch of three o'clock this afternoon to the Secretary of War has +been received and shown to the President. He thinks the best disposition +to be made of Vallandigham is to put him beyond the lines, as directed in +the order transmitted to you last evening, and directs that you execute +that order by sending him forward under secure guard without delay to +General Rosecrans. + +By order of the President: ED. R. S. CANBY, Brigadier-General + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL W. S. ROSECRANS. + +WASHINGTON, May 20, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL ROSECRANS: + +Yours of yesterday in regard to Colonel Haggard is received. I am anxious +that you shall not misunderstand me. In no case have I intended to censure +you or to question your ability. In Colonel Haggard's case I meant no more +than to suggest that possibly you might have been mistaken in a point that +could [be] corrected. I frequently make mistakes myself in the many things +I am compelled to do hastily. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL W. S. ROSECRANS. + +WASHINGTON, May 21, 1863. 4.40 PM. + +MAJOR-GENERAL ROSECRANS: + +For certain reasons it is thought best for Rev. Dr. Jaquess not to come +here. + +Present my respects to him, and ask him to write me fully on the subject +he has in contemplation. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL S. A. HURLBUT. + +WASHINGTON, May 22, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HURLBUT, Memphis, Tenn.: + +We have news here in the Richmond newspapers of 20th and 21st, including +a despatch from General Joe Johnston himself, that on the 15th or 16th--a +little confusion as to the day--Grant beat Pemberton and [W. W.] Loring +near Edwards Station, at the end of a nine hours' fight, driving Pemberton +over the Big Black and cutting Loring off and driving him south to Crystal +Springs, twenty-five miles below Jackson. Joe Johnston telegraphed +all this, except about Loring, from his camp between Brownsville and +Lexington, on the 18th. Another despatch indicates that Grant was moving +against Johnston on the 18th. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO ANSON STAGER. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., May 24, 1863.10.40 + +ANSON STAGER, Cleveland, O.: + +Late last night Fuller telegraphed you, as you say, that "the Stars and +Stripes float over Vicksburg and the victory is complete." Did he know +what he said, or did he say it without knowing it? Your despatch of this +afternoon throws doubt upon it. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO COLONEL HAGGARD. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON. May 25, 1863. + +COLONEL HAGGARD, Nashville, Tenn.: + +Your despatch to Green Adams has just been shown me. General Rosecrans +knows better than we can know here who should be in charge of the Fifth +Cavalry. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL BURNSIDE. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., May 26, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BURNSIDE, Cincinnati, O.: + +Your despatch about Campbell, Lyle, and others received and postponement +ordered by you approved. I will consider and telegraph you again in a few +days. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL SCHENCK. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, May 27, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL SCHENCK, Baltimore, Md.: + +Let the execution of William B. Compton be respited or suspended till +further order from me, holding him in safe custody meanwhile. On receiving +this notify me. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR BUCKINGHAM. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, May 27,1863. + +GOVERNOR BUCKINGHAM, Hartford, Conn.: + +The execution of Warren Whitemarch is hereby respited or suspended +until further order from me, he to be held in safe custody meanwhile. On +receiving this notify me. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL W. S. ROSECRANS. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, May 27,1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL ROSECRANS, Murfreesborough, Tenn.: + +Have you anything from Grant? Where is Forrest's headquarters? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL SCHOFIELD. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON May 27, 1863. + +GENERAL JOHN M. SCHOFIELD. + +MY DEAR SIR:--Having relieved General Curtis and assigned you to the +command of the Department of the Missouri, I think it may be of some +advantage for me to state why I did it. I did not relieve General Curtis +because of any full conviction that he had done wrong by commission or +omission. I did it because of a conviction in my mind that the Union +men of Missouri, constituting, when united, a vast majority of the +whole people, have entered into a pestilent factional quarrel among +themselves--General Curtis, perhaps not of choice, being the head of one +faction and Governor Gamble that of the other. After months of labor to +reconcile the difficulty, it seemed to grow worse and worse, until I felt +it my duty to break it up somehow; and as I could not remove Governor +Gamble, I had to remove General Curtis. Now that you are in the position, +I wish you to undo nothing merely because General Curtis or Governor +Gamble did it, but to exercise your own judgment, and do right for the +public interest. Let your military measures be strong enough to repel the +invader and keep the peace, and not so strong as to unnecessarily harass +and persecute the people. It is a difficult role, and so much greater will +be the honor if you perform it well. If both factions, or neither, shall +abuse you, you will probably be about right. Beware of being assailed by +one and praised by the other. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL HOOKER. + +WASHINGTON, May 27, 1863.11 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER: + +Have you Richmond papers of this morning? If so, what news? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO ERASTUS CORNING. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, May 28, 1863. + +HON. ERASTUS CORNING, Albany, N.Y.: + +The letter of yourself and others dated the 19th and inclosing the +resolutions of a public meeting held at Albany on the 16th, was received +night before last. I shall give the resolutions the consideration you ask, +and shall try to find time and make a respectful response. + +Your obedient servant, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL W. S. ROSECRANS. + +WASHINGTON, May 28, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL ROSECRANS, Murfreesborough, Tenn.. + +I would not push you to any rashness, but I am very anxious that you do +your utmost, short of rashness, to keep Bragg from getting off to help +Johnston against Grant. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR JOHNSON. + +WASHINGTON, May 29, 1863. + +GOVERNOR ANDREW JOHNSON, Louisville, Ky.: + +General Burnside has been frequently informed lately that the division +under General Getty cannot be spared. I am sorry to have to tell you this, +but it is true, and cannot be helped. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO J. K. DUBOIS AND OTHERS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, May 29, 1863. + +MESSRS. JESSE K. DUBOIS, O. M. HATCH, JOHN WILLIAMS, JACOB BUNN, JOHN +BUNN, GEORGE R. WEBER, WILLIAM YATES, S. M. CULLOM, CHARLES W. MATHENY, +WILLIAM F. ELKIN, FRANCIS SPRINGER, B. A. WATSON, ELIPHALET HAWLEY, AND +JAMES CAMPBELL. + +GENTLEMEN:--Agree among yourselves upon any two of your own number--one +of whom to be quartermaster and the other to be commissary to serve at +Springfield, Illinois, and send me their names, and I will appoint them. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE. + +WASHINGTON, May 29, 1863 + +MAJOR-GENERAL BURNSIDE, Cincinnati, O.: + +Your despatch of to-day received. When I shall wish to supersede you I +will let you know. All the Cabinet regretted the necessity of arresting, +for instance, Vallandigham, some perhaps doubting there was a real +necessity for it; but, being done, all were for seeing you through with +it. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO COLONEL LUDLOW. + +[Cipher.] + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, June 1, 1863. + +COLONEL LUDLOW, Fort Monroe: + +Richardson and Brown, correspondents of the Tribune captured at Vicksburg, +are detained at Richmond. Please ascertain why they are detained, and get +them off if you can. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL HOOKER. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, June 2, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER: + +It is said that Philip Margraf, in your army, is under sentence to be +shot on Friday the 5th instant as a deserter. If so please send me up the +record of his case at once. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL U.S. GRANT. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, June 2, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL GRANT, Vicksburg, via Memphis: + +Are you in communication with General Banks? Is he coming toward you +or going farther off? Is there or has there been anything to hinder his +coming directly to you by water from Alexandria? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER. [Cipher.] EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, +June 4,1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER: + +Let execution of sentences in the cases of Daily, Margraf, and Harrington +be respited till further orders from me, they remaining in close custody +meanwhile. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL BUTTERFIELD. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., June 4, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BUTTERFIELD: + +The news you send me from the Richmond Sentinel of the 3d must be greatly +if not wholly incorrect. The Thursday mentioned was the 28th, and we have +despatches here directly from Vicksburg of the 28th, 29th, 30th, and 31st; +and, while they speak of the siege progressing, they speak of no assault +or general fighting whatever, and in fact they so speak as to almost +exclude the idea that there can have been any since Monday the 25th, which +was not very heavy. Neither do they mention any demand made by Grant +upon Pemberton for a surrender. They speak of our troops as being in good +health, condition, and spirits. Some of them do say that Banks has Port +Hudson invested. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO SECRETARY STANTON. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, June 4, 1863. + +HON. SECRETARY OF WAR. + +MY DEAR SIR:--I have received additional despatches, which, with +former ones, induce me to believe we should revoke or suspend the order +suspending the Chicago Times; and if you concur in opinion, please have it +done. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL HOOKER. + +WASHINGTON, D.C. JUNE 5, 1863 + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER: + +Yours of to-day was received an hour ago. So much of professional military +skill is requisite to answer it that I have turned the task over to +General Halleck. He promises to perform it with his utmost care. I have +but one idea which I think worth suggesting to you, and that is, in case +you find Lee coming to the north of the Rappahannock, I would by no +means cross to the south of it. If he should leave a rear force +at Fredericksburg, tempting you to fall upon it, it would fight in +entrenchments and have you at advantage, and so, man for man, worst you at +that point, While his main force would in some way be getting an advantage +of you northward. In one word, I would not take any risk of being +entangled up on the river like an ox jumped half over a fence and liable +to be torn by dogs front and rear without a fair chance to gore one way or +to kick the other. + +If Lee would come to my side of the river I would keep on the same side +and fight him, or act on the defensive, according as might be my estimate +of his strength relatively to my own. But these are mere suggestions, +which I desire to be controlled by the judgment of yourself and General +Halleck. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO MRS. GRIMSLEY. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., June 6, 1863. + +Mrs. ELIZABETH J. GRIMSLEY, Springfield, Ill.: + +Is your John ready to enter the naval school? If he is, telegraph me his +full name. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL DIX, + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., June 6, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL Dix, Fort Monroe, Va.: + +By noticing the news you send from the Richmond Dispatch of this morning +you will see one of the very latest despatches says they have nothing +reliable from Vicksburg since Sunday. Now we here have a despatch +from there Sunday and others of almost every day preceding since the +investment, and while they show the siege progressing they do not show any +general fighting since the 21st and 22d. We have nothing from Port Hudson +later than the 29th when things looked reasonably well for us. I have +thought this might be of some interest to you. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL DIX. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, June 8, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL Dix, Fort Monroe: + +We have despatches from Vicksburg of the 3d. Siege progressing. No general +fighting recently. All well. Nothing new from Port Hudson. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL DIX. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C. JUNE 8, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL Dix, Fort Monroe: + +The substance of news sent of the fighting at Port Hudson on the 27th we +have had here three or four days, and I supposed you had it also, when +I said this morning, "No news from Port Hudson." We knew that General +Sherman was wounded, but we hoped not so dangerously as your despatch +represents. We still have nothing of that Richmond newspaper story of +Kirby Smith crossing and of Banks losing an arm. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO J. P. HALE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, June 9, 1863. + +HON. JOHN P. HALE, Dover, N. H.: + +I believe that it was upon your recommendation that B. B. Bunker was +appointed attorney for Nevada Territory. I am pressed to remove him on the +ground that he does not attend to the office, nor in fact pass much time +in the Territory. Do you wish to say anything on the subject? + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO MRS. LINCOLN. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, June 9, 1863. + +MRS. LINCOLN, Philadelphia, Pa.: + +Think you had better put "Tad's" pistol away. I had an ugly dream about +him. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL HOOKER. + +WASHINGTON, D.C. June 9, 1863 + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER: + +I am told there are 50 incendiary shells here at the arsenal made to fit +the 100 pounder Parrott gun now with you. If this be true would you like +to have the shells sent to you? + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL HOOKER. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., June 10, 1863 + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER: + +Your long despatch of to-day is just received. If left to me, I would not +go south of the Rappahannock upon Lee's moving north of it. If you had +Richmond invested to-day you would not be able to take it in twenty days; +meanwhile your communications, and with them your army, would be ruined. +I think Lee's army, and not Richmond, is your true objective point. If he +comes towards the upper Potomac, follow on his flank, and on the inside +track, shortening your lines while he lengthens his. Fight him, too, when +opportunity offers. If he stay where he is, fret him and fret him. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO MRS. LINCOLN. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, June 11,1863. + +MRS. LINCOLN, Philadelphia: + +Your three despatches received. I am very well and am glad to know that +you and "Tad" are so. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL HOOKER. + +[Cipher.] + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, JUNE 12, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER: + +If you can show me a trial of the incendiary shells on Saturday night, I +will try to join you at 5 P.M. that day Answer. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO ERASTUS CORNING AND OTHERS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, June 12, 1863. + +HON. ERASTUS CORNING AND OTHERS. + +GENTLEMEN:--Your letter of May 19, inclosing the resolutions of a public +meeting held at Albany, New York, on the 16th of the same month, was +received several days ago. + +The resolutions, as I understand them, are resolvable into two +propositions--first, the expression of a purpose to sustain the cause +of the Union, to secure peace through victory, and to support the +administration in every constitutional and lawful measure to suppress the +rebellion; and, secondly, a declaration of censure upon the administration +for supposed unconstitutional action, such as the making of military +arrests. And from the two propositions a third is deduced, which is that +the gentlemen composing the meeting are resolved on doing their part +to maintain our common government and country, despite the folly or +wickedness, as they may conceive, of any administration. This position is +eminently patriotic, and as such I thank the meeting, and congratulate the +nation for it. My own purpose is the same; so that the meeting and myself +have a common object, and can have no difference, except in the choice of +means or measures for effecting that object. + +And here I ought to close this paper, and would close it, if there were no +apprehension that more injurious consequences than any merely personal +to myself might follow the censures systematically cast upon me for doing +what, in my view of duty, I could not forbear. The resolutions promise +to support me in every constitutional and lawful measure to suppress the +rebellion; and I have not knowingly employed, nor shall knowingly employ, +any other. But the meeting, by their resolutions, assert and argue that +certain military arrests, and proceedings following them, for which I am +ultimately responsible, are unconstitutional. I think they are not. The +resolutions quote from the Constitution the definition of treason, and +also the limiting safeguards and guarantees therein provided for the +citizen on trial for treason, and on his being held to answer for capital +or otherwise infamous crimes, and in criminal prosecutions his right to +a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury. They proceed to +resolve "that these safeguards of the rights of the citizen against the +pretensions of arbitrary power were intended more especially for his +protection in times of civil commotion." And, apparently to demonstrate +the proposition, the resolutions proceed: "They were secured substantially +to the English people after years of protracted civil war, and were +adopted into our Constitution at the close of the Revolution." Would not +the demonstration have been better if it could have been truly said that +these safeguards had been adopted and applied during the civil wars and +during our Revolution, instead of after the one and at the close of the +other? I too am devotedly for them after civil war, and before Civil war, +and at all times, "except when, in cases of rebellion or invasion, the +public safety may require" their suspension. The resolutions proceed to +tell us that these safeguards "have stood the test of seventy-six years +of trial under our republican system, under circumstances which show that, +while they constitute the foundation of all free government, they are the +elements of the enduring stability of the republic." No one denies that +they have so stood the test up to the beginning of the present rebellion, +if we except a certain occurrence at New Orleans hereafter to be +mentioned; nor does any one question that they will stand the same test +much longer after the rebellion closes. But these provisions of the +Constitution have no application to the case we have in hand, because +the arrests complained of were not made for treason--that is, not for the +treason defined in the Constitution, and upon the conviction of which the +punishment is death--nor yet were they made to hold persons to answer +for any capital or otherwise infamous crimes; nor were the proceedings +following, in any constitutional or legal sense, "criminal prosecutions." +The arrests were made on totally different grounds, and the proceedings +following accorded with the grounds of the arrests. Let us consider the +real case with which we are dealing, and apply to it the parts of the +Constitution plainly made for such cases. + +Prior to my installation here it had been inculcated that any State had +a lawful right to secede from the national Union, and that it would be +expedient to exercise the right whenever the devotees of the doctrine +should fail to elect a president to their own liking. I was elected +contrary to their liking; and accordingly, so far as it was legally +possible, they had taken seven States out of the Union, had seized many +of the United States forts, and had fired upon the United States flag, all +before I was inaugurated, and, of course, before I had done any official +act whatever. The rebellion thus begun soon ran into the present civil +war; and, in certain respects, it began on very unequal terms between the +parties. The insurgents had been preparing for it more than thirty years, +while the government had taken no steps to resist them. The former had +carefully considered all the means which could be turned to their account. +It undoubtedly was a well-pondered reliance with them that in their own +unrestricted effort to destroy Union, Constitution and law, all together, +the government would, in great degree, be restrained by the same +Constitution and law from arresting their progress. Their sympathizers +invaded all departments of the government and nearly all communities +of the people. From this material, under cover of "liberty of speech," +"liberty of the press," and "habeas corpus," they hoped to keep on foot +amongst us a most efficient corps of spies, informers, suppliers, and +aiders and abettors of their cause in a thousand ways. They knew that +in times such as they were inaugurating, by the Constitution itself the +"habeas corpus" might be suspended; but they also knew they had friends +who would make a question as to who was to suspend it; meanwhile their +spies and others might remain at large to help on their cause. Or if, as +has happened, the Executive should suspend the writ without ruinous waste +of time, instances of arresting innocent persons might occur, as are +always likely to occur in such cases; and then a clamor could be raised in +regard to this, which might be at least of some service to the insurgent +cause. It needed no very keen perception to discover this part of the +enemies program, so soon as by open hostilities their machinery was fairly +put in motion. Yet, thoroughly imbued with a reverence for the guaranteed +rights of individuals, I was slow to adopt the strong measures which by +degrees I have been forced to regard as being within the exceptions of the +Constitution, and as indispensable to the public safety. Nothing is better +known to history than that courts of justice are utterly incompetent to +such cases. Civil courts are organized chiefly for trials of +individuals--or, at most, a few individuals acting in concert, and this in +quiet times, and on charges of crimes well defined in the law. Even in +times of peace bands of horse-thieves and robbers frequently grow too +numerous and powerful for the ordinary courts of justice. But what +comparison, in numbers have such bands ever borne to the insurgent +sympathizers even in many of the loyal States? Again, a jury too +frequently has at least one member more ready to hang the panel than to +hang the traitor. And yet again, he who dissuades one man from +volunteering, or induces one soldier to desert, weakens the Union cause as +much as he who kills a Union soldier in battle. Yet this dissuasion or +inducement may be so conducted as to be no defined crime of which any +civil court would take cognizance. + + +Ours is a case of rebellion--so called by the resolutions before me--in +fact, a clear, flagrant, and gigantic case of rebellion; and the provision +of the Constitution that "the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus +shall not be suspended unless when, in cases of rebellion or invasion, the +public safety may require it," is the provision which specially applies +to our present case. This provision plainly attests the understanding +of those who made the Constitution that ordinary courts of justice are +inadequate to "cases of rebellion"--attests their purpose that, in such +cases, men may be held in custody whom the courts, acting on ordinary +rules, would discharge. Habeas corpus does not discharge men who are +proved to be guilty of defined crime, and its suspension is allowed by the +Constitution on purpose that men may be arrested and held who can not +be proved to be guilty of defined crime, "when, in cases of rebellion or +invasion, the public safety may require it." + +This is precisely our present case--a case of rebellion wherein the public +safety does require the suspension--Indeed, arrests by process of courts +and arrests in cases of rebellion do not proceed altogether upon the same +basis. The former is directed at the small percentage of ordinary and +continuous perpetration of crime, while the latter is directed at sudden +and extensive uprisings against the government, which, at most, will +succeed or fail in no great length of time. In the latter case arrests +are made not so much for what has been done as for what probably would be +done. The latter is more for the preventive and less for the vindictive +than the former. In such cases the purposes of men are much more easily +understood than in cases of ordinary crime. The man who stands by and +says nothing when the peril of his government is discussed, cannot be +misunderstood. If not hindered, he is sure to help the enemy; much more +if he talks ambiguously--talks for his country with "buts," and "ifs," +and "ands." Of how little value the constitutional provision I have quoted +will be rendered if arrests shall never be made until defined crimes shall +have been committed, may be illustrated by a few notable examples: General +John C. Breckinridge, General Robert E. Lee, General Joseph E. Johnston, +General John