The Project Gutenberg eBook of a Compilation of the Messages and Papers Of

8/12/2019 The Project Gutenberg eBook of a Compilation of the Messages and Papers Of

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The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Compilation of the Messages and Papers ofthe Presidents: Lincoln b! Compiled b! "ames #$ %ichardson

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Title: A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents: Lincoln *ection + ,of -. of /olume 0: Abraham Lincoln

Author: Compiled b! "ames #$ %ichardson

%elease #ate: Ma! -1 -223 4EBook 5+-30-6

Language: English

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Prefator! =ote

The Presidential papers during the period from March 3 +10+ to March3 +10? are contained in this 'olume$ =o other period of Americanhistor! since the %e'olution comprises so man! e'ents of surpassingimportance$ The Administrations of Presidents Lincoln and "ohnsonrepresent t&o distinct epochs$ That of Abraham Lincoln &as dedicated tothe successful prosecution of the most stupendous &ar of modern times&hile that of Andre& "ohnson &as dedicated to the reestablishmentof peace and the restoration of the


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the Ihig part! in 7llinois and did acti'e campaign &ork$ Ias 'oted forb! the Ihig minorit! in the *tate legislature for


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7 ha'e no purpose directl! or indirectl! to interfere &ith the institution of sla'er! in the *tates &here it e@ists$ 7 belie'e 7 ha'e no la&ful right to do so and 7 ha'e no inclination to do so$

Those &ho nominated and elected me did so &ith full kno&ledge that 7 hadmade this and man! similar declarations and had ne'er recanted them andmore than this the! placed in the platform for m! acceptance and as ala& to themsel'es and to me the clear and emphatic resolution &hich 7no& read:

J%esol'edJ That the maintenance in'iolate of the rights of the *tates and especiall! the right of each *tate to order and control its o&n domestic institutions according to its o&n judgment e@clusi'el! is essential to that balance of po&er on &hich the perfection and endurance of our political fabric depend and &e denounce the la&less in'asion b!

armed force of the soil of an! *tate or Territor! no matter under &hat prete@t as among the gra'est of crimes$

7 no& reiterate these sentiments and in doing so 7 onl! press uponthe public attention the most conclusi'e e'idence of &hich the case issusceptible that the propert! peace and securit! of no section areto be in an! &ise endangered b! the no& incoming Administration$ 7 addtoo that all the protection &hich consistentl! &ith the Constitutionand the la&s can be gi'en &ill be cheerfull! gi'en to all the *tates&hen la&full! demanded for &hate'er cause))as cheerfull! to one sectionas to another$

There is much contro'ers! about the deli'ering up of fugiti'es fromser'ice or labor$ The clause 7 no& read is as plainl! &ritten in theConstitution as an! other of its pro'isions:

=o person held to ser'ice or labor in one *tate under the la&s thereof escaping into another shall in conseDuence of an! la& or regulation therein be discharged from such ser'ice or labor but shall be deli'ered up on claim of the part! to &hom such ser'ice or labor ma! be due$

7t is scarcel! Duestioned that this pro'ision &as intended b! those &homade it for the reclaiming of &hat &e call fugiti'e sla'es and theintention of the la&gi'er is the la&$ All members of Congress s&eartheir support to the &hole Constitution))to this pro'ision as much asto an! other$ To the proposition then that sla'es &hose cases come&ithin the terms of this clause Kshall be deli'ered upK their oaths areunanimous$ =o& if the! &ould make the effort in good temper could the!


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not &ith nearl! eDual unanimit! frame and pass a la& b! means of &hichto keep good that unanimous oath

There is some difference of opinion &hether this clause should beenforced b! national or b! *tate authorit! but surel! that difference

is not a 'er! material one$ 7f the sla'e is to be surrendered it can beof but little conseDuence to him or to others b! &hich authorit! it isdone$ And should an!one in an! case be content that his oath shall gounkept on a merel! unsubstantial contro'ers! as to Jho&J it shall bekept

Again: 7n an! la& upon this subject ought not all the safeguards oflibert! kno&n in ci'ilied and humane jurisprudence to be introduced sothat a free man be not in an! case surrendered as a sla'e And might itnot be &ell at the same time to pro'ide b! la& for the enforcement ofthat clause in the Constitution &hich guarantees that Kthe citiens of

each *tate shall be entitled to all pri'ileges and immunities ofcitiens in the se'eral *tatesK

7 take the official oath to)da! &ith no mental reser'ations and &ith nopurpose to construe the Constitution or la&s b! an! h!percritical rulesand &hile 7 do not choose no& to specif! particular acts of Congress asproper to be enforced 7 do suggest that it &ill be much safer for allboth in official and pri'ate stations to conform to and abide b! allthose acts &hich stand unrepealed than to 'iolate an! of them trustingto find impunit! in ha'ing them held to be unconstitutional$

7t is se'ent!)t&o !ears since the first inauguration of a Presidentunder our =ational Constitution$ #uring that period fifteen differentand greatl! distinguished citiens ha'e in succession administered thee@ecuti'e branch of the Go'ernment$ The! ha'e conducted it through man!perils and generall! &ith great success$ (et &ith all this scope ofprecedent 7 no& enter upon the same task for the brief constitutionalterm of four !ears under great and peculiar difficult!$ A disruption ofthe ederal


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association of *tates in the nature of contract merel! can it as acontract be peaceabl! unmade b! less than all the parties &ho made it9ne part! to a contract ma! 'iolate it))break it so to speak))but doesit not reDuire all to la&full! rescind it

#escending from these general principles &e find the proposition thatin legal contemplation the


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strangers among the people for that object$ Ihile the strict legal rightma! e@ist in the Go'ernment to enforce the e@ercise of these officesthe attempt to do so &ould be so irritating and so nearl! impracticable&ithal that 7 deem it better to forego for the time the uses of suchoffices$

The mails unless repelled &ill continue to be furnished in all partsof the


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authorit! The Constitution does not e@pressl! sa!$ JMa!J Congressprohibit sla'er! in the Territories The Constitution does not e@pressl!sa!$ JMustJ Congress protect sla'er! in the Territories TheConstitution does not e@pressl! sa!$

rom Duestions of this class spring all our constitutionalcontro'ersies and &e di'ide upon them into majorities and minorities$7f the minorit! &ill not acDuiesce the majorit! must or the Go'ernmentmust cease$ There is no other alternati'e for continuing the Go'ernmentis acDuiescence on one side or the other$ 7f a minorit! in such case&ill secede rather than acDuiesce the! make a precedent &hich in turn&ill di'ide and ruin them for a minorit! of their o&n &ill secede fromthem &hene'er a majorit! refuses to be controlled b! such minorit!$ orinstance &h! ma! not an! portion of a ne& confederac! a !ear or t&ohence arbitraril! secede again precisel! as portions of the present


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is there in this 'ie& an! assault upon the court or the judges$ 7t isa dut! from &hich the! ma! not shrink to decide cases properl! broughtbefore them and it is no fault of theirs if others seek to turn theirdecisions to political purposes$

9ne section of our countr! belie'es sla'er! is JrightJ and ought to bee@tended &hile the other belie'es it is J&rongJ and ought not to bee@tended$ This is the onl! substantial dispute$ The fugiti'e)sla'eclause of the Constitution and the la& for the suppression of theforeign sla'e trade are each as &ell enforced perhaps as an! la& cane'er be in a communit! &here the moral sense of the people imperfectl!supports the la& itself$ The great bod! of the people abide b! the dr!legal obligation in both cases and a fe& break o'er in each$ This 7think can not be perfectl! cured and it &ould be &orse in both casesJafterJ the separation of the sections than before$ The foreign sla'etrade no& imperfectl! suppressed &ould be ultimatel! re'i'ed &ithout

restriction in one section &hile fugiti'e sla'es no& onl! partiall!surrendered &ould not be surrendered at all b! the other$

Ph!sicall! speaking &e can not separate$ Ie can not remo'e ourrespecti'e sections from each other nor build an impassable &all bet&eenthem$ A husband and &ife ma! be di'orced and go out of the presence andbe!ond the reach of each other but the different parts of our countr!can not do this$ The! can not but remain face to face and intercourseeither amicable or hostile must continue bet&een them$ 7s it possiblethen to make that intercourse more ad'antageous or more satisfactor!JafterJ separation than JbeforeJ Can aliens make treaties easier thanfriends can make la&s Can treaties be more faithfull! enforced bet&eenaliens than la&s can among friends *uppose !ou go to &ar !ou can notfight al&a!s and &hen after much loss on both sides and no gain oneither !ou cease fighting the identical old Duestions as to terms ofintercourse are again upon !ou$

