第40章

MESSAGETOCONGRESS，JANUARY20，1864

GENTLEMENOFTHESENATEANDHOUSEOFREPRESENTATIVES：

InaccordancewithaletteraddressedbytheSecretaryofState，withmyapproval，totheHon。JosephA。Wright，ofIndiana，thatpatrioticanddistinguishedgentlemanrepairedtoEuropeandattendedtheInternationalAgriculturalExhibition，heldatHamburglastyear，andhassincehisreturnmadeareporttome，which，itisbelieved，cannotfailtobeofgeneralinterest，andespeciallysototheagriculturalcommunity。Itransmitforyourconsiderationcopiesofthelettersandreport。Whileitappearsbytheletterthatnoreimbursementofexpensesorcompensationwaspromisedhim，Isubmitwhetherreasonableallowanceshouldnotbemadehimforthem。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

ORDERAPPROVINGTRADEREGULATIONS。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，January26，1864。

I，AbrahamLincoln，PresidentoftheUnitedStateshavingseenandconsideredtheadditionalregulationsoftradeprescribedbytheSecretaryoftheTreasury，andnumberedLI，LII，LIII，LIV，LV，andLVI，doherebyapprovethesame；andIfurtherdeclareandorderthatallpropertybroughtinforsale，ingoodfaith，andactuallysoldinpursuanceofsaidRegulationsLII，LIII，LIV，LV，andLVI，afterthesameshallhavetakeneffectandcomeinforceasprovidedinRegulationLVI，shallbeexemptfromconfiscationorforfeituretotheUnitedStates。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALFOSTER。

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTON，D。C。，January27，1864。

MAJOR—GENERALFOSTER，Knoxville，Tenn。：

IsasupposedcorrespondencebetweenGeneralLongstreetandyourselfabouttheamnestyproclamation，whichisnowinthenewspapers，genuine？

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOE。STANLEY。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，January28，1864

HON。EDWARDSTANLEY，SanFrancisco，Cal。：

Yoursofyesterdayreceived。Wehaverumorssimilartothedispatchreceivedbyyou，butnothingverydefinitefromNorthCarolina。

KnowingMr。Stanleytobeanableman，andnotdoubtingthatheisapatriot，IshouldbegladforhimtobewithhisoldacquaintancessouthofVirginia，butIamunabletosuggestanythingdefiniteuponthesubject。

A。LINCOLN。

TOGENERALH。W。HALLECK。

EXECUTIVEMANSION

WASHINGTON，January28，1864。

MAJOR—GENERALHALLECK：

SomecitizensofMissouri，vicinityofKansasCity，areapprehensivethatthereisspecialdangerofrenewedtroublesinthatneighborhood，andthenceontheroutetowardNewMexico。Iamnotimpressedthatthedangerisverygreatorimminent，butIwillthankyoutogiveGeneralsRosecransandCurtis，respectively，suchordersasmayturntheirattentiontheretoandpreventasfaraspossibletheapprehendeddisturbance。

Yourstruly，A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALSICKLES。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，January29，1864。

MAJOR—GENERALSICKLES，NewYork：

Couldyou，withoutitbeinginconvenientordisagreeabletoyourself，immediatelytakeatriptoArkansasforme？

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGOVERNORBRAMLETTE。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，D。C。，January31，1864。

GOVERNORBRAMLETTE，Frankfort，Ky。：

GeneralBoyle’sresignationisaccepted，sothatyourExcellencycangivehimtheappointmentproposed。

A。LINCOLN。

COLONIZATIONEXPERIMENT

ORDERTOSECRETARYSTANTON。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，February1，1864

HON。EDWINM。STANTON，SecretaryofWar。

SIR：—Youaredirectedtohaveatransport(eitherasteamorsailingvessel，asmaybedeemedproperbytheQuartermaster—General)senttothecoloredcolonyestablishedbytheUnitedStatesattheislandofVache，onthecoastofSanDomingo，tobringbacktothiscountrysuchofthecoloniststhereasdesiretoreturn。Youwillhavethetransportfurnishedwithsuitablesuppliesforthatpurpose，anddetailanofficeroftheQuartermaster’sDepartment，who，underspecialinstructionstobegiven，shallhavechargeofthebusiness。

ThecolonistswillbebroughttoWashington，unlessotherwisehereafterdirected，andbeemployedandprovidedforatthecampsforcoloredpersonsaroundthatcity。Thoseonlywillbebroughtfromtheislandwhodesiretoreturn，andtheireffectswillbebroughtwiththem。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