B. Magruder, General William B. Preston, General Simon B. +Buckner, and Commodore Franklin Buchanan, now occupying the very highest +places in the rebel war service, were all within the power of the +government since the rebellion began, and were nearly as well known to +be traitors then as now. Unquestionably if we had seized and had them +the insurgent cause would be much weaker. But no one of them had then +committed any crime defined in the law. Every one of them, if arrested, +would have been discharged on habeas corpus were the writ allowed to +operate. In view of these and similar cases, I think the time not unlikely +to come when I shall be blamed for having made too few arrests rather than +too many. + +By the third resolution the meeting indicate their opinion that military +arrests may be constitutional in localities where rebellion actually +exists, but that such arrests are unconstitutional in localities where +rebellion or insurrection does not actually exist. They insist that such +arrests shall not be made "outside of the lines of necessary military +occupation and the scenes of insurrection." Inasmuch, however, as the +Constitution itself makes no such distinction, I am unable to believe that +there is any such constitutional distinction. I concede that the class +of arrests complained of can be constitutional only when, in cases of +rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require them; and I insist +that in such cases--they are constitutional wherever the public safety +does require them, as well in places to which they may prevent the +rebellion extending, as in those where it may be already prevailing; as +well where they may restrain mischievous interference with the raising and +supplying of armies to suppress the rebellion as where the rebellion may +actually be; as well where they may restrain the enticing men out of +the army as where they would prevent mutiny in the army; equally +constitutional at all places where they will conduce to the public safety +as against the dangers of rebellion or invasion. Take the particular +case mentioned by the meeting. It is asserted in substance that Mr. +Vallandigham was, by a military commander, seized and tried "for no other +reason than words addressed to a public meeting in criticism of the course +of the administration, and in condemnation of the military orders of the +general." Now, if there be no mistake about this, if this assertion is the +truth, and the whole truth, if there were no other reason for the arrest, +then I concede that the arrest was wrong. But the arrest, as I understand, +was made for a very different reason. Mr. Vallandigham avows his hostility +to the war on the part of the Union; and his arrest was made because +he was laboring, with some effect, to prevent the raising of troops, to +encourage desertions from the army, and to leave the rebellion without an +adequate military force to suppress it. He was not arrested because he +was damaging the political prospects of the administration or the personal +interests of the commanding general, but because he was damaging the army, +upon the existence and vigor of which the life of the nation depends. He +was warring upon the military, and thus gave the military constitutional +jurisdiction to lay hands upon him. If Mr. Vallandigham was not damaging +the military power of the country, then his arrest was made on mistake +of fact, which I would be glad to correct on reasonably satisfactory +evidence. + +I understand the meeting whose resolutions I am considering to be in favor +of suppressing the rebellion by military force--by armies. Long experience +has shown that armies cannot be maintained unless desertion shall be +punished by the severe penalty of death. The case requires, and the law +and the Constitution sanction, this punishment. Must I shoot a +simple-minded boy and not touch a hair of a wily agitator who induced him +to desert. This is none the less injurious when effected by getting a +father, or brother, or friend into a public meeting, and there working +upon his feelings till he is persuaded to write the soldier boy that he is +fighting in a bad cause, for a wicked administration of a contemptible +government, too weak to arrest and punish him if he shall desert. I think +that, in such a case, to silence the agitator and save the boy is not only +constitutional, but withal a great mercy. + +If I be wrong on this question of constitutional power, my error lies in +believing that certain proceedings are constitutional when, in cases of +rebellion or invasion, the public safety requires them, which would not +be constitutional when, in absence of rebellion or invasion, the public +safety does not require them: in other words, that the Constitution is +not in its application in all respects the same in cases of rebellion or +invasion involving the public safety as it is in times of profound peace +and public security. The Constitution itself makes the distinction, and I +can no more be persuaded that the government can constitutionally take +no strong measures in time of rebellion, because it can be shown that +the same could not be lawfully taken in times of peace, than I can be +persuaded that a particular drug is not good medicine for a sick man +because it can be shown to not be good food for a well one. Nor am I able +to appreciate the danger apprehended by the meeting, that the American +people will by means of military arrests during the rebellion lose the +right of public discussion, the liberty of speech and the press, the law +of evidence, trial by jury, and habeas corpus throughout the indefinite +peaceful future which I trust lies before them, any more than I am able to +believe that a man could contract so strong an appetite for emetics during +temporary illness as to persist in feeding upon them during the remainder +of his healthful life. + +In giving the resolutions that earnest consideration which you request of +me, I cannot overlook the fact that the meeting speak as "Democrats." +Nor can I, with full respect for their known intelligence, and the fairly +presumed deliberation with which they prepared their resolutions, be +permitted to suppose that this occurred by accident, or in any way other +than that they preferred to designate themselves "Democrats" rather than +"American citizens." In this time of national peril I would have preferred +to meet you upon a level one step higher than any party platform, because +I am sure that from such more elevated position we could do better battle +for the country we all love than we possibly can from those lower ones +where, from the force of habit, the prejudices of the past, and selfish +hopes of the future, we are sure to expend much of our ingenuity and +strength in finding fault with and aiming blows at each other. But since +you have denied me this I will yet be thankful for the country's sake that +not all Democrats have done so. He on whose discretionary judgment Mr. +Vallandigham was arrested and tried is a Democrat, having no old party +affinity with me, and the judge who rejected the constitutional view +expressed in these resolutions, by refusing to discharge Mr. Vallandigham +on habeas corpus is a Democrat of better days than these, having received +his judicial mantle at the hands of President Jackson. And still more: of +all those Democrats who are nobly exposing their lives and shedding their +blood on the battle-field, I have learned that many approve the course +taken with Mr. Vallandigham, while I have not heard of a single one +condemning it. I cannot assert that there are none such. And the name +of President Jackson recalls an instance of pertinent history. After the +battle of New Orleans, and while the fact that the treaty of peace had +been concluded was well known in the city, but before official knowledge +of it had arrived, General Jackson still maintained martial or military +law. Now that it could be said that the war was over, the clamor against +martial law, which had existed from the first, grew more furious. Among +other things, a Mr. Louaillier published a denunciatory newspaper article. +General Jackson arrested him. A lawyer by the name of Morel procured the +United States Judge Hall to order a writ of habeas corpus to release Mr. +Louaillier. General Jackson arrested both the lawyer and the judge. A Mr. +Hollander ventured to say of some part of the matter that "it was a dirty +trick." General Jackson arrested him. When the officer undertook to serve +the writ of habeas corpus, General Jackson took it from him, and sent him +away with a copy. Holding the judge in custody a few days, the general +sent him beyond the limits of his encampment, and set him at liberty with +an order to remain till the ratification of peace should be regularly +announced, or until the British should have left the southern coast. A day +or two more elapsed, the ratification of the treaty of peace was regularly +announced, and the judge and others were fully liberated. A few days more, +and the judge called General Jackson into court and fined him $1000 for +having arrested him and the others named. The General paid the fine, and +then the matter rested for nearly thirty years, when Congress refunded +principal and interest. The late Senator Douglas, then in the House +of Representatives, took a leading part in the debates, in which the +constitutional question was much discussed. I am not prepared to say whom +the journals would show to have voted for the measure. + +It may be remarked--first, that we had the same Constitution then as now; +secondly, that we then had a case of invasion, and now we have a case of +rebellion; and, thirdly, that the permanent right of the people to public +discussion, the liberty of speech and of the press, the trial by jury, the +law of evidence, and the habeas corpus suffered no detriment whatever +by that conduct of General Jackson, or its subsequent approval by the +American Congress. + +And yet, let me say that, in my own discretion, I do not know whether I +would have ordered the arrest of Mr. Vallandigham. While I cannot shift +the responsibility from myself, I hold that, as a general rule, the +commander in the field is the better judge of the necessity in any +particular case. Of course I must practice a general directory and +revisory power in the matter. + +One of the resolutions expresses the opinion of the meeting that arbitrary +arrests will have the effect to divide and distract those who should be +united in suppressing the rebellion, and I am specifically called on to +discharge Mr. Vallandigham. I regard this as, at least, a fair appeal to +me on the expediency of exercising a constitutional power which I think +exists. In response to such appeal I have to say, it gave me pain when +I learned that Mr. Vallandigham had been arrested (that is, I was pained +that there should have seemed to be a necessity for arresting him), and +that it will afford me great pleasure to discharge him so soon as I can by +any means believe the public safety will not suffer by it. + +I further say that, as the war progresses, it appears to me, opinion and +action, which were in great confusion at first, take shape and fall into +more regular channels, so that the necessity for strong dealing with them +gradually decreases. I have every reason to desire that it should cease +altogether, and far from the least is my regard for the opinions and +wishes of those who, like the meeting at Albany, declare their purpose +to sustain the government in every constitutional and lawful measure to +suppress the rebellion. Still, I must continue to do so much as may seem +to be required by the public safety. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, June 14, 1863. + +HON. SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. + +SIR:--Your note of this morning is received. You will co-operate by the +revenue cutters under your direction with the navy in arresting rebel +depredations on American commerce and transportation and in capturing +rebels engaged therein. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL TYLER. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, June 14, 1863. + +GENERAL TYLER, Martinsburg: Is Milroy invested so that he cannot fall back +to Harper's Ferry? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +RESPONSE TO A "BESIEGED" GENERAL + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL TYLER. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, June 14, 1863. + +GENERAL TYLER, Martinsburg: + +If you are besieged, how do you despatch me? Why did you not leave before +being besieged? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL KELLEY. + +WASHINGTON, June 14, 1863. 1.27 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL KELLEY, Harper's Ferry: + +Are the forces at Winchester and Martinsburg making any effort to get to +you? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL HOOKER. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., June 14, 1863.3.50 P.M., + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER: + +So far as we can make out here, the enemy have Muroy surrounded at +Winchester, and Tyler at Martinsburg. If they could hold out a few days, +could you help them? If the head of Lee's army is at Martinsburg and the +tail of it on the plank-road between Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, +the animal must be very slim somewhere; could you not break him? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL R. C. SCHENCK. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, June 14, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL SCHENCK: + +Get General Milroy from Winchester to Harper's Ferry, if possible. He will +be "gobbled up" if he remains, if he is not already past salvation. + + +A. LINCOLN, President, United States. + + + + +NEEDS NEW TIRES ON HIS CARRIAGE + +TELEGRAM TO MRS. LINCOLN. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, June 15, 1863. + +MRS. LINCOLN, Philadelphia, Pa.: + +Tolerably well. Have not rode out much yet, but have at last got new tires +on the carriage wheels and perhaps shall ride out soon. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +CALL FOR 100,000 MILITIA TO SERVE FOR SIX MONTHS, JUNE 15, 1863. + +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: + +A Proclamation + +Whereas the armed insurrectionary combinations now existing in several of +the States are threatening to make inroads into the States of Maryland, +West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, requiring immediately an additional +military force for the service of the United States: + +Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States and +Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy thereof and of the militia of the +several States when called into actual service, do hereby call into the +service of the United States 100,000 militia from the States following, +namely: + +From the State of Maryland, 10,000; from the State of Pennsylvania, +50,000; from the State of Ohio, 30,000; from the State of West Virginia, +10,000--to be mustered into the service of the United States forthwith and +to serve for a period of six months from the date of such muster into +said service, unless sooner discharged; to be mustered in as infantry, +artillery, and cavalry, in proportions which will be made known through +the War Department, which Department will also designate the several +places of rendezvous. These militia to be organized according to the rules +and regulations of the volunteer service and such orders as may hereafter +be issued. The States aforesaid will be respectively credited under the +enrollment act for the militia services entered under this proclamation. +In testimony whereof............... + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO P. KAPP AND OTHERS. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., June 10, 1863 + +FREDERICK KAPP AND OTHERS, New York: + +The Governor of New York promises to send us troops, and if he wishes the +assistance of General Fremont and General Sigel, one or both, he can have +it. If he does not wish them it would but breed confusion for us to set +them to work independently of him. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL MEAGHER. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., June 16, 1863. + +GENERAL T. FRANCIS MEAGHER, New York: + +Your despatch received. Shall be very glad for you to raise 3000 Irish +troops if done by the consent of and in concert with Governor Seymour. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO MRS. LINCOLN. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., June 16, 1863. + +MRS. LINCOLN, Philadelphia: + +It is a matter of choice with yourself whether you come home. There is +no reason why you should not, that did not exist when you went away. As +bearing on the question of your coming home, I do not think the raid into +Pennsylvania amounts to anything at all. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO COLONEL BLISS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, June 16, 1863. + +COL. WILLIAM S. BLISS, New York Hotel: + +Your despatch asking whether I will accept "the Loyal Brigade of the +North" is received. I never heard of that brigade by name and do not know +where it is; yet, presuming it is in New York, I say I will gladly accept +it, if tendered by and with the consent and approbation of the Governor of +that State. Otherwise not. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL HOOKER. + +WASHINGTON, June 16, 1863.10 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER: + +To remove all misunderstanding, I now place you in the strict military +relation to General Halleck of a commander of one of the armies to the +general-in-chief of all the armies. I have not intended differently, but +as it seems to be differently understood I shall direct him to give you +orders and you to obey them. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL HOOKER. + +WAR DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON D. C., June 17, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER: + +Mr. Eckert, superintendent in the telegraph office, assures me that he has +sent and will send you everything that comes to the office. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO JOSHUA TEVIS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, June 17, 1863. + +JOSHUA TEVIS, Esq., U. S. Attorney, Frankfort, Ky.: + +A Mr. Burkner is here shoving a record and asking to be discharged from a +suit in San Francisco, as bail for one Thompson. Unless the record +shown me is defectively made out I think it can be successfully defended +against. Please examine the case carefully and, if you shall be of opinion +it cannot be sustained, dismiss it and relieve me from all trouble about +it. Please answer. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR TOD. + +[Cipher.] + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, + +June 18, 1863. + +GOVERNOR D. TOD, Columbus, O.: + +Yours received. I deeply regret that you were not renominated, not that +I have aught against Mr. Brough. On the contrary, like yourself, I say +hurrah for him. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL DINGMAN. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., June 18, 1863. + +GENERAL A. DINGMAN, Belleville, C. W.: + +Thanks for your offer of the Fifteenth Battalion. I do not think +Washington is in danger. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TO B. B. MALHIOT AND OTHERS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, June 19, 1863. + +MESSRS. B. B. MALHIOT, BRADISH JOHNSON, AND THOMAS COTTMAN. + +GENTLEMEN:--Your letter, which follows, has been received and Considered. + +"The undersigned, a committee appointed by the planters of the State of +Louisiana, respectfully represent that they have been delegated to seek of +the General Government a full recognition of all the rights of the State +as they existed previous to the passage of an act of secession, upon the +principle of the existence of the State constitution unimpaired, and no +legal act having transpired that could in any way deprive them of the +advantages conferred by that constitution. Under this constitution the +State wishes to return to its full allegiance, in the enjoyment of all +rights and privileges exercised by the other States under the Federal +Constitution. With the view of accomplishing the desired object, we +further request that your Excellency will, as commander-in-chief of the +army of the United States, direct the Military Governor of Louisiana to +order an election, in conformity with the constitution and laws of the +State, on the first Monday of November next, for all State and Federal +officers. + +"With high consideration and resect, we have the honor to subscribe +ourselves, + +"Your obedient servants, + + "E. E. MALHIOT. + "BRADISH JOHNSON. + "THOMAS COTTMAN." + +Since receiving the letter, reliable information has reached me that a +respectable portion of the Louisiana people desire to amend their State +constitution, and contemplate holding a State convention for that object. +This fact alone, as it seems to me, is a sufficient reason why the General +Government should not give the committal you seek to the existing State +constitution. I may add that, while I do not perceive how such committal +could facilitate our military operations in Louisiana, I really apprehend +it might be so used as to embarrass them. + +As to an election to be held next November, there is abundant time without +any order or proclamation from me just now. The people of Louisiana shall +not lack an opportunity for a fair election for both Federal and State +officers by want of anything within my power to give them. + +Your obedient servant, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL J. M. SCHOFIELD. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON + +June 22, 1863. + +GENERAL JOHN M. SCHOFIELD. MY DEAR SIR:--Your despatch, asking in +substance whether, in case Missouri shall adopt gradual emancipation, the +General Government will protect slave owners in that species of property +during the short time it shall be permitted by the State to exist within +it, has been received. Desirous as I am that emancipation shall be adopted +by Missouri, and believing as I do that gradual can be made better than +immediate for both black and white, except when military necessity changes +the case, my impulse is to say that such protection would be given. I +cannot know exactly what shape an act of emancipation may take. If the +period from the initiation to the final end should be comparatively short, +and the act should prevent persons being sold during that period into more +lasting slavery, the whole would be easier. I do not wish to pledge the +General Government to the affirmative support of even temporary slavery +beyond what can be fairly claimed under the Constitution. I suppose, +however, this is not desired, but that it is desired for the military +force of the United States, while in Missouri, to not be used in +subverting the temporarily reserved legal rights in slaves during the +progress of emancipation. This I would desire also. I have very earnestly +urged the slave States to adopt emancipation; and it ought to be, and is, +an object with me not to overthrow or thwart what any of them may in good +faith do to that end. You are therefore authorized to act in the spirit +of this letter in conjunction with what may appear to be the military +necessities of your department. Although this letter will become public at +some time, it is not intended to be made so now. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. HOOKER. + +WASHINGTON, June 22, 1863 + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER: + +Operator at Leesburg just now says: "I heard very little firing this A.M. +about daylight, but it seems to have stopped now. It was in about the same +direction as yesterday, but farther off." + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO SECRETARY OF WAR. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, June 23, 1863. + +HON. SECRETARY OF WAR: + +You remember that Hon. W. D. Kelly and others are engaged in raising or +trying to raise some colored regiments in Philadelphia. The bearer of +this, Wilton M. Huput, is a friend of Judge Kelly, as appears by the +letter of the latter. He is a private in the 112th Penn. and has been +disappointed in a reasonable expectation of one of the smaller offices. +He now wants to be a lieutenant in one of the colored regiments. If Judge +Kelly will say in writing he wishes to so have him, I am willing for him +to be discharged from his present position, and be so appointed. If you +approve, so indorse and let him carry the letter to Kelly. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO MAJOR VAN VLIET. + +[Cipher.] + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., June 23, 1863. + +MAJOR VAN VLIET, New York: + +Have you any idea what the news is in the despatch of General Banks to +General Halleck? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL COUCH. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, June 24, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL COUCH, Harrisburg, Pa.: + +Have you any reports of the enemy moving into Pennsylvania? And if any, +what? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL DIX. + +WASHINGTON, June 24, 1863 + +MAJOR-GENERAL Dix, Yorktown, Va.: + +We have a despatch from General Grant of the 19th. Don't think Kirby Smith +took Milliken's Bend since, allowing time to get the news to Joe Johnston +and from him to Richmond. But it is not absolutely impossible. Also +have news from Banks to the 16th, I think. He had not run away then, nor +thought of it. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL PECK. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., June 25, 1863. + +GENERAL PECK, Suffolk, Va.: + +Colonel Derrom, of the Twenty-fifth New Jersey Volunteers, now mustered +out, says there is a man in your hands under conviction for desertion, +who formerly belonged to the above named regiment, and whose name is +Templeton--Isaac F. Templeton, I believe. The Colonel and others appeal to +me for him. Please telegraph to me what is the condition of the case, +and if he has not been executed send me the record of the trial and +conviction. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL SLOCUM. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., June 25,1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL SLOCUM, Leesburg, Va.: + +Was William Gruvier, Company A, Forty-sixth, Pennsylvania, one of the men +executed as a deserter last Friday? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL HOOKER. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., June 27, 1863. 8A.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER: + +It did not come from the newspapers, nor did I believe it, but I wished to +be entirely sure it was a falsehood. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL BURNSIDE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, June 28, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BURNSIDE, Cincinnati, O.: + +There is nothing going on in Kentucky on the subject of which you +telegraph, except an enrolment. Before anything is done beyond this, I +will take care to understand the case better than I now do. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR BOYLE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. C., June 28, 1863. + +GOVERNOR J. T. BOYLE, Cincinnati, O.: + +There is nothing going on in Kentucky on the subject of which you +telegraph, except an enrolment. Before anything is done beyond this, I +will take care to understand the case better than I now do. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL SCHENCK. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., June 28, 1863. + +MAJOR GENERAL SCHENCK, Baltimore, Md.: + +Every place in the Naval school subject to my appointment is full, and I +have one unredeemed promise of more than half a year's standing. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +FURTHER DEMOCRATIC PARTY CRITICISM + +TO M. BIRCHARD AND OTHERS. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., June 29,1863. + +MESSRS. M. BIRCHARD, DAVID A. HOUK, et al: + +GENTLEMEN:--The resolutions of the Ohio Democratic State convention, which +you present me, together with your introductory and closing remarks, +being in position and argument mainly the same as the resolutions of the +Democratic meeting at Albany, New York, I refer you to my response to the +latter as meeting most of the points in the former. + +This response you evidently used in preparing your remarks, and I desire +no more than that it be used with accuracy. In a single reading of your +remarks, I only discovered one inaccuracy in matter, which I suppose you +took from that paper. It is where you say: "The undersigned are unable to +agree with you in the opinion you have expressed that the Constitution is +different in time of insurrection or invasion from what it is in time of +peace and public security." + +A recurrence to the paper will show you that I have not expressed the +opinion you suppose. I expressed the opinion that the Constitution is +different in its application in cases of rebellion or invasion, involving +the public safety, from what it is in times of profound peace and +public security; and this opinion I adhere to, simply because, by the +Constitution itself, things may be done in the one case which may not be +done in the other. + +I dislike to waste a word on a merely personal point, but I must +respectfully assure you that you will find yourselves at fault should +you ever seek for evidence to prove your assumption that I "opposed in +discussions before the people the policy of the Mexican war." + + +You say: "Expunge from the Constitution this limitation upon the power +of Congress to suspend the writ of habeas corpus, and yet the other +guarantees of personal liberty would remain unchanged." Doubtless, if this +clause of the Constitution, improperly called, as I think, a limitation +upon the power of Congress, were expunged, the other guarantees would +remain the same; but the question is not how those guarantees would stand +with that clause out of the Constitution, but how they stand with that +clause remaining in it, in case of rebellion or invasion involving the +public safety. If the liberty could be indulged of expunging that clause, +letter and spirit, I really think the constitutional argument would be +with you. + +My general view on this question was stated in the Albany response, and +hence I do not state it now. I only add that, as seems to me, the +benefit of the writ of habeas corpus is the great means through which the +guarantees of personal liberty are conserved and made available in +the last resort; and corroborative of this view is the fact that Mr. +Vallandigham, in the very case in question, under the advice of able +lawyers, saw not where else to go but to the habeas corpus. But by the +Constitution the benefit of the writ of habeas corpus itself may be +suspended when, in case of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may +require it. + +You ask, in substance, whether I really claim that I may override all the +guaranteed rights of individuals, on the plea of conserving the public +safety when I may choose to say the public safety requires it. This +question, divested of the phraseology calculated to represent me as +struggling for an arbitrary personal prerogative, is either simply a +question who shall decide, or an affirmation that nobody shall decide, +what the public safety does require in cases of rebellion or invasion. + +The Constitution contemplates the question as likely to occur for +decision, but it does not expressly declare who is to decide it. By +necessary implication, when rebellion or invasion comes, the decision is +to be made from time to time; and I think the man whom, for the time, the +people have, under the Constitution, made the commander-in-chief of their +army and navy, is the man who holds the power and bears the responsibility +of making it. If he uses the power justly, the same people will probably +justify him; if he abuses it, he is in their hands to be dealt with by all +the modes they have reserved to themselves in the Constitution. + +The earnestness with which you insist that persons can only, in times +of rebellion, be lawfully dealt with in accordance with the rules for +criminal trials and punishments in times of peace, induces me to add a +word to what I said on that point in the Albany response. + +You claim that men may, if they choose, embarrass those whose duty it is +to combat a giant rebellion, and then be dealt with in turn only as if +there were no rebellion. The Constitution itself rejects this view. The +military arrests and detentions which have been made, including those of +Mr. Vallandigham, which are not different in principle from the others, +have been for prevention, and not for punishment--as injunctions to stay +injury, as proceedings to keep the peace; and hence, like proceedings +in such cases and for like reasons, they have not been accompanied with +indictments, or trials by juries, nor in a single case by any punishment +whatever, beyond what is purely incidental to the prevention. The original +sentence of imprisonment in Mr. Vallandigham's case was to prevent injury +to the military service only, and the modification of it was made as a +less disagreeable mode to him of securing the same prevention. + +I am unable to perceive an insult to Ohio in the case of Mr. Vallandigham. +Quite surely nothing of the sort was or is intended. I was wholly unaware +that Mr. Vallandigham was, at the time of his arrest, a candidate for the +Democratic nomination for governor until so informed by your reading to me +the resolutions of the convention. I am grateful to the State of Ohio for +many things, especially for the brave soldiers and officers she has given +in the present national trial to the armies of the Union. + +You claim, as I understand, that according to my own position in the +Albany response, Mr. Vallandigham should be released; and this because, +as you claim, he has not damaged the military service by discouraging +enlistments, encouraging desertions, or otherwise; and that if he had, +he should have been turned over to the civil authorities under the recent +acts of Congress. I certainly do not know that Mr. Vallandigham has +specifically and by direct language advised against enlistments and in +favor of desertion and resistance to drafting. + +We all know that combinations, armed in some instances, to resist the +arrest of deserters began several months ago; that more recently the like +has appeared in resistance to the enrolment preparatory to a draft; and +that quite a number of assassinations have occurred from the same animus. +These had to be met by military force, and this again has led to bloodshed +and death. And now, under a sense of responsibility more weighty and +enduring than any which is merely official, I solemnly declare my belief +that this hindrance of the military, including maiming and murder, is +due to the course in which Mr. Vallandigham has been engaged in a greater +degree than to any other cause; and it is due to him personally in a +greater degree than to any other one man. + +These things have been notorious, known to all, and of course known to Mr. +Vallandigham. Perhaps I would not be wrong to say they originated with +his special friends and adherents. With perfect knowledge of them, he has +frequently if not constantly made speeches in Congress and before popular +assemblies; and if it can be shown that, with these things staring him in +the face he has ever uttered a word of rebuke or counsel against them, it +will be a fact greatly in his favor with me, and one of which as yet I am +totally ignorant. When it is known that the whole burden of his speeches +has been to stir up men against the prosecution of the war, and that in +the midst of resistance to it he has not been known in any instance to +counsel against such resistance, it is next to impossible to repel the +inference that he has counseled directly in favor of it. + +With all this before their eyes, the convention you represent have +nominated Mr. Vallandigham for governor of Ohio, and both they and +you have declared the purpose to sustain the national Union by all +constitutional means. But of course they and you in common reserve to +yourselves to decide what are constitutional means; and, unlike the Albany +meeting, you omit to state or intimate that in your opinion an army is a +constitutional means of saving the Union against a rebellion, or even to +intimate that you are conscious of an existing rebellion being in progress +with the avowed object of destroying that very Union. At the same time +your nominee for governor, in whose behalf you appeal, is known to you +and to the world to declare against the use of an army to suppress the +rebellion. Your own attitude, therefore, encourages desertion, resistance +to the draft, and the like, because it teaches those who incline to desert +and to escape the draft to believe it is your purpose to protect them, and +to hope that you will become strong enough to do so. + +After a short personal intercourse with you, gentlemen of the committee, +I cannot say I think you desire this effect to follow your attitude; but +I assure your that both friends and enemies of the Union look upon it in +this light. It is a substantial hope, and by consequence a real strength +to the enemy. If it is a false hope, and one which you would willingly +dispel, I will make the way exceedingly easy. + +I send you duplicates of this letter in order that you, or a majority of +you, may, if you choose, indorse your names upon one of them and return it +thus indorsed to me with the understanding that those signing are thereby +committed to the following propositions and to nothing else: + +1. That there is now a rebellion in the United States, the object and +tendency of which is to destroy the National Union; and that, in your +opinion, an army and navy are constitutional means for suppressing that +rebellion; + +2. That no one of you will do anything which, in his own judgment, +will tend to hinder the increase, or favor the decrease, or lessen the +efficiency of the army or navy while engaged in the effort to suppress +that rebellion; and + +3. That each of you will, in his sphere, do all he can to have the +officers, soldiers, and seamen of the army and navy, while engaged in +the effort to suppress the rebellion, paid, fed, clad, and otherwise well +provided for and supported. + +And with the further understanding that upon receiving the letter and +names thus indorsed, I will cause them to be published, which publication +shall be, within itself, a revocation of the order in relation to Mr. +Vallandigham. It will not escape observation that I consent to the release +of Mr. Vallandigham upon terms not embracing any pledge from him or from +others as to what he will or will not do. I do this because he is not +present to speak for himself, or to authorize others to speak for him; +and because I should expect that on his returning he would not put himself +practically in antagonism with the position of his friends. But I do it +chiefly because I thereby prevail on other influential gentlemen of Ohio +to so define their position as to be of immense value to the army--thus +more than compensating for the consequences of any mistake in allowing Mr. +Vallandigham to return; so that, on the whole, the public safety will not +have suffered by it. Still, in regard to Mr. Vallandigham and all others, +I must hereafter, as heretofore, do so much as the public safety may seem +to require. + +I have the honor to be respectfully yours, etc., + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR PARKER. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, June 30, 1863. 10.55 + +GOVERNOR PARKER, Trenton, N.J.: + +Your despatch of yesterday received. I really think the attitude of the +enemy's army in Pennsylvania presents us the best opportunity we have had +since the war began. I think you will not see the foe in New Jersey. I beg +you to be assured that no one out of my position can know so well as if +he were in it the difficulties and involvements of replacing General +McClellan in command, and this aside from any imputations upon him. + +Please accept my sincere thanks for what you have done and are doing to +get troops forward. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO A. K. McCLURE. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, June 30, 1863. + +A. K. McCLURE, Philadelphia: + +Do we gain anything by opening one leak to stop another? Do we gain +anything by quieting one merely to open another, and probably a larger +one? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL COUCH. [Cipher] WASHINGTON CITY, June 30, 1863. 3.23 +P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL COUCH, Harrisburg, Pa.: + +I judge by absence of news that the enemy is not crossing or pressing up +to the Susquehanna. Please tell me what you know of his movements. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TO GENERAL D. HUNTER. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, June 30, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HUNTER. + +MY DEAR GENERAL:--I have just received your letter of the 25th of June. + +I assure you, and you may feel authorized in stating, that the recent +change of commanders in the Department of the South was made for no +reasons which convey any imputation upon your known energy, efficiency, +and patriotism; but for causes which seemed sufficient, while they were in +no degree incompatible with the respect and esteem in which I have always +held you as a man and an officer. + +I cannot, by giving my consent to a publication of whose details I know +nothing, assume the responsibility of whatever you may write. In this +matter your own sense of military propriety must be your guide, and the +regulations of the service your rule of conduct. + +I am very truly your friend, + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL BURNSIDE. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., July 3, 1863 + +MAJOR-GENERAL BURNSIDE, Cincinnati, Ohio: + +Private Downey, of the Twentieth or Twenty-sixth Kentucky Infantry, +is said to have been sentenced to be shot for desertion to-day. If so, +respite the execution until I can see the record. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +REASSURING SON IN COLLEGE + +TELEGRAM TO ROBERT T, LINCOLN. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, July 3,1863. + +ROBERT T. LINCOLN, Esq., Cambridge, Mass.: + +Don't be uneasy. Your mother very slightly hurt by her fall. + +A.L. + +Please send at once. + + + + +ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEWS FROM GETTYSBURG. + +WASHINGTON, + +July 4, 10.30 A.M. + +The President announces to the country that news from the Army of the +Potomac, up to 10 P.M. of the 3d, is such as to cover that army with the +highest honor, to promise a great success to the cause of the Union, and +to claim the condolence of all for the many gallant fallen; and that +for this he especially desires that on this day He whose will, not +ours, should ever be done be everywhere remembered and reverenced with +profoundest gratitude. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL FRENCH. [Cipher] WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., +July 5, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL FRENCH, Fredericktown, Md.: + +I see your despatch about destruction of pontoons. Cannot the enemy ford +the river? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +CONTINUED FAILURE TO PURSUE ENEMY + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK. + +SOLDIERS' HOME, WASHINGTON, JULY 6 1863.7 P.M., + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK: + +I left the telegraph office a good deal dissatisfied. You know I did not +like the phrase--in Orders, No. 68, I believe--"Drive the invaders from +our soil." Since that, I see a despatch from General French, saying the +enemy is crossing his wounded over the river in flats, without saying +why he does not stop it, or even intimating a thought that it ought to +be stopped. Still later, another despatch from General Pleasonton, by +direction of General Meade, to General French, stating that the main army +is halted because it is believed the rebels are concentrating "on the +road towards Hagerstown, beyond Fairfield," and is not to move until it is +ascertained that the rebels intend to evacuate Cumberland Valley. + +These things appear to me to be connected with a purpose to cover +Baltimore and Washington and to get the enemy across the river again +without a further collision, and they do not appear connected with a +purpose to prevent his crossing and to destroy him. I do fear the former +purpose is acted upon and the latter rejected. + +If you are satisfied the latter purpose is entertained, and is judiciously +pursued, I am content. If you are not so satisfied, please look to it. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +RESPONSE TO A SERENADE, + +JULY 7, 1863. + +FELLOW-CITIZENS:--I am very glad indeed to see you to-night, and yet I +will not say I thank you for this call; but I do most sincerely thank +Almighty God for the occasion on which you have called. How long ago is it +Eighty-odd years since, on the Fourth of July, for the first time in the +history of the world, a nation, by its representatives, assembled and +declared as a self-evident truth "that all men are created equal." That +was the birthday of the United States of America. Since then the Fourth +of July has had several very peculiar recognitions. The two men most +distinguished in the framing and support of the Declaration were Thomas +Jefferson and John Adams, the one having penned it, and the other +sustained it the most forcibly in debate--the only two of the fifty-five +who signed it and were elected Presidents of the United States. Precisely +fifty years after they put their hands to the paper, it pleased +Almighty God to take both from this stage of action. This was indeed an +extraordinary and remarkable event in our history. Another President, five +years after, was called from this stage of existence on the same day and +month of the year; and now on this last Fourth of July just passed, when +we have a gigantic rebellion, at the bottom of which is an effort to +overthrow the principle that all men were created equal, we have the +surrender of a most powerful position and army on that very day. And not +only so, but in the succession of battles in Pennsylvania, near to us, +through three days, so rapidly fought that they might be called one great +battle, on the first, second, and third of the month of July; and on the +fourth the cohorts of those who opposed the Declaration that all men are +created equal, "turned tail" and run. + +Gentlemen, this is a glorious theme, and the occasion for a speech, but I +am not prepared to make one worthy of the occasion. I would like to speak +in terms of praise due to the many brave officers and soldiers who have +fought in the cause of the Union and liberties of their country from the +beginning of the war. These are trying occasions, not only in success, +but for the want of success. I dislike to mention the name of one single +officer, lest I might do wrong to those I might forget. Recent events +bring up glorious names, and particularly prominent ones; but these I will +not mention. Having said this much, I will now take the music. + + + + +SURRENDER OF VICKSBURG TO GENERAL GRANT + +TELEGRAM FROM GENERAL HALLECK TO GENERAL G. C. MEADE. + +WASHINGTON, D.C., July 7, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Army of the Potomac: + +I have received from the President the following note, which I +respectfully communicate: + +"We have certain information that Vicksburg surrendered to General Grant +on the Fourth of July. Now if General Meade can complete his work, so +gloriously prosecuted this far, by the literal or substantial destruction +of Lee's army, the rebellion will be over. + +"Yours truly, + +"A. LINCOLN." + +H. W. HALLECK. General-in-Chief. + + + + +TELEGRAM FROM GENERAL HALLECK TO GENERAL G. C. MEADE. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., July 8, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Frederick, Md.: + +There is reliable information that the enemy is crossing at Williamsport. +The opportunity to attack his divided forces should not be lost. The +President is urgent and anxious that your army should move against him by +forced marches. + +H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL THOMAS. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, July 8, 1863.12.30 P.M. + +GENERAL LORENZO THOMAS, Harrisburg, Pa.: + +Your despatch of this morning to the Secretary of War is before me. The +forces you speak of will be of no imaginable service if they cannot go +forward with a little more expedition. Lee is now passing the Potomac +faster than the forces you mention are passing Carlisle. Forces now beyond +Carlisle to be joined by regiments still at Harrisburg, and the united +force again to join Pierce somewhere, and the whole to move down the +Cumberland Valley, will in my unprofessional opinion be quite as likely to +capture the "man in the moon" as any part of Lee's army. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +NEWS OF GRANT'S CAPTURE OF VICKSBURG + +TELEGRAM TO E. D. SMITH. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., July 8, 1863. + +E. DELAFIELD SMITH, New York: + +Your kind despatch in behalf of self and friends is gratefully received. +Capture of Vicksburg confirmed by despatch from General Grant himself. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO F. F. LOWE. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., July 8, 1863. + +HON. F. F. LOWE, San Francisco, Cal.: + +There is no doubt that General Meade, now commanding the Army of the +Potomac, beat Lee at Gettysburg, Pa., at the end of a three days' battle, +and that the latter is now crossing the Potomac at Williamsport over the +swollen stream and with poor means of crossing, and closely pressed +by Meade. We also have despatches rendering it entirely certain that +Vicksburg surrendered to General Grant on the glorious old 4th. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO L. SWETT AND P. F. LOWE. + +[Cipher.] + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, D.C., July 9, 1863. + +HON. LEONARD SWETT, HON. F. F. LOWE, San Francisco, Cal.: + +Consult together and do not have a riot, or great difficulty about +delivering possession. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO J. K. DUBOIS. + +WASHINGTON, D.C., July 11,1863. 9 A.M. + +HON. J. K. DUBOIS, Springfield, Ill.: + +It is certain that, after three days' fighting at Gettysburg, Lee withdrew +and made for the Potomac, that he found the river so swollen as to +prevent his crossing; that he is still this side, near Hagerstown and +Williamsport, preparing to defend himself; and that Meade is close upon +him, and preparing to attack him, heavy skirmishing having occurred nearly +all day yesterday. + +I am more than satisfied with what has happened north of the Potomac so +far, and am anxious and hopeful for what is to come. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + [Nothing came! Lee was allowed to escape again and the war + went on for another two years. D.W.] + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL SCHENCK. + +[Cipher.] + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, July 11, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL SCHENCK, Baltimore, Md.: + +How many rebel prisoners captured within Maryland and Pennsylvania have +reached Baltimore within this month of July? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL GRANT. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, July 13, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL GRANT: + +MY DEAR GENERAL:--I do not remember that you and I ever met personally. +I write this now as a grateful acknowledgment of the almost inestimable +service you have done the Country. I write to say a word further. When you +first reached the vicinity of Vicksburg, I thought you should do what you +finally did--march the troops across the neck, run the batteries with the +transports, and thus go below; and I never had any faith except a general +hope that you knew better than I, that the Yazoo Pass expedition and the +like could succeed. When you dropped below, and took Port Gibson, Grand +Gulf, and vicinity, I thought you should go down the river and join +General Banks; and when you turned northward, east of the Big Black, I +feared it was a mistake. I now wish to make the personal acknowledgment +that you were right and I was wrong. + +Yours very truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. M. SCHOFIELD. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, July 13, 1863. + +GENERAL SCHOFIELD. St. Louis, Mo.: + +I regret to learn of the arrest of the Democrat editor. I fear this loses +you the middle position I desired you to occupy. I have not learned which +of the two letters I wrote you it was that the Democrat published, but I +care very little for the publication of any letter I have written. Please +spare me the trouble this is likely to bring. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +SON IN COLLEGE DOES NOT WRITE HIS PARENTS + +TELEGRAM TO R. T. LINCOLN. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON D.C., July 14, 1863. + +ROBERT T. LINCOLN: New York, Fifth Avenue Hotel: + +Why do I hear no more of you? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +INTIMATION OF ARMISTICE PROPOSALS + +FROM JAMES R. GILMORE TO GOVERNOR VANCE OF NORTH CAROLINA, + +WITH THE PRESIDENT'S INDORSEMENT. + +PRESIDENT'S ROOM, WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON, + +July [15?] 1864. + + +HIS EXCELLENCY ZEBULON B. VANCE. + +MY DEAR SIR:--My former business partner, Mr. Frederic Kidder, of Boston, +has forwarded to me a letter he has recently received from his brother, +Edward Kidder, of Wilmington, in which (Edward Kidder) says that he has +had an interview with you in which you expressed an anxiety for any peace +compatible with honor; that you regard slavery as already dead, and the +establishment of the Confederacy as hopeless; and that you should exert +all your influence to bring about any reunion that would admit the South +on terms of perfect equality with the North. + +On receipt of this letter I lost no time in laying it before the President +of the United States, who expressed great gratification at hearing such +sentiments from you, one of the most influential and honored of the +Southern governors, and he desires me to say that he fully shares your +anxiety for the restoration of peace between the States and for a reunion +of all the States on the basis of the abolition of slavery--the bone we +are fighting over--and the full reinstatement of every Confederate citizen +in all the rights of citizenship in our common country. These points +conceded, the President authorizes me to say that he will be glad to +receive overtures from any man, or body of men, who have authority to +control the armies of the Confederacy; and that he and the United States +Congress will be found very liberal on all collateral points that may come +up in the settlement. + +His views on the collateral points that may naturally arise, the President +desires me to say he will communicate to you through me if you should +suggest the personal interview that Mr. Edward Kidder recommends in his +letter to his brother. In that case you will please forward to me, through +Mr. Kidder, your official permit, as Governor of North Carolina, to enter +and leave the State, and to remain in it in safety during the pendency +of these negotiations, which, I suppose, should be conducted in entire +secrecy until they assume an official character. With high consideration, +I am, + +Sincerely yours, + +JAMES R. GILMORE. + + [Indorsement.] + +This letter has been written in my presence, has been read by me, and has +my entire approval. A.L. + + + + +PROCLAMATION FOR THANKSGIVING, JULY 15, 1863 + +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: + +A Proclamation. + +It has pleased Almighty God to hearken to the supplications and prayers of +an afflicted people, and to vouchsafe to the army and navy of the United +States victories on land and on the sea so signal and so effective as +to furnish reasonable grounds for augmented confidence that the Union of +these States will be maintained, their Constitution preserved, and their +peace and prosperity permanently restored. But these victories have +been accorded not without sacrifices of life, limb, health, and liberty, +incurred by brave, loyal, and patriotic citizens. Domestic affliction +in every part of the country follows in the train of these fearful +bereavements. It is meet and right to recognize and confess the presence +of the Almighty Father, and the power of His hand equally in these +triumphs and in these sorrows. + +Now, therefore, be it known that I do set apart Thursday, the 6th day of +August next, to be observed as a day for national thanksgiving, praise, +and prayer, and I invite the people of the United States to assemble on +that occasion in their customary places of worship, and, in the forms +approved by their own consciences, render the homage due to the Divine +Majesty for the wonderful things He has done in the nation's behalf, and +invoke the influence of His Holy Spirit to subdue the anger which has +produced and so long sustained a needless and cruel rebellion, to change +the hearts of the insurgents, to guide the counsels of the Government with +wisdom adequate to so great a national emergency, and to visit with tender +care and consolation throughout the length and breadth of our land all +those who, through the vicissitudes of marches, voyages, battles, and +sieges have been, brought to suffer in mind, body, or estate, and finally +to lead the whole nation through the paths of repentance and submission +to the Divine Will back to the perfect enjoyment of union and fraternal +peace. + +In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the +United States to be affixed. + +Done at the city of Washington, this fifteenth day of July, in the year +of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the +independence of the United States of America the eighty-eighth. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +By, the President WILLIAM H. SEWARD, + Secretary of State. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO L. SWETT. + +[Cipher.] + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, July 15, 1863. + +HON. L SWETT, San Francisco, Cal.: + +Many persons are telegraphing me from California, begging me for the peace +of the State to suspend the military enforcement of the writ of possession +in the Almaden case, while you are the single one who urges the contrary. +You know I would like to oblige you, but it seems to me my duty in this +case is the other way. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO SIMON CAMERON. + +[Cipher.] + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, JULY 15, 1863. + +HON. SIMON CAMERON, Harrisburg, Pa.: + +Your despatch of yesterday received. Lee was already across the river +when you sent it. I would give much to be relieved of the impression that +Meade, Couch, Smith, and all since the battle at Gettysburg, have striven +only to get Lee over the river without another fight. Please tell me, +if you know, who was the one corps commander who was for fighting in the +council of war on Sunday night. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO J. O. BROADHEAD. + +WASHINGTON, D.C., JULY 15, 1863. + +J. O. BROADHEAD, St. Louis, Mo.: + +The effect on political position of McKee's arrest will not be relieved +any by its not having been made with that purpose. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL LANE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, July 17 1863. + +HON. S. H. LANE. + +MY DEAR SIR:--Governor Carney has not asked to [have] General Blunt +removed, or interfered with, in his military operations. He has asked that +he, the Governor, be allowed to commission officers for troops raised in +Kansas, as other governors of loyal States do; and I think he is right in +this. + +He has asked that General Blunt shall not take persons charged with civil +crimes out of the hands of the courts and turn them over to mobs to be +hung; and I think he is right in this also. He has asked that General +Ewing's department be extended to include all Kansas; and I have not +determined whether this is right or not. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR MORTON. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., July 18, 1863. + +GOVERNOR O. P. MORTON, Indianapolis: + +What do you remember about the case of John O. Brown, convicted of +mutinous conduct and sentenced to death? What do you desire about it? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GOVERNOR PARKER + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON + +July 20, 1863. + +HIS EXCELLENCY JOEL PARKER, Governor of New Jersey. + +DEAR SIR:--Yours of the 15th has been received, and considered by the +Secretary of War and myself. I was pained to be informed this morning by +the Provost-Marshal-General that New Jersey is now behind twelve thousand, +irrespective of the draft. I did not have time to ascertain by what rules +this was made out; and I shall be very glad if it shall, by any means, +prove to be incorrect. He also tells me that eight thousand will be about +the quota of New Jersey on the first draft; and the Secretary of War +says the first draft in that State would not be made for some time in any +event. As every man obtained otherwise lessens the draft so much, and this +may supersede it altogether, I hope you will push forward your volunteer +regiments as fast as possible. + +It is a very delicate matter to postpone the draft in one State, because +of the argument it furnishes others to have postponement also. If we could +have a reason in one case which would be good if presented in all cases, +we could act upon it. + +I will thank you, therefore, to inform me, if you can, by what day, at +the earliest, you can promise to have ready to be mustered into the United +States service the eight thousand men. + +If you can make a reliable promise (I mean one which you can rely on +yourself) of this sort, it will be of great value, if the day is not too +remote. + +I beg you to be assured I wish to avoid the difficulties you dread as much +as yourself. + +Your obedient servant, + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TO GENERAL SCHOFIELD. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON D.C. JULY 20, 1863 + +MAJOR GENERAL JOHN M. SCHOFIELD. + +MY DEAR GENERAL:--I have received and read your letter of the 14th of +July. + +I think the suggestion you make, of discontinuing proceedings against +Mr. McKee, a very proper one. While I admit that there is an apparent +impropriety in the publication of the letter mentioned, without my consent +or yours, it is still a case where no evil could result, and which I am +entirely willing to overlook. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. M. SCHOFIELD + +WASHINGTON, D.C. JULY 22, 1863 + +MAJOR GENERAL SCHOFIELD, St. Louis, Mo.: + +The following despatch has been placed in my hands. Please look to the +subject of it. + +LEXINGTON, Mo., JULY 21, 1863 HON. S C. POMEROY: Under Orders No.63 the +sheriff is arresting slaves of rebels inside our lines, and returning them +in great numbers. Can he do it? Answer. GOULD. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TO POSTMASTER-GENERAL BLAIR + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, + +JULY 24, 1863. + +HON. POSTMASTER-GENERAL + +SIR:-Yesterday little indorsements of mine went to you in two cases +of postmasterships sought for widows whose husbands have fallen in the +battles of this war. These cases occurring on the same day brought me to +reflect more attentively than I had before done, as to what is fairly due +from us herein the dispensing of patronage toward the men who, by fighting +our battles, bear the chief burden of serving our country. My conclusion +is that, other claims and qualifications being equal, they have the better +right and this is especially applicable to the disabled and the soldier, +deceased soldier's family. + +Your obedient servant, + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TO SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, July 25, 1863. + +HON. SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. + +SIR:--Certain matters have come to my notice, and considered by me, which +induce me to believe that it will conduce to the public interest for +you to add to the general instructions given to our naval commanders in +relation to contraband trade propositions substantially as follows, to +wit: + +First. You will avoid the reality, and as far as possible the appearance, +of using any neutral port to watch neutral vessels and then to dart out +and seize them on their departure. + +NOTE.--Complaint is made that this has been practiced at the port of St +Thomas, which practice, if it exists, is disapproved and must cease. + +Second. You will not in any case detain the crew of a captured neutral +vessel or any other subject of a neutral power on board such vessel, +as prisoners of war or otherwise, except the small number necessary as +witnesses in the prize court. + +NOTE.-The practice here forbidden is also charged to exist, which, if +true, is disapproved and must cease. + +My dear sir, it is not intended to be insinuated that you have been +remiss in the performance of the arduous and responsible duties of your +department, which, I take pleasure in affirming, has in your hands been +conducted with admirable success. Yet, while your subordinates are almost +of necessity brought into angry collision with the subjects of foreign +states, the representatives of those states and yourself do not come into +immediate contact for the purpose of keeping the peace, in spite of such +collisions. At that point there is an ultimate and heavy responsibility +upon me. + +What I propose is in strict accordance with international law, and is +therefore unobjectionable; whilst, if it does no other good, it will +contribute to sustain a considerable portion of the present British +ministry in their places, who, if displaced, are sure to be replaced by +others more unfavorable to us. + +Your obedient servant, + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +LETTER TO GOVERNOR PARKER. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, + +July 25, 1863. + +HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR JOEL PARKER. + +SIR:--Yours of the 21st is received, and I have taken time and considered +and discussed the subject with the Secretary of War and Provost-Marshal +General, in order, if possible, to make you a more favorable answer than I +finally find myself able to do. + +It is a vital point with us to not have a special stipulation with the +governor of any one State, because it would breed trouble in many, if not +all, other States; and my idea was when I wrote you, as it still is, to +get a point of time to which we could wait, on the reason that we were not +ready ourselves to proceed, and which might enable you to raise the quota +of your State, in whole, or in large part, without the draft. The points +of time you fix are much farther off than I had hoped. We might have got +along in the way I have indicated for twenty, or possibly thirty, days. As +it stands, the best I can say is that every volunteer you will present us +within thirty days from this date, fit and ready to be mustered into the +United States service, on the usual terms, shall be pro tanto an abatement +of your quota of the draft. That quota I can now state at eight thousand +seven hundred and eighty-three (8783). No draft from New Jersey, other +than for the above quota, will be made before an additional draft, common +to [all] the States, shall be required; and I may add that if we get well +through with this draft, I entertain a strong hope that any further +one may never be needed. This expression of hope, however, must not be +construed into a promise. + +As to conducting the draft by townships, I find it would require such a +waste of labor already done, and such an additional amount of it, and such +a loss of time, as to make it, I fear, inadmissible. + +Your obedient servant, + + +A. LINCOLN. + +P. S.--Since writing the above, getting additional information, I +am enabled to say that the draft may be made in subdistricts, as the +enrolment has been made, or is in process of making. This will amount +practically to drafting by townships, as the enrollment subdistricts are +generally about the extent of townships. A.L. + + + + +To GENERAL G. G. MEADE. (Private.) + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, July 27, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE: + +I have not thrown General Hooker away; and therefore I would like to know +whether it would be agreeable to you, all things considered, for him to +take a corps under you, if he himself is willing to do so. Write me in +perfect freedom, with the assurance that I will not subject you to any +embarrassment by making your letter or its contents known to any one. I +wish to know your wishes before I decide whether to break the subject +to him. Do not lean a hair's breadth against your own feelings, or your +judgment of the public service, on the idea of gratifying me. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL A. B. BURNSIDE. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, July 27, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BURNSIDE, Cincinnati, O.: + +Let me explain. In General Grant's first despatch after the fall of +Vicksburg, he said, among other things, he would send the Ninth Corps to +you. Thinking it would be pleasant to you, I asked the Secretary of War to +telegraph you the news. For some reasons never mentioned to us by General +Grant, they have not been sent, though we have seen outside intimations +that they took part in the expedition against Jackson. General Grant is +a copious worker and fighter, but a very meager writer or telegrapher. +No doubt he changed his purpose in regard to the Ninth Corps for some +sufficient reason, but has forgotten to notify us of it. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, July 29, 1863 + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK: + +Seeing General Meade's despatch of yesterday to yourself causes me to fear +that he supposes the Government here is demanding of him to bring on a +general engagement with Lee as soon as possible. I am claiming no such +thing of him. In fact, my judgment is against it; which judgment, of +course, I will yield if yours and his are the contrary. If he could not +safely engage Lee at Williamsport, it seems absurd to suppose he can +safely engage him now, when he has scarcely more than two thirds of +the force he had at Williamsport, while it must be that Lee has been +reinforced. True, I desired General Meade to pursue Lee across the +Potomac, hoping, as has proved true, that he would thereby clear the +Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and get some advantages by harassing him on +his retreat. These being past, I am unwilling he should now get into a +general engagement on the impression that we here are pressing him, and +I shall be glad for you to so inform him, unless your own judgment is +against it. + +Yours truly, + +A. LINCOLN. + +H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. + + + + +TO SECRETARY STANTON. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, July 29, 1863 + +HON. SECRETARY OF WAR. + +SIR:--Can we not renew the effort to organize a force to go to western +Texas? + +Please consult with the general-in-chief on the subject. + +If the Governor of New Jersey shall furnish any new regiments, might not +they be put into such an expedition? Please think of it. + +I believe no local object is now more desirable. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +ORDER OF RETALIATION. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, July 30, 1863. + +It is the duty of every government to give protection to its citizens, of +whatever class, color, or condition, and especially to those who are duly +organized as soldiers in the public service. The law of nations and the +usages and customs of war, as carried on by civilized powers, permit no +distinction as to color in the treatment of prisoners of war as public +enemies. To sell or enslave any captured person, on account of his color +and for no offense against the laws of war, is a relapse into barbarism, +and a crime against the civilization of the age. + +The Government of the United States will give the same protection to all +its soldiers; and if the enemy shall sell or enslave any one because of +his color, the offense shall be punished by retaliation upon the enemy's +prisoners in our possession. + +It is therefore ordered that for every soldier of the United States killed +in violation of the laws of war, a rebel soldier shall be executed; and +for every one enslaved by the enemy or sold into slavery, a rebel soldier +shall be placed at hard labor on the public works, and continued at such +labor until the other shall be released and receive the treatment due to a +prisoner of war. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL S. A. HURLBUT. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, July 31, 1863. + +MY DEAR GENERAL HURLBUT: + +Your letter by Mr. Dana was duly received. I now learn that your +resignation has reached the War Department. I also learn that an active +command has been assigned you by General Grant. The Secretary of War and +General Halleck are very partial to you, as you know I also am. We all +wish you to reconsider the question of resigning; not that we would +wish to retain you greatly against your wish and interest, but that your +decision may be at least a very well-considered one. + +I understand that Senator [William K.] Sebastian, of Arkansas, thinks of +offering to resume his place in the Senate. Of course the Senate, and not +I, would decide whether to admit or reject him. Still I should feel great +interest in the question. It may be so presented as to be one of the very +greatest national importance; and it may be otherwise so presented as to +be of no more than temporary personal consequence to him. + +The Emancipation Proclamation applies to Arkansas. I think it is valid +in law, and will be so held by the courts. I think I shall not retract +or repudiate it. Those who shall have tasted actual freedom I believe can +never be slaves or quasi-slaves again. For the rest, I believe some plan +substantially being gradual emancipation would be better for both white +and black. The Missouri plan recently adopted, I do not object to on +account of the time for ending the institution; but I am sorry the +beginning should have been postponed for seven years, leaving all that +time to agitate for the repeal of the whole thing. It should begin at +once, giving at least the new-born a vested interest in freedom which +could not be taken away. If Senator Sebastian could come with something +of this sort from Arkansas, I, at least, should take great interest in his +case; and I believe a single individual will have scarcely done the world +so great a service. See him if you can, and read this to him; but charge +him not to make it public for the present. Write me again. + +Yours very truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM FROM GOVERNOR SEYMOUR. + +ALBANY, August 1, 1863. Recvd 2 P.M. + +TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: + +I ask that the draft be suspended in this State until I can send you a +communication I am preparing. + +HORATIO SEYMOUR. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR SEYMOUR + +WASHINGTON, D.C., August 1, 1863. 4 P.M. + +HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR SEYMOUR, Albany, N.Y.: + +By what day may I expect your communication to reach me? Are you anxious +about any part except the city and vicinity? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL FOSTER. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, August 3, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL FOSTER (or whoever may be in command of the military +department with headquarters at Fort Monroe, Va.): + +If Dr. Wright, on trial at Norfolk, has been or shall be convicted, send +me a transcript of his trial and conviction, and do not let execution be +done upon him until my further order. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL N. P. BANKS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, August 5,1863. + +MY DEAR GENERAL BANKS: + +While I very well know what I would be glad for Louisiana to do, it is +quite a different thing for me to assume direction of the matter. I would +be glad for her to make a new constitution, recognizing the emancipation +proclamation, and adopting emancipation in those parts of the State to +which the proclamation does not apply. And while she is at it, I think it +would not be objectionable for her to adopt some practical system by which +the two races could gradually live themselves out of their old relation to +each other, and both come out better prepared for the new. Education +for young blacks should be included in the plan. After all, the power or +element of "contract" may be sufficient for this probationary period, and +by its simplicity and flexibility may be the better. + +As an antislavery man, I have a motive to desire emancipation which +proslavery men do not have but even they have strong enough reason to +thus place themselves again under the shield of the Union, and to thus +perpetually hedge against the recurrence of the scenes through which we +are now passing. + +Governor Shepley has informed me that Mr. Durant is now taking a registry, +with a view to the election of a constitutional convention in Louisiana. +This, to me, appears proper. If such convention were to ask my views, I +could present little else than what I now say to you. I think the thing +should be pushed forward, so that, if possible, its mature work may reach +here by the meeting of Congress. + +For my own part, I think I shall not, in any event, retract the +emancipation proclamation: nor, as executive, ever return to slavery any +person who is free by the terms of that proclamation, or by any of the +acts of Congress. + +If Louisiana shall send members to Congress, their admission to seats +will depend, as you know, upon the respective Houses, and not upon the +President. + +Yours very truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GOVERNOR SEYMOUR. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, August 7, 1863. + +HIS EXCELLENCY HORATIO SEYMOUR, Governor of New York: + +Your communication of the 3rd instant has been received and attentively +considered. + +I cannot consent to suspend the draft in New York, as you request, +because, among other reasons, time is too important. + +By the figures you send, which I presume are correct, the twelve districts +represented fall into two classes of eight and four respectively. The +disparity of the quotas for the draft in these two classes is certainly +very striking, being the difference between an average of 2200 in one +class and 4864 in the other. Assuming that the districts are equal one to +another in entire population, as required by the plan on which they were +made, this disparity is such as to require attention. Much of it, however, +I suppose will be accounted for by the fact that so many more persons fit +for soldiers are in the city than are in the country who have too recently +arrived from other parts of the United States and from Europe to be either +included in the census of 1860, or to have voted in 1862. Still, making +due allowance for this, I am yet unwilling to stand upon it as an entirely +sufficient explanation of the great disparity. + +I shall direct the draft to proceed in all the districts, drawing, +however, at first from each of the four districts--to wit, the Second, +Fourth, Sixth, and Eighth--only, 2200 being the average quota of the other +class. After this drawing, these four districts, and also the Seventeenth +and Twenty-ninth, shall be carefully re-enrolled; and, if you please, +agents of yours may witness every step of the process. Any deficiency +which may appear by the new enrolment will be supplied by a special draft +for that object, allowing due credit for volunteers who may be obtained +from these districts respectively during the interval; and at all points, +so far as consistent with practical convenience, due credits shall be +given for volunteers, and your Excellency shall be notified of the time +fixed for commencing the draft in each district. + +I do not object to abide a decision of the United States Supreme Court, or +of the judges thereof, on the constitutionality of the draft law. In +fact, I should be willing to facilitate the obtaining of it. But I cannot +consent to lose the time while it is being obtained. We are contending +with an enemy who, as I understand, drives every able-bodied man he can +reach into his ranks, very much as a butcher drives bullocks into the +slaughter-pen. No time is wasted, no argument is used. This produces an +army which will soon turn upon our now victorious soldiers already in the +field, if they shall not be sustained by recruits as they should be. It +produces an army with a rapidity not to be matched on our side if we first +waste time to re-experiment with the volunteer system, already deemed by +Congress, and palpably, in fact, so far exhausted as to be inadequate; +and then more time to obtain a court decision as to whether a law is +constitutional, which requires a part of those not now in the service +to go to the aid of those who are already in it; and still more time to +determine with absolute certainty that we get those who are to go in the +precisely legal proportion to those who are not to go. My purpose is to be +in my action just and constitutional, and yet practical, in performing the +important duty with which I am charged, of maintaining the unity and the +free principles of our common country. + +Your obedient servant, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL U.S. GRANT. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION WASHINGTON, August 9, 1863. + +MY DEAR GENERAL GRANT: + +I see by a despatch of yours that you incline quite strongly toward an +expedition against Mobile. This would appear tempting to me also, were it +not that in view of recent events in Mexico I am greatly impressed with +the importance of re-establishing the national authority in western Texas +as soon as possible. I am not making an order, however; that I leave, for +the present at least, to the general-in-chief. + +A word upon another subject: General Thomas has gone again to the +Mississippi Valley, with the view of raising colored troops. I have no +reason to doubt that you are doing what you reasonably can upon the same +subject. I believe it is a resource which if vigorously applied now +will soon close the contest. It works doubly, weakening the enemy and +strengthening us. We were not fully ripe for it until the river was +opened. Now, I think at least one hundred thousand can and ought to be +rapidly organized along its shores, relieving all white troops to serve +elsewhere. Mr. Dana understands you as believing that the Emancipation +Proclamation has helped some in your military operations. I am very glad +if this is so. + +Did you receive a short letter from me dated the 13th of July? + +Yours very truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL W. S. ROSECRANS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, August 10, 1863. + +MY DEAR GENERAL ROSECRANS: + +Yours of the 1st was received two days ago. I think you must have inferred +more than General Halleck has intended, as to any dissatisfaction of mine +with you. I am sure you, as a reasonable man, would not have been wounded +could you have heard all my words and seen all my thoughts in regard to +you. I have not abated in my kind feeling for and confidence in you. I +have seen most of your despatches to General Halleck--probably all of +them. After Grant invested Vicksburg I was very anxious lest Johnston +should overwhelm him from the outside, and when it appeared certain that +part of Bragg's force had gone and was going to Johnston, it did seem to +me it was exactly the proper time for you to attack Bragg with what force +he had left. In all kindness let me say it so seems to me yet. Finding +from your despatches to General Halleck that your judgment was different, +and being very anxious for Grant, I, on one occasion, told General Halleck +I thought he should direct you to decide at once to immediately attack +Bragg or to stand on the defensive and send part of your force to Grant. +He replied he had already so directed in substance. Soon after, despatches +from Grant abated my anxiety for him, and in proportion abated my anxiety +about any movement of yours. When afterward, however, I saw a despatch of +yours arguing that the right time for you to attack Bragg was not before, +but would be after, the fall of Vicksburg, it impressed me very strangely, +and I think I so stated to the Secretary of War and General Halleck. It +seemed no other than the proposition that you could better fight Bragg +when Johnston should be at liberty to return and assist him than you could +before he could so return to his assistance. + +Since Grant has been entirely relieved by the fall of Vicksburg, by which +Johnston is also relieved, it has seemed to me that your chance for a +stroke has been considerably diminished, and I have not been pressing you +directly or indirectly. True, I am very anxious for East Tennessee to be +occupied by us; but I see and appreciate the difficulties you mention. The +question occurs, Can the thing be done at all? Does preparation advance at +all? Do you not consume supplies as fast as you get them forward? Have you +more animals to-day than you had at the battle of Stone's River? And +yet have not more been furnished you since then than your entire present +stock? I ask the same questions as to your mounted force. + +Do not misunderstand: I am not casting blame upon you; I rather think +by great exertion you can get to East Tennessee; but a very important +question is, Can you stay there? I make no order in the case--that I leave +to General Halleck and yourself. + +And now be assured once more that I think of you in all kindness and +confidence, and that I am not watching you with an evil eye. + +Yours very truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GOVERNOR SEYMOUR. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION WASHINGTON, August 11.1863. + +HIS EXCELLENCY HORATIO SEYMOUR, Governor of New York: + +Yours of the 8th, with Judge-Advocate-General Waterbury's report, was +received to-day. + +Asking you to remember that I consider time as being very important, both +to the general cause of the country and to the soldiers in the field, I +beg to remind you that I waited, at your request, from the 1st until the +6th inst., to receive your communication dated the 3d. In view of +its great length, and the known time and apparent care taken in its +preparation, I did not doubt that it contained your full case as you +desired to present it. It contained the figures for twelve districts, +omitting the other nineteen, as I suppose, because you found nothing to +complain of as to them. I answered accordingly. In doing so I laid down +the principle to which I purpose adhering, which is to proceed with the +draft, at the same time employing infallible means to avoid any great +wrong. With the communication received to-day you send figures for +twenty-eight districts, including the twelve sent before, and still +omitting three, for which I suppose the enrolments are not yet received. +In looking over the fuller list of twenty-eight districts, I find that the +quotas for sixteen of them are above 2000 and below 2700, while, of the +rest, six are above 2700 and six are below 2000. Applying the principle to +these new facts, the Fifth and Seventh districts must be added to the four +in which the quotas have already been reduced to 2200 for the first draft; +and with these four others just be added to those to be re-enrolled. The +correct case will then stand: the quotas of the Second, Fourth, Fifth, +Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth districts fixed at 2200 for the first draft. +The Provost-Marshal-General informs me that the drawing is already +completed in the Sixteenth, Seventeenth, Eighteenth, Twenty-second, +Twenty-fourth, Twenty-sixth, Twenty-seventh, Twenty-eighth, Twenty-ninth, +and Thirtieth districts. In the others, except the three outstanding, the +drawing will be made upon the quotas as now fixed. After the first draft, +the Second, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth, +Twenty-first, Twenty-fifth, Twenty-ninth, and Thirty-first will be +enrolled for the purpose and in the manner stated in my letter of the 7th +inst. The same principle will be applied to the now outstanding districts +when they shall come in. No part of my former letter is repudiated by +reason of not being restated in this, or for any other cause. + +Your obedient servant, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL J. A. McCLERNAND. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, August 12, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL McCLERNAND. + +MY DEAR SIR:--Our friend William G. Greene has just presented a kind +letter in regard to yourself, addressed to me by our other friends Yates, +Hatch, and Dubois. + +I doubt whether your present position is more painful to you than to +myself. Grateful for the patriotic stand so early taken by you in this +life-and-death struggle of the nation, I have done whatever has appeared +practicable to advance you and the public interest together. No charges, +with a view to a trial, have been preferred against you by any one; nor do +I suppose any will be. All there is, so far as I have heard, is General +Grant's statement of his reasons for relieving you. And even this I have +not seen or sought to see; because it is a case, as appears to me, in +which I could do nothing without doing harm. General Grant and yourself +have been conspicuous in our most important successes; and for me to +interfere and thus magnify a breach between you could not but be of evil +effect. Better leave it where the law of the case has placed it. For me to +force you back upon General Grant would be forcing him to resign. I cannot +give you a new command, because we have no forces except such as already +have commanders. + +I am constantly pressed by those who scold before they think, or without +thinking at all, to give commands respectively to Fremont, McClellan, +Butler, Sigel, Curtis, Hunter, Hooker, and perhaps others, when, all else +out of the way, I have no commands to give them. This is now your case; +which, as I have said, pains me not less than it does you. My belief is +that the permanent estimate of what a general does in the field is fixed +by the "cloud of witnesses" who have been with him in the field, and that, +relying on these, he who has the right needs not to fear. + +Your friend as ever, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR SEYMOUR. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, AUGUST 16, 1863. + +GOVERNOR SEYMOUR, New York: + +Your despatch of this morning is just received, and I fear I do not +perfectly understand it. + +My view of the principle is that every soldier obtained voluntarily leaves +one less to be obtained by draft. The only difficulty is in applying the +principle properly. Looking to time, as heretofore, I am unwilling to +give up a drafted man now, even for the certainty, much less for the mere +chance, of getting a volunteer hereafter. Again, after the draft in any +district, would it not make trouble to take any drafted man out and put a +volunteer in--for how shall it be determined which drafted man is to have +the privilege of thus going out, to the exclusion of all the others? And +even before the draft in any district the quota must be fixed; and the +draft must be postponed indefinitely if every time a volunteer is offered +the officers must stop and reconstruct the quota. At least I fear there +might be this difficulty; but, at all events, let credits for volunteers +be given up to the last moment which will not produce confusion or delay. +That the principle of giving credits for volunteers shall be applied by +districts seems fair and proper, though I do not know how far by present +statistics it is practicable. When for any cause a fair credit is not +given at one time, it should be given as soon thereafter as practicable. +My purpose is to be just and fair, and yet to not lose time. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +To J. H. HACKETT. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON August 17, 1863. + +JAMES H. HACKETT, Esq. + +MY DEAR SIR:--Months ago I should have acknowledged the receipt of your +book and accompanying kind note; and I now have to beg your pardon for not +having done so. + +For one of my age I have seen very little of the drama. The first +presentation of Falstaff I ever saw was yours here, last winter or spring. +Perhaps the best compliment I can pay is to say, as I truly can, I am very +anxious to see it again. Some of Shakespeare's plays I have never read, +while others I have gone over perhaps as frequently as any un-professional +reader. Among the latter are Lear, Richard III., Henry VIII., Hamlet, and +especially Macbeth. I think nothing equals Macbeth. It is wonderful. + +Unlike you gentlemen of the profession, I think the soliloquy in Hamlet +commencing "Oh, my offense is rank," surpasses that commencing "To be or +not to be." But pardon this small attempt at criticism. I should like to +hear you pronounce the opening speech of Richard III. Will you not soon +visit Washington again? If you do, please call and let me make your +personal acquaintance. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TO F. F. LOWE. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., August 17, 1863. + +HON. P. F. LOWE, San Francisco, Cal.: + +There seems to be considerable misunderstanding about the recent movement +to take possession of the "New Almaden" mine. It has no reference to any +other mine or mines. + +In regard to mines and miners generally, no change of policy by the +Government has been decided on, or even thought of, so far as I know. + +The "New Almaden" mine was peculiar in this: that its occupants claimed to +be the legal owners of it on a Mexican grant, and went into court on that +claim. The case found its way into the Supreme Court of the United States, +and last term, in and by that court, the claim of the occupants was +decided to be utterly fraudulent. Thereupon it was considered the duty of +the Government by the Secretary of the Interior, the Attorney-General, +and myself to take possession of the premises; and the Attorney-General +carefully made out the writ and I signed it. It was not obtained +surreptitiously, although I suppose General Halleck thought it had been, +when he telegraphed, simply because he thought possession was about being +taken by a military order, while he knew no such order had passed through +his hands as general-in-chief. + +The writ was suspended, upon urgent representations from California, +simply to keep the peace. It never had any direct or indirect reference to +any mine, place, or person, except the "New Almaden" mine and the persons +connected with it. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL MEADE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, August 21, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Warrenton, Va.: + +At this late moment I am appealed to in behalf of William Thompson of +Company K, Third Maryland Volunteers, in Twelfth Army Corps, said to be +at Kelly's Ford, under sentence to be shot to-day as a deserter. He is +represented to me to be very young, with symptoms of insanity. Please +postpone the execution till further order. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL SCHOFIELD. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., August 22, 1863. + +GENERAL SCHOFIELD, Saint Louis, Mo.: + +Please send me if you can a transcript of the record in the case of McQuin +and Bell, convicted of murder by a military commission. I telegraphed +General Strong for it, but he does not answer. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO MRS. GRIMSLEY. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., August 24, 1863. + +MRS. ELIZABETH J. GRIMSLEY, Springfield, Ill.: + +I mail the papers to you to-day appointing Johnny to the Naval school. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TO CRITICS OF EMANCIPATION + +To J. C. CONKLING. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, August 26, 1863. + +HON. JAMES C. CONKLING. + +MY DEAR SIR:--Your letter inviting me to attend a mass meeting of +unconditional Union men, to be held at the capital of Illinois, on the +3d day of September, has been received. It would be very agreeable for +me thus to meet my old friends at my own home, but I cannot just now be +absent from here so long as a visit there would require. + +The meeting is to be of all those who maintain unconditional devotion to +the Union, and I am sure that my old political friends will thank me for +tendering, as I do, the nation's gratitude to those other noble men whom +no partisan malice or partisan hope can make false to the nation's life. + +There are those who are dissatisfied with me. To such I would say: You +desire peace, and you blame me that we do not have it. But how can we +obtain it? There are but three conceivable ways: + +First--to suppress the rebellion by force of arms. This I am trying to do. +Are you for it? If you are, so far we are agreed. If you are not for it, a +second way is to give up the Union. I am against this. Are you for it? If +you are you should say so plainly. If you are not for force nor yet for +dissolution, there only remains some imaginable compromise. + +I do not believe that any compromise embracing the maintenance of the +Union is now possible. All that I learn leads to a directly opposite +belief. The strength of the rebellion is its military, its army. That army +dominates all the country and all the people within its range. Any offer +of terms made by any man or men within that range, in opposition to that +army, is simply nothing for the present; because such man or men have no +power whatever to enforce their side of a compromise, if one were made +with them. + +To illustrate: Suppose refugees from the South and peace men of the North +get together in convention, and frame and proclaim a compromise embracing +a restoration of the Union. In what way can that compromise be used to +keep Lee's army out of Pennsylvania? Meade's army can keep Lee's army out +of Pennsylvania, and, I think, can ultimately drive it out of existence. +But no paper compromise to which the controllers of Lee's army are not +agreed can at all affect that army. In an effort at such compromise we +would waste time, which the enemy would improve to our disadvantage; and +that would be all. + +A compromise, to be effective, must be made either with those who control +the rebel army, or with the people, first liberated from the domination of +that army by the success of our own army. Now allow me to assure you +that no word or intimation from that rebel army, or from any of the men +controlling it, in relation to any peace compromise, has ever come to +my knowledge or belief. All charges and insinuations to the contrary are +deceptive and groundless. And I promise you that if any such proposition +shall hereafter come, it shall not be rejected and kept a secret from you. +I freely acknowledge myself to be the servant of the people, according to +the bond of service, the United States Constitution, and that, as such, I +am responsible to them. + +But, to be plain: You are dissatisfied with me about the negro. Quite +likely there is a difference of opinion between you and myself upon +that subject. I certainly wish that all men could be free, while you, +I suppose, do not. Yet, I have neither adopted nor proposed any measure +which is not consistent with even your view, provided you are for the +Union. I suggested compensated emancipation; to which you replied you +wished not to be taxed to buy negroes. But I had not asked you to be taxed +to buy negroes, except in such way as to save you from greater taxation to +save the Union exclusively by other means. + +You dislike the Emancipation Proclamation, and perhaps would have it +retracted. You say it is unconstitutional. I think differently. I think +the Constitution invests its commander-in-chief with the law of war in +time of war. The most that can be said, if so much, is, that slaves are +property. Is there, has there ever been, any question that by the law of +war, property, both of enemies and friends, may be taken when needed? And +is it not needed whenever it helps us and hurts the enemy? Armies, the +world over, destroy enemies' property when they cannot use it, and even +destroy their own to keep it from the enemy. Civilized belligerents do all +in their power to help themselves or hurt the enemy, except a few things +regarded as barbarous or cruel. Among the exceptions are the massacre of +vanquished foes and non-combatants, male and female. + +But the proclamation, as law, either is valid or is not valid. If it is +not valid it needs no retraction. If it is valid it cannot be retracted, +any more than the dead can be brought to life. Some of you profess to +think its retraction would operate favorably for the Union, why better +after the retraction than before the issue? There was more than a year +and a half of trial to suppress the rebellion before the proclamation was +issued, the last one hundred days of which passed under an explicit notice +that it was coming, unless averted by those in revolt returning to their +allegiance. The war has certainly progressed as favorably for us since the +issue of the proclamation as before. + +I know, as fully as one can know the opinions of others, that some of +the commanders of our armies in the field, who have given us our most +important victories, believe the emancipation policy and the use of +colored troops constitute the heaviest blows yet dealt to the rebellion, +and that at least one of those important successes could not have been +achieved when it was but for the aid of black soldiers. + +Among the commanders who hold these views are some who have never had any +affinity with what is called "Abolitionism," or with "Republican Party +politics," but who hold them purely as military opinions. I submit their +opinions are entitled to some weight against the objections often urged +that emancipation and arming the blacks are unwise as military measures, +and were not adopted as such in good faith. + +You say that you will not fight to free negroes. Some of them seem willing +to fight for you; but no matter. Fight you, then, exclusively, to save +the Union. I issued the proclamation on purpose to aid you in saving the +Union. Whenever you shall have conquered all resistance to the Union, if +I shall urge you to continue fighting, it will be an apt time then for +you to declare you will not fight to free negroes. I thought that in +your struggle for the Union, to whatever extent the negroes should cease +helping the enemy, to that extent it weakened the enemy in his resistance +to you. Do you think differently? I thought that whatever negroes can be +got to do as soldiers, leaves just so much less for white soldiers to do +in saving the Union. Does it appear otherwise to you? But negroes, like +other people, act upon motives. Why should they do anything for us if we +will do nothing for them? If they stake their lives for us they must be +prompted by the strongest motive, even the promise of freedom. And the +promise, being made, must be kept. + +The signs look better. The Father of Waters again goes unvexed to the +sea. Thanks to the great Northwest for it; nor yet wholly to them. Three +hundred miles up they met New England, Empire, Keystone, and Jersey, +hewing their way right and left. The sunny South, too, in more colors than +one, also lent a helping hand. On the spot, their part of the history was +jotted down in black and white. The job was a great national one, and let +none be slighted who bore an honorable part in it And while those who have +cleared the great river may well be proud, even that is not all. It is +hard to say that anything has been more bravely and well done than at +Antietam, Murfreesboro, Gettysburg, and on many fields of less note. Nor +must Uncle Sam's web-feet be forgotten. At all the watery margins they +have been present; not only on the deep sea, the broad bay, and the rapid +river, but also up the narrow, muddy bayou, and wherever the ground was a +little damp, they have been and made their tracks. Thanks to all. For the +great Republic--for the principle it lives by and keeps alive--for man's +vast future--thanks to all. + +Peace does not appear so distant as it did. I hope it will come soon, and +come to stay, and so come as to be worth the keeping in all future +time. It will then have been proved that among freemen there can be no +successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet, and that they who take +such appeal are sure to lose their case and pay the cost. And there will +be some black men who can remember that with silent tongue, and clinched +teeth, and steady eye, and well-poised bayonet, they have helped mankind +on to this great consummation; while I fear there will be some white ones +unable to forget that with malignant heart and deceitful speech they have +striven to hinder it. + +Still, let us not be over-sanguine of a speedy, final triumph. Let us be +quite sober. Let us diligently apply the means, never doubting that a just +God, in His own good time, will give us the rightful result. + +Yours very truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO JAMES CONKLING. + +(Private.) + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, D. C., August 27.1863. + +HON. JAMES CONKLING. + +MY DEAR CONKLING:--I cannot leave here now. Herewith is a letter instead. +You are one of the best public readers. I have but one suggestion--read it +very slowly. And now God bless you, and all good Union men. + +Yours as ever, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO SECRETARY STANTON. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. C., August 26, 1863. + +HON. SECRETARY OF WAR SIR:-In my correspondence with Governor Seymour in +relation to the draft, I have said to him, substantially, that credits +shall be given for volunteers up to the latest moment, before drawing in +any district, that can be done without producing confusion or delay. In +order to do this, let our mustering officers in New York and elsewhere be +at, once instructed that whenever they muster into our service any number +of volunteers, to at once make return to the War Department, both by +telegraph and mail, the date of the muster, the number mustered, and the +Congressional or enrolment district or districts, of their residences, +giving the numbers separately for each district. Keep these returns +diligently posted, and by them give full credit on the quotas, if +possible, on the last day before the draft begins in any district. + +Again, I have informed Governor Seymour that he shall be notified of the +time when the draft is to commence in each district in his State. This +is equally proper for all the States. In order to carry it out, I propose +that so soon as the day for commencing the draft in any district is +definitely determined, the governor of the State, including the district, +be notified thereof, both by telegraph and mail, in form about as follows: + + ------------------------------ + + ------------------------ 1863. + +Governor of ------------------------------ + ------------------------------------ + +You are notified that the draft will commence in the +------------------ ---- district, at ------ on the + ------ day ------------ +1863, at ------ A.M. of said day. + +Please acknowledge receipt of this by telegraph and mail. + ------------------------ + ------------------------ + +This notice may be given by the Provost-Marshal-General here, the +sub-provost-marshal-generals in the States, or perhaps by the district +provost-marshals. + +Whenever we shall have so far proceeded in New York as to make the +re-enrolment specially promised there practicable, I wish that also to go +forward, and I wish Governor Seymour notified of it; so that if he choose, +he can place agents of his with ours to see the work fairly done. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GOVERNOR SEYMOUR. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. C., August 27. 1863. + +HIS EXCELLENCY HORATIO SEYMOUR, + +Governor of New York: + +Yours of the 21st, with exhibits, was received on the 24th. + +In the midst of pressing duties I have been unable to answer it sooner. In +the meantime the Provost Marshal-General has had access to yours, and has +addressed a communication in relation to it to the Secretary of War, a +copy of which communication I herewith enclose to you. + +Independently of this, I addressed a letter on the same subject to the +Secretary of War, a copy of which I also enclose to you. The Secretary +has sent my letter to the Provost-Marshal General, with direction that +he adopt and follow the course therein pointed out. It will, of course, +overrule any conflicting view of the Provost-Marshal-General, if there be +such. + +Yours very truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + +P. S.-I do not mean to say that if the Provost-Marshal-General can find +it practicable to give credits by subdistricts, I overrule him in that. +On the contrary, I shall be glad of it; but I will not take the risk of +over-burdening him by ordering him to do it. A. L. + +Abraham Lincoln + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. M. SCHOFIELD. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., August 27, 1863 8.30 P. M. + +GENERAL SCHOFIELD, St. LOUIS: + +I have just received the despatch which follows, from two very influential +citizens of Kansas, whose names I omit. The severe blow they have received +naturally enough makes them intemperate even without there being any just +cause for blame. Please do your utmost to give them future security and to +punish their invaders. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. G. MEADE. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., August 27, 1863 9 A.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Warrenton, Va.: + +Walter, Rionese, Folancy, Lai, and Kuhn appealed to me for mercy, without +giving any ground for it whatever. I understand these are very flagrant +cases, and that you deem their punishment as being indispensable to the +service. If I am not mistaken in this, please let them know at once that +their appeal is denied. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO F. C. SHERMAN AND J. S. HAYES. + +WASHINGTON, August 27, 1863. + +F. C. SHERMAN, Mayor, J. S. HAVES, Comptroller, Chicago, Ill.: + +Yours of the 24th, in relation to the draft, is received. It seems to me +the Government here will be overwhelmed if it undertakes to conduct +these matters with the authorities of cities and counties. They must be +conducted with the governors of States, who will, of course, represent +their cities and counties. Meanwhile you need not be uneasy until you +again hear from here. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL FOSTER. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, August 28, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL FOSTER, Fort Monroe, Va.: + +Please notify, if you can, Senator Bowden, Mr. Segar, and Mr. Chandler, +all or any of them, that I now have the record in Dr. Wright's case, and +am ready to hear them. When you shall have got the notice to them, please +let me know. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL CRAWFORD. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. C., August 28, 1863. + +GENERAL CRAWFORD, Rappahannock Station, Va.: + +I regret that I cannot be present to witness the presentation of a sword +by the gallant Pennsylvania Reserve Corps to one so worthy to receive it +as General Meade. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO L. SWETT. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., August 29, 1863. + +HON. L. SWETT, San Francisco, Cal.: If the Government's rights are +reserved, the Government will be satisfied, and at all events it will +consider. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO MRS. LINCOLN. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. C. August 29, 1863. + +MRS. A. LINCOLN, Manchester, N. H.: + +All quite well. Fort Sumter is certainly battered down and utterly useless +to the enemy, and it is believed here, but not entirely certain, that both +Sumter and Fort Wagner are occupied by our forces. It is also certain that +General Gilmore has thrown some shot into the city of Charleston. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO J. C. CONKLING. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, + +August 31, 1863. + +HON. JAMES C. CONKLING, Springfield, Ill.: + +In my letter of the 26th insert between the sentence ending "since the +issue of the Emancipation Proclamation as before" and the next, commencing +"You say you will not fight, etc.," what follows below my signature +hereto. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +"I know as fully as one can know the opinions of others that some of +the commanders of our armies in the field, who have given us our most +important successes, believe the emancipation policy and the use of +colored troops constitute the heaviest blow yet dealt to the rebellion, +and that at least one of those important successes could not have been +achieved when it was, but for the aid of black soldiers. Among the +commanders holding these views are some who have never had any affinity +with what is called abolitionism, or with Republican party politics, but +who hold them purely as military opinions. I submit these opinions as +being entitled to some weight against the objections, often urged, that +emancipation and arming the blacks are unwise as military measures and +were not adopted as such in good faith." + + + + +TO GENERAL W. S. ROSECRANS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, August 31, 1863. + +MY DEAR GENERAL ROSECRANS: + +Yours of the 22d was received yesterday. When I wrote you before, I did +not intend, nor do I now, to engage in an argument with you on military +questions. You had informed me you were impressed through General Halleck +that I was dissatisfied with you, and I could not bluntly deny that I was +without unjustly implicating him. I therefore concluded to tell you the +plain truth, being satisfied the matter would thus appear much smaller +than it would if seen by mere glimpses. I repeat that my appreciation of +you has not abated. I can never forget whilst I remember anything, that +about the end of last year and the beginning of this, you gave us a +hard-earned victory, which, had there been a defeat instead, the nation +could hardly have lived over. Neither can I forget the check you so +opportunely gave to a dangerous sentiment which was spreading in the +North. + +Yours, as ever, + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK. + +August 31, 1863 + +It is not improbable that retaliation for the recent great outrage +at Lawrence, in Kansas, may extend to indiscriminate slaughter on the +Missouri border, unless averted by very judicious action. I shall be +obliged if the general-in-chief can make any suggestions to General +Schofield upon the subject. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +POLITICAL MOTIVATED MISQUOTATION IN NEWSPAPER + +TELEGRAM TO J. C. CONKLING. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, September 3, 1863. + +HON. JAMES C. CONKLING, Springfield, Ill.: + +I am mortified this morning to find the letter to you botched up in the +Eastern papers, telegraphed from Chicago. How did this happen? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +ORDER CONCERNING COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, September 4, 1863. + +Ordered, That the executive order dated November 21, 1862, prohibiting the +exportation from the United States of arms, ammunition, or munitions of +war, under which the commandants of departments were, by order of the +Secretary of War dated May 13, 1863, directed to prohibit the purchase +and sale, for exportation from the United States, of all horses and mules +within their respective commands, and to take and appropriate for the +use of the United States any horses, mules, and live stock designed for +exportation, be so far modified that any arms heretofore imported into the +United States may be re-exported to the place of original shipment, +and that any live stock raised in any State or Territory bounded by the +Pacific Ocean may be exported from, any port of such State or Territory. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO J. SEGAR. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C.. September 5, 1863. + +HON. JOSEPH SEGAR, Fort Monroe, Va.: + +I have just seen your despatch to the Secretary of War, who is absent. +I also send a despatch from Major Hayner of the 3d showing that he had +notice of my order, and stating that the people were jubilant over it, as +a victory over the Government extorted by fear, and that he had already +collected about $4000 of the money. If he has proceeded since, I shall +hold him accountable for his contumacy. On the contrary, no dollar shall +be refunded by my order until it shall appear that my act in the case has +been accepted in the right spirit. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO MRS. LINCOLN. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON. D. C. September 6, 1863. + +MRS. A. LINCOLN, Manchester, Vt.: + +All well and no news except that General Burnside has Knoxville, Ten. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO SECRETARY STANTON. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, September 6, 1863. 6 P.M. + +HON. SECRETARY OF WAR, Bedford, Pa.: + +Burnside has Kingston and Knoxville, and drove the enemy across the river +at Loudon, the enemy destroying the bridge there; captured some stores and +one or two trains; very little fighting; few wounded and none killed. No +other news of consequence. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO F. C. SHERMAN AND J. S. HAYES. + +WASHINGTON, September 7, 1863. + +Yours of August 29 just received. I suppose it was intended by Congress +that this government should execute the act in question without dependence +upon any other government, State, city, or county. It is, however, within +the range of practical convenience to confer with the governments of +States, while it is quite beyond that range to have correspondence on the +subject with counties and cities. They are too numerous. As instances, I +have corresponded with Governor Seymour, but Not with Mayor Opdyke; with +Governor Curtin, but not with Mayor Henry. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR JOHNSON. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, September 8, 1863. 9.30 + +HON. ANDREW JOHNSON, Nashville, Tenn.: + +Despatch of yesterday just received. I shall try to find the paper you +mention and carefully consider it. In the meantime let me urge that you do +your utmost to get every man you can, black and white, under arms at the +very earliest moment, to guard roads, bridges, and trains, allowing all +the better trained soldiers to go forward to Rosecrans. Of course I mean +for you to act in co-operation with and not independently of, the military +authorities. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL MEADE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, September 9, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Warrenton, Va.: + +It would be a generous thing to give General Wheaton a leave of absence +for ten or fifteen days, and if you can do so without injury to the +service, please do it. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL WHEATON. + +WASHINGTON, D.C., September 10, 1863. + +GENERAL WHEATON, Army of Potomac: + +Yesterday at the instance of Mr. Blair, senator, I telegraphed General +Meade asking him to grant you a leave of absence, to which he replied that +you had not applied for such leave, and that you can have it when you do +apply. I suppose it is proper for you to know this. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GOVERNOR JOHNSON. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, SEPTEMBER, 11, 1863 + +HON. ANDREW JOHNSON. + +MY DEAR SIR:--All Tennessee is now clear of armed insurrectionists. You +need not to be reminded that it is the nick of time for reinaugurating +a loyal State government. Not a moment should be lost. You and the +co-operating friends there can better judge of the ways and means than can +be judged by any here. I only offer a few suggestions. The reinauguration +must not be such as to give control of the State and its representation +in Congress to the enemies of the Union, driving its friends there +into political exile. The whole struggle for Tennessee will have been +profitless to both State and nation if it so ends that Governor Johnson is +put down and Governor Harris put up. It must not be so. You must have it +otherwise. Let the reconstruction be the work of such men only as can be +trusted for the Union. Exclude all others, and trust that your government +so organized will be recognized here as being the one of republican form +to be guaranteed to the State, and to be protected against invasion and +domestic violence. It is something on the question of time to remember +that it cannot be known who is next to occupy the position I now hold, nor +what he will do. I see that you have declared in favor of emancipation +in Tennessee, for which may God bless you. Get emancipation into your new +State government constitution and there will be no such word as fail for +your cause. The raising of colored troops, I think, will greatly help +every way. + +Yours very truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE. + +WASHINGTON, September 11, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL BURNSIDE, Cumberland Gap: + +Yours received. A thousand thanks for the late successes you have given +us. We cannot allow you to resign until things shall be a little more +settled in East Tennessee. If then, purely on your own account, you wish +to resign, we will not further refuse you. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL MEADE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, September 11, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Warrenton, Va.: + +It is represented to me that Thomas Edds, in your army, is under sentence +of death for desertion, to be executed next Monday. It is also said his +supposed desertion is comprised in an absence commencing with his falling +behind last winter, being captured and paroled by the enemy, and then +going home. If this be near the truth, please suspend the execution till +further order and send in the record of the trial. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL MEADE. + +WASHINGTON, D.C., September 12, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL MEAD, Warrenton, Va.: + +The name is "Thomas Edds" not "Eddies" as in your despatch. The papers +left with me do not designate the regiment to which he belongs. The man +who gave me the papers, I do not know how to find again. He only told me +that Edds is in the Army of the Potomac, and that he fell out of the ranks +during Burnside's mud march last winter. If I get further information I +will telegraph again. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO H. H. SCOTT. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, September 13, 1863. + +Dr. WILLIAM H. H. SCOTT, Danville, Ill.: + +Your niece, Mrs. Kate Sharp, can now have no difficulty in going to +Knoxville, Tenn., as that place is within our military lines. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO J. G. BLAINE. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., September 25, 1863. + +J. G. BLAINE, Augusta, Me.: Thanks both for the good news you send and for +the sending of it. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +PROCLAMATION SUSPENDING WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS, SEPTEMBER 15, 1863. + +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: + +A Proclamation. + +Whereas the Constitution of the United States has ordained that the +privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended unless when, +in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it; and: + +Whereas a rebellion was existing on the third day of March, 1863, which +rebellion is still existing; and: + +Whereas by a statute which was approved on that day it was enacted by +the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress +assembled that during the present insurrection the President of the +United States, whenever in his judgment the public safety may require, is +authorized to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in any +case throughout the United States or any part thereof; and: + +Whereas, in the judgment of the President, the public safety does require +that the privilege of the said writ shall new be suspended throughout the +United States in the cases where, by the authority of the President of the +United States, military, naval, and civil officers of the United States, +or any of them, hold persons under their command or in their custody, +either as prisoners of war, spies, or aiders or abettors of the enemy, or +officers, soldiers, or seamen enrolled or drafted or mustered or enlisted +in or belonging to the land or naval forces of the United States, or as +deserters therefrom, or otherwise amenable to military law or the rules +and articles of war or the rules or regulations prescribed for the +military or naval services by authority of the President of the United +States, or for resisting a draft, or for any other offense against the +military or naval service. + +Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, +do hereby proclaim and make known to all whom it may concern that the +privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is suspended throughout the United +States in the several cases before mentioned, and that this suspension +will continue throughout the duration of the said rebellion or until this +proclamation shall, by a subsequent one to be issued by the President of +the United States, be modified or revoked. And I do hereby require all +magistrates, attorneys, and other civil officers within the United States +and all officers and others in the military and naval services of the +United States to take distinct notice of this suspension and to give it +full effect, and all citizens of the United States to conduct and govern +themselves accordingly and in conformity with the Constitution of the +United States and the laws of Congress in such case made and provided. + +In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed, this fifteenth day of September, +A.D. 1863, and of the independence of the United States of America the +eighty-eighth. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +By the President: WILLIAM H. SEWARD, + Secretary of State. + + + + +TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, September 13, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK: + +If I did not misunderstand General Meade's last despatch, he posts you +on facts as well as he can, and desires your views and those of the +Government as to what he shall do. My opinion is that he should move upon +Lee at once in manner of general attack, leaving to developments whether +he will make it a real attack. I think this would develop Lee's real +condition and purposes better than the cavalry alone can do. Of course my +opinion is not to control you and General Meade. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO MRS. SPEED. + +WASHINGTON, D.C., September 16, 1862. + +MRS. J. F. SPEED, Louisville, Ky.: + +Mr. Holman will not be jostled from his place with my knowledge and +consent. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL MEADE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, September 16, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Warrenton, Va.: + +Is Albert Jones of Company K, Third Maryland Volunteers, to be shot on +Friday next? If so please state to me the general features of the case. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL SCHENCK. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, September 17, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL SCHENCK, Baltimore, Md.: + +Major Haynor left here several days ago under a promise to put down in +writing, in detail, the facts in relation to the misconduct of the people +on the eastern shore of Virginia. He has not returned. Please send him +over. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL MEADE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, September 17, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Headquarters Army of Potomac: + +Yours in relation to Albert Jones is received. I am appealed to in +behalf of Richard M. Abrams of Company A, Sixth New Jersey Volunteers, by +Governor Parker, Attorney-General Frelinghuysen, Governor Newell, Hon. Mr. +Middleton, M. C., of the district, and the marshal who arrested him. I am +also appealed to in behalf of Joseph S. Smith, of Company A, Eleventh New +Jersey Volunteers, by Governor Parker, Attorney-General Frelinghuysen, and +Hon. Marcus C. Ward. Please state the circumstances of their cases to me. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +REQUEST TO SUGGEST NAME FOR A BABY + +TELEGRAM TO C. M. SMITH. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., September 18, 1863. + +C.M. SMITH, Esq., Springfield, Ill.: + +Why not name him for the general you fancy most? This is my suggestion. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO MRS. ARMSTRONG. + +WASHINGTON, September 18, 1863. + +MRS. HANNAH ARMSTRONG, Petersburg, Ill.: + +I have just ordered the discharge of your boy William, as you say, now at +Louisville, Ky. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GOVERNOR JOHNSON. + +(Private.) + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. C., September 19.1863. + +HON. ANDREW JOHNSON. + +MY DEAR SIR:--Herewith I send you a paper, substantially the same as the +one drawn up by yourself and mentioned in your despatch, but slightly +changed in two particulars: First, yours was so drawn as that I authorized +you to carry into effect the fourth section, etc., whereas I so modify +it as to authorize you to so act as to require the United States to carry +into effect that section. + +Secondly, you had a clause committing me in some sort to the State +constitution of Tennessee, which I feared might embarrass you in making a +new constitution, if you desire; so I dropped that clause. + +Yours very truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + +[Inclosure.] + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. C., + +September 19, 1863. + +HON. ANDREW JOHNSON, Military Governor of Tennessee: + +In addition to the matters contained in the orders and instructions given +you by the Secretary of War, you are hereby authorized to exercise such +powers as may be necessary and proper to enable the loyal people of +Tennessee to present such a republican form of State government as will +entitle the State to the guaranty of the United States therefor, and to +be protected under such State government by the United States against +invasion and domestic violence, all according to the fourth Section of the +fourth article of the Constitution of the United States. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +MILITARY STRATEGY + +TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON D.C. September 19, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK: + +By General Meade's despatch to you of yesterday it appears that he desires +your views and those of the government as to whether he shall advance upon +the enemy. I am not prepared to order, or even advise, an advance in this +case, wherein I know so little of particulars, and wherein he, in the +field, thinks the risk is so great and the promise of advantage so small. + +And yet the case presents matter for very serious consideration in +another aspect. These two armies confront each other across a small river, +substantially midway between the two capitals, each defending its own +capital, and menacing the other. General Meade estimates the enemy's +infantry in front of him at not less than 40,000. Suppose we add fifty per +cent. to this for cavalry, artillery, and extra-duty men stretching as far +as Richmond, making the whole force of the enemy 60,000. + +General Meade, as shown by the returns, has with him, and between him and +Washington, of the same classes, of well men, over 90,000. Neither can +bring the whole of his men into a battle; but each can bring as large a +percentage in as the other. For a battle, then, General Meade has three +men to General Lee's two. Yet, it having been determined that choosing +ground and standing on the defensive gives so great advantage that the +three cannot safely attack the two, the three are left simply standing on +the defensive also. + +If the enemy's 60,000 are sufficient to keep our 90,000 away from +Richmond, why, by the same rule, may not 40,000 of ours keep their 60,000 +away from Washington, leaving us 50,000 to put to some other use? Having +practically come to the mere defensive, it seems to be no economy at all +to employ twice as many men for that object as are needed. With no object, +certainly, to mislead myself, I can perceive no fault in this statement, +unless we admit we are not the equal of the enemy, man for man. I hope you +will consider it. + +To avoid misunderstanding, let me say that to attempt to fight the enemy +slowly back into his entrenchments at Richmond, and then to capture him, +is an idea I have been trying to repudiate for quite a year. + +My judgment is so clear against it that I would scarcely allow the attempt +to be made if the general in command should desire to make it. My last +attempt upon Richmond was to get McClellan, when he was nearer there +than the enemy was, to run in ahead of him. Since then I have constantly +desired the Army of the Potomac to make Lee's army, and not Richmond, its +objective point. If our army cannot fall upon the enemy and hurt him where +he is, it is plain to me it can gain nothing by attempting to follow him +over a succession of intrenched lines into a fortified city. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO MRS. LINCOLN. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., September 20, 1863. + +MRS. A. LINCOLN, New York: + +I neither see nor hear anything of sickness here now, though there may +be much without my knowing it. I wish you to stay or come just as is most +agreeable to yourself. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO MRS. LINCOLN. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C, September 21, 1863. + +MRS. A. LINCOLN. Fifth Avenue Hotel. New York: + +The air is so clear and cool and apparently healthy that I would be glad +for you to come. Nothing very particular, but I would be glad to see you +and Tad. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION WASHINGTON, D. C., September 21, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK: + +I think it very important for General Rosecrans to hold his position at +or about Chattanooga, because if held from that place to Cleveland, both +inclusive, it keeps all Tennessee clear of the enemy, and also breaks one +of his most important railroad lines. To prevent these consequences is so +vital to his cause that he cannot give up the effort to dislodge us from +the position, thus bringing him to us and saving us the labor, expense, +and hazard of going farther to find him, and also giving us the advantage +of choosing our own ground and preparing it to fight him upon. The details +must, of course, be left to General Rosecrans, while we must furnish him +the means to the utmost of our ability. If you concur, I think he would +better be informed that we are not pushing him beyond this position; and +that, in fact, our judgment is rather against his going beyond it. If he +can only maintain this position, without more, this rebellion can only eke +out a short and feeble existence, as an animal sometimes may with a thorn +in its vitals. + +Yours truly, + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D.C., September 21, 1863. + +GENERAL BURNSIDE, Greenville, Tenn.: + +If you are to do any good to Rosecrans it will not do to waste time with +Jonesboro. It is already too late to do the most good that might have been +done, but I hope it will still do some good. Please do not lose a moment. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE + +WAR DEPARTMENT, September 21, 1863. 11 A.M. + +GENERAL BURNSIDE, Knoxville, Tenn.: + +Go to Rosecrans with your force without a moment's delay. + + +A. LINCOLN, + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL W. S. ROSECRANS + +WASHINGTON, September 21, 1863. 12.55 PM. + +MAJOR-GENERAL ROSECRANS, Chattanooga: + +Be of good cheer. We have unabated confidence in you, and in your soldiers +and officers. In the main you must be the judge as to what is to be +done. If I were to suggest, I would say, save your army by taking strong +positions until Burnside joins you, when, I hope, you can turn the tide. I +think you had better send a courier to Burnside to hurry him up. We +cannot reach him by telegraph. We suppose some force is going to you from +Corinth, but for want of communication we do not know how they are +getting along. We shall do our utmost to assist you. Send us your present +positions. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL W. S. ROSECRANS. + +[Cipher.] + +WAR DEPARTMENT, September 22, 1863.8.30 A.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL ROSECRANS, Chattanooga, Tenn.: + +We have not a word here as to the whereabouts or condition of your army up +to a later hour than sunset, Sunday, the 20th. Your despatches to me of 9 +A.M., and to General Halleck of 2 P. M., yesterday, tell us nothing +later on those points. Please relieve my anxiety as to the position and +condition of your army up to the latest moment. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO O. M. HATCH AND J. K. DUBOIS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON. September 22, 1863. + +HON. O. M. HATCH, HON. J. K. DUBOIS, Springfield, Ill.: + +Your letter is just received. The particular form of my despatch was +jocular, which I supposed you gentlemen knew me well enough to understand. +General Allen is considered here as a very faithful and capable officer, +and one who would be at least thought of for quartermaster-general if that +office were vacant. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO MRS. LINCOLN. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, September 22, 1863. + +MRS. A. LINCOLN, Fifth Avenue House, New York:--Did you receive my +despatch of yesterday? Mrs. Cuthbert did not correctly understand me. I +directed her to tell you to use your own pleasure whether to stay or come, +and I did not say it is sickly and that you should on no account come. +So far as I see or know, it was never healthier, and I really wish to see +you. Answer this on receipt. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL W. S. ROSECRANS. + +WASHINGTON, September 23,1863. 9.13 A.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL ROSECRANS, Chattanooga, Tenn: + +Below is Bragg's despatch as found in the Richmond papers. You see he +does not claim so many prisoners or captured guns as you were inclined +to concede. He also confesses to heavy loss. An exchanged general of ours +leaving Richmond yesterday says two of Longstreet's divisions and his +entire artillery and two of Pickett's brigades and Wise's legion have gone +to Tennessee. He mentions no other. + +"CHICAMAUGA RIVER, SEPTEMBER 20. + +"GENERAL COOPER, Adjutant-General: + +"After two days' hard fighting we have +driven the enemy, after a desperate resistance, from several positions, +and now hold the field; but he still confronts us. The loses are heavy on +both sides, especially in our officers.... + +"BRAXTON BRAGG" + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +PROCLAMATION OPENING THE PORT OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, + +SEPTEMBER 24, 1863. + +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: + +A Proclamation. + +Whereas, in my proclamation of the twenty-seventh of April, 1861, the +ports of the States of Virginia and North Carolina were, for reasons +therein set forth, placed under blockade; and whereas the port of +Alexandria, Virginia, has since been blockaded, but as the blockade of +said port may now be safely relaxed with advantage to the interests of +commerce: + +Now, therefore, be it known that I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the +United Sates, pursuant to the authority in me vested by the fifth section +of the act of Congress, approved on the 13th of July, 1861, entitled "An +act further to provide for the collection of duties on imports, and for +other purposes," do hereby declare that the blockade of the said port of +Alexandria shall so far cease and determine, from and after this date, +that commercial intercourse with said port, except as to persons, things, +and information contraband of war, may from this date be carried on, +subject to the laws of the United States, and to the limitations and in +pursuance of the regulations which are prescribed by the Secretary of the +Treasury in his order which is appended to my proclamation of the 12th of +May, 1862. + +In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. + +Done at the city of Washington, this twenty-fourth day of September in the +year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the +independence of the United States the eighty-eighth. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +By the President WILLIAM H. SEWARD, + Secretary of State. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL W. S. ROSECRANS. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, September 24, 1863. 10 A.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL ROSECRANS, Chattanooga, Term.: + +Last night we received the rebel accounts, through Richmond papers, of +your late battle. They give Major-General Hood as mortally wounded, and +Brigadiers Preston Smith, Wofford, Walthall, Helm of Kentucky, and +DesMer killed, and Major-Generals Preston, Cleburne, and Gregg, and +Brigadier-Generals Benning, Adams, Burm, Brown, and John [B. H.] Helm +wounded. By confusion the two Helms may be the same man, and Bunn and +Brown may be the same man. With Burnside, Sherman, and from elsewhere we +shall get to you from forty to sixty thousand additional men. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +MRS. LINCOLN'S REBEL BROTHER-IN-LAW KILLED + +TELEGRAM TO MRS. LINCOLN. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, SEPTEMBER 24, 1863 + +MRS. A. LINCOLN, Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York: + +We now have a tolerably accurate summing up of the late battle between +Rosecrans and Braag. The result is that we are worsted, if at all, only +in the fact that we, after the main fighting was over, yielded the ground, +thus leaving considerable of our artillery and wounded to fall into the +enemy's hands., for which we got nothing in turn. We lost in general +officers one killed and three or four wounded, all brigadiers, while, +according to the rebel accounts which we have, they lost six killed +and eight wounded: of the killed one major-general and five brigadiers +including your brother-in-law, Helm; and of the wounded three +major-generals and five brigadiers. This list may be reduced two in number +by corrections of confusion in names. At 11.40 A.M. yesterday General +Rosecrans telegraphed from Chattanooga: "We hold this point, and I cannot +be dislodged except by very superior numbers and after a great battle." A +despatch leaving there after night yesterday says, "No fight to-day." + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL McCALLUM. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., September 25, 1863. + +GENERAL McCALLUM, Alexandria, Va.: + +I have sent to General Meade, by telegraph, to suspend the execution of +Daniel Sullivan of Company F, Thirteenth Massachusetts, which was to be +to-day, but understanding there is an interruption on the line, may I beg +you to send this to him by the quickest mode in your power? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL MEADE. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., September 25, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Army of Potomac: + +Owing to the press in behalf of Daniel Sullivan, Company E, Thirteenth +Massachusetts, and the doubt; though small, which you express of his +guilty intention, I have concluded to say let his execution be suspended +till further order, and copy of record sent me. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL W. S. ROSECRANS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, September 25, 1863. + +MY DEAR GENERAL ROSECRANS: + +We are sending you two small corps, one under General Howard and one under +General Slocum, and the whole under General Hooker. + +Unfortunately the relations between Generals Hooker and Slocum are not +such as to promise good, if their present relative positions remain. +Therefore, let me beg--almost enjoin upon you--that on their reaching you, +you will make a transposition by which General Slocum with his Corps, may +pass from under the command of General Hooker, and General Hooker, in +turn receive some other equal force. It is important for this to be done, +though we could not well arrange it here. Please do it. + +Yours very truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL W. S. ROSECRANS. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, September 28, 1863. 8 A.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL ROSECRANS, Chattanooga., Tenn.: + +You can perhaps communicate with General Burnside more rapidly by sending +telegrams directly to him at Knoxville. Think of it. I send a like +despatch to him. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL SCHOFIELD. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. C, September 30, 1863. + +GENERAL SCHOFIELD, Saint Louis, Mo.: + +Following despatch just received: + +"Union Men Driven out of Missouri." + +"Leavenworth, September 29, 1863. + +"Governor Gamble having authorized Colonel Moss, of Liberty, Missouri, +to arm the men in Platte and Clinton Counties, he has armed mostly the +returned rebel soldiers and men wider bonds. Moss's men are now driving +the Union men out of Missouri. Over one hundred families crossed the river +to-day. Many of the wives of our Union soldiers have been compelled to +leave. Four or five Union men have been murdered by Colonel Moss's men." + +Please look to this and, if true, in main or part, put a stop to it. + + +A. LINCOLN + + + + +TELEGRAM TO F. S. CORKRAN. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, September 30, 1863. + +HON. FRANCIS S. CORKRAN, Baltimore, Md.: MRS. L. is now at home and would +be pleased to see you any time. If the grape time has not passed away, she +would be pleased to join in the enterprise you mention. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL TYLER + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., October 1, 1863. + +GENERAL TYLER, Baltimore: + +Take care of colored troops in your charge, but do nothing further about +that branch of affairs until further orders. Particularly do nothing about +General Vickers of Kent County. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +Send a copy to Colonel Birney. A. L. + + + + +TO GENERAL SCHOFIELD. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, + +OCTOBER 1, 1863 + +GENERAL JOHN M. SCHOFIELD: + +There is no organized military force in avowed opposition to the General +Government now in Missouri, and if any shall reappear, your duty in regard +to it will be too plain to require any special instruction. Still, the +condition of things, both there and elsewhere, is such as to render +it indispensable to maintain, for a time, the United States military +establishment in that State, as well as to rely upon it for a fair +contribution of support to that establishment generally. Your immediate +duty in regard to Missouri now is to advance the efficiency of that +establishment, and to so use it, as far as practicable, to compel the +excited people there to let one another alone. + +Under your recent order, which I have approved, you will only arrest +individuals, and suppress assemblies or newspapers, when they may be +working palpable injury to the military in your charge; and in no other +case will you interfere with the expression of opinion in any form, or +allow it to be interfered with violently by others. In this you have a +discretion to exercise with great caution, calmness, and forbearance. + +With the matter of removing the inhabitants of certain counties en masse, +and of removing certain individuals from time to time, who are supposed +to be mischievous, I am not now interfering, but am leaving to your own +discretion. + +Nor am I interfering with what may still seem to you to be necessary +restrictions upon trade and intercourse. I think proper, however, to +enjoin upon you the following: Allow no part of the military under your +command to be engaged in either returning fugitive slaves or in forcing or +enticing slaves from their homes; and, so far as practicable, enforce the +same forbearance upon the people. + +Report to me your opinion upon the availability for good of the enrolled +militia of the State. Allow no one to enlist colored troops, except upon +orders from you, or from here through you. + +Allow no one to assume the functions of confiscating property, under the +law of Congress, or otherwise, except upon orders from here. + +At elections see that those, and only those, are allowed to vote who are +entitled to do so by the laws of Missouri, including as of those laws +the restrictions laid by the Missouri convention upon those who may have +participated in the rebellion. + +So far as practicable, you will, by means of your military force, expel +guerrillas, marauders, and murderers, and all who are known to harbor, +aid, or abet them. But in like manner you will repress assumptions of +unauthorized individuals to perform the same service, because under +pretense of doing this they become marauders and murderers themselves. + +To now restore peace, let the military obey orders, and those not of the +military leave each other alone, thus not breaking the peace themselves. + +In giving the above directions, it is not intended to restrain you in +other expedient and necessary matters not falling within their range. + +Your obedient servant, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL S. M. SCHOFIELD. + +WASHINGTON, D.C. OCTOBER 2, 1863 + +MAJOR-GENERAL SCHOFIELD: + +I have just seen your despatch to Halleck about Major-General Blunt. If +possible, you better allow me to get through with a certain matter +here, before adding to the difficulties of it. Meantime supply me the +particulars of Major-General Blunt's case. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + +TELEGRAM TO COLONEL BIRNEY. [Cipher.] WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., +October 3, 1863. + +COLONEL BIRNEY, Baltimore, Md.: + +Please give me, as near as you can, the number of slaves you have +recruited in Maryland. Of course the number is not to include the free +colored. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +PROCLAMATION FOR THANKSGIVING, OCTOBER 3, 1863. + +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AMERICA: + +A Proclamation. + +The year that is drawing towards its close has been filled with the +blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which +are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from +which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a +nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which +is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God. +In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity which has +sometimes seemed to invite and provoke the aggressions of foreign states; +peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the +laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere +except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been +greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. The +needful diversion of wealth and strength from the fields of peaceful +industry, to the national defense has not arrested the plough, the +shuttle, or the ship: The axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, +and the mines, as well of, iron and coal as of the precious metals, have +yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily +increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, +the siege, and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the +consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect a +continuance of years, with large increase of freedom. + +No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these +great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while +dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. + +It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be reverently, +solemnly, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and voice, by the +whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every +part of the United States, and also those who are at sea, and those +who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last +Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and prayer to our +beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them +that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such +singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence +for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care +all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the +lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently +implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of +the nation, and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with divine +purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and +union. + +In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. + +Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year +of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the +independence of the United States the eighty-eighth. + + +A. LINCOLN. + +By the President: WILLIAM H. SEWARD, + Secretary of State + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. M. SCHOFIELD. + +WASHINGTON D.C., OCTOBER 4, 1863 + +MAJOR-GENERAL SCHOFIELD, St. Louis, Mo.: + +I think you will not have just cause to complain of my action. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL W. S. ROSECRANS. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, October 4, 1863. 11.30 A.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL ROSECRANS, Chattanooga, Tenn.: + +Yours of yesterday received. If we can hold Chattanooga and East +Tennessee, I think the rebellion must dwindle and die. I think you and +Burnside can do this, and hence doing so is your main object. Of course +to greatly damage or destroy the enemy in your front would be a greater +object, because it would include the former and more, but it is not so +certainly within your power. I understand the main body of the enemy is +very near you, so near that you could "board at home," so to speak, and +menace or attack him any day. Would not the doing of this be your best +mode of counteracting his raid on your communications? But this is not an +order. I intend doing something like what you suggest whenever the case +shall appear ripe enough to have it accepted in the true understanding +rather than as a confession of weakness and fear. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO C. D. DRAKE AND OTHERS. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, October 5, 1863. + +HON. CHARLES D. DRAKE AND OTHERS, Committee. + +GENTLEMEN:-Your original address, presented on the 30th ult., and the +four supplementary ones presented on the 3d inst., have been carefully +considered. I hope you will regard the other duties claiming my attention, +together with the great length and importance of these documents, as +constituting a sufficient apology for not having responded sooner. + +These papers, framed for a common object, consist of the things demanded +and the reasons for demanding them. + +The things demanded are + +First. That General Schofield shall be relieved, and General Butler be +appointed as Commander of the Military Department of Missouri. + +Second. That the system of enrolled militia in Missouri may be broken up, +and national forces he substituted for it; and + +Third. That at elections persons may not be allowed to vote who are not +entitled by law to do so. + +Among the reasons given, enough of suffering and wrong to Union men is +certainly, and I suppose truly, stated. Yet the whole case, as presented, +fails to convince me that General Schofield, or the enrolled militia, is +responsible for that suffering and wrong. The whole can be explained on a +more charitable, and, as I think, a more rational hypothesis. + +We are in a civil war. In such cases there always is a main question, but +in this case that question is a perplexing compound--Union and slavery. +It thus becomes a question not of two sides merely, but of at least four +sides, even among those who are for the Union, saying nothing of those who +are against it. Thus, those who are for the Union with, but not without +slavery; those for it without, but not with; those for it with or without, +but prefer it with; and those for it with or without, but prefer it +without. + +Among these, again, is a subdivision of those who are for gradual, but +not for immediate, and those who are for immediate, but not for gradual +extinction of slavery. + +It is easy to conceive that all these shades of opinion, and even more, +may be sincerely entertained by honest and truthful men. Yet, all being +for the Union, by reason of these differences each will prefer a different +way of sustaining the Union. At once, sincerity is questioned, and motives +are assailed. Actual war comming, blood grows hot and blood is spilled. +Thought is forced from old channels into confusion. Deception breeds and +thrives. Confidence dies, and universal suspicion reigns. Each man feels +an impulse to kill his neighbor, lest he be killed by him. Revenge and +retaliation follow. And all this, as before said, may be among honest men +only. But this is not all. Every foul bird comes abroad, and every dirty +reptile rises up. These add crime to confusion. Strong measures +deemed indispensable, but harsh at best, such men make worse by +maladministration. Murders for old grudges, and murders for self, proceed +under any cloak that will best serve for the occasion. + +These causes amply account for what has occurred in Missouri, without +ascribing it to the weakness or wickedness of any general. The newspaper +files, those chroniclers of current events, will show that the evils now +complained of were quite as prevalent under Fremont, Hunter, Halleck, and +Curtis, as under Schofield. If the former had greater force opposed +to them, they also had greater force with which to meet it. When the +organized rebel army left the State, the main Federal force had to go +also, leaving the department commander at home relatively no stronger +than before. Without disparaging any, I affirm with confidence that no +commander of that department has, in proportion to his means, done better +than General Schofield. + +The first specific charge against General Schofield is, that the enrolled +militia was placed under his command, whereas it had not been placed under +the command of General Curtis. The fact is, I believe, true; but you do +not point out, nor can I conceive, how that did, or could, injure loyal +men or the Union cause. + +You charge that, General Curtis being superseded by General Schofield, +Franklin A. Dick was superseded by James O. Broadhead as