第28章

Believingthatnooccasioncouldarisewhichwouldmorefullycorrespondwiththeintentionofthelaworbemorepregnantwithhappyinfluenceasanexample，IcordiallyrecommendthatCaptainLouisM。GoldsboroughreceiveavoteofthanksofCongressforhisservicesandgallantrydisplayedinthecombinedattackoftheforcescommandedbyhimandBrigadier—GeneralBurnsideinthecaptureofRoanokeIslandandthedestructionofrebelgunboatsOnthe7th，8th，and10thofFebruary，1862。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

FIRSTWRITTENNOTICEOFGRANT

TOGENERALH。W。HALLECK。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，February16，1862。

MAJOR—GENERALHALLECK，St。Louis，Missouri：

YouhaveFortDonelsonsafe，unlessGrantshallbeoverwhelmedfromoutside；topreventwhichlatterwill，Ithink，requireallthevigilance，energy，andskillofyourselfandBuell，actinginfullco—operation。ColumbuswillnotgetatGrant，buttheforcefromBowlingGreenwill。TheyholdtherailroadfromBowlingGreentowithinafewmilesofFortDonelson，withthebridgeatClarksvilleundisturbed。ItisunsafetorelythattheywillnotdaretoexposeNashvilletoBuell。AsmallpartoftheirforcecanretireslowlytowardNashville，breakinguptherailroadastheygo，andkeepBuelloutofthatcitytwentydays。MeanwhileNashvillewillbeabundantlydefendedbyforcesfromallSouthandperhapsfromhersatManassas。

CouldnotacavalryforcefromGeneralThomasontheupperCumberlanddashacross，almostunresisted，andcuttherailroadatornearKnoxville，Tennessee？Inthemidst6fabombardmentatFortDonelson，whycouldnotagunboatrunupanddestroythebridgeatClarksville？OursuccessorfailureatFortDonelsonisvastlyimportant，andIbegyoutoputyoursoulintheeffort。IsendacopyofthistoBuell。

A。LINCOLN。

EXECUTIVEORDERNO。2。——INRELATIONTOSTATEPRISONERS。

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTONCITY，FEBRUARY27，1862

Itisordered：

First。Thataspecialcommissionoftwopersons，oneofmilitaryrankandtheotherincivillife，beappointedtoexaminethecasesofthestateprisonersremaininginthemilitarycustodyoftheUnitedStates，andtodeterminewhetherinviewofthepublicSafetyandtheexistingrebelliontheyshouldbedischarged，orremaininmilitarycustody，orberemittedtotheciviltribunalsfortrial。

Second。ThatMajor—GeneralJohnA。Dix，commandinginBaltimore，andtheHON。EdwardsPierrepont，ofNewYork，be，andtheyarehereby，appointedcommissionersforthepurposeabovementioned；andtheyareauthorizedtoexamine，hear，anddeterminethecasesaforesaidexparteandinasummarymanner，atsuchtimesandplacesasintheirdiscretiontheymayappoint，andmakefullreporttotheWarDepartment。

ByorderofthePresidentEDWINM。STANTON，SecretaryofWar。

ORDERRELATINGTOCOMMERCIALINTERCOURSE。

ConsideringthattheexistingcircumstancesofthecountryallowapartialrestorationofcommercialintercoursebetweentheinhabitantsofthosepartsoftheUnitedStatesheretoforedeclaredtobeininsurrectionandthecitizensoftheloyalStatesoftheUnion，andexercisingtheauthorityanddiscretionconfidedtomebytheactofCongress，approvedJuly13，1861，entitled"Anactfurthertoprovideforthecollectionofdutiesonimports，andforotherpurposes，"I

herebylicenseandpermitsuchcommercialintercourseinallcaseswithintherulesandregulationswhichhavebeenormaybeprescribedbytheSecretaryoftheTreasuryforconductingandcarryingonthesameontheinlandwatersaridwaysoftheUnitedStates。