ORDERFORADRAFTOFFIVEHUNDRED

THOUSANDMEN。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，February1，1864。

Ordered，Thatadraftoffivehundredthousand(500，000)men，toserveforthreeyearsorduringthewar，bemadeonthetenth(10th)

dayofMarchnext，forthemilitaryserviceoftheUnitedStates，creditinganddeductingtherefromsomanyasmayhavebeenenlistedordraftedintotheservicepriortothefirst(1st)dayofMarch，andnotbeforecredited。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGOVERNORYATES。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，February3，1864。

GOVERNORYATES，Springfield，Ill。：

TheUnitedStatesGovernmentlotinSpringfieldcanbeusedforasoldiers’home，withtheunderstandingthattheGovernmentdoesnotincuranyexpenseinthecase。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGOVERNORMURPHY。

WASHINGTON，February6，1864。

GOVERNORJ。MURPHY：

MyordertoGeneralSteeleaboutanelectionwasmadeinignoranceoftheactionyourconventionhadtakenorwouldtake。AsubsequentletterdirectsGeneralSteeletoaidyouonyourownplan，andnottothwartorhinderyou。Showthistohim。

A。LINCOLN。

THESTORYOFTHEEMANCIPATIONPROCLAMATION

TOLDBYTHEPRESIDENT，TOTHEARTISTF。B。CARPENTER，FEBRUARY6，1864。

Ithadgottobe，"saidMr。Lincoln，"midsummer，1862。Thingshadgoneonfrombadtoworse，untilIfeltthatwehadreachedtheendofourropeontheplanofoperationswehadbeenpursuing；thatwehadaboutplayedourlastcard，andmustchangeourtactics，orlosethegame。Inowdeterminedupontheadoptionoftheemancipationpolicy；andwithoutconsultationwith，ortheknowledgeof，theCabinet，Ipreparedtheoriginaldraftoftheproclamation，and，aftermuchanxiousthought，calledaCabinetmeetinguponthesubject。ThiswasthelastofJulyorthefirstpartofthemonthofAugust，1862。[TheexactdatewasJuly22，1862。]……AllwerepresentexceptingMr。Blair，thePostmaster—General，whowasabsentattheopeningofthediscussion，butcameinsubsequently。I

saidtotheCabinetthatIhadresolveduponthisstep，andhadnotcalledthemtogethertoasktheiradvice，buttolaythesubject—

matterofaproclamationbeforethem，suggestionsastowhichwouldbeinorderaftertheyhadhearditread。Mr。LovejoywasinerrorwhenheinformedyouthatitexcitednocommentexceptingonthepartofSecretarySeward。Varioussuggestionswereoffered。SecretaryChasewishedthelanguagestrongerinreferencetothearmingoftheblacks。

"Mr。Blair，afterhecamein，deprecatedthepolicyonthegroundthatitwouldcosttheadministrationthefallelections。Nothing，however，wasofferedthatIhadnotalreadyfullyanticipatedandsettledinmymind，untilSecretarySewardspoke。Hesaidinsubstance，’Mr。President，Iapproveoftheproclamation，butI

questiontheexpediencyofitsissueatthisjuncture。Thedepressionofthepublicmind，consequentuponourrepeatedreverses，issogreatthatIfeartheeffectofsoimportantastep。Itmaybeviewedasthelastmeasureofanexhaustedgovernment，acryforhelp；thegovernmentstretchingforthitshandstoEthiopia，insteadofEthiopiastretchingforthherhandstothegovernment。’Hisidea，"saidthePresident，"wasthatitwouldbeconsideredourlastshriekontheretreat。[Thiswashispreciseexpression。]’Now，’

continuedMr。Seward，’whileIapprovethemeasure，Isuggest，sir，thatyoupostponeitsissueuntilyoucangiveittothecountrysupportedbymilitarysuccess，insteadofissuingit，aswouldbethecasenow，uponthegreatestdisastersofthewar。’"Mr。Lincolncontinued"ThewisdomoftheviewoftheSecretaryofStatestruckmewithverygreatforce。Itwasanaspectofthecasethat，inallmythoughtuponthesubject，Ihadentirelyoverlooked。TheresultwasthatIputthedraftoftheproclamationaside，asyoudoyoursketchforapicture，waitingforavictory。

