第43章

IpresumethattheconductingofapresidentialelectioninTennesseeinstrictaccordancewiththeoldCodeoftheState，isnotnowapossibility。

Itisscarcelynecessarytoadd，thatifanyelectionshallbeheldandanyvotesshallbecastintheStateofTennesseeforPresidentandVice—PresidentoftheUnitedStates，itwillbelong，nottothemilitaryagents，noryettotheExecutiveDepartment，butexclusivelytoanotherdepartmentoftheGovernment，todeterminewhethertheyareentitledtobecountedinconformitywiththeConstitutionandlawsoftheUnitedStates。

Exceptitbetogiveprotectionagainstviolence，Ideclinetointerfereinanywaywithanypresidentialelection。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALP。H。SHERIDAN。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，October22，1864

MAJOR—GENERALSHERIDAN：

WithgreatpleasureItendertoyouandyourbravearmythethanksofthenation，andmyownpersonaladmirationandgratitude，forthemonth’soperationsintheShenandoahValley；andespeciallyforthesplendidworkofOctober19，1864。

Yourobedientservant，ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALG。H。THOMAS。

WASHINGTON，D。C。，October23，18645P。M。

MAJOR—GENERALTHOMAS，Nashville，Tennessee：

Ihavereceivedinformationto—day，havinggreatappearanceofauthenticity，thatthereistobearebelraidintoWesternKentucky；

thatitistoconsistoffourthousandinfantryandthreethousandcavalry，andistostartfromCorinth，Mississippi，OnthefourthdayofNovember。

A。LINCOLN，President。

SendcopytoGeneralWashburnatMemphis。

A。L。

TELEGRAMTOT。T。DAVIS。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，D。C。，October31，1864。

HON。THOMAST。DAVIS，Syracuse，N。Y。：

IhaveorderedthatMiltonD。Nortonbedischargedontakingtheoath。Pleasenotifyhismother。

A。LINCOLN。

PROCLAMATIONADMITTINGNEVADAINTOTHEUNION

OCTOBER31，1864。

BYTHEPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATESOFAMERICA：

AProclamationWhereastheCongressoftheUnitedStatespassedanact，whichwasapprovedonthe21stdayofMarchlast，entitled"AnacttoenablethepeopleofNevadatoformaconstitutionandStategovernment，andfortheadmissionofsuchStateintotheUniononanequalfootingwiththeoriginalStates；"and，WhereasthesaidconstitutionandStategovernmenthavebeenformed，pursuanttotheconditionsprescribedbythefifthsectionoftheactofCongressaforesaid，andthecertificaterequiredbythesaidactandalsoacopyoftheconstitutionandordinanceshavebeensubmittedtothePresidentoftheUnitedStates：

Now，therefore，beitknownthatI，AbrahamLincoln，PresidentoftheUnitedStates，inaccordancewiththedutyimposeduponmebytheactofCongressaforesaid，doherebydeclareandproclaimthatthesaidStateofNevadaisadmittedintotheUniononanequalfootingwiththeoriginalStates。

InwitnesswhereofIhavehereuntosetmyhandandcausedthesealoftheUnitedStatestobeaffixed……

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

BythePresident：

WILLIAMH。SEWARD，SecretaryofState。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALBURBRIDGE。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，November4，1864

MAJOR—GENERALBURBRIDGE，Lexington，Ky。

SuspendexecutionofallthedesertersorderedtobeexecutedonSundayatLouisville，untilfurtherorder，andsendmetherecordsinthecases。Acknowledgereceipt。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTONAVALOFFICERATMOBILEBAY。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，November6，1864。9P。M。

MAJOR—GENERALCANBY，NewOrleans，La。：

PleaseforwardwithallpossibledespatchtothenavalofficercommandingatMobileBaythefollowingorder。

A。LINCOLN。

(Inclosure。)

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，November6，1864。

NAVALOFFICERINCOMMANDATMOBILEBAY

Donotonanyaccount，oronanyshowingofauthoritywhatever，fromwhomsoeverpurportingtocome，allowtheblockadetobeviolated。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOSAILORS’FAIR，BOSTON，MASSACHUSETTS。