WASHINGTON，February28，1862。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

SPEECHTOTHEPERUVIANMINISTER，WASHINGTON，D。C。，MARCH4，1862

TheUnitedStateshavenoenmities，animosities，orrivalries，andnointerestswhichconflictwiththewelfare，safety，andrightsorinterestsofanyothernation。Theirownprosperity，happiness，andaggrandizementaresoughtmostsafelyandadvantageouslythroughthepreservationnotonlyofpeaceontheirownpart，butpeaceamongallothernations。ButwhiletheUnitedStatesarethusafriendtoallothernations，theydonotseektoconcealthefactthattheycherishespecialsentimentsoffriendshipfor，andsympathieswith，thosewho，likethemselves，havefoundedtheirinstitutionsontheprincipleoftheequalrightsofmen；andsuchnationsbeingmoreprominentlyneighborsoftheUnitedStates，thelatterareco—operatingwiththeminestablishingcivilizationandcultureontheAmericancontinent。SuchbeingthegeneralprincipleswhichgoverntheUnitedStatesintheirforeignrelations，youmaybeassured，sir，thatinallthingsthisgovernmentwilldealjustly，frankly，and，ifitbepossible，evenliberallywithPeru，whoseliberalsentimentstowardusyouhavesokindlyexpressed。

MESSAGETOCONGRESSRECOMMENDINGCOMPENSATEDEMANCIPATION。

March6，1862

FELLOW—CITIZENSOFTHESENATEANDHOUSEOFREPRESENTATIVES：——

Irecommendtheadoptionofajointresolutionbyyourhonorablebodieswhichshallbesubstantiallyasfollows：

"Resolved，ThattheUnitedStatesoughttoco—operatewithanyStatewhichmayadoptgradualabolishmentofslavery，givingtosuchStatepecuniaryaid，tobeusedbysuchState，initsdiscretion，tocompensatefortheinconveniences，publicandprivate，producedbysuchchangeofsystem。"

IfthepropositioncontainedintheresolutiondoesnotmeettheapprovalofCongressandthecountry，thereistheend；butifitdoescommandsuchapproval，IdeemitofimportancethattheStatesandpeopleimmediatelyinterestedshouldbeatoncedistinctlynotifiedofthefact，sothattheymaybegintoconsiderwhethertoacceptorrejectit。TheFederalGovernmentwouldfinditshighestinterestinsuchameasure，asoneofthemostefficientmeansofself—preservation。Theleadersoftheexistinginsurrectionentertainthehopethatthisgovernmentwillultimatelybeforcedtoacknowledgetheindependenceofsomepartofthedisaffectedregion，andthatalltheslaveStatesnorthofsuchpartwillthensay，"TheUnionforwhichwehavestruggledbeingalreadygone，wenowchoosetogowiththeSouthernsection。"Todeprivethemofthishopesubstantiallyendstherebellion，andtheinitiationofemancipationcompletelydeprivesthemofitastoalltheStatesinitiatingit。

ThepointisnotthatalltheStatestoleratingslaverywouldverysoon，ifatall，initiateemancipation；butthat，whiletheofferisequallymadetoall，themorenorthernshallbysuchinitiationmakeitcertaintothemoresouthernthatinnoeventwilltheformereverjointhelatterintheirproposedconfederacy。Isay"initiation"

because，inmyjudgment，gradualandnotsuddenemancipationisbetterforall。Inthemerefinancialorpecuniaryview，anymemberofCongresswiththecensustablesandtreasuryreportsbeforehimcanreadilyseeforhimselfhowverysoonthecurrentexpendituresofthiswarwouldpurchase，atfairvaluation，alltheslavesinanynamedState。SuchapropositiononthepartoftheGeneralGovernmentsetsupnoclaimofarightbyFederalauthoritytointerferewithslaverywithinStatelimits，referring，asitdoes，theabsolutecontrolofthesubjectineachcasetotheStateanditspeopleimmediatelyinterested。Itisproposedasamatterofperfectlyfreechoicewiththem。

IntheannualmessagelastDecember，Ithoughtfittosay，"TheUnionmustbepreserved，andhenceallindispensablemeansmustbeemployed。"Isaidthisnothastily，butdeliberately。Warhasbeenmadeandcontinuestobeanindispensablemeanstothisend。A

practicalreacknowledgmentofthenationalauthoritywouldrenderthewarunnecessary，anditwouldatoncecease。If，however，resistancecontinues，thewarmustalsocontinue；anditisimpossibletoforeseealltheincidentswhichmayattendandalltheruinwhichmayfollowit。Suchasmayseemindispensableormayobviouslypromisegreatefficiencytowardendingthestrugglemustandwillcome。

Thepropositionnowmade(thoughanofferonly)，IhopeitmaybeesteemednooffensetoaskwhetherthepecuniaryconsiderationtenderedwouldnotbeofmorevaluetotheStatesandprivatepersonsconcernedthanaretheinstitutionandpropertyinitinthepresentaspectofaffairs。