This countr! &ith its institutions belongs to the people &ho inhabitit$ Ihene'er the! shall gro& &ear! of the e@isting Go'ernment the!can e@ercise their JconstitutionalJ right of amending it or theirJre'olutionar!J right to dismember or o'erthro& it$ 7 can not beignorant of the fact that man! &orth! and patriotic citiens aredesirous of ha'ing the =ational Constitution amended$ Ihile 7 make norecommendation of amendments 7 full! recognie the rightful authorit!of the people o'er the &hole subject to be e@ercised in either of themodes prescribed in the instrument itself and 7 should under e@istingcircumstances fa'or rather than oppose a fair opportunit! beingafforded the people to act upon it$ 7 &ill 'enture to add that to methe con'ention mode seems preferable in that it allo&s amendments tooriginate &ith the people themsel'es instead of onl! permitting them to


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take or reject propositions originated b! others not especiall! chosenfor the purpose and &hich might not be precisel! such as the! &ould&ish to either accept or refuse$ 7 understand a proposed amendment tothe Constitution))&hich amendment ho&e'er 7 ha'e not seen))has passedCongress to the effect that the ederal Go'ernment shall ne'er

interfere &ith the domestic institutions of the *tates including thatof persons held to ser'ice$ To a'oid misconstruction of &hat 7 ha'esaid 7 depart from m! purpose not to speak of particular amendmentsso far as to sa! that holding such a pro'ision to no& be impliedconstitutional la& 7 ha'e no objection to its being made e@press andirre'ocable$

The Chief Magistrate deri'es all his authorit! from the people and the!ha'e conferred none upon him to fi@ terms for the separation of the*tates$ The people themsel'es can do this also if the! choose but theE@ecuti'e as such has nothing to do &ith it$ ;is dut! is to administer

the present Go'ernment as it came to his hands and to transmit itunimpaired b! him to his successor$

Ih! should there not be a patient confidence in the ultimate justiceof the people 7s there an! better or eDual hope in the &orld 7n ourpresent differences is either part! &ithout faith of being in theright 7f the Almight! %uler of =ations &ith ;is eternal truth andjustice be on !our side of the =orth or on !ours of the *outh thattruth and that justice &ill surel! pre'ail b! the judgment of this greattribunal of the American people$

B! the frame of the Go'ernment under &hich &e li'e this same people ha'e&isel! gi'en their public ser'ants but little po&er for mischief andha'e &ith eDual &isdom pro'ided for the return of that little to theiro&n hands at 'er! short inter'als$ Ihile the people retain their 'irtueand 'igilance no Administration b! an! e@treme of &ickedness or foll!can 'er! seriousl! injure the Go'ernment in the short space of four!ears$

M! countr!men one and all think calml! and J&ellJ upon this &holesubject$ =othing 'aluable can be lost b! taking time$ 7f there be anobject to Jhurr!J an! of !ou in hot haste to a step &hich !ou &ouldne'er take Jdeliberatel!J that object &ill be frustrated b! takingtime but no good object can be frustrated b! it$ *uch of !ou as are no&dissatisfied still ha'e the old Constitution unimpaired and on thesensiti'e point the la&s of !our o&n framing under it &hile the ne&Administration &ill ha'e no immediate po&er if it &ould to changeeither$ 7f it &ere admitted that !ou &ho are dissatisfied hold theright side in the dispute there still is no single good reason forprecipitate action$ 7ntelligence patriotism Christianit! and a firm


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reliance on ;im &ho has ne'er !et forsaken this fa'ored land are stillcompetent to adjust in the best &a! all our present difficult!$

7n J!ourJ hands m! dissatisfied fello&)countr!men and not in JmineJis the momentous issue of ci'il &ar$ The Go'ernment &ill not assail

J!ouJ$ (ou can ha'e no conflict &ithout being !oursel'es the aggressors$J(ouJ ha'e no oath registered in hea'en to destro! the Go'ernment &hileJ7J shall ha'e the most solemn one to Kpreser'e protect and defendit$K

7 am loath to close$ Ie are not enemies but friends$ Ie must not beenemies$ Though passion ma! ha'e strained it must not break our bondsof affection$ The m!stic chords of memor! stretching from e'er!battlefield and patriot gra'e to e'er! li'ing heart and hearthstone allo'er this broad land &ill !et s&ell the chorus of the


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line according to the treat! as nearl! as possible Ihich of the three po&ers named b! Great Britain as an arbiter shall be chosen b! the


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=o& therefore 7 Abraham Lincoln President of the


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I7LL7AM ;$ *EIA%# J*ecretar! of *tateJ$

B( T;E P%E*7#E=T 9 T;E


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And 7 hereb! proclaim and declare that if an! person under thepretended authorit! of the said *tates or under an! other pretenseshall molest a 'essel of the


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#one at the cit! of Iashington this -th da! of April A$#$ +10+ andof the 7ndependence of the


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the regular forces hereb! authoried &ill be submitted to Congress assoon as assembled$

7n the meantime 7 earnestl! in'oke the cooperation of all good citiensin the measures hereb! adopted for the effectual suppression of unla&ful

'iolence for the impartial enforcement of constitutional la&s and forthe speediest possible restoration of peace and order and &ith these ofhappiness and prosperit! throughout our countr!$

7n testimon! &hereof 7 ha'e hereunto set m! hand and caused the seal ofthe


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against the


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Commanding officers &ill see to the prompt e@ecution of this order andreport accordingl!$

B! order:

L$ T;9MA*

JAdjutant)GeneralJ$

JTo all &ho shall see these presents greetingJ:

>no& !e that reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism'alor fidelit! and abilit! of Colonel %obert Anderson


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The L7E


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;a'ing been con'ened on an e@traordinar! occasion as authoried b! theConstitution !our attention is not called to an! ordinar! subject oflegislation$

At the beginning of the present Presidential term four months ago thefunctions of the ederal Go'ernment &ere found to be generall! suspended&ithin the se'eral *tates of *outh Carolina Georgia AlabamaMississippi Louisiana and lorida e@cepting onl! those of thePost)9ffice #epartment$

Iithin these *tates all the forts arsenals dock!ards custom)housesand the like including the mo'able and stationar! propert! in andabout them had been seied and &ere held in open hostilit! to thisGo'ernment e@cepting onl! orts Pickens Ta!lor and "efferson on andnear the lorida coast and ort *umter in Charleston ;arbor *outh

Carolina$ The forts thus seied had been put in impro'ed conditionne& ones had been built and armed forces had been organied and &ereorganiing all a'o&edl! &ith the same hostile purpose$

The forts remaining in the possession of the ederal Go'ernment inand near these *tates &ere either besieged or menaced b! &arlikepreparations and especiall! ort *umter &as nearl! surrounded b!&ell)protected hostile batteries &ith guns eDual in Dualit! to thebest of its o&n and outnumbering the latter as perhaps ten to one$ Adisproportionate share of the ederal muskets and rifles had someho&found their &a! into these *tates and had been seied to be usedagainst the Go'ernment$ Accumulations of the public re'enue l!ing &ithinthem had been seied for the same object$ The =a'! &as scattered indistant seas lea'ing but a 'er! small part of it &ithin the immediatereach of the Go'ernment$ 9fficers of the ederal Arm! and =a'! hadresigned in great numbers and of those resigning a large proportion hadtaken up arms against the Go'ernment$ *imultaneousl! and in connection&ith all this the purpose to se'er the ederal


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e@haustion of all peaceful measures before a resort to an! strongerones$ 7t sought onl! to hold the public places and propert! not alread!&rested from the Go'ernment and to collect the re'enue rel!ing for therest on time discussion and the ballot bo@$ 7t promised a continuanceof the mails at Go'ernment e@pense to the 'er! people &ho &ere resisting

the Go'ernment and it ga'e repeated pledges against an! disturbance toan! of the people or an! of their rights$ 9f all that &hich a Presidentmight constitutionall! and justifiabl! do in such a case e'er!thing &asforborne &ithout &hich it &as belie'ed possible to keep the Go'ernmenton foot$

