第39章

JOHNMILDERBORGER，Peru，Ind。：

Icannotcomprehendtheobjectofyourdispatch。Idonotoftendeclineseeingpeoplewhocalluponme，andprobablywillseeyouifyoucall。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMtoE。H。ANDE。JAMESON。

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTON，D。C。，November13，1863。

E。H。andE。JAMESON，JeffersonCity，Mo。：

YourssayingBrownandHendersonareelectedSenatorsisreceived。I

understandthisisoneandone。IfsoitisknockingheadstogethertosomeA。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALW。S。ROSECRANS。

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTON，November14，1863。12。15P。M。

MAJOR—GENERALROSECRANS，Cincinnati，Ohio：

Ihavereceivedandconsideredyourdispatchofyesterday。Ofthereportsyoumention，Ihavenotthemeansofseeinganyexceptyourown。Besidesthis，thepublicationmightbeimproperinviewofthecourtofinquirywhichhasbeenordered。Witheverydisposition，notmerelytodojustice，buttoobligeyou，IfeelconstrainedtosayI

thinkthepublicationsbetternotbemadenow。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALBURNSIDE。

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTONCITY，November16，1863。

MAJOR—GENERALBURNSIDE，Knoxville，Tenn。：

Whatisthenews？

A。LINCOLN。

TOSECRETARYCHASE

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，November17，1863。

HON。SECRETARYOFTHETREASURY。

MYDEARSIR：——IexpectedtoseeyouhereatCabinetmeeting，andtosaysomethingaboutgoingtoGettysburg。Therewillbeatraintotakeandreturnus。Thetimeforstartingisnotyetfixed，butwhenitshallbeIwillnotifyyou。

Yourstruly，A。LINCOLN。

ADDRESSATGETTYSBURG

NOVEMBER19，1863。

Fourscoreandsevenyearsagoourfathersbroughtforthonthiscontinent，anewnation，conceivedinLiberty，anddedicatedtothepropositionthatallmenarecreatedequal。

Nowweareengagedinagreatcivilwar，testingwhetherthatnationoranynationsoconceivedandsodedicated，canlongendure。Wearemetonagreatbattle—fieldofthatwar。Wehavecometodedicateaportionofthatfield，asafinalrestingplaceforthosewhoheregavetheirlivesthatthatnationmightlive。Itisaltogetherfittingandproperthatweshoulddothis。

But，inalargersense，wecannotdedicate——wecannotconsecrate——

wecannothallow——thisground。Thebravemen，livinganddead，whostruggledhere，haveconsecratedit，faraboveourpoorpowertoaddordetract。Theworldwilllittlenote，norlongrememberwhatwesayhere，butitcanneverforgetwhattheydidhere。Itisforustheliving，rather，tobededicatedheretotheunfinishedworkwhichtheywhofoughtherehavethusfarsonoblyadvanced。Itisratherforustobeherededicatedtothegreattaskremainingbeforeus——

thatfromthesehonoreddeadwetakeincreaseddevotiontothatcauseforwhichtheygavethelastfullmeasureofdevotionthatweherehighlyresolvethatthesedeadshallnothavediedinvain——thatthisnation，underGod，shallhaveanewbirthoffreedom——andthatgovernmentofthepeople，bythepeople，forthepeople，shallnotperishfromtheearth。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALMEADE。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，D。C。，November20，1863。

MAJOR—GENERALMEADE，ArmyofPotomac：

IfthereisamanbythenameofKingundersentencetobeshot，pleasesuspendexecutiontillfurtherorder，andsendrecord。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALMEADE。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON。November20，1863。

MAJOR—GENERALMEADE，ArmyofPotomac：

Anintelligentwomanindeepdistress，calledthismorning，sayingherhusband，alieutenantintheArmyofPotomac，wastobeshotnextMondayfordesertion，andputtingaletterinmyhand，uponwhichI

reliedforparticulars，sheleftwithoutmentioninganameorotherparticularbywhichtoidentifythecase。OnopeningtheletterI

founditequallyvague，havingnothingtoidentifyby，exceptherownsignature，whichseemstobe"Mrs。AnnaS。King。"Icouldnotagainfindher。Ifyouhaveacasewhichyoushallthinkisprobablytheoneintended，pleaseapplymydispatchofthismorningtoit。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOE。P。EVANS。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，D。C。，November23，1863。

