have been pleased to present to me. You will, of course, expect that I
acknowledge it. So much has been said about Gettysburg and so well, that
for me to attempt to say more may perhaps only serve to weaken the force
of that which has already been said. A most graceful and eloquent tribute
was paid to the patriotism and self-denying labors of the American
ladies, on the occasion of the consecration of the National Cemetery at
Gettysburg, by our illustrious friend, Edward Everett, now, alas! departed
from earth. His life was a truly great one, and I think the greatest part
of it was that which crowned its closing years, I wish you to read, if you
have not already done so, the eloquent and truthful words which he then
spoke of the women of America. Truly, the services they have rendered to
the defenders of our country in this perilous time, and are yet rendering,
can never be estimated as they ought to be. For your kind wishes to me
personally, I beg leave to render you likewise my sincerest thanks. I
assure you they are reciprocated. And now, gentlemen and ladies, may God
bless you all.
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, January 25, 1865.
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT, City Point
If Newell W. Root, of First Connecticut Heavy Artillery, is under sentence
of death, please telegraph me briefly the circumstances.
A. LINCOLN.
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL GRANT.
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., January 25, 1865.
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT, City Point, Va.:
Having received the report in the case of Newell W. Root, I do not
interfere further in the case.
A. LINCOLN.
EARLY CONSULTATIONS WITH REBELS
INSTRUCTIONS TO MAJOR ECKERT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, January 30, 1865.
MAJOR T. T. ECKERT.
SIR:-You will proceed with the documents placed in your hands, and on
reaching General Ord will deliver him the letter addressed to him by the
Secretary of War. Then, by General Ord's assistance procure an interview
with Messrs. Stephens, Hunter, and Campbell, or any of them, deliver to
him or them the paper on which your own letter is written. Note on the
copy which you retain the time of delivery and to whom delivered. Receive
their answer in writing, waiting a reasonable time for it, and which, if
it contain their decision to come through without further condition, will
be your warrant to ask General Ord to pass them through as directed in the
letter of the Secretary of War to him. If by their answer they decline
to come, or propose other terms, do not have them pass through. And this
being your whole duty, return and report to me.
Yours truly,
A. LINCOLN.
TELEGRAM FROM SECRETARY OF WAR TO GENERAL ORD.
(Cipher.)
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., January 30, 1865.
MAJOR-GENERAL ORD, Headquarters Army of the James:
By direction of the President you are instructed to inform the three
gentlemen, Messrs. Stephens, Hunter, and Campbell, that a messenger will
be dispatched to them at or near where they now are, without unnecessary
delay.
EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
INDORSEMENT ON A LETTER FROM J. M. ASHLEY.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 31, 1865.
DEAR SIR:--The report is in circulation in the House that Peace
Commissioners are on their way or in the city, and is being used against
us. If it is true, I fear we shall lose the bill. Please authorize me to
contradict it, if it is not true.
Respectfully, J. M. ASHLEY.
To the President.
(Indorsement.)
So far as I know there are no Peace Commissioners in the city or likely to
be in it.
A. LINCOLN. January 31, 1865
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL U.S. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, January 31, 1865
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT, City Point, Va.:
A messenger is coming to you on the business contained in your despatch.
Detain the gentlemen in comfortable quarters until he arrives, and then
act upon the message he brings, as far as applicable, it having been
made up to pass through General Ord's hands, and when the gentlemen were
supposed to be beyond our lines.
A. LINCOLN.
INSTRUCTIONS TO SECRETARY SEWARD.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, January 31, 1865.
HON. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State
You will proceed to Fortress Monroe, Virginia, there to meet and
informally confer with Messrs. Stephens, Hunter, and Campbell, on the
basis of my letter to F. P. Blair, Esq., of January 18, 1865, a copy
of which you have. You will make known to them that three things are
indispensable to wit:
1. The restoration of the national authority throughout all the States.
2. No receding by the Executive of the United States on the slavery
question from the position assumed thereon in the late annual message to
Congress, and in preceding documents.
3. No cessation of hostilities short of an end of the war and the
disbanding of all forces hostile to the Government.
You will inform them that all propositions of theirs, not inconsistent
with the above, will be considered and passed upon in a spirit of sincere
liberality. You will hear all they may choose to say and report it to me.