Whileitistruethattheadoptionoftheproposedresolutionwouldbemerelyinitiatory，andnotwithinitselfapracticalmeasure，itisrecommendedinthehopethatitwouldsoonleadtoimportantpracticalresults。InfullviewofmygreatresponsibilitytomyGodandtomycountry，IearnestlybegtheattentionofCongressandthepeopletothesubject。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

INDORSEMENTONLETTERFROMGOVERNORYATES。

STATEOFILLINOIS，EXECUTIVEDEPARTMENT，SPRINGFIELD，ILL。，March1，1862

HON。EDWINM。STANTON，SECRETARYOFWAR，Washington，D。C。

SIR：——ThegovernmentatmyspecialrequestafewmonthssincecontractedforfourteenbatteriesoftheJamesrifledgun，6—poundercalibre，andalimitedquantityoftheJamesprojectiles，weighingaboutfourteenpoundseach。Thereportsshowingthesuperiorityofthisgunandprojectile，bothasregardsrange，accuracy，andexecution，forfieldserviceoverthatofallothersatthebattleofFortDonelson，leadsmetorequestthattherebefurnishedtotheStateofIllinoisintheshortesttimepracticablesevenbatteriesof12—poundercalibreJamesrifledguns，withcarriages，harness，implements，etc。，completeandreadyforfieldservice，togetherwiththefollowingfixedammunitiontoeachgun，viz。，225shells，225

canister，and50solidprojectiles，weighingabout24poundseach，andalso200shells，100canister，and100solidprojectilesforeachofthegunsofthefourteenbatteriesnamedabove，weighingabout14poundseach，alltobeoftheJamesmodel。

Veryrespectfully，RICHARDYATES，GovernorofIllinois。

[Indorsement。]

March8，1862。

ThewithinisfromtheGovernorofIllinois。Iunderstandthesevenadditionalbatteriesnowsoughtaretobe6—gunbatteries，andtheobjectistomixthemwiththefourteenbatteriestheyalreadyhavesoastomakeeachbatteryconsistoffour6—poundersandtwo12—pounders。Ishallbeverygladtohavetherequisitionfilledifitcanbewithoutdetrimenttotheservice。

A。LINCOLN。

PRESIDENT’SGENERALWARORDERNO。2。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON

March8，1862。

Ordered：

1。Thatthemajor—generalcommandingtheArmyofthePotomacproceedforthwithtoorganizethatpartofthesaidarmydestinedtoenteruponactiveoperations(includingthereserve，butexcludingthetroopstobeleftinthefortificationsaboutWashington)intofourarmycorps，tobecommandedaccordingtoseniorityofrank，asfollows：

FirstCorpstoconsistoffourdivisions，andtobecommandedbyMajor—GeneralI。McDowell。

SecondCorpstoconsistofthreedivisions，andtobecommandedbyBrigadier—GeneralE。V。Sumner。

ThirdCorpstoconsistofthreedivisions，andtobecommandedbyBrigadier—GeneralS。P。Heintzelman。

FourthCorpstoconsistofthreedivisions，andtobecommandedbyBrigadier—GeneralE。D。Keyes。

2。Thatthedivisionsnowcommandedbytheofficersaboveassignedtothecommandsofarmycorpsshallbeembracedinandformpartoftheirrespectivecorps。

3。TheforcesleftforthedefenseofWashingtonwillbeplacedincommandofBrigadier—GeneralJamesS。Wadsworth，whoshallalsobemilitarygovernoroftheDistrictofColumbia。

4。ThatthisorderbeexecutedwithsuchpromptnessanddispatchasnottodelaythecommencementoftheoperationsalreadydirectedtobeunderwrittenbytheArmyofthePotomac。

5。Afiftharmycorps，tobecommandedbyMajorgeneralN。P。Banks，willbeformedfromhisownandGeneralShields’s(lateGeneralLander’s)divisions。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

PRESIDENT’SGENERALWARORDERNO。3。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，MARCH8，1862

Ordered：ThatnochangeofthebaseofoperationsoftheArmyofthePotomacshallbemadewithoutleavinginandaboutWashingtonsuchaforceasintheopinionofthegeneral—in—chiefandthecommandersofallthearmycorpsshallleavesaidcityentirelysecure。