E。P。EVANS，WestUnion，AdamsCounty，Ohio：

YourstoGovernorChaseinbehalfofJohnAWelchisbeforeme。Cantherebeaworsecasethantodesertandwithletterspersuadingotherstodesert？Icannotinterposewithoutabettershowingthanyoumake。Whendidhedesert？whendidhewritetheletters？

A。LINCOLN。

TOSECRETARYSEWARD。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，D。C。，November23，1863。

MYDEARSIR：——TwodespatchessinceIsawyou；onenotquitesolateonfiringaswehadbefore，butgivingthepointsthatBurnsidethinkshecanholdtheplace，thatheisnotcloselyinvested，andthatheforagesacrosstheriver。Theotherbringsthefiringupto11A。M。yesterday，beingtwenty—threehourslaterthanwehadbefore。

Yourstruly，A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALGRANT。

WASHINGTON，November25，1863。8。40A。M。

MAJOR—GENERALU。S。GRANT：

YourdespatchesastofightingonMondayandTuesdayarehere。Welldone！Manythankstoall。RememberBurnside。

A。LINCOLN。

TOC。P。KIRKLAND。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，December7，1863。

CHARLESP。KIRKLAND，ESQ。，NewYork：

IhavejustreceivedandhavereadyourpublishedlettertotheHON。

BenjaminR。Curtis。UnderthecircumstancesImaynotbethemostcompetentjudge，butitappearstometobeapaperofgreatability，andforthecountry’ssakemorethanformyownIthankyouforit。

Yoursverytruly，A。LINCOLN。

ANNOUNCEMENTOFUNIONSUCCESSINEASTTENNESSEE。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，D。C。，December7，1863。

ReliableinformationbeingreceivedthattheinsurgentforceisretreatingfromEastTennessee，undercircumstancesrenderingitprobablethattheUnionforcescannothereafterbedislodgedfromthatimportantposition；andesteemingthistobeofhighnationalconsequence，Irecommendthatallloyalpeopledo，onreceiptofthisinformation，assembleattheirplacesofworship，andrenderspecialhomageandgratitudetoAlmightyGodforthisgreatadvancementofthenationalcause。

A。LINCOLN。

PROCLAMATIONOFAMNESTYANDRECONSTRUCTION

DECEMBER8，1863。

BYTHEPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATESOFAMERICA：

AProclamation。

WhereasinandbytheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesitisprovidedthatthePresident"shallhavepowertograntreprievesandpardonsforoffensesagainsttheUnitedStates，exceptincasesofimpeachment；"and，WhereasarebellionnowexistswherebytheloyalStategovernmentsofseveralStateshaveforalongtimebeensubverted，andmanypersonshavecommittedandarenowguiltyoftreasonagainsttheUnitedStates；andWhereas，withreferencetosaidrebellionandtreason，lawshavebeenenactedbyCongressdeclaringforfeituresandconfiscationofpropertyandliberationofslaves，allupontermsandconditionsthereinstated，andalsodeclaringthatthePresidentwastherebyauthorizedatanytimethereafter，byproclamation，toextendtopersonswhomayhaveparticipatedintheexistingrebellioninanyStateorpartthereofpardonandamnesty，withsuchexceptionsandatsuchtimesandonsuchconditionsashemaydeemexpedientforthepublicwelfare；andWhereastheCongressionaldeclarationforlimitedandconditionalpardonaccordswithwell—establishedjudicialexpositionofthepardoningpower；andWhereas，withreferencetosaidrebellion，thePresidentoftheUnitedStateshasissuedseveralproclamationswithprovisionsinregardtotheliberationofslaves；andWhereasitisnowdesiredbysomepersonsheretoforeengagedinsaidrebelliontoresumetheirallegiancetotheUnitedStatesandtoreinaugurateloyalStategovernmentswithinandfortheirrespectiveStates：

Therefore，I，AbrahamLincoln，PresidentoftheUnitedStates，doproclaim，declare，andmakeknowntoallpersonswhohave，directlyorbyimplication，participatedintheexistingrebellion，exceptashereinafterexcepted，thatafullpardonisherebygrantedtothemandeachofthem，withrestorationofallrightsofproperty，exceptastoslavesandinpropertycaseswhererightsofthirdpartiesshallhaveintervened，andupontheconditionthateverysuchpersonshalltakeandsubscribeanoathandthenceforwardkeepandmaintainsaidoathinviolate，andwhichoathshallberegisteredforpermanentpreservationandshallbeofthetenorandeffectfollowing，towit：