You will not assume to definitely consummate anything.
Yours, etc.,
A. LINCOLN.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FOR THE ABOLISHING OF SLAVERY
PASSAGE THROUGH CONGRESS OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FOR THE
ABOLISHING OF SLAVERY
RESPONSE TO A SERENADE, JANUARY 31, 1865.
He supposed the passage through Congress of the Constitutional amendment
for the abolishing of slavery throughout the United States was the
occasion to which he was indebted for the honor of this call.
The occasion was one of congratulation to the country, and to the whole
world. But there is a task yet before us--to go forward and consummate by
the votes of the States that which Congress so nobly began yesterday. He
had the honor to inform those present that Illinois had already done the
work. Maryland was about half through, but he felt proud that Illinois was
a little ahead.
He thought this measure was a very fitting if not an indispensable adjunct
to the winding up of the great difficulty. He wished the reunion of
all the States perfected, and so effected as to remove all causes of
disturbance in the future; and, to attain this end, it was necessary
that the original disturbing cause should, if possible, be rooted out. He
thought all would bear him witness that he had never shirked from doing
all that he could to eradicate slavery, by issuing an Emancipation
Proclamation. But that proclamation falls short of what the amendment
will be when fully consummated. A question might be raised whether the
proclamation was legally valid. It might be added, that it only aided
those who came into our lines, and that it was inoperative as to those
who did not give themselves up; or that it would have no effect upon the
children of the slaves born hereafter; in fact, it would be urged that it
did not meet the evil. But this amendment is a king's cure for all evils.
It winds the whole thing up. He would repeat, that it was the fitting if
not the indispensable adjunct to the consummation of the great game we are
playing. He could not but congratulate all present--himself, the country,
and the whole world upon this great moral victory.
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL U. S. GRANT. WASHINGTON, February 1, 1865
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT, City Point:
Let nothing which is transpiring change, hinder, or delay your military
movements or plans.
A. LINCOLN.
TELEGRAM TO MAJOR ECKERT. WASHINGTON, D. C., February 1, 1865.
MAJOR T. T. ECKERT, Care of General Grant, City Point, Va.:
Call at Fortress Monroe, and put yourself under direction of Mr. Seward,
whom you will find there.
A. LINCOLN.
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL U. S. GRANT. WASHINGTON, D. C., February 2, 1865
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT, City Point, Va.:
Say to the gentlemen I will meet them personally at Fortress Monroe as
soon as I can get there.
A. LINCOLN.
TELEGRAM TO SECRETARY SEWARD, WASHINGTON, D. C., February 2, 1865.
HON. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Fortress Monroe, Va.
Induced by a despatch of General Grant, I join you at Fort Monroe, as soon
as I can come.
A. LINCOLN.
ORDER TO MAKE CORRECTIONS IN THE DRAFT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON CITY, February 6, 1865
Whereas complaints are made in some localities respecting the assignments
of quotas and credits allowed for the pending call of troops to fill
up the armies: Now, in order to determine all controversies in respect
thereto, and to avoid any delay in filling up the armies, it is ordered,
1. That the Attorney-General, Brigadier-General Richard Delafield, and
Colonel C. W. Foster, be, and they are hereby constituted, a board to
examine into the proper quotas and credits of the respective States and
districts under the call of December 19, 1864, with directions, if any
errors be found therein, to make such corrections as the law and facts may
require, and report their determination to the Provost-Marshal-General.
The determination of said board to be final and conclusive, and the draft
to be made in conformity therewith.
2. The Provost-Marshal-General is ordered to make the draft in the
respective districts as speedily as the same can be done after the
fifteenth of this month.
A. LINCOLN.
TO PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, February 6, 1865.
PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL:
These gentlemen distinctly say to me this morning that what they want is
the means from your office of showing their people that the quota assigned
to them is right. They think it will take but little time--two hours, they
say. Please give there double the time and every facility you can.
Yours truly,
A. LINCOLN.
February 6, 1865.
The Provost-Marshal brings this letter back to me and says he cannot give
the facility required without detriment to the service, and thereupon he
is excused from doing it.
A. LINCOLN.
TELEGRAM TO LIEUTENANT-COLONEL GLENN.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, February 7, 1865.
