take care of it so far as in me lies. As to the majorgeneralships in the regular army, I think I shall not dispose of another, at least until the combined operations now in progress, under direction of General Grant, and within which yourself and command are included, shall be terminated. Meanwhile, on behalf of yourself, officers, and men, please accept my hearty thanks for what you and they have so far done. A. LINCOLN. ORDER CONCERNING THE EXEMPTION OF AMERICAN CONSULS FROM MILITARY SERVICE, MAY 19, 1864. It is officially announced by the State Department that citizens of the United States holding commissions and recognized as Consuls of foreign powers, are not by law exempt from military service if drafted: Therefore the mere enrolment of a citizen holding a foreign consulate will not be held to vacate his commission, but if he shall be drafted his exequatur will be revoked unless he shall have previously resigned in order that another Consul may be received. An exequatur bearing date the 3d day of May, 1858, having been issued to Charles Hunt, a citizen of the United States, recognizing him as a Consul of Belgium for St. Louis, Missouri, and declaring him free to exercise and enjoy such functions, powers, and privileges as are allowed to the Consuls of the most favored nations in the United States, and the said Hunt having sought to screen himself from his military duty to his country, in consequence of thus being invested with the consular functions of a foreign power in the United States, it is deemed advisable that the said Charles Hunt should no longer be permitted to continue in the exercise of said functions, powers, and privileges. These are therefore to declare that I no longer recognize the said Hunt as Consul of Belgium, for St. Louis, Missouri, and will not permit him to exercise or enjoy any of the functions, powers or privileges allowed to consuls of that nation, and that I do hereby wholly revoke and annul the said exequatur heretofore given, and do declare the same to be absolutely null and void from this day forward. In testimony whereof, I have caused these letters to be made patent, and the seal of the United States of America to be hereunto affixed. Given under my hand at Washington, this 19th day of May, in the year of our Lord 1864, and of the independence of the United States of America the eighty-eighth. By the President: ABRAHAM Lincoln. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. TELEGRAM TO F. SCHMEDDING. EXECUTIVE Mansion, WASHINGTON, May 20, 1864. FELIX SCHMEDDING, Saint Louis, Mo.: The pleasure of attending your fair is not within my power. A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO A. MACKAY. EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, May 20, 1864. ALFRED MACKAY, Secretary of Fair, St. Louis, Mo.: Your dispatch received. Thanks for your greeting, and congratulations for the successful opening of your fair. Our soldiers are doing well, and must and will be done well by. A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR MORTON AND OTHERS. EXECUTIVE MANSION, May 21, 1864. GOVERNOR O. P. MORTON: The getting forward of hundred-day troops to sustain General Sherman's lengthening lines promises much good. Please put your best efforts into the work. A. LINCOLN. Same to Governor Yates, Springfield, Illinois; Governor Stone, Davenport, Iowa; Governor Lewis, Madison, Wisconsin. TELEGRAM TO CHRISTIANA A. SACK. WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., May 21, 1864. CHRISTIANA A. SACK, Baltimore, Md.: I cannot postpone the execution of a convicted spy on a mere telegraphic despatch signed with a name I never heard before. General Wallace may give you a pass to see him if he chooses. A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR BROUGH. WASHINGTON CITY, May 24, 1864. Governor BROUGH, Columbus, Ohio: Yours to Secretary of War [received] asking for something cheering. We have nothing bad from anywhere. I have just seen a despatch of Grant, of II P.M., May 23, on the North Anna and partly across it, which ends as follows: "Everything looks exceedingly favorable for us." We have nothing later from him. A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL MEADE. EXECUTIVE MANSION, MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Army of Potomac : Mr. J. C. Swift wishes a pass from me to follow your army to pick up rags and cast-off clothing. I will give it to him if you say so, otherwise not. A. LINCOLN. MEMORANDUM CONCERNING THE TRANSPORTATION OF THE NEW YORK NAVAL BRIGADE. WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: EXECUTIVE MANSION, I am again pressed with the claim of Mr. Marshall O. Roberts, for transportation of what was called the Naval Brigade from New York to Fortress Monroe. This force was a special organization got up by one Bartlett, in pretended pursuance of written authority from me, but in fact, pursuing the authority in scarcely anything whatever. The credit given him by Mr. Roberts, was given in the teeth of the express declaration that the Government would not be responsible for the class of expenses to which it belonged. After all some part of the transportation became useful to the Government, and equitably should be paid for; but I have neither time nor means to ascertain this equitable amount, or any appropriation to pay it with if ascertained. If the Quartermaster at New York can ascertain what would compensate for so much of the transportation as did result usefully to the Government, it might be a step towards reaching justice. I write this from memory, but I believe it is substantially correct. A. LINCOLN. TO F. A. CONKLING AND OTHERS. EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, June 3, 1864. HON. F. A. CONKLING AND OTHERS. GENTLEMEN:-Your letter, inviting me to be present at a mass meeting of loyal citizens, to be held at New York on the 4th instant, for the purpose of expressing gratitude to Lieutenant-General Grant for his signal services, was received yesterday. It is impossible for me to attend. I approve, nevertheless, of whatever may tend to strengthen and sustain General Grant and the noble armies now under his direction. My previous high estimate of General VOL. VII.-10. |