Provost-Marshal +General. No very specific showing is made as to how this did or could +injure the Union cause. It recalls, however, the condition of things, as +presented to me, which led to a change of commander of that department. + +To restrain contraband intelligence and trade, a system of searches, +seizures, permits, and passes, had been introduced, I think, by General +Fremont. When General Halleck came, he found and continued the system, and +added an order, applicable to some parts of the State, to levy and +collect contributions from noted rebels, to compensate losses and relieve +destitution caused by the rebellion. The action of General Fremont and +General Halleck, as stated, constituted a sort of system which General +Curtis found in full operation when he took command of the department. +That there was a necessity for something of the sort was clear; but that +it could only be justified by stern necessity, and that it was liable to +great abuse in administration, was equally clear. Agents to execute it, +contrary to the great prayer, were led into temptation. Some might, while +others would not, resist that temptation. It was not possible to hold +any to a very strict accountability; and those yielding to the temptation +would sell permits and passes to those who would pay most and most readily +for them, and would seize property and collect levies in the aptest way +to fill their own pockets. Money being the object, the man having money, +whether loyal or disloyal, would be a victim. This practice doubtless +existed to some extent, and it was, a real additional evil that it could +be, and was, plausibly charged to exist in greater extent than it did. + +When General Curtis took command of the department, Mr. Dick, against +whom I never knew anything to allege, had general charge of this system. +A controversy in regard to it rapidly grew into almost unmanageable +proportions. One side ignored the necessity and magnified the evils of the +system, while the other ignored the evils and magnified the necessity; +and each bitterly assailed the other. I could not fail to see that the +controversy enlarged in the same proportion as the professed Union men +there distinctly took sides in two opposing political parties. I exhausted +my wits, and very nearly my patience also, in efforts to convince both +that the evils they charged on each other were inherent in the case, and +could not be cured by giving either party a victory over the other. + +Plainly, the irritating system was not to be perpetual; and it was +plausibly urged that it could be modified at once with advantage. The case +could scarcely be worse, and whether it could be made better could only +be determined by a trial. In this view, and not to ban or brand General +Curtis, or to give a victory to any party, I made the change of commander +for the department. I now learn that soon after this change Mr. Dick was +removed, and that Mr. Broadhead, a gentleman of no less good character, +was put in the place. The mere fact of this change is more distinctly +complained of than is any conduct of the new officer, or other consequence +of the change. + +I gave the new commander no instructions as to the administration of +the system mentioned, beyond what is contained in the private letter +afterwards surreptitiously published, in which I directed him to act +solely for the public good, and independently of both parties. Neither any +thing you have presented me, nor anything I have otherwise learned, has +convinced me that he has been unfaithful to this charge. + +Imbecility is urged as one cause for removing General Schofield; and +the late massacre at Lawrence, Kansas, is pressed as evidence of that +imbecility. To my mind that fact scarcely tends to prove the proposition. +That massacre is only an example of what Grierson, John Morgan, and many +others might have repeatedly done on their respective raids, had they +chosen to incur the personal hazard, and possessed the fiendish hearts to +do it. + +The charge is made that General Schofield, on purpose to protect the +Lawrence murderers, would not allow them to be pursued into Missouri. +While no punishment could be too sudden or too severe for those murderers, +I am well satisfied that the preventing of the threatened remedial raid +into Missouri was the only way to avoid an indiscriminate massacre there, +including probably more innocent than guilty. Instead of condemning, I +therefore approve what I understand General Schofield did in that respect. + +The charges that General Schofield has purposely withheld protection from +loyal people and purposely facilitated the objects of the disloyal are +altogether beyond my power of belief. I do not arraign the veracity of +gentlemen as to the facts complained of, but I do more than question the +judgment which would infer that those facts occurred in accordance with +the purposes of General Schofield. + +With my present views, I must decline to remove General Schofield. In +this I decide nothing against General Butler. I sincerely wish it were +convenient to assign him a suitable command. In order to meet some +existing evils I have addressed a letter of instructions to General +Schofield, a copy of which I enclose to you. + +As to the enrolled militia, I shall endeavor to ascertain better than +I now know what is its exact value. Let me say now, however, that your +proposal to substitute national forces for the enrolled militia implies +that in your judgment the latter is doing something which needs to be +done; and if so, the proposition to throw that force away and to supply +its place by bringing other forces from the field where they are urgently +needed seems to me very extraordinary. Whence shall they come? Shall they +be withdrawn from Banks, or Grant, or Steele, or Rosecrans? Few things +have been so grateful to my anxious feelings as when, in June last, the +local force in Missouri aided General Schofield to so promptly send +a large general force to the relief of General Grant, then investing +Vicksburg and menaced from without by General Johnston. Was this all +wrong? Should the enrolled militia then have been broken up and General +Herron kept from Grant to police Missouri? So far from finding cause to +object, I confess to a sympathy for whatever relieves our general force +in Missouri and allows it to serve elsewhere. I therefore, as at present +advised, cannot attempt the destruction of the enrolled militia of +Missouri. I may add that, the force being under the national military +control, it is also within the proclamation in regard to the habeas +corpus. + +I concur in the propriety of your request in regard to elections, and +have, as you see, directed General Schofield accordingly. I do not feel +justified to enter upon the broad field you present in regard to the +political differences between Radicals and Conservatives. From time to +time I have done and said what appeared to me proper to do and say. +The public knows it all. It obliges nobody to follow me, and I trust it +obliges me to follow nobody. The Radicals and Conservatives each agree +with me in some things and disagree in others. I could wish both to agree +with me in all things, for then they would agree with each other, and +would be too strong for any foe from any quarter. They, however, choose to +do otherwise; and I do not question their right. I too shall do what +seems to be my duty. I hold whoever commands in Missouri or elsewhere +responsible to me and not to either Radicals or Conservatives. It is my +duty to hear all, but at last I must, within my sphere, judge what to do +and what to forbear. + +Your obedient servant, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +THE CASE OF DR. DAVID M. WRIGHT + +APPROVAL OF THE DECISION OF THE COURT + +WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERALS OFFICE, + +WASHINGTON, October 8, 1863. + + +MAJOR-GENERAL J. G. FOSTER, Commanding Department of Virginia and North +Carolina, Fort Monroe, Va. + +SIR:--The proceedings of the military commission instituted for the trial +of David Wright, of Norfolk, in Special Orders Nos. 195, 196, and 197, of +1863, from headquarters Department of Virginia, have been submitted to the +President of the United States. The following are his remarks on the case: + +Upon the presentation of the record in this case and the examination +thereof, aided by the report thereon of the Judge-Advocate-General, and +on full hearing of counsel for the accused, being specified that no proper +question remained open except as to the sanity of the accused, I caused a +very full examination to be made on that question, upon a great amount of +evidence, including all effort by the counsel for accused, by an expert +of high reputation in that professional department, who thereon reports to +me, as his opinion, that the accused, Dr. David M. Wright, was not insane +prior to or on the 11th day of July, 1863, the date of the homicide of +Lieutenant Sanborn; that he has not been insane since, and is not insane +now (Oct. 7, 1863). I therefore approve the finding and sentence of the +military commission, and direct that the major-general in command of the +department including the place of trial, and wherein the convict is now in +custody, appoint a time and place and carry such sentence into execution. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL MEADE. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., October 8, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Army of Potomac: + +I am appealed to in behalf of August Blittersdorf, at Mitchell's Station, +Va., to be shot to-morrow as a deserter. I am unwilling for any boy under +eighteen to be shot, and his father affirms that he is yet under sixteen. +Please answer. His regiment or company not given me. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL MEADE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, October 8, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Army of Potomac: + +The boy telegraphs from Mitchell's Station, Va. The father thinks he is in +the One hundred and nineteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers. The father signs +the name "Blittersdorf." I can tell no more. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL MEADE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, October 12, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Army of Potomac: + +The father and mother of John Murphy, of the One hundred and nineteenth +Pennsylvania Volunteers, have filed their own affidavits that he was born +June 22, 1846, and also the affidavits of three other persons who all +swear that they remembered the circumstances of his birth and that it +was in the year 1846, though they do not remember the particular day. I +therefore, on account of his tender age, have concluded to pardon him, and +to leave it to yourself whether to discharge him or continue him in the +service. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO W. S. ROSECRANS. + +[Cipher.] + +WAR DEPARTMENT, October 12, 1863.8.35 A.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL ROSECRANS, Chattanooga, Term.: + +As I understand, Burnside is menaced from the west, and so cannot go to +you without surrendering East Tennessee. I now think the enemy will not +attack Chattanooga, and I think you will have to look out for his making +a concentrated drive at Burnside. You and Burnside now have him by the +throat, and he must break your hold or perish I therefore think you better +try to hold the road up to Kingston, leaving Burnside to what is above +there. Sherman is coming to you, though gaps in the telegraph prevent our +knowing how far he is advanced. He and Hooker will so support you on the +west and northwest as to enable you to look east and northeast. This is +not an order. General Halleck will give his views. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. G. MEADE. + +WASHINGTON, October 12, 1863. 9 A.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE: What news this morning? A despatch from Rosecrans, +leaving him at 7.30 P.M. yesterday, says: + +"Rebel rumors that head of Ewell's column reached Dalton yesterday." + +I send this for what it is worth. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO WAYNE McVEIGH. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, October 13, 1863. + +McVEIGH, Philadelphia: + +The enemy some days ago made a movement, apparently to turn General +Meade's right. This led to a maneuvering of the two armies and to pretty +heavy skirmishing on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. We have frequent +despatches from General Meade and up to 10 o'clock last night nothing had +happened giving either side any marked advantage. Our army reported to be +in excellent condition. The telegraph is open to General Meade's camp this +morning, but we have not troubled him for a despatch. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO THURLOW WEED. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, October 14, 1863. + +HON. THURLOW WEED. + +DEAR SIR:--I have been brought to fear recently that somehow, by +commission or omission, I have caused you some degree of pain. I have +never entertained an unkind feeling or a disparaging thought toward you; +and if I have said or done anything which has been construed into such +unkindness or disparagement, it has been misconstrued. I am sure if we +could meet we would not part with any unpleasant impression On either +side. + +Yours as ever, + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO L. B. TODD. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., October 15, 1863. + +L. B. TODD, Lexington, Ky.: + +I send the following pass to your care. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +AID TO MRS. HELM, MRS. LINCOLN'S SISTER + +WASHINGTON, D. C.. October 15, 1863. + +To WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: + +Allow MRS. Robert S. Todd, widow, to go south and bring her daughter, MRS. +General B. Hardin Helm, with her children, north to Kentucky. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL FOSTER. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., October 15, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL FOSTER, Fort Monroe, Va.: + +Postpone the execution of Dr. Wright to Friday the 23d instant (October). +This is intended for his preparation and is final. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL MEADE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, October 15, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Army of Potomac: + +On the 4th instant you telegraphed me that Private Daniel Hanson, of +Ninety-seventh New York Volunteers, had not yet been tried. When he shall +be, please notify me of the result, with a brief statement of his case, if +he be convicted. Gustave Blittersdorf, who you say is enlisted in the One +hundred and nineteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers as William Fox, is proven +to me to be only fifteen years old last January. I pardon him, and you +will discharge him or put him in the ranks at your discretion. Mathias +Brown, of Nineteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, is proven to me to be +eighteen last May, and his friends say he is convicted on an enlistment +and for a desertion both before that time. If this last be true he is +pardoned, to be kept or discharged as you please. If not true suspend his +execution and report the facts of his case. Did you receive my despatch of +12th pardoning John Murphy? + + +A. LINCOLN. + +[The Lincoln papers during this time have a suspended execution on almost +every other page, I have omitted most of these D.W.] + + + + +TELEGRAM TO T. W. SWEENEY. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., October 16, 1863. + +THOMAS W. SWEENEY, Continental, Philadelphia: + +Tad is teasing me to have you forward his pistol to him. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO T. C. DURANT. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., October 16, 1863. + +T. C. DURANT, New York: + +I remember receiving nothing from you of the 10th, and I do not comprehend +your despatch of to-day. In fact I do not remember, if I ever knew, who +you are, and I have very little conception as to what you are telegraphing +about. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +COMMENT ON A NOTE. + +NEW YORK, October 15, 1863. + +DEAR SIR: On the point of leaving I am told, by a gentleman to +whose statements I attach credit, that the opposition policy for the +Presidential campaign will be to "abstain from voting." J. + +[Comment.] + +More likely to abstain from stopping, once they get at it, until they +shall have voted several times each. + +October 16. A. L. + + + + +TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, October 16, 1863. + +MAJOR GENERAL HALLECK: + +I do not believe Lee can have over 60,000 effective men. + +Longstreet's corps would not be sent away to bring an equal force back +upon the same road; and there is no other direction for them to have come +from. + +Doubtless, in making the present movement, Lee gathered in all available +scraps, and added them to Hill's and Ewell's corps; but that is all, and +he made the movement in the belief that four corps had left General Meade; +and General Meade's apparently avoiding a collision with him has confirmed +him in that belief. If General Meade can now attack him on a field no +worse than equal for us, and will do so now with all the skill and courage +which he, his officers, and men possess, the honor will be his if he +succeeds, and the blame may be mine if he fails. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +CALL FOR 300,000 VOLUNTEERS, OCTOBER 17, 1863. + +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: + +A Proclamation. + +Whereas the term of service of a part of the Volunteer forces of the +United States will expire during the coming year; and whereas, in addition +to the men raised by the present draft, it is deemed expedient to call out +three hundred thousand volunteers to serve for three years or during the +war, not, however, exceeding three years: + +Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, and +Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy thereof, and of the militia of +the several States when called into actual service, do issue this my +proclamation, calling upon the governors of the different States to +raise, and have enlisted into the United States service, for the various +companies and regiments in the field from their respective States, the +quotas of three hundred thousand men. + + +I further proclaim that all the volunteers thus called out and duly +enlisted shall receive advance pay, premium, and bounty, as heretofore +communicated to the governors of States by the War Department through the +Provost-Marshal-General's office, by special letters. + +I further proclaim that all volunteers received under this call, as well +as all others not heretofore credited, shall be duly credited and deducted +from the quotas established for the next draft. + +I further proclaim that if any State shall fail to raise the quota +assigned to it by the War Department under this call, then a draft for the +deficiency in said quota shall be made in said State, or in the districts +of said State, for their due proportion of said quota, and the said draft +shall commence on the 5th day of January, 1864. + +And I further proclaim that nothing in this proclamation shall interfere +with existing orders, or with those which may be issued for the present +draft in the States where it is now in progress, or where it has not yet +been commenced. + +The quotas of the States and districts will be assigned by the War +Department through the Provost-Marshal-General's office, due regard being +had for the men heretofore furnished, whether by volunteering or drafting; +and the recruiting will be conducted in accordance with such instructions +as have been or may be issued by that department. + +In issuing this proclamation, I address myself not only to the governors +of the several States, but also to the good and loyal people thereof, +invoking them to lend their cheerful, willing, and effective aid to the +measures thus adopted, with a view to reinforce our victorious army now in +the field, and bring our needful military operations to a prosperous end, +thus closing forever the fountains of sedition and civil war. + +In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the +United States to be affixed..................... + + +A. LINCOLN. + +By the President: WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL FOSTER. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., October 17, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL FOSTER, Port Monroe, Va.: + +It would be useless for Mrs. Dr. Wright to come here. The subject is a +very painful one, but the case is settled. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO W. B. THOMAS + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D.C., OCTOBER 17, 1863 + +HON. WILLIAM B. THOMAS, Philadelphia, Pa. + +I am grateful for your offer of 100,000 men, but as at present advised +I do not consider that Washington is in danger, or that there is any +emergency requiring 60 or 90 days men. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO J. WILLIAMS AND N. G. TAYLOR. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, October 17, 1863. + +JOHN WILLIAMS AND N G. TAYLOR, Knoxville, Tenn.: + +You do not estimate the holding of East Tennessee more highly than I do. +There is no absolute purpose of withdrawing our forces from it, and only a +contingent one to withdraw them temporarily for the purpose of not losing +the position permanently. I am in great hope of not finding it necessary +to withdraw them at all, particularly if you raise new troops rapidly for +us there. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO T. C. DURANT. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON CITY, October 18, 1863. + +T. C. DURANT, New York: + +As I do with others, so I will try to see you when you come. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL W. S. ROSECRANS. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, October 19, 1863.9. A.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL ROSECRANS, Chattanooga, Tenn: + +There has been no battle recently at Bull Run. I suppose what you have +heard a rumor of was not a general battle, but an "affair" at Bristow +Station on the railroad, a few miles beyond Manassas Junction toward the +Rappahannock, on Wednesday, the 14th. It began by an attack of the enemy +upon General Warren, and ended in the enemy being repulsed with a loss of +four cannon and from four to seven hundred prisoners. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL R. C. SCHENCK. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, October 21, 1863.2.45 + +MAJOR-GENERAL SCHENCK, Baltimore, Md.: + +A delegation is here saying that our armed colored troops are at many, if +not all, the landings on the Patuxent River, and by their presence with +arms in their hands are frightening quiet people and producing great +confusion. Have they been sent there by any order, and if so, for what +reason? + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL R. C. SCHENCK. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, October 22, 1863.1.30 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL SCHENCK, Baltimore, Md.: + +Please come over here. The fact of one of our officers being killed on the +Patuxent is a specimen of what I would avoid. It seems to me we could +send white men to recruit better than to send negroes and thus inaugurate +homicides on punctilio. + +Please come over. + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, October 24, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK: + +Taking all our information together, I think it probable that Ewell's +corps has started for East Tennessee by way of Abingdon, marching +last Monday, say from Meade's front directly to the railroad at +Charlottesville. + +First, the object of Lee's recent movement against Meade; his destruction +of the Alexandria and Orange Railroad, and subsequent withdrawal +without more motive, not otherwise apparent, would be explained by this +hypothesis. + +Secondly, the direct statement of Sharpe's men that Ewell has gone to +Tennessee. + +Thirdly, the Irishman's [Northern Spy in Richmond] statement that he has +not gone through Richmond, and his further statement of an appeal made +to the people at Richmond to go and protect their salt, which could only +refer to the works near Abingdon. + +Fourthly, Graham's statement from Martinsburg that Imboden is in retreat +for Harrisonburg. This last matches with the idea that Lee has retained +his cavalry, sending Imboden and perhaps other scraps to join Ewell. Upon +this probability what is to be done? + +If you have a plan matured, I have nothing to say. If you have not, then +I suggest that, with all possible expedition, the Army of the Potomac +get ready to attack Lee, and that in the meantime a raid shall, at all +hazards, break the railroad at or near Lynchburg. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO E. B. WASHBURNE. + +(Private and Confidential.) + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, October 26, 1863. + +HON. E. B. WASHBURNE. + +MY DEAR SIR:--Yours of the 12th has been in my hands several days. +Inclosed I send the leave of absence for your brother, in as good form as +I think I can safely put it. Without knowing whether he would accept it. I +have tendered the collectorship at Portland, Maine, to your other brother, +the governor. + +Thanks to both you and our friend Campbell for your kind words and +intentions. A second term would be a great honor and a great labor, which, +together, perhaps I would not decline if tendered. + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + +TO SECRETARY CHASE. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, October 26, 1863. + +HON. SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. + +MY DEAR SIR:--The writer of the accompanying letter is one of Mrs. +Lincoln's numerous cousins. He is a grandson of "Milliken's Bend," near +Vicksburg--that is, a grandson of the man who gave name to Milliken's +Bend. His father was a brother to MRS. Lincoln's mother. I know not a +thing about his loyalty beyond what he says. Supposing he is loyal, can +any of his requests be granted, and if any, which of them? + +Yours truly, + + +A. LINCOLN. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Papers And Writings Of Abraham +Lincoln, Volume Six, by Abraham Lincoln + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LINCOLN'S PAPERS *** + +***** This file should be named 2658.txt or 2658.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/5/2658/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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