been brought into affliction by the casualties and calamities of sedition and civil war, and that they reverently invoke the divine guidance for our national counsels, to the end that they may speedily result in the restoration of peace, harmony, and unity throughout our borders and hasten the establishment of fraternal relations among all the countries of the earth. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington, this tenth [SEAL] day of April, A.D. 1862, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-sixth. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. By the President: WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. MESSAGE TO CONGRESS. April 16, 1862. FELLOW-CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:-The act entitled "An act for the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia" has this day been approved and signed. I have never doubted the constitutional authority of Congress to abolish slavery in this District, and I have ever desired to see the national capital freed from the institution in some satisfactory way. Hence there has never been in my mind any question on the subject except the one of expediency, arising in view of all the circumstances. If there be matters within and about this act which might have taken a course or shape more satisfactory to my judgment, I do not attempt to specify them. I am gratified that the two principles of compensation and colonization are both recognized and practically applied in the act. In the matter of compensation, it is provided that claims may be presented within ninety days from the passage of the act, "but not thereafter"; and there is no saving for minors, femmes covert, insane or absent persons. I presume this is an omission by mere oversight, and I recommend that it be supplied by an amendatory or supplemental act. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. MCCLELLAN. WASHINGTON, April 21, 1862. MAJOR-GENERAL MCCLELLAN: Your despatch of the 19th was received that day. Fredericksburg is evacuated and the bridges destroyed by the enemy, and a small part of McDowell's command occupies this side of the Rappahannock, opposite the town. He purposes moving his whole force to that point. A. LINCOLN. TO POSTMASTER-GENERAL. HON. POSTMASTER-GENERAL. April 24, 1862. MY DEAR SIR:-The member of Congress from the district indiuding Tin 0., calls on me about the postmaster at that place. I believe I turned over a despatch to you from some persons there, asking a suspension, so as for them to be beari or some thing of the son acting or nothing amortig to asyiking, has been done. I the suspension mg now be suspended, and the common go formand MATA-GENERA Motimaas: Would is Serange or embarass your operations If I were to appons Cagram Charles Griffin a brigaCer-general of vineers? Please answer. TO TER SANATE OF THE COTED STATES: In answer to the resin of the Senate (of April a relation Brigadier-General Stone. I have the four to saxe that he was arrested and imprisoned ander my genera ambry and evidence wich viether he be gay rice required, as appears to me sat proceedings to be had against for the public salary. I deem incompatible with the pubic interest, as ast, geringst to General Stone, to make a more particular statement of the evidence. He has not been tried because, in the state of military operations at the time of his arrest and since, the officers to constitute a court martial and for witnesses could not be withdrawn from duty without serious injury to the service. He will be allowed a trial without any unnecessary delay; the charges and specifications will be furnished him in due season, and every facility for his defense will be afforded him by the War Department. Your call for Parrott guns from Washington alarms me, chiefly because it argues indefinite procrastination. Is anything to be done? A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK. War Department, May 1, 1862. MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee: I am pressed by the Missouri members of Congress to give General Schofield independent command in 10. R. A. VOL. V.-30. Missouri. They insist that for want of this their local troubles gradually grow worse. I have forborne, so far, for fear of interfering with and embarrassing your operations. Please answer telling me whether anything, and what, I can do for them without injuriously interfering with you. A. LINCOLN. RESPONSE TO EVANGELICAL LUTHERANS MAY 6, 1862.1 GENTLEMEN:-I welcome here the representatives of the Evangelical Lutherans of the United States. I accept with gratitude their assurances of the sympathy and support of that enlightened, influential, and loyal class of my fellow-citizens in an important crisis which involves, in my judgment, not only the civil and religious liberties of our own dear land, but in a large degree the civil and religious liberties of mankind in many countries and through many ages. You well know, gentlemen, and the world knows, how reluctantly I accepted this issue of battle forced upon me on my advent to this place by the internal enemies of our country. You all know, the world knows, the forces and the resources the public agents have brought into employment to sustain a government against which there has been brought not one complaint of real injury committed against society at home or abroad. You all may recollect that in taking up the sword thus forced into our hands this government appealed to the prayers of the pious and the good, and declared that it placed 1 Moore. |