WASHINGTON，D。C。，November8，1864。

TOTHEMANAGINGCOMMITTEEOFTHESAILORS’FAIR，Boston，MassachusettsAllowmetowishyouagreatsuccess。WiththeoldfameoftheNavymadebrighterinthepresentwaryoucannotfail。InamenonelestI

wrongothersbyomission。Toall，fromrear—admiraltohonestJack，Itenderthenation’sadmirationandgratitude。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOA。H。RICE。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，November8，1864。

HON。A。H。RICE，Boston，Massachusetts：

Yoursreceived。Ihavenoothernoticethattheoxismine。Ifitbereallyso，IpresentittotheSailors’Fairasacontribution。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOSECRETARYSEWARD。

WASHINGTON，November8，1864。

HON。WILLIAMH。SEWARD，Auburn，NewYork：

NewsfromGrant，Sherman，ThomasandRosecranssatisfactory，butnotimportant。PirateFloridacapturedbytheWachusettOctober7，onthecoastofBrazil。Theinformationiscertain。

A。LINCOLN。

RESPONSETOASERENADE，NOVEMBER9，1864。

FRIENDSANDFELLOW—CITIZENS：——EvenbeforeIhadbeeninformedbyyouthatthiscomplimentwaspaidmebyloyalcitizensofPennsylvania，friendlytome，Ihadinferredthatyouwereofthatportionofmycountrymenwhothinkthatthebestinterestsofthenationaretobesubservedbythesupportofthepresentadministration。Idonotpretendtosaythatyou，whothinkso，embraceallthepatriotismandloyaltyofthecountry，butIdobelieve，andItrustwithoutpersonalinterest，thatthewelfareofthecountrydoesrequirethatsuchsupportandindorsementshouldbegiven。

Iearnestlybelievethattheconsequencesofthisday’swork，ifitbeasyouassume，andasnowseemsprobable，willbetothelastingadvantage，ifnottotheverysalvation，ofthecountry。Icannotatthishoursaywhathasbeentheresultoftheelection。But，whateveritmaybe，Ihavenodesiretomodifythisopinion：thatallwhohavelaboredto—dayinbehalfoftheUnionhavewroughtforthebestinterestsofthecountryandtheworld；notonlyforthepresent，butforallfutureages。

IamthankfultoGodforthisapprovalofthepeople；but，whiledeeplygratefulforthismarkoftheirconfidenceinme，ifIknowmyheart，mygratitudeisfreefromanytaintofpersonaltriumph。Idonotimpugnthemotivesofanyoneopposedtome。Itisnopleasuretometotriumphoveranyone，butIgivethankstotheAlmightyforthisevidenceofthepeople’sresolutiontostandbyfreegovernmentandtherightsofhumanity。

TELEGRAMTOH。W。HOFFMAN。

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTON，D。C。November10，1864。

H。HOFFMAN，Baltimore，Md。：

TheMarylandsoldiersintheArmyofthePotomaccastatotalvoteoffourteenhundredandtwenty—eight，outofwhichwegetelevenhundredandsixtymajority。ThisisdirectlyfromGeneralMeadeandGeneralGrant。

A。LINCOLN。

ONDEMOCRATICGOVERNMENT

RESPONSETOASERENADE，NOVEMBER10，1864。

Ithaslongbeenagravequestionwhetheranygovernment，nottoostrongforthelibertiesofitspeople，canbestrongenoughtomaintainitsexistenceingreatemergencies。Onthispointthepresentrebellionbroughtourgovernmenttoaseveretest，andapresidentialelectionoccurringinregularcourseduringtherebellion，addednotalittletothestrain。

Iftheloyalpeopleunitedwereputtotheutmostoftheirstrengthbytherebellion，musttheynotfailwhendividedandpartiallyparalyzedbyapoliticalwaramongthemselves？Buttheelectionwasanecessity。Wecannothavefreegovernmentwithoutelections；andiftheelectioncouldforceustoforegoorpostponeanationalelection，itmightfairlyclaimtohavealreadyconqueredandruinedus。Thestrifeoftheelectionisbuthumannaturepracticallyappliedtothefactsofthecase。Whathasoccurredinthiscasemusteverrecurinsimilarcases。Humannaturewillnotchange。Inanyfuturegreatnationaltrial，comparedwiththemenofthis，wewillhaveasweakandasstrong，assillyandaswise，asbadandasgood。Letus，therefore，studytheincidentsofthisasphilosophytolearnwisdomfrom，andnoneofthemaswrongstoberevenged。