9n the Fth of March the present incumbents first full da! in officea letter of Major Anderson commanding at ort *umter &ritten on the-1th of ebruar! and recei'ed at the Iar #epartment on the 3th of March&as b! that #epartment placed in his hands$ This letter e@pressed theprofessional opinion of the &riter that reenforcements could not be

thro&n into that fort &ithin the time for his relief rendered necessar!b! the limited suppl! of pro'isions and &ith a 'ie& of holdingpossession of the same &ith a force of less than -2222 good and&ell)disciplined men$ This opinion &as concurred in b! all the officersof his command and their memoranda on the subject &ere made inclosuresof Major Andersons letter$ The &hole &as immediatel! laid beforeLieutenant)General *cott &ho at once concurred &ith Major Anderson inopinion$ 9n reflection ho&e'er he took full time consulting &ithother officers both of the Arm! and the =a'! and at the end of fourda!s came reluctantl! but decidedl! to the same conclusion as before$;e also stated at the same time that no such sufficient force &as thenat the control of the Go'ernment or could be raised and brought tothe ground &ithin the time &hen the pro'isions in the fort &ould bee@hausted$ 7n a purel! militar! point of 'ie& this reduced the dut!of the Administration in the case to the mere matter of getting thegarrison safel! out of the fort$

7t &as belie'ed ho&e'er that to so abandon that position under thecircumstances &ould be utterl! ruinous that the Jnecessit!J under &hichit &as to be done &ould not be full! understood that b! man! it &ouldbe construed as a part of a J'oluntar!J polic! that at home it &oulddiscourage the friends of the


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but must take the longer and slo&er route b! sea$ The first return ne&sfrom the order &as recei'ed just one &eek before the fall of ort*umter$ The ne&s itself &as that the officer commanding the J*abineJto &hich 'essel the troops had been transferred from the JBrookl!nJacting upon some JDuasiJ armistice of the late Administration ,and of

the e@istence of &hich the present Administration up to the time theorder &as dispatched had onl! too 'ague and uncertain rumors to fi@attention. had refused to land the troops$ To no& reenforce ortPickens before a crisis &ould be reached at ort *umter &as impossiblerendered so b! the near e@haustion of pro'isions in the latter)namedfort$ 7n precaution against such a conjuncture the Go'ernment had afe& da!s before commenced preparing an e@pedition as &ell adapted asmight be to relie'e ort *umter &hich e@pedition &as intended tobe ultimatel! used or not according to circumstances$ The strongestanticipated case for using it &as no& presented and it &as resol'ed tosend it for&ard$ As had been intended in this contingenc! it &as also

resol'ed to notif! the go'ernor of *outh Carolina that he might e@pectan attempt &ould be made to pro'ision the fort and that if the attemptshould not be resisted there &ould be no effort to thro& in men armsor ammunition &ithout further notice or in case of an attack upon thefort$ This notice &as accordingl! gi'en &hereupon the fort &as attackedand bombarded to its fall &ithout e'en a&aiting the arri'al of thepro'isioning e@pedition$

7t is thus seen that the assault upon and reduction of ort *umter &asin no sense a matter of self)defense on the part of the assailants$ The!&ell kne& that the garrison in the fort could b! no possibilit! commitaggression upon them$ The! kne&))the! &ere e@pressl! notified))that thegi'ing of bread to the fe& bra'e and hungr! men of the garrison &asall &hich &ould on that occasion be attempted unless themsel'es b!resisting so much should pro'oke more$ The! kne& that this Go'ernmentdesired to keep the garrison in the fort not to assail them but merel!to maintain 'isible possession and thus to preser'e the


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fort sent to that harbor !ears before for their o&n protection andstill read! to gi'e that protection in &hate'er &as la&ful$ 7n this actdiscarding all else the! ha'e forced upon the countr! the distinctissue K7mmediate dissolution or blood$K

And this issue embraces more than the fate of these


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a month distant the con'ention and the legislature ,&hich &as also insession at the same time and place. &ith leading men of the *tate notmembers of either immediatel! commenced acting as if the *tate &erealread! out of the


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These measures &hether strictl! legal or not &ere 'entured upon under&hat appeared to be a popular demand and a public necessit! trustingthen as no& that Congress &ould readil! ratif! them$ 7t is belie'edthat nothing has been done be!ond the constitutional competenc! ofCongress$

*oon after the first call for militia it &as considered a dut! toauthorie the Commanding General in proper cases according to hisdiscretion to suspend the pri'ilege of the &rit of Jhabeas corpusJor in other &ords to arrest and detain &ithout resort to the ordinar!processes and forms of la& such indi'iduals as he might deem dangerousto the public safet!$ This authorit! has purposel! been e@ercised but'er! sparingl!$ =e'ertheless the legalit! and propriet! of &hat hasbeen done under it are Duestioned and the attention of the countr! hasbeen called to the proposition that one &ho is s&orn to Ktake care thatthe la&s be faithfull! e@ecutedK should not himself 'iolate them$ 9f

course some consideration &as gi'en to the Duestions of po&er andpropriet! before this matter &as acted upon$ The &hole of the la&s &hich&ere reDuired to be faithfull! e@ecuted &ere being resisted and failingof e@ecution in nearl! one)third of the *tates$ Must the! be allo&ed tofinall! fail of e@ecution e'en had it been perfectl! clear that b! theuse of the means necessar! to their e@ecution some single la& made insuch e@treme tenderness of the citiens libert! that practicall! itrelie'es more of the guilt! than of the innocent should to a 'er!limited e@tent be 'iolated To state the Duestion more directl! Areall the la&s Jbut oneJ to go une@ecuted and the Go'ernment itself goto pieces lest that one be 'iolated E'en in such a case &ould not theofficial oath be broken if the Go'ernment should be o'erthro&n &hen it&as belie'ed that disregarding the single la& &ould tend to preser'e itBut it &as not belie'ed that this Duestion &as presented$ 7t &as notbelie'ed that an! la& &as 'iolated$ The pro'ision of the Constitutionthat Kthe pri'ilege of the &rit of Jhabeas corpusJ shall not besuspended unless &hen in cases of rebellion or in'asion the publicsafet! ma! reDuire itK is eDui'alent to a pro'ision))is apro'ision))that such pri'ilege ma! be suspended &hen in cases ofrebellion or in'asion the public safet! JdoesJ reDuire it$ 7t &asdecided that &e ha'e a case of rebellion and that the public safet! doesreDuire the Dualified suspension of the pri'ilege of the &rit &hich &asauthoried to be made$ =o& it is insisted that Congress and not theE@ecuti'e is 'ested &ith this po&er but the Constitution itself issilent as to &hich or &ho is to e@ercise the po&er and as the pro'ision&as plainl! made for a dangerous emergenc! it can not be belie'ed theframers of the instrument intended that in e'er! case the danger shouldrun its course until Congress could be called together the 'er!assembling of &hich might be pre'ented as &as intended in this caseb! the rebellion$


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=o more e@tended argument is no& offered as an opinion at some length&ill probabl! be presented b! the Attorne!)General$ Ihether there shallbe an! legislation upon the subject and if an! &hat is submittedentirel! to the better judgment of Congress$

The forbearance of this Go'ernment had been so e@traordinar! and so longcontinued as to lead some foreign nations to shape their action as ifthe! supposed the earl! destruction of our =ational


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kne& the! could ne'er raise their treason to an! respectable magnitudeb! an! name &hich implies J'iolationJ of la&$ The! kne& their peoplepossessed as much of moral sense as much of de'otion to la& and orderand as much pride in and re'erence for the histor! and Go'ernment oftheir common countr! as an! other ci'ilied and patriotic people$ The!

kne& the! could make no ad'ancement directl! in the teeth of thesestrong and noble sentiments$ Accordingl! the! commenced b! an insidiousdebauching of the public mind$ The! in'ented an ingenious sophism&hich if conceded &as follo&ed b! perfectl! logical steps through allthe incidents to the complete destruction of the


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*tates but the &ord e'en is not in the =ational Constitution nor asis belie'ed in an! of the *tate constitutions$ Ihat is a Kso'ereignt!Kin the political sense of the term Iould it be far &rong to define itKa political communit! &ithout a political superiorK Tested b! thisno one of our *tates e@cept Te@as e'er &as a so'ereignt! and e'en

Te@as ga'e up the character on coming into the


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an! return The nation is no& in debt for mone! applied to the benefitof these so)called seceding *tates in common &ith the rest$ 7s it justeither that creditors shall go unpaid or the remaining *tates pa! the&hole A part of the present national debt &as contracted to pa! the olddebts of Te@as$ 7s it just that she shall lea'e and pa! no part of this

herself

Again: 7f one *tate ma! secede so ma! another and &hen all shall ha'eseceded none is left to pa! the debts$ 7s this Duite just to creditors#id &e notif! them of this sage 'ie& of ours &hen &e borro&ed theirmone! 7f &e no& recognie this doctrine b! allo&ing the seceders to goin peace it is difficult to see &hat &e can do if others choose to goor to e@tort terms upon &hich the! &ill promise to remain$