"FromtimetotimeIaddedorchangedaline，touchingituphereandthere，anxiouslywatchingtheprocessofevents。Well，thenextnewswehadwasofPope’sdisasteratBullRun。Thingslookeddarkerthanever。FinallycametheweekofthebattleofAntietam。Ideterminedtowaitnolonger。Thenewscame，Ithink，onWednesday，thattheadvantagewasonourside。IwasthenstayingattheSoldiers’Home[threemilesoutofWashington]。HereIfinishedwritingtheseconddraftofthepreliminaryproclamation；cameuponSaturday；calledtheCabinettogethertohearit，anditwaspublishedonthefollowingMonday。"

TELEGRAMTOGENERALSEDGWICK。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，February11，1864。

MAJOR—GENERALSEDGWICK，ArmyofPotomac：

Unlesstherebesomestrongreasontothecontrary，pleasesendGeneralKilpatricktoushere，fortwoorthreedays。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOHORACEMAYNARD。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，February13，1864。

HON。HORACEMAYNARD，Nashville，Tenn。：

Yourletterof[the]secondreceived。OfcourseGovernorJohnsonwillproceedwithreorganizationastheexigenciesofthecaseappeartohimtorequire。Idonotapprehendhewillthinkitnecessarytodeviatefrommyviewstoanyruinousextent。OnonehastyreadingI

seenosuchdeviationinhisprogram，whichyousend。

A。LINCOLN。

TOW。M。FISHBACK。

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTON，February17，1864。

WILLIAMM。FISHBACK，LittleRock，Arkansas：

WhenIfixedaplanforanelectioninArkansasIdiditinignorancethatyourconventionwasdoingthesamework。SinceIlearnedthelatterfactIhavebeenconstantlytryingtoyieldmyplantothem。

IhavesenttwoletterstoGeneralSteele，andthreeorfourdespatchestoyouandothers，sayingthathe，GeneralSteele，mustbemaster，butthatitwillprobablybebestforhimtomerelyhelptheconventiononitsownplan。Somesinglemindmustbemaster，elsetherewillbenoagreementinanything，andGeneralSteele，commandingthemilitaryandbeingontheground，isthebestmantobethatmaster。Evennowcitizensaretelegraphingmetopostponetheelectiontoalaterdaythaneitherthatfixedbytheconventionorbyme。Thisdiscordmustbesilenced。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALSTEELE。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，February17，1864。

MAJOR—GENERALSTEELE，LittleRock，Arkansas：

Thedayfixedbytheconventionfortheelectionisprobablythebest，butyouontheground，andinconsultationwithgentlementhere，aretodecide。Ishouldhavefixednodayforanelection，presentednoplanforreconstruction，hadIknowntheconventionwasdoingthesamethings。Itisprobablybestthatyoumerelyassisttheconventionontheirownplan，astoelectiondayandallothermattersIhavealreadywrittenandtelegraphedthishalfadozentimes。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOA。ROBINSON。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，February18，1864。

A。ROBINSON，Leroy，N。Y。：

ThelawonlyobligesustokeepaccountswithStates，oratmostCongressionalDistricts，anditwouldoverwhelmustoattemptincounties，citiesandtowns。Neverthelesswedowhatwecantoobligeinparticularcases。InthisviewIsendyourdispatchtotheProvost—MarshalGeneral，askinghimtodothebesthecanforyou。

A。LINCOLN。

PROCLAMATIONCONCERNINGBLOCKADE，FEBRUARY18，1864。

BYTHEPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATES

AProclamation。

Whereas，bymyproclamationofthenineteenthofApril，onethousandeighthundredandsixty—one，theportsoftheStatesofSouthCarolina，Georgia，Alabama，Florida，Mississippi，Louisiana，andTexaswere，forreasonsthereinsetforth，placedunderblockade；andwhereas，theportofBrownsville，inthedistrictofBrazosSantiago，intheStateofTexas，hassincebeenblockaded，butastheblockadeofsaidportmaynowbesafelyrelaxedwithadvantagetotheinterestsofcommerce：