I，________，dosolemnlyswear，inpresenceofAlmightyGod，thatI

willhenceforthfaithfullysupport，protect，anddefendtheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesandtheUnionoftheStatesthereunder；andthatIwillinlikemannerabidebyandfaithfullysupportallactsofCongresspassedduringtheexistingrebellionwithreferencetoslaves，solongandsofarasnotrepealed，modified，orheldvoidbyCongressorbydecisionoftheSupremeCourt；andthatIwillinlikemannerabidebyandfaithfullysupportallproclamationsofthePresidentmadeduringtheexistingrebellionhavingreferencetoslaves，solongandsofarasnotmodifiedordeclaredvoidbydecisionoftheSupremeCourt。SohelpmeGod。"

Thepersonsexceptedfromthebenefitsoftheforegoingprovisionsareallwhoareorshallhavebeencivilordiplomaticofficersoragentsoftheso—calledConfederateGovernment；allwhohaveleftjudicialstationsundertheUnitedStatestoaidtherebellion；allwhoareorshallhavebeenmilitaryornavalofficersofsaidso—

calledConfederateGovernmentabovetherankofcolonelinthearmyoroflieutenantinthenavy；allwholeftseatsintheUnitedStatesCongresstoaidtherebellion；allwhoresignedcommissionsintheArmyorNavyoftheUnitedStatesandafterwardsaidedtherebellion；

andallwhohaveengagedinanywayintreatingcoloredpersons，orwhitepersonsinchargeofsuch，otherwisethanlawfullyasprisonersofwar，andwhichpersonsmayhavebeenfoundintheUnitedStatesserviceassoldiers，seamen，orinanyothercapacity。

AndIdofurtherproclaim，declare，andmakeknownthatwhenever，inanyoftheStatesofArkansas，Texas，Louisiana，Mississippi，Tennessee，Alabama，Georgia，Florida，SouthCarolina，andNorthCarolina，anumberofpersons，notlessthanone—tenthinnumberofthevotescastinsuchStateatthePresidentialelectionoftheyearA。D。1860，eachhavingtakenoathaforesaid，andnothavingsinceviolatedit，andbeingaqualifiedvoterbytheelectionlawoftheStateexistingimmediatelybeforetheso—calledactofsecession，andexcludingallothers，shallreestablishaStategovernmentwhichshallberepublicanandinnowisecontraveningsaidoath，suchshallberecognizedasthetruegovernmentoftheState，andtheStateshallreceivethereunderthebenefitsoftheconstitutionalprovisionwhichdeclaresthat"theUnitedStatesshallguaranteetoeveryStateinthisUnionarepublicanformofgovernmentandshallprotecteachofthemagainstinvasion，and，onapplicationofthelegislature，ortheEXECUTIVE(whenthelegislaturecannotbeconvened)，againstdomesticviolence。"

AndIdofurtherproclaim，declare，andmakeknownthatanyprovisionwhichmaybeadoptedbysuchStategovernmentinrelationtothefreedpeopleofsuchStatewhichshallrecognizeanddeclaretheirpermanentfreedom，providefortheireducation，andwhichmayyetbeconsistentasatemporaryarrangementwiththeirpresentconditionasalaboring，landless，andhomelessclass，willnotbeobjectedtobytheNationalEXECUTIVE。

AnditissuggestedasnotimproperthatinconstructingaloyalStategovernmentinanyStatethenameoftheState，theboundary，thesubdivisions，theconstitution，andthegeneralcodeoflawsasbeforetherebellionbemaintained，subjectonlytothemodificationsmadenecessarybytheconditionshereinbeforestated，andsuchothers，ifany，notcontraveningsaidcoandwhichmaybedeemedexpedientbythoseframingthenewStategovernment。

