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diff --git a/old/20060816.2658.txt b/old/20060816.2658.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..50a87a9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/20060816.2658.txt @@ -0,0 +1,16645 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Writings of Abraham Lincoln, Volume 6, +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.net + + +Title: The Writings of Abraham Lincoln, Volume 6, + +Author: Abraham Lincoln + +Release Date: August 16, 2006 [EBook #2658] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WRITINGS OF LINCOLN *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + +THE WRITINGS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN + +Volume Six + +CONSTITUTIONAL EDITION + + + +WRITINGS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN + +1862-1863 + + + +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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + + + + +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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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.............. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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-STATE REPRESENTATIVES 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. + +ABRAHAM 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, + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, D.C., August 12, 1862. + +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. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., August 12, 1862. + +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. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., August 12, 1862. + +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. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., + +September 11, 1862. + +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 A COMMITTEE FROM THE RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS OF CHICAGO, +ASKING THAT THE PRESIDENT ISSUE A PROCLAMATION OF EMANCIPATION. + +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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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." + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., December 8, 1862. + +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." + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM LINCOLN. + + + + +INDORSEMENT ON THE PROCEEDINGS AND SENTENCE OF THE FITZ-JOHN PORTER +COURT-MARTIAL. + +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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM LINCOLN. + +By the President: +WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. + + + + +STATEHOOD FOR WEST VIRGINIA + +PROCLAMATION ADMITTING WEST VIRGINIA INTO THE UNION, +APRIL 20, 1863. + +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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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 soldier boy who deserts while I must +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. + +ABRAHAM 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 ............... + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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, + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + + + + +APPROVAL OF THE DECISION OF THE COURT IN THE +CASE OF DR. DAVID M. WRIGHT. + +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. + +ABRAHAM 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..................... + +ABRAHAM 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 Writings of Abraham Lincoln, +Volume 6,, by Abraham Lincoln + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WRITINGS OF LINCOLN *** + +***** 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.net/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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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +Etext prepared for Gutenberg by David Widger, widger@cecomet.net + + + + + +VOLUME SIX + +WRITINGS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN + +1862-1863 + + + + +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 Seliin E. Woolworth. +Acting Lieutenant Commanding Charles H. Baldwin. + +ABRAHAM 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. + + + + +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. + +ABRAHAM 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 contrary1 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +WASHINGT0N, 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. + +ABRAHAM 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'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. + +ABRAHAM 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. +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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.............. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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, certain1y 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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, July11, 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-STATE REPRESENTATIVES 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. + +ABRAHAM 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, + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, D.C., August 12, 1862. + +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. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., August 12, 1862. + +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. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., August 12, 1862. + +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. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., + +September 11, 1862. + +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 Wiliiamsport, +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 A COMMITTEE FROM THE RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS OF CHICAGO, +ASKING THAT THE PRESIDENT ISSUE A PROCLAMATION OF EMANCIPATION. + +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 assemb1ed, 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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., September27, 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. + +ABRAHAM 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 McCLELLANS 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. + +ABRAHAM 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." + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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 3oth 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 186o, 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., December 8, 1862. + +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." + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM LINCOLN. + + + + +MESSAGE TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. +JANUARY 14, I863. + +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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM LINCOLN. + + + + +INDORSEMENT ON THE PROCEEDINGS AND SENTENCE OF THE FITZ-JOHN PORTER +COURT-MARTIAL. + +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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM LINCOLN. + + + + +TELEGRAM TO GENERAL BUTLER + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, + January 28, r8G3. + +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 z, i8G3. + +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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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 arid 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 tile 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. "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. + +ABRAHAM 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 3rst 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. + +ABRAHAM LINCOLN. + +By the President: +WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. + + + + +STATEHOOD FOR WEST VIRGINIA + +PROCLAMATION ADMITTING WEST VIRGINIA INTO THE UNION, +APRIL 20, 1863. + +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. + +ABRAHAM 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 BURN5IDE, 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. + +ABRAHAM 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 soldier boy who deserts while I must +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. + +ABRAHAM 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 ............... + +ABRAHAM 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. Vallindigham 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 he 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, +Genera1-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. + +ABRAHAM 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, + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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-Genera1 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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, 1863.11A.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. + +ABRAHAM 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, I863. + +"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. + +ABRAHAM 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 coining, 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. + + + + +APPROVAL OF THE DECISION OF THE COURT IN THE +CASE OF DR. DAVID M. WRIGHT. + +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. + +ABRAHAM 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..................... + +ABRAHAM 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 Project Gutenberg Etext of The Writings of Abraham Lincoln, Vol 6 + diff --git a/old/6linc10.zip b/old/6linc10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ed95f57 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/6linc10.zip diff --git a/old/6linc11.txt b/old/6linc11.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..59288f9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/6linc11.txt @@ -0,0 +1,16601 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Writings of Abraham Lincoln, v6 +#6 in our series of the Writings of Abraham Lincoln + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before distributing this or any other +Project Gutenberg file. + +We encourage you to keep this file, exactly as it is, on your +own disk, thereby keeping an electronic path open for future +readers. Please do not remove this. + +This header should be the first thing seen when anyone starts to +view the etext. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.10/04/01*END* + + + + + +This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> + + + + + +THE WRITINGS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, Volume Six + +CONSTITUTIONAL EDITION + + + +WRITINGS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN + +1862-1863 + + + +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 Seliin E. Woolworth. +Acting Lieutenant Commanding Charles H. Baldwin. + +ABRAHAM 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. + + + + +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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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'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. + +ABRAHAM 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. +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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.............. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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-STATE REPRESENTATIVES 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. + +ABRAHAM 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, + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, D.C., August 12, 1862. + +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. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., August 12, 1862. + +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. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., August 12, 1862. + +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. + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., + +September 11, 1862. + +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 A COMMITTEE FROM THE RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS OF CHICAGO, +ASKING THAT THE PRESIDENT ISSUE A PROCLAMATION OF EMANCIPATION. + +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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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." + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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 3oth 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +WASHINGTON, D. C., December 8, 1862. + +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." + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM LINCOLN. + + + + +INDORSEMENT ON THE PROCEEDINGS AND SENTENCE OF THE FITZ-JOHN PORTER +COURT-MARTIAL. + +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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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 arid 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 tile 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. "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. + +ABRAHAM 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 3rst 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. + +ABRAHAM LINCOLN. + +By the President: +WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. + + + + +STATEHOOD FOR WEST VIRGINIA + +PROCLAMATION ADMITTING WEST VIRGINIA INTO THE UNION, +APRIL 20, 1863. + +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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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 soldier boy who deserts while I must +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. + +ABRAHAM 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 ............... + +ABRAHAM 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. Vallindigham 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 he 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, +Genera1-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. + +ABRAHAM 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, + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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. + +ABRAHAM 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, I863. + +"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. + +ABRAHAM 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 coining, 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. + + + + +APPROVAL OF THE DECISION OF THE COURT IN THE +CASE OF DR. DAVID M. WRIGHT. + +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. + +ABRAHAM 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..................... + +ABRAHAM 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 this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Writings of Lincoln, v6 +By Abraham Lincoln + diff --git a/old/6linc11.zip b/old/6linc11.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8f9b5c5 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/6linc11.zip |