The seceders insist that our Constitution admits of secession$ The!ha'e assumed to make a national constitution of their o&n in &hich

of necessit! the! ha'e either JdiscardedJ or JretainedJ the right ofsecession as the! insist it e@ists in ours$ 7f the! ha'e discarded itthe! thereb! admit that on principle it ought not to be in ours$ 7f the!ha'e retained it b! their o&n construction of ours the! sho& that to beconsistent the! must secede from one another &hene'er the! shall find itthe easiest &a! of settling their debts or effecting an! other selfishor unjust object$ The principle itself is one of disintegration andupon &hich no go'ernment can possibl! endure$

7f all the *tates sa'e one should assert the po&er to Jdri'eJ that oneout of the


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as demonstrating popular sentiment$ At such an election all that largeclass &ho are at once JforJ the


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sailor is kno&n to ha'e deserted his flag$

Great honor is due to those officers &ho remained true despite thee@ample of their treacherous associates but the greatest honor andmost important fact of all is the unanimous firmness of the common

soldiers and common sailors$ To the last man so far as kno&n the!ha'e successfull! resisted the traitorous efforts of those &hosecommands but an hour before the! obe!ed as absolute la&$ This is thepatriotic instinct of plain people$ The! understand &ithout an argumentthat the destro!ing the Go'ernment &hich &as made b! Iashington meansno good to them$

9ur popular Go'ernment has often been called an e@periment$ T&o pointsin it our people ha'e alread! settled))the successful JestablishingJ andthe successful JadministeringJ of it$ 9ne still remains))its successfulJmaintenanceJ against a formidable internal attempt to o'erthro& it$ 7t

is no& for them to demonstrate to the &orld that those &ho can fairl!carr! an election can also suppress a rebellion that ballots are therightful and peaceful successors of bullets and that &hen ballots ha'efairl! and constitutionall! decided there can be no successful appealback to bullets that there can be no successful appeal e@cept toballots themsel'es at succeeding elections$ *uch &ill be a great lessonof peace teaching men that &hat the! can not take b! an electionneither can the! take it b! a &ar teaching all the foll! of being thebeginners of a &ar$

Lest there be some uneasiness in the minds of candid men as to &hat isto be the course of the Go'ernment to&ard the *outhern *tates JafterJthe rebellion shall ha'e been suppressed the E@ecuti'e deems it properto sa! it &ill be his purpose then as e'er to be guided b! theConstitution and the la&s and that he probabl! &ill ha'e no differentunderstanding of the po&ers and duties of the ederal Go'ernmentrelati'el! to the rights of the *tates and the people under theConstitution than that e@pressed in the inaugural address$

;e desires to preser'e the Go'ernment that it ma! be administeredfor all as it &as administered b! the men &ho made it$ Lo!al citiense'er!&here ha'e the right to claim this of their go'ernment and thego'ernment has no right to &ithhold or neglect it$ 7t is not percei'edthat in gi'ing it there is an! coercion an! conDuest or an!subjugation in an! just sense of those terms$

The Constitution pro'ides and all the *tates ha'e accepted thepro'ision that Kthe


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form of go'ernment so that to pre'ent its going out is an indispensableJmeansJ to the JendJ of maintaining the guarant! mentioned and &hen anend is la&ful and obligator! the indispensable means to it are alsola&ful and obligator!$

7t &as &ith the deepest regret that the E@ecuti'e found the dut! ofemplo!ing the &ar po&er in defense of the Go'ernment forced upon him$;e could but perform this dut! or surrender the e@istence of theGo'ernment$ =o compromise b! public ser'ants could in this case be acure not that compromises are not often proper but that no populargo'ernment can long sur'i'e a marked precedent that those &ho carr! anelection can onl! sa'e the go'ernment from immediate destruction b!gi'ing up the main point upon &hich the people ga'e the election$ Thepeople themsel'es and not their ser'ants can safel! re'erse their o&ndeliberate decisions$

As a pri'ate citien the E@ecuti'e could not ha'e consented that theseinstitutions shall perish much less could he in betra!al of so 'ast andso sacred a trust as these free people had confided to him$ ;e felt thathe had no moral right to shrink nor e'en to count the chances of hiso&n life in &hat might follo&$ 7n full 'ie& of his great responsibilit!he has so far done &hat he has deemed his dut!$ (ou &ill no& accordingto !our o&n judgment perform !ours$ ;e sincerel! hopes that !our 'ie&sand !our action ma! so accord &ith his as to assure all faithfulcitiens &ho ha'e been disturbed in their rights of a certain and speed!restoration to them under the Constitution and the la&s$

And ha'ing thus chosen our course &ithout guile and &ith pure purposelet us rene& our trust in God and go for&ard &ithout fear and &ith manl!hearts$

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

*PEC7AL ME**AGE*$

IA*;7=GT9= J"ul! ++ +10+J$

JTo the ;ouse of %epresentati'esJ:

7n ans&er to the resolution of the ;ouse of %epresentati'es of the ?thinstant reDuesting a cop! of correspondence upon the subject of theincorporation of the #ominican %epublic &ith the *panish Monarch! 7


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transmit a report from the *ecretar! of *tate to &hom the resolution&as referred$

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

IA*;7=GT9= J"ul! +? +10+J$

JTo the *enate and ;ouse of %epresentati'esJ:

7 transmit to Congress a cop! of correspondence bet&een the *ecretar!of *tate and ;er Britannic Majest!s en'o! e@traordinar! and ministerplenipotentiar! accredited to this Go'ernment relati'e to an e@hibitionof the products of industr! of all nations &hich is to take place atLondon in the course of ne@t !ear$ As citiens of the


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countries such measures as ma! be conduci'e to those important objects$Iith this 'ie& 7 transmit to Congress a cop! of a correspondence bet&eenthe *ecretar! of *tate and the British minister here in &hich thelatter proposes on behalf of his Go'ernment the appointment of a jointcommission to inDuire into the matter in order that such ulterior

measures ma! be adopted as ma! be ad'isable for the objects proposed$*uch legislation is recommended as ma! be necessar! to enable theE@ecuti'e to pro'ide for a commissioner on behalf of the


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AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

4ootnote -: *ee p$ --$6

"


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JTo the *enate of the


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reference to former rank therein gi'en up b! resignation fourth b!lotter!$

And in the last edition of Arm! %egulations before me published in+1F it is specified in article - section F that K&hen commissions

are of the same date the rank is to be decided bet&een officers of thesame regiment or corps b! the order of appointment bet&een officers ofdifferent regiments or corps first b! rank in actual ser'ice &henappointed second b! former rank and ser'ice in the Arm! or MarineCorps third b! lotter! among such as ha'e not been in the militar!ser'ice of the


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certain papers numbered + - H 3 F 0 and &hich taken togethere@plain themsel'es and &hich contain all the information 7 possess uponthe Duestions propounded$

7t &as m! intention as sho&n b! m! letter of "une -2 +10+ to appoint

;on$ "ames ;$ Lane of >ansas a brigadier)general of


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and religious libert! earned under ;is guidance and blessing b! thelabors and sufferings of our fathers ma! be restored in all itsoriginal e@cellence:

Therefore 7 Abraham Lincoln President of the


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Ihereas the insurgents in all the said *tates claim to act under theauthorit! thereof and such claim is not disclaimed or repudiated b! thepersons e@ercising the functions of go'ernment in such *tate or *tatesor in the part or parts thereof in &hich such combinations e@ist nor

has such insurrection been suppressed b! said *tates:

=o& therefore 7 Abraham Lincoln President of the


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4*EAL$6

#one at the cit! of Iashington this +0th da! of August A$#$ +10+ andof the 7ndependence of the


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indirectl! gi'en to the enem! &ithout the authorit! and sanction ofthe major)general in command be and the same are absolutel!prohibited and from and after the date of this order persons 'iolatingthe same &ill be proceeded against under the fift!)se'enth article of&ar$

*7M9= CAME%9=$

Appro'ed:

A$ L7=C9L=$

GE=E%AL 9%#E%$

EEC


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IA% #EPA%TME=T

A#"


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JAdjutant)GeneralJ$

EEC


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be the rank of such officers as fi@ed b! the la& of the *tate thecompensation that the! shall recei'e from the


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*tates command of said department$

A$ L7=C9L=$

GE=E%AL 9%#E%* =o$ ?0$

IA% #EPA%TME=T

A#"


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to be more highl! compensated b! the


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offices))*tate count! and municipal))b! alleged authorit! from theCommon&ealth of /irginia in disregard and 'iolation of the Kdeclarationof the people of /irginia represented in con'ention at the cit! ofIheeling Thursda! "une +H +10+K and of the ordinances of saidcon'ention and of the acts of the general assembl! held b! authorit! of

said con'ention$

7t is therefore ordered b! direction of the President that if an!person shall hereafter attempt &ithin the *tate of /irginia under thealleged authorit! of said Common&ealth to e@ercise an! official po&ersof a ci'il nature &ithin the limits of an! of the commands of theoccup!ing forces of the