Thatnomorethantwoarmycorps(about50，000troops)ofsaidArmyofthePotomacshallbemovedenrouteforanewbaseofoperationsuntilthenavigationofthePotomacfromWashingtontotheChesapeakeBayshallbefreedfromenemy’sbatteriesandotherobstructions，oruntilthePresidentshallhereaftergiveexpresspermission。

Thatanymovementsasaforesaidenrouteforanewbaseofoperationswhichmaybeorderedbythegeneral—in—chief，andwhichmaybeintendedtomoveupontheChesapeakeBay，shallbegintomoveuponthebayasearlyasthe18thdayofMarchinstant，andthegeneral—in—chiefshallberesponsiblethatitsomoveasearlyasthatday。

Ordered，Thatthearmyandnavyco—operateinanimmediateefforttocapturetheenemy’sbatteriesuponthePotomacbetweenWashingtonandtheChesapeakeBay。

A。LINCOLN

MEMORANDUMOFANINTERVIEWBETWEENTHEPRESIDENTANDSOMEBORDER

SLAVESTATEREPRESENTATIVES，BYHON。J。W。CRISFIELD。

"DEARSIR：——Icalled，attherequestofthePresident，toaskyoutocometotheWhiteHousetomorrowmorning，atnineo’clock，andbringsuchofyourcolleaguesasareintown。"

WASHINGTON，March10，1862。

Yesterday，onmyreturnfromchurch，IfoundMr。Postmaster—GeneralBlairinmyroom，writingtheabovenote，whichheimmediatelysuspended，andverballycommunicatedthePresident’sinvitation，andstatedthatthePresident’spurposewastohavesomeconversationwiththedelegationsofKentucky，Missouri，Maryland，Virginia，andDelaware，inexplanationofhismessageofthe6thinstant。

Thismorningthesedelegations，orsuchofthemaswereintown，assembledattheWhiteHouseattheappointedtime，andaftersomelittledelaywereadmittedtoanaudience。Mr。LearyandmyselfweretheonlymembersfromMarylandpresent，and，Ithink，weretheonlymembersofthedelegationatthattimeinthecity。IknowthatMr。

Pearoe，oftheSenate，andMessrs。WebsterandCalvert，oftheHouse，wereabsent。

Aftertheusualsalutations，andwewereseated，thePresidentsaid，insubstance，thathehadinvitedustomeethimtohavesomeconversationwithusinexplanationofhismessageofthe6th；thatsincehehadsentitinseveralofthegentlementhenpresenthadvisitedhim，buthadavoidedanyallusiontothemessage，andhethereforeinferredthattheimportofthemessagehadbeenmisunderstood，andwasregardedasinimicaltotheinterestswerepresented；andhehadresolvedhewouldtalkwithus，anddisabuseourmindsofthaterroneousopinion。

ThePresidentthendisclaimedanyintenttoinjuretheinterestsorwoundthesensibilitiesoftheslaveStates。Onthecontrary，hispurposewastoprotecttheoneandrespecttheother；thatwewereengagedinaterrible，wasting，andtediouswar；immensearmieswereinthefield，andmustcontinueinthefieldaslongasthewarlasts；thatthesearmiesmust，ofnecessity，bebroughtintocontactwithslavesintheStateswerepresentedandinotherStatesastheyadvanced；thatslaveswouldcometothecamps，andcontinualirritationwaskeptup；thathewasconstantlyannoyedbyconflictingandantagonisticcomplaints：ontheonesideacertainclasscomplainediftheslavewasnotprotectedbythearmy；personswerefrequentlyfoundwho，participatingintheseviews，actedinawayunfriendlytotheslaveholder；ontheotherhand，slaveholderscomplainedthattheirrightswereinterferedwith，theirslavesinducedtoabscondandprotectedwithinthelines；thesecomplaintswerenumerous，loudanddeep；wereaseriousannoyancetohimandembarrassingtotheprogressofthewar；thatitkeptaliveaspirithostiletothegovernmentintheStateswerepresented；strengthenedthehopesoftheConfederatesthatatsomedaytheborderStateswouldunitewiththem，andthustendtoprolongthewar；andhewasofopinion，ifthisresolutionshouldbeadoptedbyCongressandacceptedbyourStates，thesecausesofirritationandthesehopeswouldberemoved，andmorewouldbeaccomplishedtowardshorteningthewarthancouldbehopedfromthegreatestvictoryachievedbyUnionarmies；thathemadethispropositioningoodfaith，anddesiredittobeaccepted，ifatall，voluntarily，andinthesamepatrioticspiritinwhichitwasmade；thatemancipationwasasubjectexclusivelyunderthecontroloftheStates，andmustbeadoptedorrejectedbyeachforitself；thathedidnotclaimnorhadthisgovernmentanyrighttocoercethemforthatpurpose；thatsuchwasnopartofhispurposeinmakingthisproposition，andhewishedittobeclearlyunderstood；thathedidnotexpectustheretobepreparedtogivehimananswer，buthehopedwewouldtakethesubjectintoseriousconsideration，conferwithoneanother，andthentakesuchcourseaswefeltourdutyandtheinterestsofourconstituentsrequiredofus。

