satisfied, which pains me very much, but I wish not to be argued with further. I entertain no abatement of confidence or friendship for you. I have told you why I cannot order General Canby from the Department of the Gulf-that he whom I must hold responsible for military results is not agreed. Yet I do believe that you, of all men, can best perform the part of advancing the new State government of Louisiana, and therefore I have wished you to go and try, leaving it to yourself to give up the trial at the end of a month if you find it impracticable, or personally too disagreeable.

This is certainly meant in no unkindness, but I wish to avoid further struggle about it

Yours truly,

A. LINCOLN.

MEMORANDUM, December 3, 1864

On Thursday of last week, two ladies from Tennessee came before the President, asking the release of their husbands held as prisoners of war at Johnson's Island. They were put off until Friday, when they came again, and were again put off until Saturday. At each of the interviews one of the ladies urged that her husband was a religious man,' and on Saturday the

1 The religious views held by Lincoln have been the subject of considerable contention. Many sects claim him as a follower, though he never joined a church nor expressed preference for

President ordered the release of the prisoners, when he said to this lady: "You say your husband is a religious man; tell him when you meet him, that I say I am not much of a judge of religion, but that, in my opinion, the religion that sets men to rebel and fight against their government, because, as they think, that government does not sufficiently help some men to eat their bread in the sweat of other men's faces, is not the sort of religion upon which people can get to heaven." A. LINCOLN.

MESSAGES TO CONGRESS, December 5, 1864 To the Senate and House of Representatives: In conformity to the law of July 16, 1862, I most cordially recommend that Captain John A. Winslow, United States Navy, receive a vote of thanks from Congress for the skill and gallantry exhibited by him in the brilliant action whilst in command of the United States steamer Kearsarge, which led to the total destruction of the piratical craft Alabama, on the 19th of June, 1864, a vessel superior in tonnage, superior in number of guns, and superior in number of crew.

This recommendation is specially made in orany orthodox or evangelical interpretation of Christianity. He had a strong and profound belief in Providence or God, and the triumph of right over wrong. Mrs. Lincoln often said she regarded him as a religious man by nature, though confirming no creed.

der to comply with the requirements of the ninth section of the aforesaid act, which is in the following words, viz.:

That any line officer of the navy or marine corps may be advanced one grade, if, upon recommendation by the President by name he receives the thanks of Congress for highly distinguished conduct in conflict with the enemy, or for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

December 5, 1864

To the Senate and House of Representatives: In conformity to the law of [the] 16th of July, 1862, I most cordially recommend that Lieutenant William B. Cushing, United States Navy, receive a vote of thanks from Congress for his important, gallant, and perilous achievement in destroying the rebel iron-clad steamer Albemarle, on the night of the 27th of October, 1864, at Plymouth, North Carolina. The destruction of so formidable a vessel, which had resisted the continued attacks of a number of our vessels on former occasions, is an important event touching our future naval and military operations, and would reflect honor on any officer, and redounds to the credit of this young officer and the few brave comrades who assisted in this successful and daring undertaking.

This recommendation is specially made in order to comply with the requirements of the ninth section of the aforesaid act, which is in the following words, viz.:

That any line officer of the navy or marine corps may be advanced one grade, if, upon recommendation of the President by name he receives the thanks of Congress for highly distinguished conduct in conflict with the enemy, or for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.