Buttheelection，alongwithitsincidentalandundesirablestrife，hasdonegood，too。Ithasdemonstratedthatapeople’sgovernmentcansustainanationalelectioninthemidstofagreatcivilwar。

Untilnow，ithasnotbeenknowntotheworldthatthiswasapossibility。Itshows，also，howsoundandstrongwestillare。Itshowsthatevenamongthecandidatesofthesameparty，hewhoismostdevotedtotheUnionandmostopposedtotreasoncanreceivemostofthepeople’svotes。Itshows，also，totheextentyetknown，thatwehavemoremennowthanwehadwhenthewarbegan。Goldisgoodinitsplace；butliving，brave，andpatrioticmenarebetterthangold。

Buttherebellioncontinues，and，nowthattheelectionisover，maynotallhaveacommoninteresttoreuniteinacommonefforttosaveourcommoncountry？Formyownpart，Ihavestrivenandshallstrivetoavoidplacinganyobstacleintheway。SolongasIhavebeenhere，Ihavenotwillinglyplantedathorninanyman’sbosom。WhileIamdulysensibletothehighcomplimentofare—election，anddulygrateful，asItrust，toAlmightyGod，forhavingdirectedmycountrymentoarightconclusion，asIthink，fortheirgood，itaddsnothingtomysatisfactionthatanyothermanmaybedisappointedbytheresult。

MayIaskthosewhohavenotdifferedwithmetojoinwithmeinthissamespirittowardsthosewhohave？Andnow，letmeclosebyaskingthreeheartycheersforourbravesoldiersandseamen，andtheirgallantandskillfulcommanders。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALS。O。BURBRIDGE。

WASHINGTON，D。C。，November10，1864。

MAJOR—GENERALBURBRIDGE，Lexington，Ky。：

IhavejustreceivedatelegramfromGovernorBramlettesaying：

"GeneralJohnB。Houston，aloyalmanandprominentcitizen，wasarrested，andyesterday，startedoffbyGeneralBurbridge，tobesentbeyondourlinesbywayofCatlettsburg，fornootheroffensethanoppositiontoyourre—election，"andIhaveansweredhimasfollowsbelow，ofwhichpleasetakenoticeandreporttome。

A。LINCOLN。

WASHINGTON，D。C。，November10，1864。

GOVERNORBRAMLETTE，Frankfort，Ky。：

Yoursofyesterdayreceived。IcanscarcelybelievethatGeneralJohnB。Houstonhasbeenarrested"fornootheroffensethanoppositiontomyre—election；"for，ifthathadbeendeemedsufficientcauseofarrest，IshouldhaveheardofmorethanonearrestinKentuckyonelectionday。If，however，GeneralHoustonhasbeenarrestedfornoothercausethanoppositiontomyre—election，GeneralBurbridgewilldischargehimatonce，Isendinghimacopyofthisasanordertothateffect。

A。LINCOLN。

TOGENERALS。A。HURLBUT。

(Private。)

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，November14，1864。

MAJOR—GENERALHURLBUT：

FewthingssinceIhavebeenherehaveimpressedmemorepainfullythanwhat，forfourorfivemonthspast，hasappearedabittermilitaryoppositiontothenewStategovernmentofLouisiana。I

stillindulgedsomehopethatIwasmistakeninthefact；butcopiesofacorrespondenceonthesubjectbetweenGeneralCanbyandyourself，andshownmeto—day，dispelthathope。AveryfairproportionofthepeopleofLouisianahaveinauguratedanewStategovernment，makinganexcellentnewconstitution——betterforthepoorblackmanthanwehaveinIllinois。Thiswasdoneundermilitaryprotection，directedbyme，inthebelief，stillsincerelyentertained，thatwithsuchanucleusaroundwhichtobuildwecouldgettheStateintopositionagainsoonerthanotherwise。Inthisbeliefageneralpromiseofprotectionandsupport，applicablealiketoLouisianaandotherStates，wasgiveninthelastannualmessage。