Toavoidmisunderstanding，itmaybepropertosaythatthisproclamation，sofarasitrelatestoStategovernments，hasnoreferencetoStateswhereinloyalStategovernmentshaveallthewhilebeenmaintained。AndforthesamereasonitmaybepropertofurthersaythatwhethermemberssenttoCongressfromanyStateshallbeadmittedtoseatsconstitutionallyrestsexclusivelywiththerespectiveHouses，andnottoanyextentwiththeEXECUTIVE。And，stillfurther，thatthisproclamationisintendedtopresentthepeopleoftheStateswhereinthenationalauthorityhasbeensuspendedandloyalStategovernmentshavebeensubvertedamodeinandbywhichthenationalauthorityandloyalStategovernmentsmaybere—establishedwithinsaidStatesorinanyofthem；andwhilethemodepresentedisthebesttheEXECUTIVEcansuggest，withhispresentimpressions，itmustnotbeunderstoodthatnootherpossiblemodewouldbeacceptable。

GivenundermyhandatthecityofWASHINGTON，the8thdayofDecember，A。D。1863，andoftheIndependenceoftheUnitedStatesofAmericatheeighty—eighth。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

BythePresident：

WILLIAMH。SEWARD，SecretaryofState。

ANNUALMESSAGETOCONGRESS，DECEMBER8，1863。

FELLOW—CITIZENSOFTHESENATEANDHOUSEOF

REPRESENTATIVES：——Anotheryearofhealth，andofsufficientlyabundantharvests，haspassed。Forthese，andespeciallyfortheimprovedconditioncfournationalaffairs，ourrenewedandprofoundestgratitudetoGodisdue。

Weremaininpeaceandfriendshipwithforeignpowers。

TheeffortsofdisloyalcitizensoftheUnitedStatestoinvolveusinforeignwars，toaidaninexcusableinsurrection，havebeenunavailing。HerBritannicMajesty’sgovernment，aswasjustlyexpected，haveexercisedtheirauthoritytopreventthedepartureofnewhostileexpeditionsfromBritishports。TheEmperorofFrancehas，byalikeproceeding，promptlyvindicatedtheneutralitywhichheproclaimedatthebeginningofthecontest。Questionsofgreatintricacyandimportancehavearisenoutoftheblockade，andotherbelligerentoperations，betweentheGovernmentandseveralofthemaritimepowers，buttheyhavebeendiscussed，and，asfaraswaspossible，accommodated，inaspiritoffrankness，justice，andmutualgood—will。Itisespeciallygratifyingthatourprizecourts，bytheimpartialityoftheiradjudications，havecommandedtherespectandconfidenceofmaritimepowers。

ThesupplementaltreatybetweentheUnitedStatesandGreatBritainforthesuppressionoftheAfricanslave—trade，madeonthe17thdayofFebruarylast，hasbeendulyratifiedandcarriedintoexecution。

Itisbelievedthat，sofarasAmericanportsandAmericancitizensareconcerned，thatinhumanandodioustraffichasbeenbroughttoanend。

Ishallsubmit，fortheconsiderationoftheSenate，aconventionfortheadjustmentofpossessoryclaimsinWashingtonTerritory，arisingoutofthetreatyofthe15thofJune，1846，betweentheUnitedStatesandGreatBritain，andwhichhavebeenthesourceofsomedisquietamongthecitizensofthatnowrapidlyimprovingpartofthecountry。

Anovelandimportantquestion，involvingtheextentofthemaritimejurisdictionofSpaininthewaterswhichsurroundtheislandofCuba，hasbeendebatedwithoutreachinganagreement，anditisproposed，inanamicablespirit，toreferittothearbitramentofafriendlypower。AconventionforthatpurposewillbesubmittedtotheSenate。

Ihavethoughtitproper，subjecttotheapprovaloftheSenate，toconcurwiththeinterestedcommercialpowersinanarrangementfortheliquidationoftheScheldtduesupontheprincipleswhichhavebeenheretoforeadoptedinregardtotheimpostsuponnavigationinthewatersofDenmark。

Thelong—pendingcontroversybetweenthisgovernmentandthatofChiletouchingtheseizureatSitana，inPeru，byChileanofficers，ofalargeamountintreasurebelongingtocitizensoftheUnitedStateshasbeenbroughttoaclosebytheawardofHisMajestytheKingoftheBelgians，towhosearbitrationthequestionwasreferredbytheparties。Thesubjectwasthoroughlyandpatientlyexaminedbythatjustlyrespectedmagistrate，andalthoughthesumawardedtotheclaimantsmaynothavebeenaslargeastheyexpectedthereisnoreasontodistrustthewisdomofHisMajesty’sdecision。ThatdecisionwaspromptlycompliedwithbyChilewhenintelligenceinregardtoitreachedthatcountry。