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL GLENN, Commanding Post at Henderson, Ky.:
Complaint is made to me that you are forcing negroes into the military
service, and even torturing them--riding them on rails and the like to
extort their consent. I hope this may be a mistake. The like must not be
done by you, or any one under you. You must not force negroes any more
than white men. Answer me on this.
A. LINCOLN.
TO GOVERNOR SMITH.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, February 8, 1865.
HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR SMITH, of Vermont:
Complaint is made to me, by Vermont, that the assignment of her quota for
the draft on the pending call is intrinsically unjust, and also in
bad faith of the Government's promise to fairly allow credits for men
previously furnished. To illustrate, a supposed case is stated as follows:
Vermont and New Hampshire must between them furnish six thousand men on
the pending call; and being equal, each must furnish as many as the other
in the long run. But the Government finds that on former calls Vermont
furnished a surplus of five hundred, and New Hampshire a surplus, of
fifteen hundred. These two surpluses making two thousand and added to the
six thousand, making eight thousand to be furnished by the two States, or
four thousand each less, by fair credits. Then subtract Vermont's surplus
of five hundred from her four thousand, leaves three thousand five hundred
as her quota on the pending call; and likewise subtract New Hampshire's
surplus of fifteen hundred from her four thousand, leaves two thousand
five hundred as her quota on the pending call. These three thousand five
hundred and two thousand five hundred make precisely six thousand, which
the supposed case requires from the two States, and it is just equal for
Vermont to furnish one thousand more now than New Hampshire, because New
Hampshire has heretofore furnished one thousand more than Vermont, which
equalizes the burdens of the two in the long run. And this result, so far
from being bad faith to Vermont, is indispensable to keeping good faith
with New Hampshire. By no other result can the six thousand men be
obtained from the two States, and, at the same time deal justly and
keep faith with both, and we do but confuse ourselves in questioning the
process by which the right result is reached. The supposed case is perfect
as an illustration.
The pending call is not for three hundred thousand men subject to fair
credits, but is for three hundred thousand remaining after all fair
credits have been deducted, and it is impossible to concede what Vermont
asks without coming out short of three hundred thousand men, or making
other localities pay for the partiality shown her.
This upon the case stated. If there be different reasons for making an
allowance to Vermont, let them be presented and considered.
Yours truly,
A. LINCOLN.
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 8, 1865.
TO THE HONORABLE THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
The joint resolution entitled "Joint resolution declaring certain States
not entitled to representation in the electoral college" has been signed
by the Executive in deference to the view of Congress implied in its
passage and presentation to him. In his own view, however, the two Houses
of Congress, convened under the twelfth article of the Constitution, have
complete power to exclude from counting all electoral votes deemed by
them to be illegal, and it is not competent for the Executive to defeat or
obstruct that power by a veto, as would be the case if his action were at
all essential in the matter. He disclaims all right of the Executive to
interfere in any way in the matter of canvassing or counting electoral
votes, and he also disclaims that by signing said resolution he has
expressed any opinion on the recitals of the preamble or any judgment of
his own upon the subject of the resolution.
A. LINCOLN.
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL U. S. GRANT. EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, February
8, 1865
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT, City Point. Va.:
I am called on by the House of Representatives to give an account of my
interview with Messrs. Stephens, Hunter, and Campbell, and it is very
desirable to me to put your despatch of February 1, to the Secretary of
War, in which, among other things, you say: "I fear now their going
back without any expression from any one in authority will have a bad
influence." I think the despatch does you credit, while I do not see that
it can embarrass you. May I use it?
A. LINCOLN.
RESULT OF THE ELECTORAL COUNT
REPLY TO A COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS, REPORTING THE RESULT OF THE ELECTORAL
COUNT,
FEBRUARY 9, 1865.
With deep gratitude to my countrymen for this mark of their confidence;
with a distrust of my own ability to perform the duty required under
the most favorable circumstances, and now rendered doubly difficult by
existing national perils; yet with a firm reliance on the strength of
our free government, and the eventual loyalty of the people to the just
principles upon which it is founded, and above all with an unshaken
faith in the Supreme Ruler of nations, I accept this trust. Be pleased to
signify this to the respective Houses of Congress.