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7%*T A==


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'aluable and reliable commerce than can the same nation broken intohostile fragments$

7t is not m! purpose to re'ie& our discussions &ith foreign statesbecause &hate'er might be their &ishes or dispositions the integrit!

of our countr! and the stabilit! of our Go'ernment mainl! depend notupon them but on the lo!alt! 'irtue patriotism and intelligence ofthe American people$ The correspondence itself &ith the usualreser'ations is here&ith submitted$

7 'enture to hope it &ill appear that &e ha'e practiced prudence andliberalit! to&ard foreign po&ers a'erting causes of irritation and &ithfirmness maintaining our o&n rights and honor$

*ince ho&e'er it is apparent that here as in e'er! other stateforeign dangers necessaril! attend domestic difficulties 7 recommend

that adeDuate and ample measures be adopted for maintaining the publicdefenses on e'er! side$ Ihile under this general recommendationpro'ision for defending our seacoast line readil! occurs to the mind 7also in the same connection ask the attention of Congress to our greatlakes and ri'ers$ 7t is belie'ed that some fortifications and depots ofarms and munitions &ith harbor and na'igation impro'ements all at&ell)selected points upon these &ould be of great importance to thenational defense and preser'ation$ 7 ask attention to the 'ie&s of the*ecretar! of Iar e@pressed in his report upon the same generalsubject$

7 deem it of importance that the lo!al regions of east Tennessee and&estern =orth Carolina should be connected &ith >entuck! and otherfaithful parts of the no@'ille or on some still different line can easil! be determined$>entuck! and the General Go'ernment cooperating the &ork can becompleted in a 'er! short time and &hen done it &ill be not onl! of'ast present usefulness but also a 'aluable permanent impro'ement&orth its cost in all the future$

*ome treaties designed chiefl! for the interests of commerce andha'ing no gra'e political importance ha'e been negotiated and &ill besubmitted to the *enate for their consideration$


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Although &e ha'e failed to induce some of the commercial po&ers to adopta desirable melioration of the rigor of maritime &ar &e ha'e remo'edall obstructions from the &a! of this humane reform e@cept such as aremerel! of temporar! and accidental occurrence$

7 in'ite !our attention to the correspondence bet&een ;er BritannicMajest!s minister accredited to this Go'ernment and the *ecretar! of*tate relati'e to the detention of the British ship JPerthshireJ in "unelast b! the


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The large addition to the %egular Arm! in connection &ith the defectionthat has so considerabl! diminished the number of its officers gi'especuliar importance to his recommendation for increasing the corps ofcadets to the greatest capacit! of the Militar! Academ!$

B! mere omission 7 presume Congress has failed to pro'ide chaplainsfor hospitals occupied b! 'olunteers$ This subject &as brought to m!notice and 7 &as induced to dra& up the form of a letter one cop! of&hich properl! addressed has been deli'ered to each of the personsand at the dates respecti'el! named and stated in a schedule containingalso the form of the letter marked A and here&ith transmitted$

These gentlemen 7 understand entered upon the duties designated at thetimes respecti'el! stated in the schedule and ha'e labored faithfull!therein e'er since$ 7 therefore recommend that the! be compensated at

the same rate as chaplains in the Arm!$ 7 further suggest that generalpro'ision be made for chaplains to ser'e at hospitals as &ell as &ithregiments$

The report of the *ecretar! of the =a'! presents in detail theoperations of that branch of the ser'ice the acti'it! and energ! &hichha'e characteried its administration and the results of measures toincrease its efficienc! and po&er$ *uch ha'e been the additions b!construction and purchase that it ma! almost be said a na'! has beencreated and brought into ser'ice since our difficulties commenced$

Besides blockading our e@tensi'e coast sDuadrons larger than e'erbefore assembled under our flag ha'e been put afloat and performed deeds&hich ha'e increased our na'al reno&n$

7 &ould in'ite special attention to the recommendation of the *ecretar!for a more perfect organiation of the =a'! b! introducing additionalgrades in the ser'ice$

The present organiation is defecti'e and unsatisfactor! and thesuggestions submitted b! the #epartment &ill it is belie'ed ifadopted ob'iate the difficulties alluded to promote harmon! andincrease the efficienc! of the =a'!$

There are three 'acancies on the bench of the *upreme Court))t&o b! thedecease of "ustices #aniel and McLean and one b! the resignation of"ustice Campbell$ 7 ha'e so far forborne making nominations to fillthese 'acancies for reasons &hich 7 &ill no& state$ T&o of the out)goingjudges resided &ithin the *tates no& o'errun b! re'olt so that ifsuccessors &ere appointed in the same localities the! could not no&


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ser'e upon their circuits and man! of the most competent men thereprobabl! &ould not take the personal haard of accepting to ser'e e'enhere upon the *upreme bench$ 7 ha'e been un&illing to thro& all theappointments north&ard thus disabling m!self from doing justice to the*outh on the return of peace although 7 ma! remark that to transfer to

the =orth one &hich has heretofore been in the *outh &ould not &ithreference to territor! and population be unjust$

#uring the long and brilliant judicial career of "udge McLean hiscircuit gre& into an empire))altogether too large for an! one judge togi'e the courts therein more than a nominal attendance))rising inpopulation from +322+1 in +1H2 to 0+F+32F in +102$

Besides this the countr! generall! has outgro&n our present judicials!stem$ 7f uniformit! &as at all intended the s!stem reDuires that allthe *tates shall be accommodated &ith circuit courts attended b!

*upreme judges &hile in fact Iisconsin Minnesota 7o&a >ansaslorida Te@as California and 9regon ha'e ne'er had an! such courts$=or can this &ell be remedied &ithout a change in the s!stem becausethe adding of judges to the *upreme Court enough for the accommodationof all parts of the countr! &ith circuit courts &ould create a courtaltogether too numerous for a judicial bod! of an! sort$ And the e'ilif it be one &ill increase as ne& *tates come into the


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'oluntar! return to allegiance and order or b! the po&er of our armsthis ho&e'er not to be a permanent institution but a temporar!substitute and to cease as soon as the ordinar! courts can bereestablished in peace$

7t is important that some more con'enient means should be pro'ided ifpossible for the adjustment of claims against the Go'ernmentespeciall! in 'ie& of their increased number b! reason of the &ar$ 7t isas much the dut! of Go'ernment to render prompt justice against itselfin fa'or of citiens as it is to administer the same bet&een pri'ateindi'iduals$ The in'estigation and adjudication of claims in theirnature belong to the judicial department$ Besides it is apparent thatthe attention of Congress &ill be more than usuall! engaged for sometime to come &ith great national Duestions$ 7t &as intended b! theorganiation of the Court of Claims mainl! to remo'e this branch ofbusiness from the halls of Congress but &hile the court has pro'ed to

be an effecti'e and 'aluable means of in'estigation it in great degreefails to effect the object of its creation for &ant of po&er to make itsjudgments final$

ull! a&are of the delicac! not to sa! the danger of the subject 7commend to !our careful consideration &hether this po&er of makingjudgments final ma! not properl! be gi'en to the court reser'ing theright of appeal on Duestions of la& to the *upreme Court &ith suchother pro'isions as e@perience ma! ha'e sho&n to be necessar!$

7 ask attention to the report of the Postmaster)General the follo&ingbeing a summar! statement of the condition of the #epartment:

The re'enue from all sources during the fiscal !ear ending "une H2+10+ including the annual permanent appropriation of 22222 for thetransportation of Kfree mail matterK &as ?23?-?0$32 being about -per cent less than the re'enue for +102$

The e@penditures &ere +H020F?$++ sho&ing a decrease of more than 1per cent as compared &ith those of the pre'ious !ear and lea'ing ane@cess of e@penditure o'er the re'enue for the last fiscal !ear of3FF30-$+$

The gross re'enue for the !ear ending "une H2 +10H is estimated at anincrease of 3 per cent on that of +10+ making 101H222 to &hichshould be added the earnings of the #epartment in carr!ing free matter'i 22222 making ?H1H222$

The total e@penditures for +10H are estimated at +-F-1222 lea'ing anestimated deficienc! of H+3F222 to be supplied from the Treasur! in


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addition to the permanent appropriation$