Duringtheformationofthenewgovernmentandconstitutiontheyweresupportedbynearlyeveryloyalperson，andopposedbyeverysecessionist。Andthissupportandthisopposition，fromtherespectivestandpointsoftheparties，wasperfectlyconsistentandlogical。EveryUnionistoughttowishthenewgovernmenttosucceed；

andeverydisunionistmustdesireittofail。ItsfailurewouldgladdentheheartofSlidellinEurope，andofeveryenemyoftheoldflagintheworld。Everyadvocateofslaverynaturallydesirestoseeblastedandcrushedthelibertypromisedtheblackmanbythenewconstitution。ButwhyGeneralCanbyandGeneralHurlbutshouldjoinonthesamesideistomeincomprehensible。

Ofcourse，intheconditionofthingsatNewOrleans，themilitarymustnotbethwartedbythecivilauthority；butwhentheConstitutionalConvention，forwhatitdeemsabreachofprivilege，arrestsaneditorinnowayconnectedwiththemilitary，themilitarynecessityforinsultingtheconventionandforciblydischargingtheeditorisdifficulttoperceive。Neitheristhemilitarynecessityforprotectingthepeopleagainstpayinglargesalariesfixedbyalegislatureoftheirownchoosingveryapparent。EquallydifficulttoperceiveisthemilitarynecessityforforciblyinterposingtopreventabankfromloaningitsownmoneytotheState。Thesethings，iftheyhaveoccurred，are，atthebest，nobetterthangratuitoushostility。IwishIcouldhopethattheymaybeshownnottohaveoccurred。Tomakeassuranceagainstmisunderstanding，I

repeatthatintheexistingconditionofthingsinLouisiana，themilitarymustnotbethwartedbythecivilauthority；andIaddthatonpointsofdifferencethecommandinggeneralmustbejudgeandmaster。ButIalsoaddthatintheexerciseofthisjudgmentandcontrol，apurpose，obvious，andscarcelyunavowed，totranscendallmilitarynecessity，inordertocrushoutthecivilgovernment，willnotbeoverlooked。

Yourstruly，A。LINCOLN。

REPLYTOMARYLANDUNIONCOMMITTEE，NOVEMBER17，1864。

ThePresident，inreply，saidthathehadtoconfesshehadbeendulynotifiedoftheintentiontomakethisfriendlycallsomedaysago，andinthishehadhadafairopportunityaffordedtobereadywithasetspeech；buthehadnotpreparedone，beingtoobusyforthatpurpose。Hewouldsay，however，thathewasgratifiedwiththeresultofthepresidentialelection。Hehadkeptasnearashecouldtotheexerciseofhisbestjudgmentfortheinterestofthewholecountry，andtohavethesealofapprobationstampedonthecoursehehadpursuedwasexceedinglygratefultohisfeelings。Hethoughthecouldsay，inaslargeasenseasanyotherman，thathispleasureconsistedinbeliefthatthepolicyhehadpursuedwasthebest，ifnottheonlyone，forthesafetyofthecountry。

Hehadsaidbefore，andnowrepeated，thatheindulgedinnofeelingoftriumphoveranymanwhothoughtoracteddifferentlyfromhimself。Hehadnosuchfeelingtowardanylivingman。WhenhethoughtofMaryland，inparticular，hewasoftheopinionthatshehadmorethandoublehershareinwhathadoccurredintherecentelections。Theadoptionofafree—StateconstitutionwasagreaterthingthantheparttakenbythepeopleoftheStateinthepresidentialelection。HewouldanydayhavestipulatedtoloseMarylandinthepresidentialelectiontosaveitbytheadoptionofafree—Stateconstitution，becausethepresidentialelectioncomeseveryfouryears，whilethatisathingwhich，beingdone，cannotbeundone。Hethereforethoughtthatinthattheyhadavictoryfortherightworthagreatdealmorethantheirpartinthepresidentialelection，thoughofthelatterhethoughthighly。Hehadoncebeforesaid，butwouldsayagain，thatthosewhohavedifferedwithusandopposeduswillseethattheresultofthepresidentialelectionisbetterfortheirowngoodthaniftheyhadbeensuccessful。