CHRONOLOGIC REVIEW OF PEACE PROPOSALS
MESSAGE TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 10, 1865
TO THE HONORABLE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
In response to your resolution of the eighth instant, requesting
information in relation to a conference recently held in Hampton Roads,
I have the honor to state that on the day of the date I gave Francis P.
Blair, Sr., a card, written on as follows, to wit:
December 28, 1864.
Allow the bearer, F. P. Blair, Sr., to pass our lines, go South, and
return.
A. LINCOLN.
That at the time I was informed that Mr. Blair sought the card as a means
of getting to Richmond, Va., but he was given no authority to speak or act
for the Government, nor was I informed of anything he would say or do on
his own account or otherwise. Afterwards Mr. Blair told me that he had
been to Richmond and had seen Mr. Jefferson Davis; and he (Mr. B.) at the
same time left with me a manuscript letter, as follows, to wit:
RICHMOND, VA., January 12, 1865. F. P. BLAIR, ESQ.
SIR: I have deemed it proper, and probably desirable to you, to give you
in this for in the substance of remarks made by me, to be repeated by you
to President Lincoln, etc., etc.
I have no disposition to find obstacles in forms, and am willing, now as
heretofore, to enter into negotiations for the restoration of peace, and
am ready to send a commission whenever I have reason to suppose it will be
received, or to receive a commission if the United States Government
shall choose to send one. That notwithstanding the rejection of our former
offers, I would, if you could promise that a commissioner, minister, or
other agent would be received, appoint one immediately, and renew the
effort to enter into conference with a view to secure peace to the two
countries.
Yours, etc., JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Afterwards, and with the view that it should be shown to Mr. Davis, I
wrote and delivered to Mr. Blair a letter, as follows, to wit:
WASHINGTON, January 18, 1865.
P. P. BLAIR, ESQ.
SIR:--Your having shown me Mr. Davis's letter to you of the twelfth
instant, you may say to him that I have constantly been, am now, and
shall continue ready to receive any agent whom he or any other influential
person now resisting the national authority may informally send to me with
the view of securing peace to the people of our one common country.
Yours, etc.,
A. LINCOLN.
Afterwards Mr. Blair dictated for and authorized me to make an entry on
the back of my retained copy of the letter last above recited, which entry
is as follows:
January 28, 1865
To-day Mr. Blair tells me that on the twenty-first instant he delivered
to Mr. Davis the original of which the within is a copy, and left it with
him; that at the time of delivering it Mr. Davis read it over twice in Mr.
Blair's presence, at the close of which he (Mr. Blair) remarked that the
part about "our one common country" related to the part of Mr. Davis'
letter about "the two countries," to which Mr. Davis replied that he so
understood it.
A. LINCOLN.
Afterwards the Secretary of War placed in my hands the following telegram,
indorsed by him, as appears:
OFFICE UNITED STATES MILITARY TELEGRAPH WAR DEPARTMENT. The following
telegram received at Washington January 29, 1865, from headquarters Army
of James,
6.30 P.M., January 29, 1865:
"HON. EDWIN M. STANTON," Secretary of War:
"The following despatch just received from Major-General Parke, who refers
it to me for my action. I refer it to you in Lieutenant-General Grant's
absence:
"E. O. C. ORD, Major-General, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF POTOMAC,
January 29, 1863. 4 P.M."
'MAJOR-GENERAL E. O. C. ORD,
'Headquarters Army of James:
'The following despatch is forwarded to you for your action. Since I
have no knowledge of General Grant's having had any understanding of
this kind, I refer the matter to you as the ranking officer present
in the two armies.
'JNO. G. PARKE, Major-General, Commanding.'
"'FROM HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY Cos, 29th.
'MAJOR-GENERAL JNO. G. PARKE, 'Headquarters Army of Potomac:
'Alexander H. Stephens, R. M. T. Hunter, and J. A. Campbell desire to
cross my lines, in accordance with an understanding claimed to exist
with Lieutenant-General Grant, on their way to Washington as peace
commissioners. Shall they be admitted? They desire an early answer,
to come through immediately. Would like to reach City Point tonight
if they can. If they can not do this, they would like to come
through at 10 A.M. to-morrow morning.
'O. B. WILCOX,
'Major-General, Commanding Ninth Corps.'
"January 29, 8.30 P.M.
"Respectfully referred to the President for such instructions as he
may be pleased to give.