Now，therefore，beitknownthatI，AbrahamLincoln，PresidentoftheUnitedStates，pursuanttotheauthorityinmevestedbythefifthsectionoftheactofCongressapprovedonthe13thofJuly，1861，entitled"Anactfurthertoprovideforthecollectionofdutiesonimports，andforotherpurposes，"doherebydeclarethattheblockadeofthesaidportofBrownsvilleshallsofarceaseanddeterminefromandafterthisdate，thatcommercialintercoursewithsaidport，exceptastopersons，things，andinformationhereinafterspecified，may，fromthisdate，becarriedon，subjecttothelawsoftheUnitedStates，totheregulationsprescribedbytheSecretaryoftheTreasury，and，untiltherebellionshallhavebeensuppressed，tosuchordersasmaybepromulgatedbythegeneralcommandingthedepartment，orbyanofficerdulyauthorizedbyhimandcommandingatsaidport。Thisproclamationdoesnotauthorizeorallowtheshipmentorconveyanceofpersonsin，orintendingtoenter，theserviceoftheinsurgents，orofthingsorinformationintendedfortheiruse，orfortheiraidorcomfort，nor，exceptuponthepermissionoftheSecretaryofWar，orofsomeofficerdulyauthorizedbyhim，ofthefollowingprohibitedarticles，namely：

cannon，mortars，firearms，pistols，bombs，grenades，powder，saltpeter，sulphur，balls，bullets，pikes，swords，boarding—caps(alwaysexceptingthequantityofthesaidarticleswhichmaybenecessaryforthedefenseoftheshipandthosewhocomposethecrew)，saddles，bridles，cartridge—bagmaterial，percussionandothercaps，clothingadaptedforuniforms；sail—clothofallkinds，hempandcordage，intoxicatingdrinksotherthanbeerandlightnativewines。

TovesselsclearingfromforeignportsanddestinedtotheportofBrownsville，openedbythisproclamation，licenseswillbegrantedbyconsulsoftheUnitedStatesuponsatisfactoryevidencethatthevesselsolicensedwillconveynopersons，property，orinformationexceptedorprohibitedabove，eithertoorfromthesaidport；whichlicensesshallbeexhibitedtothecollectorofsaidportimmediatelyonarrival，and，ifrequired，toanyofficerinchargeoftheblockade，andonleavingsaidporteveryvesselwillberequiredtohaveaclearancefromthecollectorofthecustoms，accordingtolaw，showingnoviolationoftheconditionsofthelicense。Anyviolationsofsaidconditionswillinvolvetheforfeitureandcondemnationofthevesselandcargo，andtheexclusionofallpartiesconcernedfromanyfurtherprivilegeofenteringtheUnitedStatesduringthewarforanypurposewhatever。

Inallrespects，exceptashereinspecified，theexistingblockaderemainsinfullforceandeffectashithertoestablishedandmaintained，norisitrelaxedbythisproclamationexceptinregardtotheporttowhichrelaxationisorhasbeenexpresslyapplied。

Inwitnesswhereof，Ihavehereuntosetmyhand，andcausedthesealoftheUnitedStatestobeaffixed。DoneatthecityofWashington，thiseighteenthdayofFebruary，intheyearofourLordonethousandeighthundredandsixty—four，andoftheindependenceoftheUnitedStatestheeighty—eighth。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

BythePresidentWILLIAMH。SEWARD，SecretaryofState。

TELEGRAMTOCOMMANDERBLAKE。

EXECUTIVE，MANSION，February19，1864。

COMMANDERGEORGES。BLAKE，CommandantNavalAcademy，Newport，R。I。：

IdesirethecaseofMidshipmanC。Lyonre—examinedandifnotclearlyinconsistentIshallbemuchobligedtohavetherecommendationchanged。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMFROMWARRENJORDAN。

NASHVILLE，February20，1864。

HON。W。H。SEWARD，SecretaryofState，Washington，D。C。：

IncountyandStateelections，mustcitizensofTennesseetaketheoathprescribedbyGovernorJohnson，orwillthePresident’soathofamnestyentitlethemtovote？IhavebeenappointedtoholdtheMarchelectioninCheathamCounty，andwishtoactunderstandingly。

WARRENJORDAN。

WASHINGTON，February20，1864。

WARRENJORDAN，NASHVILLE：

IncountyelectionsyouhadbetterstandbyGovernorJohnson’splan；

otherwiseyouwillhaveconflictandconfusion。Ihaveseenhisplan。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALROSECRANS。

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTON，D。C。，February22，1864。

MAJOR—GENERALROSECRANS，SaintLOUIS，MO。：

ColonelSandersonwillbeorderedtoyouto—day，amereomissionthatitwasnotdonebefore。TheotherquestionsinyourdespatchIamnotyetpreparedtoanswer。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALSTEELE。