ThejointcommissionundertheactofthelastsessionofcarryingintoeffecttheconventionwithPeruonthesubjectofclaimshasbeenorganizedatLima，andisengagedinthebusinessintrustedtoit。

DifficultiesconcerninginteroceanictransitthroughNicaraguaareincourseofamicableadjustment。

Inconformitywithprinciplessetforthinmylastannualmessage，I

havereceivedarepresentativefromtheUnitedStatesofColombia，andhaveaccreditedaministertothatRepublic。

IncidentsoccurringintheprogressofourcivilwarhaveforceduponmyattentiontheuncertainstateofinternationalquestionstouchingtherightsofforeignersinthiscountryandofUnitedStatescitizensabroad。Inregardtosomegovernmentstheserightsareatleastpartiallydefinedbytreaties。Innoinstance，however，isitexpresslystipulatedthatintheeventofcivilwaraforeignerresidinginthiscountrywithinthelinesoftheinsurgentsistobeexemptedfromtherulewhichclasseshimasabelligerent，inwhosebehalfthegovernmentofhiscountrycannotexpectanyprivilegesorimmunitiesdistinctfromthatcharacter。Iregrettosay，however，thatsuchclaimshavebeenputforward，andinsomeinstancesinbehalfofforeignerswhohavelivedintheUnitedStatesthegreaterpartoftheirlives。

Thereisreasontobelievethatmanypersonsborninforeigncountrieswhohavedeclaredtheirintentiontobecomecitizens，orwhohavebeenfullynaturalizedhaveevadedthemilitarydutyrequiredofthembydenyingthefactandtherebythrowingupontheGovernmenttheburdenofproof。Ithasbeenfounddifficultorimpracticabletoobtainthisproof。fromthewantofguidestothepropersourcesofinformation。ThesemightbesuppliedbyrequiringclerksofcourtswheredeclarationsofintentionmaybemadeornaturalizationseffectedtosendperiodicallylistsofthenamesofthepersonsnaturalizedordeclaringtheirintentiontobecomecitizenstotheSecretaryoftheInterior，inwhoseDepartmentthosenamesmightbearrangedandprintedforgeneralinformation。

ThereisalsoreasontobelievethatforeignersfrequentlybecomecitizensoftheUnitedStatesforthesolepurposeofevadingdutiesimposedbythelawsoftheirnativecountries，towhichonbecomingnaturalizedheretheyatoncerepair，andthoughneverreturningtotheUnitedStatestheystillclaimtheinterpositionofthisgovernmentascitizens。Manyaltercationsandgreatprejudiceshaveheretoforearisenoutofthisabuse。Itisthereforesubmittedtoyourseriousconsideration。ItmightbeadvisabletofixalimitbeyondwhichnocitizenoftheUnitedStatesresidingabroadmayclaimtheinterpositionofhisgovernment。

Therightofsuffragehasoftenbeenassumedandexercisedbyaliensunderpretensesofnaturalization，whichtheyhavedisavowedwhendraftedintothemilitaryservice。Isubmittheexpediencyofsuchanamendmentofthelawaswillmakethefactofvotinganestoppeagainstanypleaofexemptionfrommilitaryserviceorothercivilobligationonthegroundofalienage。

IncommonwithotherWesternpowers，ourrelationswithJapanhavebeenbroughtintoseriousjeopardythroughtheperverseoppositionofthehereditaryaristocracyoftheEmpiretotheenlightenedandliberalpolicyoftheTycoon，designedtobringthecountryintothesocietyofnations。Itishoped，althoughnotwithentireconfidence，thatthesedifficultiesmaybepeacefullyovercome。I

askyourattentiontotheclaimoftheministerresidingthereforthedamageshesustainedinthedestructionbyfireoftheresidenceofthelegationatYedo。

SatisfactoryarrangementshavebeenmadewiththeEmperorofRussia，which，itisbelieved，willresultineffectingacontinuouslineoftelegraphthroughthatEmpirefromourPacificcoast。