The present insurrection sho&s 7 think that the e@tension of this#istrict across the Potomac %i'er at the time of establishing thecapital here &as eminentl! &ise and conseDuentl! that the

relinDuishment of that portion of it &hich lies &ithin the *tate of/irginia &as un&ise and dangerous$ 7 submit for !our consideration thee@pedienc! of regaining that part of the #istrict and the restoration ofthe original boundaries thereof through negotiations &ith the *tate of/irginia$

The report of the *ecretar! of the 7nterior &ith the accompan!ingdocuments e@hibits the condition of the se'eral branches of the publicbusiness pertaining to that #epartment$ The depressing influences of theinsurrection ha'e been speciall! felt in the operations of the Patentand General Land 9ffices$ The cash receipts from the sales of public

lands during the past !ear ha'e e@ceeded the e@penses of our land s!stemonl! about -22222$ The sales ha'e been entirel! suspended in the*outhern *tates &hile the interruptions to the business of the countr!and the di'ersion of large numbers of men from labor to militar! ser'iceha'e obstructed settlements in the ne& *tates and Territories of the=orth&est$

The receipts of the Patent 9ffice ha'e declined in nine months about+22222 rendering a large reduction of the force emplo!ed necessar! tomake it self)sustaining$

The demands upon the Pension 9ffice &ill be largel! increased b! theinsurrection$ =umerous applications for pensions based upon thecasualties of the e@isting &ar ha'e alread! been made$ There is reasonto belie'e that man! &ho are no& upon the pension rolls and in receiptof the bount! of the Go'ernment are in the ranks of the insurgent arm!or gi'ing them aid and comfort$ The *ecretar! of the 7nterior hasdirected a suspension of the pa!ment of the pensions of such personsupon proof of their dislo!alt!$ 7 recommend that Congress authorie thatofficer to cause the names of such persons to be stricken from thepension rolls$

The relations of the Go'ernment &ith the 7ndian tribes ha'e been greatl!disturbed b! the insurrection especiall! in the southernsuperintendenc! and in that of =e& Me@ico$ The 7ndian countr! south of>ansas is in the possession of insurgents from Te@as and Arkansas$ Theagents of the


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'irtue of commissions from the insurrectionists$ 7t has been stated inthe public press that a portion of those 7ndians ha'e been organied asa militar! force and are attached to the arm! of the insurgents$Although the Go'ernment has no official information upon this subjectletters ha'e been &ritten to the Commissioner of 7ndian Affairs b!

se'eral prominent chiefs gi'ing assurance of their lo!alt! to the


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people of the Territor!$ *o far the authorit! of the


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po&er &as Duestioned at first b! Mr$ "efferson &ho ho&e'er in thepurchase of Louisiana !ielded his scruples on the plea of greate@pedienc!$ 7f it be said that the onl! legitimate object of acDuiringterritor! is to furnish homes for &hite men this measure effects thatobject for the emigration of colored men lea'es additional room for

&hite men remaining or coming here$ Mr$ "efferson ho&e'er placed theimportance of procuring Louisiana more on political and commercialgrounds than on pro'iding room for population$

9n this &hole proposition including the appropriation of mone! &ith theacDuisition of territor! does not the e@pedienc! amount to absolutenecessit!))that &ithout &hich the Go'ernment itself can not beperpetuated

The &ar continues$ 7n considering the polic! to be adopted forsuppressing the insurrection 7 ha'e been an@ious and careful that the

ine'itable conflict for this purpose shall not degenerate into a'iolent and remorseless re'olutionar! struggle$ 7 ha'e therefore ine'er! case thought it proper to keep the integrit! of the


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better defined and more distinct no& and the progress of e'ents isplainl! in the right direction$ The insurgents confidentl! claimed astrong support from north of Mason and #i@ons line and the friends ofthe entuck! and Missouri neither of &hich&ould promise a single soldier at first ha'e no& an aggregate of notless than 32222 in the field for the


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continuall! 7 can not but think &e are still his debtors$ 7 submittherefore for !our consideration &hat further mark of recognition isdue to him and to oursel'es as a grateful people$

Iith the retirement of General *cott came the E@ecuti'e dut! of

appointing in his stead a General in Chief of the Arm!$ 7t is afortunate circumstance that neither in council nor countr! &as there sofar as 7 kno& an! difference of opinion as to the proper person to beselected$ The retiring chief repeatedl! e@pressed his judgment in fa'orof General McClellan for the position and in this the nation seemed togi'e a unanimous concurrence$ The designation of General McClellan istherefore in considerable degree the selection of the countr! as &ell asof the E@ecuti'e and hence there is better reason to hope there &ill begi'en him the confidence and cordial support thus b! fair implicationpromised and &ithout &hich he can not &ith so full efficienc! ser'e thecountr!$

7t has been said that one bad general is better than t&o good ones andthe sa!ing is true if taken to mean no more than that an arm! is betterdirected b! a single mind though inferior than b! t&o superior ones at'ariance and cross)purposes &ith each other$

And the same is true in all joint operations &herein those engaged JcanJha'e none but a common end in 'ie& and JcanJ differ onl! as to thechoice of means$ 7n a storm at sea no one on board JcanJ &ish the shipto sink and !et not unfreDuentl! all go do&n together because too man!&ill direct and no single mind can be allo&ed to control$

7t continues to de'elop that the insurrection is largel! if note@clusi'el! a &ar upon the first principle of popular go'ernment))therights of the people$ Conclusi'e e'idence of this is found in the mostgra'e and maturel! considered public documents as &ell as in thegeneral tone of the insurgents$ 7n those documents &e find theabridgment of the e@isting right of suffrage and the denial to thepeople of all right to participate in the selection of public officerse@cept the legislati'e boldl! ad'ocated &ith labored arguments to pro'ethat large control of the people in go'ernment is the source of allpolitical e'il$ Monarch! itself is sometimes hinted at as a possiblerefuge from the po&er of the people$

7n m! present position 7 could scarcel! be justified &ere 7 to omitraising a &arning 'oice against this approach of returning despotism$

7t is not needed nor fitting here that a general argument should be madein fa'or of popular institutions but there is one point &ith itsconnections not so hackne!ed as most others to &hich 7 ask a brief


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attention$ 7t is the effort to place JcapitalJ on an eDual footing &ithif not abo'e JlaborJ in the structure of go'ernment$ 7t is assumed thatlabor is a'ailable onl! in connection &ith capital that nobod! laborsunless some)bod! else o&ning capital someho& b! the use of it induceshim to labor$ This assumed it is ne@t considered &hether it is best

that capital shall JhireJ laborers and thus induce them to &ork b!their o&n consent or Jbu!J them and dri'e them to it &ithout theirconsent$ ;a'ing proceeded so far it is naturall! concluded that alllaborers are either JhiredJ laborers or &hat &e call sla'es$ Andfurther it is assumed that &hoe'er is once a hired laborer is fi@ed inthat condition for life$

=o& there is no such relation bet&een capital and labor as assumed noris there an! such thing as a free man being fi@ed for life in thecondition of a hired laborer$ Both these assumptions are false and allinferences from them are groundless$

Labor is prior to and independent of capital$ Capital is onl! the fruitof labor and could ne'er ha'e e@isted if labor had not first e@isted$Labor is the superior of capital and deser'es much the higherconsideration$ Capital has its rights &hich are as &orth! of protectionas an! other rights$ =or is it denied that there is and probabl! al&a!s&ill be a relation bet&een labor and capital producing mutual benefits$The error is in assuming that the &hole labor of communit! e@ists &ithinthat relation$ A fe& men o&n capital and that fe& a'oid laborthemsel'es and &ith their capital hire or bu! another fe& to labor forthem$ A large majorit! belong to neither class))neither &ork for othersnor ha'e others &orking for them$ 7n most of the *outhern *tates amajorit! of the &hole people of all colors are neither sla'es normasters &hile in the =orthern a large majorit! are neither hirers norhired$ Men &ith their families)&i'es sons and daughters))&ork forthemsel'es on their farms in their houses and in their shops takingthe &hole product to themsel'es and asking no fa'ors of capital on theone hand nor of hired laborers or sla'es on the other$ 7t is notforgotten that a considerable number of persons mingle their o&n labor&ith capital that is the! labor &ith their o&n hands and also bu! orhire others to labor for them but this is onl! a mi@ed and not adistinct class$ =o principle stated is disturbed b! the e@istence ofthis mi@ed class$

Again as has alread! been said there is not of necessit! an! suchthing as the free hired laborer being fi@ed to that condition for life$Man! independent men e'er!&here in these *tates a fe& !ears back intheir li'es &ere hired laborers$ The prudent penniless beginner in the&orld labors for &ages a&hile sa'es a surplus &ith &hich to bu! toolsor land for himself then labors on his o&n account another &hile and