"EDWIN M. STANTON, "Secretary of War."
It appears that about the time of placing the foregoing telegram in my
hands the Secretary of War dispatched General Ord as follows, to wit:
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, January 29, 1865. 10 P.M. (Sent at 2
A.M., 30th.) MAJOR-GENERAL ORD.
SIR:--This Department has no knowledge of any understanding by General
Grant to allow any person to come within his lines as commissioner of any
sort. You will therefore allow no one to come into your lines under such
character or profession until you receive the President's instructions, to
whom your telegraph will be submitted for his directions.
EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
Afterwards, by my direction, the Secretary of War telegraphed General Ord
as follows, to wit:
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., January 30. 10.30 A.M.
MAJOR-GENERAL E. O. C. ORD, Headquarters Army of the James.
SIR:--By direction of the President, you are instructed to inform the
three gentlemen, Messrs. Stephens, Hunter and Campbell, that a messenger
will be dispatched to them at or near where they now are without
unnecessary delay.
EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
Afterwards I prepared and put into the hands of Major Thomas T. Eckert the
following instructions and message:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
MAJOR T. T. ECKERT. WASHINGTON, January 30, 1865
SIR:--You will proceed with the documents placed in your hands, and on
reaching General Ord will deliver him the letter addressed to him by the
Secretary of War; then, by General Ord's assistance, procure an interview
with Messrs. Stephens, Hunter, and Campbell, or any of them. Deliver to
him or them the paper on which your own letter is written. Note on the
copy which you retain the time of delivery and to whom delivered. Receive
their answer in writing, waiting a reasonable time for it, and which, if
it contain their decision to come through without further condition, will
be your warrant to ask General Ord to pass them through, as directed in
the letter of the Secretary of War to him. If by their answer they decline
to come, or propose other terms, do not have them pass through. And this
being your whole duty, return and report to me.
A. LINCOLN.
CITY POINT, VA.. February 1, 1865.
MESSRS. ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS, J. A. CAMPBELL AND R. M. T. HUNTER.
GENTLEMEN:--I am instructed by the President of the United States to place
this paper in your hands, with the information that if you pass through
the United States military lines it will be understood that you do so for
the purpose of an informal conference on the basis of the letter a copy of
which is on the reverse side of this sheet, and that if you choose to pass
on such understanding, and so notify me in writing, I will procure the
commanding general to pass you through the lines and to Fortress Monroe
under such military precautions as he may deem prudent, and at which place
you will be met in due time by some person or persons for the purpose of
such informal conference; and, further, that you shall have protection,
safe conduct, and safe return in all events.
THOMAS T. ECKERT, Major and Aide-de-Camp.
WASHINGTON, January 18, 1865. F. P. BLAIR, ESQ.
SIR:--Your having shown me Mr. Davis's letter to you of the twelfth
instant, you may say to him that I have constantly been, am now, and
shall continue ready to receive any agent whom he or any other influential
person now resisting the national authority may informally send to me with
the view of securing peace to the people of our one common country.
Yours, etc.,
A. LINCOLN.
Afterwards, but before Major Eckert had departed, the following dispatch
was received from General Grant:
OFFICE UNITED STATES MILITARY TELEGRAPH, WAR DEPARTMENT.
The following telegram received at Washington January 30, 1865, from City
Point, Va., 10.30 A.M., January 30, 1865:
"His EXCELLENCY
A. LINCOLN,
President of the United States:
"The following communication was received here last evening:
"'PETERSBURG, VA., January 30, 1865.
'LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U.S. GRANT,
Commanding Armies United States.
'SIR: We desire to pass your lines under safe conduct, and to proceed
to Washington to hold a conference with President Lincoln upon the
subject of the existing war, and with a view of ascertaining upon
what terms it may be terminated, in pursuance of the course indicated
by him in his letter to Mr. Blair of January 18, 1865, of which we
presume you have a copy; and if not, we wish to see you in person, if
convenient, and to confer with you upon the subject.
'Very respectfully, yours,
'ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS.
'J. A. CAMPBELL.
'R. M. T. HUNTER.'"
"I have sent directions to receive these gentlemen, and expect to have
them at my quarters this evening, awaiting your instructions. U.S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General, Commanding Armies United States."