Mr。Noell，ofMissouri，saidthatinhisStateslaverywasnotconsideredapermanentinstitution；thatnaturalcauseswerethereinoperationwhichwouldatnodistantdayextinguishit，andhedidnotthinkthatthispropositionwasnecessaryforthat；and，besidesthat，heandhisfriendsfeltsolicitousastothemessageonaccountofthedifferentconstructionswhichtheresolutionandmessagehadreceived。TheNewYorkTribunewasforit，andunderstoodittomeanthatwemustacceptgradualemancipationaccordingtotheplansuggested，orgetsomethingworse。

ThePresidentrepliedthathemustnotbeexpectedtoquarrelwiththeNewYorkTribunebeforetherighttime；hehopednevertohavetodoit；hewouldnotanticipateevents。InrespecttoemancipationinMissouri，hesaidthatwhathadbeenobservedbyMr。Noellwasprobablytrue，buttheoperationofthesenaturalcauseshadnotpreventedtheirritatingconducttowhichhehadreferred，ordestroyedthehopesoftheConfederatesthatMissouriwouldatsometimemergeherselfalongsideofthem，which，inhisjudgment，thepassageofthisresolutionbyCongressanditsacceptancebyMissouriwouldaccomplish。

Mr。Crisfield，ofMaryland，askedwhatwouldbetheeffectoftherefusaloftheStatetoacceptthisproposal，andhedesiredtoknowifthePresidentlookedtoanypolicybeyondtheacceptanceorrejectionofthisscheme。

ThePresidentrepliedthathehadnodesignsbeyondtheactionsoftheStatesonthisparticularsubject。Heshouldlamenttheirrefusaltoacceptit，buthehadnodesignsbeyondtheirrefusalofit。

Mr。Menzies，ofKentucky，inquiredifthePresidentthoughttherewasanypowerexceptintheStatesthemselvestocarryouthisschemeofemancipation。

ThePresidentrepliedthathethoughttherecouldnotbe。Hethenwentoffintoacourseofremarksnotqualifyingtheforegoingdeclarationnormaterialtoberepeatedtoajustunderstandingofhismeaning。

Mr。CrisfieldsaidhedidnotthinkthepeopleofMarylandlookeduponslaveryasapermanentinstitution；andhedidnotknowthattheywouldbeveryreluctanttogiveitupifprovisionwasmadetomeetthelossandtheycouldberidoftherace；buttheydidnotliketobecoercedintoemancipation，eitherbythedirectactionofthegovernmentorbyindirection，asthroughtheemancipationofslavesinthisDistrict，ortheconfiscationofSouthernpropertyasnowthreatened；andhethoughtbeforetheywouldconsenttoconsiderthispropositiontheywouldrequiretobeinformedonthesepoints。

ThePresidentrepliedthat，unlesshewasexpelledbytheactofGodortheConfederatearmiesheshouldoccupythathouseforthreeyears；andaslongasheremainedthereMarylandhadnothingtofeareitherforherinstitutionsorherinterestsonthepointsreferredto。

Mr。Crisfieldimmediatelyadded："Mr。President，ifwhatyounowsaycouldbeheardbythepeopleofMaryland，theywouldconsideryourpropositionwithamuchbetterfeelingthanIfearwithoutittheywillbeinclinedtodo。"

ThePresident："That[meaningapublicationofwhathesaid]willnotdo；itwouldforcemeintoaquarrelbeforethepropertime"；and，againintimating，ashehadbeforedone，thataquarrelwiththe"Greeleyfaction"wasimpending，hesaidhedidnotwishtoencounteritbeforethepropertime，noratallifitcouldbeavoided。

[TheGreelyfactionwantedanimmediateEmancipationProclamation。

D。W。]

GovernorWickliffe，ofKentucky，thenaskedhimrespectingtheconstitutionalityofhissche