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at length hires another ne& beginner to help him$ This is the just andgenerous and prosperous s!stem &hich opens the &a! to all gi'es hope toall and conseDuent energ! and progress and impro'ement of condition toall$ =o men li'ing are more &orth! to be trusted than those &ho toil upfrom po'ert! none less inclined to take or touch aught &hich the! ha'e

not honestl! earned$ Let them be&are of surrendering a political po&er&hich the! alread! possess and &hich if surrendered &ill surel! be usedto close the door of ad'ancement against such as the! and to fi@ ne&disabilities and burdens upon them till all of libert! shall be lost$

rom the first taking of our national census to the last are se'ent!!ears and &e find our population at the end of the period eight timesas great as it &as at the beginning$ The increase of those other things&hich men deem desirable has been e'en greater$ Ie thus ha'e at one 'ie&&hat the popular principle applied to Go'ernment through the machiner!of the *tates and the


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7 transmit here&ith a report from the *ecretar! of *tate in repl! tothe resolution of the ;ouse of %epresentati'es of the +Hth "ul! last inrelation to the correspondence bet&een this Go'ernment and foreignnations respecting the rights of blockade pri'ateering and the

recognition of the so)called Confederate *tates$

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

IA*;7=GT9= J#ecember F +10+J$



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transmit here&ith the copies desired &hich ha'e been procured from theIar #epartment$

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

IA*;7=GT9= J#ecember +0 +10+J$



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that %epublic b! Mr$ Cor&in the minister of the


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IA*;7=GT9= J#ecember H2 +10+J$


7 transmit to Congress a correspondence &hich has taken place bet&eenthe *ecretar! of *tate and authorities of Great Britain and rance onthe subject of the recent remo'al of certain citiens4H6 of the


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agent on the part of the


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7 transmit here&ith for the consideration of the *enate a petition ofcertain members of the Potta&atomie tribe of 7ndians complaining of thetreat! made b! I$ I$ %oss on the +Fth =o'ember last &ith that tribe&hich treat! &as laid before the *enate for its constitutional action inm! communication to that bod! dated the 0th 4Hd6 instant$

A letter of the +0th instant from the *ecretar! of the 7nteriorinclosing a report of the Commissioner of 7ndian Affairs dated the +Fthinstant in relation to the subject is also here&ith transmitted$

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

IA*;7=GT9= #$C$ J"anuar! +10-J$



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IA*;7=GT9= J"anuar! -3 +10-J$



77/401

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

IA*;7=GT9= J"anuar! H+ +10-J$


As a seDuel to the correspondence on the subject pre'iousl!communicated 7 transmit to Congress e@tracts from a dispatch of the-2th ultimo from Mr$ Adams


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displa!ed in the capture of orts Ialker and Beauregard commanding theentrance of Port %o!al ;arbor on the th of =o'ember +10+$

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

IA*;7=GT9= Jebruar! +10-J$



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That the President of the


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E#IA%# BATE*$

IA*;7=GT9= Jebruar! -F +10-J$


7 transmit to Congress a cop! of an instruction from Prince Gortchakoffto Mr$ #e *toeckl the minister of ;is 7mperial Majest! the Emperor of%ussia accredited to this Go'ernment and of a note of the *ecretar! of*tate to the latter relati'e to the adjustment of the Duestion bet&eenthe ingof *iam to the President of the


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submitted to the *enate$ 7t is hardl! necessar! to add that thenomination &as made &ithout an! kno&ledge of it on his part$

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

IA*;7=GT9= JMarch H +10-J$


7 transmit to Congress a cop! of a dispatch to the *ecretar! of *tatefrom the minister resident of the


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cop! of a letter from the special commissioner of the


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AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

MA%C; 0 +10-$

Jello&)Citiens of the *enate and ;ouse of %epresentati'esJ:

7 recommend the adoption of a joint resolution b! !our honorable bodies&hich shall be substantiall! as follo&s:

J%esol'edJ That the


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each case to the *tate and its people immediatel! interested$ 7t isproposed as a matter of perfectl! free choice &ith them$

7n the annual message last #ecember 7 thought fit to sa! Kthe


85/401

IA*;7=GT9= JMarch +- +10-J$



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IA*;7=GT9= C7T( JMarch -2 +10-J$


The third section of the KAct further to promote the efficienc! of the=a'!K appro'ed #ecember -+ +10+ pro'ides))



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AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

4ootnote F: Containing a narrati'e of incidents pertaining to thego'ernment of the Territor! of =e'ada$6

IA*;7=GT9= JMarch H+ +10-J$



88/401

IA*;7=GT9= JApril +2 +10-J$



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the supplementar! time named in the resolution of "une - +102 for thee@change of ratifications$

7t &as not until the -Fth of March +10+ nearl! three months after thee@piration of the si@ months e@tended b! the *enate resolution that the

Congress of =icaragua acted fa'orabl! upon the amendments of the *enateof the


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the e@tradition treat! and in the t&elfth article of the postalcon'ention for the e@change of ratifications for si@t! da!s from andafter the ++th "une ne@t the date of the e@piration of the period namedfor that purpose in both instruments$

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

IA*;7=GT9= #$C$ JApril +F +10-J$



91/401

presented &ithin ninet! da!s from the passage of the act Kbut notthereafterK and there is no sa'ing for minors femes co'ert insane orabsent persons$ 7 presume this is an omission b! mere o'ersight and 7recommend that it be supplied b! an amendator! or supplemental act$

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

IA*;7=GT9= JApril +1 +10-J$


7 transmit to Congress a cop! of a correspondence bet&een the *ecretar!of *tate and Benjamin E$ Bre&ster of Philadelphia relati'e to thearrest in that cit! of *imon Cameron late *ecretar! of Iar at the suit

of Pierce Butler for trespass J'i et armisJ assault and batter! andfalse imprisonment$

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

EEC


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7n compliance &ith the resolution of the ;ouse of %epresentati'es of the-3th of ebruar! last reDuesting information in regard to insurgentpri'ateers in foreign ports 7 transmit a report from the *ecretar! of*tate and the documents b! &hich it &as accompanied$

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

EEC


93/401

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

IA*;7=GT9= #$C$ JMa! +3 +10-J$


The third section of the KAct further to promote the efficienc! of the=a'!K appro'ed -+st of #ecember +10+ pro'ides))



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lag)9fficer arragut &hich led to the capture of orts "ackson and *t$Philip cit! of =e& 9rleans and the destruction of rebel gunboatsrams etc$ in April +10-$ or their ser'ices and gallantr! on thoseoccasions 7 cordiall! recommend that the! should b! name recei'e a 'oteof thanks of Congress$

L7*T$

Captain Theodorus Baile!$ Captain ;enr! I$ Morris$ Captain Thomas T$ Cra'en$ Commander ;enr! ;$ Bell$ Commander *amuel Phillips Lee$ Commander *amuel *&art&out$ Commander Melancton *mith$ Commander Charles *te&art Boggs$

Commander "ohn #e Camp$ Commander "ames Alden$ Commander #a'id #$ Porter$ Commander %ichard Iain&right$ Commander Iilliam B$ %ensha&$ Lieutenant Commanding Abram #$ ;arrell$ Lieutenant Commanding Ed&ard #onaldson$ Lieutenant Commanding George ;$ Preble$ Lieutenant Commanding Ed&ard T$ =ichols$ Lieutenant Commanding "onathan M$ Iain&right$ Lieutenant Commanding "ohn Guest$ Lieutenant Commanding Charles ;$B$ Cald&ell$ Lieutenant Commanding =apoleon B$ ;arrison$ Lieutenant Commanding Albert =$ *mith$ Lieutenant Commanding Pierce Crosb!$ Lieutenant Commanding George M$ %ansom$ Lieutenant Commanding Iatson *mith$ Lieutenant Commanding "ohn ;$ %ussell$ Lieutenant Commanding Ialter I$ Nueen$ Lieutenant Commanding >$ %andolph Breese$ Acting Lieutenant Commanding *elim E$ Iood&orth$ Acting Lieutenant Commanding Charles ;$ Bald&in$

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

EEC


95/401

7 transmit here&ith for the constitutional action of the *enate atreat! negotiated on the +Hth of March +10- bet&een ;$I$ arns&ortha commissioner on the part of the


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7 transmit a report from the *ecretar! of *tate in ans&er to theresolution of the ;ouse of %epresentati'es of the --d instant callingfor further correspondence relati'e to Me@ican affairs$