Thankingthecommitteefortheircompliment，hebroughthisbriefspeechtoaclose。

PROCLAMATIONCONCERNINGBLOCKADE，NOVEMBER19，1864

BFTHEPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATESOFAMERICA：

AProclamation。

Whereasbymyproclamationofthe19thofApril，1861，itwasdeclaredthattheportsofcertainStates，includingthoseofNorfolk，intheStateofVirginia，FernandinaandPensacola，intheStateofFlorida，were，forreasonsthereinsetforth，intendedtobeplacedunderblockade；and：

Whereasthesaidportsweresubsequentlyblockadedaccordingly，buthavingforsometimepastbeeninthemilitarypossessionoftheUnitedStates，itisdeeemdadvisablethattheyshouldbeopenedtodomesticandforeigncommerce：

Now，therefore，beitknownthatI，AbrahamLincoln，PresidentoftheUnitedStates，pursuanttotheauthorityinmevestedbythefifthsectionoftheactofCongressapprovedonthe13thofJuly，1861，entitled"Anactfurthertoprovideforthecollectionofdutiesonimports，andforotherpurposes，"doherebydeclarethattheblockadeofthesaidportsofNorfolk，Fernandina，andPensacolashallsofarceaseanddetermine，fromandafterthefirstdayofDecembernext，thatcommercialintercoursewiththoseports，exceptastopersons，things，andinformationcontrabandofwar，may，fromthattime，becarriedon，subjecttothelawsoftheUnitedStates，tothelimitationsandinpursuanceoftheregulationswhichmaybeprescribedbytheSecretaryoftheTreasury，andtosuchmilitaryandnavalregulationsasarenowinforce，ormayhereafterbefoundnecessary。

Inwitnesswhereof，IhavehereuntosetmyhandandcausedthesealoftheUnitedStatestobeaffixed。DoneatthecityofWashington，thisnineteenthdayofNovember，intheyearofourLordonethousandeighthundredandsixty—four，andoftheindependenceoftheUnitedStatestheeighty—ninth。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

BythePresident：

WILLIAMH。SEWARD，SecretaryofState。

FIVE—STARMOTHER

TOMRS。BIXBY。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，November21，1864。

MRS。BIXBY，Boston，Massachusetts。

DEARMADAM：——IhavebeenshowninthefilesoftheWarDepartmentastatementoftheAdjutant—GeneralofMassachusettsthatyouarethemotheroffivesonswhohavediedgloriouslyonthefieldofbattle。

Ifeelhowweakandfruitlessmustbeanywordsofminewhichshouldattempttobeguileyoufromthegriefofalosssooverwhelming。ButIcannotrefrainfromtenderingtoyoutheconsolationthatmaybefoundinthethanksoftheRepublictheydiedtosave。IpraythatourHeavenlyFathermayassuagetheanguishofyourbereavement，andleaveyouonlythecherishedmemoryofthelovedandlost，andthesolemnpridethatmustbeyourstohavelaidsocostlyasacrificeuponthealtaroffreedom。

Yoursverysincerelyandrespectfully，ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

TOJ。PHILLIPS。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，November21，1864。

DEACONJOHNPHILLIPS。

MYDEARSIR：——Ihaveheardoftheincidentatthepollsinyourtown，inwhichyouactedsohonorableapart，andItakethelibertyofwritingtoyoutoexpressmypersonalgratitudeforthecomplimentpaidmebythesuffrageofacitizensovenerable。

TheexampleofsuchdevotiontocivicdutiesinonewhosedayshavealreadybeenextendedanaveragelifetimebeyondthePsalmist’slimit，cannotbutbevaluableandfruitful。Itisnotformyselfonly，butforthecountrywhichyouhaveinyoursphereservedsolongandsowell，thatIthankyou。

Yourfriendandservant，ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGOVERNORBRAMLETTE。

WASHINGTON，D。C。NOVEMBER22，1864。

GOVERNORBRAMLETTE，Frankfort，Ky。：

Yoursofto—dayreceived。ItseemsthatLieutenant—GovernorJacobsandColonelWolfordarestationarynow。GeneralSudarthandMr。

