ously to the military service, it would be proper for you to report to the government fully upon it, and that would be the only proper course. Yours, A. LINCOLN. MESSAGE TO CONGRESS, January 7, 1865 To the Senate and House of Representatives: I transmit to Congress a copy of two treaties between the United States and Belgium, for the extinguishment of the Scheldt dues, etc., concluded on the 20th of May, 1863, and the 20th of July, 1863, respectively, the ratifications of which were exchanged at Brussels on the 24th of June last; and I recommend an appropriation to carry into effect the provisions thereof relative to the payment of the proportion of the United States toward the capitalization of the said dues. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO R. L. FERGUSON EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 7, 1865. R. L. Ferguson, Warrensburg, Mo.: Suspend, until further order, proceedings to enforce a bond given by Hicklin, Hicklin & Spratt. It is not my view of the law that provost-marshals are to decide whether bonds are or are not forfeited. A. LINCOLN. LETTER TO MRS. EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 9, 1865. Madam: It is with regret I learned that your brother, whom I had ordered to be discharged on taking the oath, under the impression that he was a private, is a captain. By an understanding, the commissary of prisoners detains such cases until a further hearing from me. I now distinctly say that if your father shall come within our lines and take the oath of December 8, 1863, I will give him a full pardon, and will at the same time discharge your brother on his taking the oath, notwithstanding he is a captain. Respectfully, A. LINCOLN. LETTER TO LYMAN TRUMBULL EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 9, 1865. My dear Sir: The paper relating to Louisiana, submitted to the judiciary committee of the Senate, by General Banks, is herewith returned. The whole of it is in accordance with my general impression, and I believe it is true; but much the larger part is beyond my absolute knowledge, as in its nature it must be. All the statements which lie within the range of my knowledge are strictly true; and I think of nothing material which has been omitted. Even before General Banks went to Louisiana I was anxious for the loyal people there to move for reorganization, and restoration of proper practical relations with the Union; and when he at last expressed his decided conviction that the thing was practicable, I directed him to give his official coöperation to effect it. On the subject I have sent and received many letters to and from General Banks and many other persons. These letters, as you remember, were shown to you yesterday, as they will be again if you desire. If I shall neither take sides nor argue, will it be out of place for me to make what I think is the true statement of your question as to the proposed Louisiana senators? "Can Louisiana be brought into proper practical relations with the Union sooner by admitting or by rejecting the proposed senators?" Yours truly, A. LINCOLN. MESSAGE TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 9, 1865. Speaker of the House of Representatives: I transmit herewith the letter of the Secretary of War, with accompanying report of the adjutantgeneral, in reply to the resolution of the House of Representatives, dated December 7, 1864, requesting me "to communicate to the House the report made by Colonel Thomas M. Key of an interview between himself and General Howell Cobb, on the fourteenth day of June, 1862, on the bank of the Chickahominy, on the subject of the exchange of prisoners of war." I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, ABRAHAM LINCOLN. PROCLAMATION CONCERNING COMMERCE, BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF WH AMERICA: A Proclamation. HEREAS the act of Congress of the 28th of September, 1850, entitled "An act to create additional collection districts in the State of California, and to change the existing districts therein, and to modify the existing collection districts in the United States," extends to merchandise warehoused under bond the privilege of being exported to the British North American provinces adjoining the United States, in the manner prescribed in the act of Congress of the 3d of March, 1845, which designates certain frontier ports through which merchandise may be exported, and further provides "that such other ports situated on the frontiers of the United States, adjoining the British North American provinces, as may hereafter be found expedient, may have extended to them the like privileges on the recommendation of the |