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

4The same message &as sent to the *enate in ans&er to a resolutionof that bod!$6

IA*;7=GT9= JMa! -0 +10-J$


The insurrection &hich is !et e@isting in the


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charter and arm as Duickl! as possible fi'e steamships for purposesof public defense$ 7 directed the commandant of the na'!)!ard atPhiladelphia to purchase or charter and arm an eDual number for the samepurpose$ 7 directed the commandant at =e& (ork to purchase or charterand arm an eDual number$ 7 directed Commander Gillis to purchase or

charter and arm and put to sea t&o other 'essels$ *imilar directions&ere gi'en to Commodore #u Pont &ith a 'ie& to the opening of passagesb! &ater to and from the capital$ 7 directed the se'eral officers totake the ad'ice and obtain the aid and efficient ser'ices in the matterof ;is E@cellenc! Ed&in #$ Morgan the go'ernor of =e& (ork or in hisabsence George #$ Morgan Iilliam M$ E'arts %$M$ Blatchford and Moses;$ Grinnell &ho &ere b! m! directions especiall! empo&ered b! the*ecretar! of the =a'! to act for his #epartment in that crisis inmatters pertaining to the for&arding of troops and supplies for thepublic defense$

9n the same occasion 7 directed that Go'ernor Morgan and Ale@anderCummings of the cit! of =e& (ork should be authoried b! the *ecretar!of Iar *imon Cameron to make all necessar! arrangements for thetransportation of troops and munitions of &ar in aid and assistance ofthe officers of the Arm! of the


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either lost or &asted although apprehensions of such misdirectionoccurred to me as objections to those e@traordinar! proceedings and&ere necessaril! o'erruled$

7 recall these transactions no& because m! attention has been directed

to a resolution &hich &as passed b! the ;ouse of %epresentati'es on theH2th da! of last month &hich is in these &ords:

J%esol'edJ That *imon Cameron late *ecretar! of Iar b! in'esting Ale@ander Cummings &ith the control of large sums of the public mone! and authorit! to purchase militar! supplies &ithout restriction &ithout reDuiring from him an! guarant! for the faithful performance of his duties &hen the ser'ices of competent public officers &ere a'ailable and b! in'ol'ing the Go'ernment in a 'ast number of contracts &ith persons not legitimatel! engaged in the business pertaining to the subject)matter of such contracts especiall! in the purchase of arms

for future deli'er! has adopted a polic! highl! injurious to the public ser'ice and deser'es the censure of the ;ouse$

Congress &ill see that 7 should be &anting eDuall! in candor and injustice if 7 should lea'e the censure e@pressed in this resolution torest e@clusi'el! or chiefl! upon Mr$ Cameron$ The same sentiment isunanimousl! entertained b! the heads of #epartments &ho participatedin the proceedings &hich the ;ouse of %epresentati'es has censured$7t is due to Mr$ Cameron to sa! that although he full! appro'ed theproceedings the! &ere not mo'ed nor suggested b! himself and that notonl! the President but all the other heads of #epartments &ere atleast eDuall! responsible &ith him for &hate'er error &rong or fault&as committed in the premises$

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

IA*;7=GT9= JMa! H2 +10-J$



99/401

hemisphere among &hich is *al'ador are alarmed at a supposed sentimenttending to reactionar! mo'ements against republican institutions on thiscontinent$ 7t seems therefore to be proper that &e should sho& toan! of them &ho ma! appl! for that purpose that compatibl! &ith ourcardinal polic! and &ith an enlightened 'ie& of our o&n interests &e

are &illing to encourage them b! strengthening our ties of good &illand good neighborhood &ith them$

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

IA*;7=GT9= J"une 3 +10-J$



100/401

ratifications of &hich &ere e@changed at London on the -2th ultimo$

A cop! of the correspondence &hich preceded the conclusion of theinstrument bet&een the *ecretar! of *tate and Lord L!ons ;er BritannicMajest!s en'o! e@traordinar! and minister plenipotentiar! is also

here&ith transmitted$

7t is desirable that such legislation as ma! be necessar! to carr! thetreat! into effect should be enacted as soon as ma! comport &ith thecon'enience of Congress$

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

EEC


101/401

at !our hands$

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

EEC


102/401

7n 'ie& of the 'er! important e'ents occurring there he has thoughtthat the interests of the


103/401

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

IA*;7=GT9= #$C$ J"ul! F +10-J$



104/401

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

IA*;7=GT9= #$C$ J"ul! ++ +10-J$


7 recommend that the thanks of Congress be gi'en to the follo&ingofficers of the


105/401

foreign po&ers$

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

IA*;7=GT9= #$C$ J"ul! +3 +10-J$

Jello&)Citiens of the *enate and ;ouse of %epresentati'esJ:

;ere&ith is a draft of a bill to compensate an! *tate &hich ma! abolishsla'er! &ithin its limits the passage of &hich substantiall! aspresented 7 respectfull! and earnestl! recommend$

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

JBe it enacted b! the *enate and ;ouse of %epresentati'es of the


106/401

*7%: Please inform the *enate that 7 shall be obliged if the! &illpostpone the adjournment at least one da! be!ond the time &hich 7understand to be no& fi@ed for it$

(our obedient ser'ant

AB%A;AM L7=C9L=$

4The same message &as addressed to ;on$ Calusha A$ Cro& *peaker of the;ouse of %epresentati'es$6

"


107/401

constituted courts under the forms and all the substantial pro'isions of la& and of the Constitution applicable to their se'eral cases$ To this 7 percei'e no objection especiall! as such persons &ould be &ithin the general pardoning po&er and also the special pro'ision for pardon and amnest! contained in this act$

7t is also pro'ided that the sla'es of persons con'icted under these sections shall be free$ 7 think there is an unfortunate form of e@pression rather than a substantial objection in this$ 7t is startling to sa! that Congress can free a sla'e &ithin a *tate and !et if it &ere said the o&nership of the sla'e had first been transferred to the nation and that Congress had then liberated him the difficult! &ould at once 'anish$ And this is the real case$ The traitor against the General Go'ernment forfeits his sla'e at least as justl! as he does an! other propert! and he forfeits both to the Go'ernment against &hich he offends$ The Go'ernment so far as there can be o&nership thus o&ns the

forfeited sla'es and the Duestion for Congress in regard to them is K*hall the! be made free or be sold to ne& mastersK 7 percei'e no objection to Congress deciding in ad'ance that the! shall be free$ To the high honor of >entuck! as 7 am informed she has been the o&ner of some sla'es b! escheat and has sold none but liberated all$ 7 hope the same is true of some other *tates$ 7ndeed 7 do not belie'e it &ould be ph!sicall! possible for the General Go'ernment to return persons so circumstanced to actual sla'er!$ 7 belie'e there &ould be ph!sical resistance to it &hich could neither be turned aside b! argument nor dri'en a&a! b! force$ 7n this 'ie& 7 ha'e no objection to this feature of the bill$ Another matter in'ol'ed in these t&o sections and running through other parts of the act &ill be noticed hereafter$

7 percei'e no objection to the third and fourth sections$

*o far as 7 &ish to notice the fifth and si@th sections the! ma! be considered together$ That the enforcement of these sections &ould do no injustice to the persons embraced &ithin them is clear$ That those &ho make a causeless &ar should be compelled to pa! the cost of it is too ob'iousl! just to be called in Duestion$ To gi'e go'ernmental protection to the propert! of persons &ho ha'e abandoned it and gone on a crusade to o'erthro& that same go'ernment is absurd if considered in the mere light of justice$ The se'erest justice ma! not al&a!s be the best polic!$ The principle of seiing and appropriating the propert! of the persons embraced &ithin these sections is certainl! not 'er! objectionable but a justl! discriminating application of it &ould be 'er! difficult and to a great e@tent impossible$ And &ould it not be &ise to place a po&er of remission some&here so that these persons ma! kno& the! ha'e something to lose b! persisting and something to sa'e b! desisting 7 am not sure &hether such po&er of remission is or is not


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109/401

borro&ed from Great Britain applies onl! in this countr! to real or landed estate$

Again this act b! proceedings Jin remJ forfeits propert! for the ingredients of treason &ithout a con'iction of the supposed criminal or

a personal hearing gi'en him in an! proceeding$ That &e ma! not touch propert! l!ing &ithin our reach because &e can not gi'e personal notice to an o&ner &ho is absent endea'oring to destro! the Go'ernment is certainl! not 'er! satisfactor!$ *till the o&ner ma! not be thus engaged and 7 think a reasonable time should be pro'ided for such parties to appear and ha'e personal hearings$ *imilar pro'isions are not uncommon in connection &ith proceedings Jin remJ$

or the reasons stated 7 return the bill to the ;ouse in &hich it originated$

"

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The Project Gutenberg eBook of a Compilation of the Messages and Papers Of