Hodgesarehere，andtheSecretaryofWarandmyselfaretryingtodevisemeansofpacificationandharmonyforKentucky，whichwehopetoeffectsoon，nowthatthepassion—excitingsubjectoftheelectionispast。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGOVERNORCURTIN，WASHINGTON，D。C。，NOVEMBER25，1864

GOVERNORCURTIN，Harrisburg，Pennsylvania；

Ihavenoknowledge，information，orbelief，thatthreeStates——oranyStates，offertoresumeallegiance。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALROSECRANS。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTOND。C。，NOV。26，1864

MAJOR—GENERALROSECRANS：

PleasetelegraphmebrieflyonwhatchargeandevidenceMrs。AnnaB。

MartinhasbeensenttothepenitentiaryatAlton。

A。LINCOLN。

MEMORANDUM，DECEMBER3，1864。

OnThursdayoflastweek，twoladiesfromTennesseecamebeforethePresident，askingthereleaseoftheirhusbandsheldasprisonersofwaratJohnson’sIsland。TheywereputoffuntilFriday，whentheycameagain，andwereagainputoffuntilSaturday。Ateachoftheinterviewsoneoftheladiesurgedthatherhusbandwasareligiousman，andonSaturdaythePresidentorderedthereleaseoftheprisoners，whenhesaidtothislady："Yousayyourhusbandisareligiousman；tellhimwhenyoumeethim，thatIsayIamnotmuchofajudgeofreligion，butthat，inmyopinion，thereligionthatsetsmentorebelandfightagainsttheirowngovernment，because，astheythink，thatgovernmentdoesnotsufficientlyhelpsomementoeattheirbreadinthesweatofothermen’sfaces，isnotthesortofreligionuponwhichpeoplecangettoheaven。"

A。LINCOLN。

ORDERCONCERNINGTHESTEAMER"FUNAYMASOLACE。"

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，December3，1864。

Awarsteamer，calledtheFunaymaSolace，havingbeenbuiltinthiscountry，fortheJapanesegovernmentandattheinstanceofthatgovernment，itisdeemedtocomportwiththepublicinterest，inviewoftheunsettledconditionoftherelationsoftheUnitedStateswiththatEmpire，thatthesteamershouldnotbeallowedtoproceedtoJapan。If，however，theSecretaryoftheNavyshouldascertainthatthesteamerisadaptedtoourservice，heisauthorizedtopurchaseher，butthepurchasemoneywillbeheldintrusttowardsatisfyinganyvalidclaimswhichmaybepresentedbytheJapaneseonaccountoftheconstructionofthesteamerandthefailuretodeliverthesame，asabovesetforth。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

MESSAGETOCONGRESS。

WASHINGTONCITY，December5，1864

TOTHESENATEANDHOUSEOFREPRESENTATIVES：`

InconformitytothelawofJuly16，1862，ImostcordiallyrecommendthatCaptainJohnA。Winslow，UnitedStatesNavy，receiveavoteofthanksfromCongressfortheskillandgallantryexhibitedbyhiminthebrilliantactionwhilstincommandoftheUnitedStatessteamerKeaysarge，whichledtothetotaldestructionofthepiraticalcraftAlabama，onthe19thofJune，1864。，avesselsuperiorintonnage，superiorinnumberofguns，andsuperiorinnumberofcrew。

Thisrecommendationisspeciallymadeinordertocomplywiththerequirementsoftheninthsectionoftheaforesaidact，whichisinthefollowingwords，viz：

Thatanylineofficerofthenavyormarinecorpsmaybeadvancedonegrade，if，uponrecommendationbythePresidentbynamehereceivesthethanksofCongressforhighlydistinguishedconductinconflictwiththeenemy，orfarextraordinaryheroisminthelineofhisprofession。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN，MESSAGETOCONGRESS。

WASHINGTONCITY，December5，1864。

TOTHESENATEANDHOUSEOFREPRESENTATIVES：

InconformitytothelawofJuly16，1862，ImostcordiallyrecommendthatLieutenantWilliamB。Gushing，UnitedStatesNavy，receiveavoteofthanksfromCongressforhisimportant，gallant，andperilousachievementindestroyingtherebelironcladsteamerAlbemarleonthenightofthe27thofOctober，i86q。，atPlymouth，N。C。

Thedestructionofsoformidableave