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTON，D。C。，February22，1864。

MAJOR—GENERALSTEELE，LittleRock，Ark。：

Yoursofyesterdayreceived。Yourconferencewithcitizensapproved。

Lettheelectionbeonthei4thofMarchastheyagreed。

A。LINCOLN。

TOGENERALF。STEELE。

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTON，February25，1864。

MAJOR—GENERALSTEELE，LittleRock，Arkansas：

GeneralSicklesisnotgoingtoArkansas。HeprobablywillmakeatourdowntheMississippiandhomebythegulfandocean，buthewillnotmeddleinyouraffairs。

AtonetimeIdidintendtohavehimcallonyouandexplainmorefullythanIcoulddobyletterortelegraph，soastoavoidadifficultycomingofmyhavingmadeaplanhere，whiletheconventionmadeonethere，forreorganizingArkansas；butevenhisdoingthathasbeengivenupformorethantwoweeks。PleaseshowthistoGovernorMurphytosavemetelegraphinghim。

A。LINCOLN。

DESERTERSDEATHSENTENCESREMITTED

GENERALORDERS，NO。76。

WARDEPARTMENT，ADJUTANT—GENERALSOFFICE，WASHINGTON，February26，1864。

SentenceofDeserters。

ThePresidentdirectsthatthesentencesofalldeserterswhohavebeencondemnedbycourt—martialtodeath，andthathavenotbeenotherwiseacteduponbyhim，bemitigatedtoimprisonmentduringthewarattheDryTortugas，Florida，wheretheywillbesentundersuitableguardsbyordersfromarmycommanders。

Thecommandinggenerals，whohavepowertoactonproceedingsofcourts—martialinsuchcases，areauthorizedinspecialcasestorestoretodutydesertersundersentence，whenintheirjudgmenttheservicewillbetherebybenefited。

CopiesofallordersissuedundertheforegoinginstructionswillbeimmediatelyforwardedtotheAdjutant—GeneralandtotheJudge—

AdvocateGeneral。

ByorderoftheSecretaryofWar：

B。D。TOWNSEND，AssistantAdjutant—GeneralFEMALESPY

TELEGRAMTOGENERALBUTLER。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，February26，1864

MAJOR—GENERALBUTLER，Fort。Monroe，Va。：

IcannotrememberatwhoserequestitwasthatIgavethepasstoMrs。Bulky。Ofcoursedetainher，iftheevidenceofherbeingaspyisstrongagainsther。

A。LINCOLN。

TOW。JAYNE。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，February26，1864。

HON。W。JAYNE。

DEARSIR——Idisliketomakechangesinofficesolongastheycanbeavoided。Itmultipliesmyembarrassmentsimmensely。Idisliketwoappointmentswhenonewilldo。Sendmethenameofsomemannotthepresentmarshal，andIwillnominatehimtobeProvost—MarshalforDakota。

Yourstruly，A。LINCOLN。

TOE。H。EAST。

WASHINGTON，February27，1864。

HON。E。H：EAST，SecretaryofState，Nashville，TennesseeYourtelegramofthetwenty—sixthinstantaskingforacopyofmydespatchtoWarrenJordan，Esq。，atNashvillePressoffice，hasjustbeenreferredtomebyGovernorJohnson。InmyreplytoMr。Jordan，whichwasbriefandhurried，IintendedtosaythatinthecountyandStateelectionsofTennessee，theoathprescribedintheproclamationofGovernorJohnsononthetwenty—sixthofJanuary，1864，orderinganelectioninTennesseeonthefirstSaturdayinMarchnext，isentirelysatisfactorytomeasatestofloyaltyofallpersonsproposingorofferingtovoteinsaidelections；andcomingfromhimwouldbetterbeobservedandfollowed。ThereisnoconflictbetweentheoathofamnestyinmyproclamationofeighthDecember，1863，andthatprescribedbyGovernorJohnsoninhisproclamationofthetwenty—sixthultimo。

NopersonwhohastakentheoathofamnestyofeighthDecember，1863，andobtainedapardonthereby，andwhointendstoobservethesameingoodfaith，shouldhaveanyobjectiontotakingthatprescribedbyGovernorJohnsonasatestofloyalty。

IhaveseenandexaminedGovernorJohnson’sproclamation，andamentirelysatisfiedwithhisplan，whichistorestoretheStategovernmentand