Porter, United States Navy, acting rear-admiral, commanding the Mississippi Squadron, receive a vote of thanks of Congress for the bravery and skill displayed in the attack on the post of Arkansas, which surrendered to the combined military and naval forces on the 10th instant. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL BUTLER. EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, January 28, 1863. MAJOR-GENERAL BUTLER, Lowell, Mass.: Please come here immediately. Telegraph me about what time you will arrive. A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL DIX. EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, January 29, 1863. MAJOR-GENERAL DIX, Fort Monroe, Va.: Do Richmond papers have anything from Vicks burg? A. LINCOLN. TO THURLOW WEED. WASHINGTON, January 29, 1863. HON. THURLOW WEED. DEAR SIR: Your valedictory to the patrons of the Albany Evening Journal brings me a good deal of uneasiness. What does it mean? Truly yours, A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL DIX. WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, January 30, 1863. 5.45 P.M. MAJOR-GENERAL DIX, Fort Monroe, Va.: What iron-clads, if any, have gone out of Hampton Roads within the last two days? A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL DIX. WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, D. C., January 31, 1863. Have MAJOR-GENERAL DIX, Fort Monroe, Va.: Corcoran's and Pryor's battle terminated. you any news through Richmond papers or other wise? A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL SCHENCK. WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, D. C., January 31, 1863. MAJOR-GENERAL SCHENCK, Baltimore, Md.: I do not take jurisdiction of the pass question. Exercise your own discretion as to whether Judge Pettis shall have a pass. A. LINCOLN. TO THE WORKING-MEN OF LONDON, ENGLAND. EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 2, 1863. TO THE WORKING-MEN OF LONDON: I have received the New Year's address which you have sent me, with a sincere appreciation of the exalted and humane sentiments by which it was inspired. As these sentiments are manifestly the enduring support of the free institutions of England, so I am sure also that they constitute the only reliable basis for free institutions throughout the world. The resources, advantages, and powers of the American people are very great, and they have conse quently succeeded to equally great responsibilities. It seems to have devolved upon them to test whether a government established on the principles of human freedom can be maintained against an effort to build one upon the exclusive foundation of human bondage. They will rejoice with me in the new evidences which your proceedings furnish that the magnanimity they are exhibiting is justly estimated by the true friends of freedom and humanity in foreign countries. Accept my best wishes for your individual welfare, and for the welfare and happiness of the whole British people. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL SCHENCK. [Cipher.] WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., February 4, 1863. MAJOR-GENERAL SCHENCK, Baltimore, Md.: I hear of some difficulty in the streets of Baltimore yesterday. What is the amount of it? A. LINCOLN. MESSAGE TO THE SENATE. WASHINGTON, D. C., February 12, 1863. TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES: On the 4th of September, 1862, Commander George Henry Preble, United States Navy, then senior officer in command of the naval force off the harbor of Mobile, was guilty of inexcusable neglect in permitting the armed steamer Oreto in open daylight to run the blockade. For his omission to perform his whole duty on that occasion, and the injury thereby inflicted on the service and the country, his name was stricken from the list of naval officers and he was dismissed [from] the service. Since his dismissal earnest application has been made for his restoration to his former position by senators and naval officers, on the ground that his fault was an error of judgment, and that the example in his case has already had its effect in preventing a repetition of similar neglect. I therefore on this application and representation, and in consideration of his previous fair record, do hereby nominate George Henry Preble to be a commander in the navy from the 16th July, 1862, to take rank on the active list next after Commander Edward Donaldson, and to fill a vacancy occasioned by the death of Commander J. M. Wainwright. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. MESSAGE TO THE SENATE. WASHINGTON, D. C., February 12, 1863. TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES: On the 24th August, 1861, Commander Roger Perry, United States Navy, was dismissed from the service under a misapprehension in regard to his loyalty to the Government, from the circumstance that several oaths were transmitted to him and the Navy Department failed to receive any recognition of them. After his dismissal, and upon his assurance that the oath failed to reach him and his readiness to execute it, he was recommissioned to his original position on the 4th September following. On the same day, 4th September, he was ordered to command the sloop of war Vandalia; on the 22d this order was revoked and he was ordered to duty in the Mississippi Squadron, and on the 23d January, 1862, was detached sick, and has since remained unemployed. The advisory board under the act of 16th July, 1862, did not recommend him for further promotion. This last commission, having been issued during the recess of the Senate, expired at the end of the succeeding session, 17th July, 1862, from which date, not having been nominated to the Senate, he ceased to be a commander in the navy. To correct the omission to nominate this officer to the Senate at its last session, I now nominate Commander Roger Perry to be a commander in the navy from the 14th September, 1855, to take his relative position on the list of commanders not recommended for further promotion. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. |