IrecommendtoyourfavorableconsiderationthesubjectofaninternationaltelegraphacrosstheAtlanticOcean，andalsoofatelegraphbetweenthiscapitalandthenationalfortsalongtheAtlanticseaboardandtheGulfofMexico。Suchcommunications，establishedwithanyreasonableoutlay，wouldbeeconomicalaswellaseffectiveaidstothediplomatic，military，andnavalservice。

TheconsularsystemoftheUnitedStates，undertheenactmentsofthelastCongress，beginstobeself—sustaining，andthereisreasontohopethatitmaybecomeentirelysowiththeincreaseoftradewhichwillensuewheneverpeaceisrestored。OurministersabroadhavebeenfaithfulindefendingAmericanrights。Inprotectingcommercialinterestsourconsulshavenecessarilyhadtoencounterincreasedlaborsandresponsibilitiesgrowingoutofthewar。Thesetheyhaveforthemostpartmetanddischargedwithzealandefficiency。Thisacknowledgmentjustlyincludesthoseconsulswho，residinginMorocco，Egypt，Turkey，Japan，China，andotherOrientalcountries，arechargedwithcomplexfunctionsandextraordinarypowers。

TheconditionoftheseveralorganizedTerritoriesisgenerallysatisfactory，althoughIndiandisturbancesinNewMexicohavenotbeenentirelysuppressed。ThemineralresourcesofColorado，Nevada，Idaho，NewMexico，andArizonaareprovingfarricherthanhasbeenheretoforeunderstood。IlaybeforeyouacommunicationonthissubjectfromtheGovernorofNewMexico。Iagainsubmittoyourconsiderationtheexpediencyofestablishingasystemfortheencouragementofimmigration。Althoughthissourceofnationalwealthandstrengthisagainflowingwithgreaterfreedomthanforseveralyearsbeforetheinsurrectionoccurred，thereisstillagreatdeficiencyoflaborersineveryfieldofindustry，especiallyinagricultureandinourmines，aswellofironandcoalasofthepreciousmetals。Whilethedemandforlaborismuchincreasedhere，tensofthousandsofpersons，destituteofremunerativeoccupation，arethrongingourforeignconsulatesandofferingtoemigratetotheUnitedStatesifessential，butverycheap，assistancecanbeaffordedthem。Itiseasytoseethatunderthesharpdisciplineofcivilwarthenationisbeginninganewlife。ThisnobleeffortdemandstheaidandoughttoreceivetheattentionandsupportoftheGovernment。

InjuriesunforeseenbytheGovernmentandunintendedmayinsomecaseshavebeeninflictedonthesubjectsorcitizensofforeigncountries，bothatseaandonland，bypersonsintheserviceoftheUnitedStates。AsthisgovernmentexpectsredressfromotherpowerswhensimilarinjuriesareinflictedbypersonsintheirserviceuponcitizensoftheUnitedStates，wemustbepreparedtodojusticetoforeigners。Iftheexistingjudicialtribunalsareinadequatetothispurpose，aspecialcourtmaybeauthorized，withpowertohearanddecidesuchclaimsofthecharacterreferredtoasmayhavearisenundertreatiesandthepubliclaw。Conventionsforadjustingtheclaimsbyjointcommissionhavebeenproposedtosomegovernments，butnodefinitiveanswertothepropositionhasyetbeenreceivedfromany。

InthecourseofthesessionIshallprobablyhaveoccasiontorequestyoutoprovideindemnificationtoclaimantswheredecreesofrestitutionhavebeenrenderedanddamagesawardedbyadmiraltycourts，andinothercaseswherethisgovernmentmaybeacknowledgedtobeliableinprincipleandwheretheamountofthatliabilityhasbeenascertainedbyaninformalarbitration。

TheproperofficersoftheTreasuryhavedeemedthemselvesrequiredbythelawoftheUnitedStatesuponthesubjecttodemandataxupontheincomesofforeignconsulsinthiscountry。Whilesuchademandmaynotinstrictnessbeinderogationofpubliclaw，orperhapsofanyexistingtreatybetweentheUnitedStatesandaforeigncountry，theexpediencyofsofarmodifyingtheactastoexemptfromtaxtheincomeofsuchconsulsasarenotcitizensoftheUnitedStates，derivedfromtheemolumentsoftheirofficeorfrompropertynotsituatedintheUnitedStates，issubmittedtoyourseriousconsideration。Imakethissuggestionuponthegroundthatacomitywhich