Complete Works of DRAFT OF MESSAGE TO CONGRESS, February 5, 18651 (Not signed or sent.) ELLOW-CITIZENS of the Senate and F fully recommend that a joint resolution, substantially as follows, be adopted so soon as practicable by your honorable bodies: "Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States is hereby empowered, in his dis 1 Lincoln's final attempt to save the South from financial ruin. At the meeting of his Cabinet, Nicolay tells us "with the words 'You are all opposed to me' sadly uttered, the President folded up the papers and ceased the discussion. The project was then nearest his heart and he doubtless meant to present it to the Cabinet again at a later day, hoping for its more favorable consideration. cretion, to pay $400,000,000 to the States of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia, in the manner and on the conditions following, to wit: The payment to be made in six per cent. government bonds, and to be distributed among said States pro rata on their respective slave populations as shown by the census of 1860, and no part of said sum to be paid unless all resistance to the national authority shall be abandoned and cease, on or before the first day of April next; and upon such abandonment and ceasing of resistance one half of said sum to be paid in manner aforesaid, and the remaining half to be paid only upon the amendment of the National Constitution recently proposed by Congress becoming valid law, on or before the first day of July next, by the action thereon of the requisite number of States." The adoption of such resolution is sought with a view to embody it, with other propositions, in a proclamation looking to peace and reunion. Whereas, a joint resolution has been adopted by Congress, in the words following, to wit: Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do proclaim, declare, and make known, that on the conditions therein stated, the power conferred on the executive in and by said joint resolution will be fully exercised; that war will cease and armies be reduced to a basis of peace; that all political offenses will be pardoned; that all property, except slaves, liable to confiscation or forfeiture, will be released therefrom, except in cases of intervening interests of third parties; and that liberality will be recommended to Congress upon all points not lying within executive control. [Indorsement.] February 5, 1865. To-day these papers, which explain themselves, were drawn up and submitted to the cabinet and unanimously disapproved by them. A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR BRAMLETTE Governor Bramlette, Frankfort, Ky.: Your despatch received. Will send official copy of constitutional amendment by mail to-morrow, this being Sunday. Precedents justify the legislature to act on ex-officio notice of Congress having passed the proposed amendment; nevertheless, I will send you the authenticated copy. A. LINCOLN. ORDER TO MAKE CORRECTIONS IN THE DRAFT EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 6, 1865. Whereas complaints are made in some localities respecting the assignments of quotas and credits allowed for the pending call of troops to fill up the armies: Now, in order to determine all controversies in respect thereto, and to avoid any delay in filling up the armies, it is ordered, That the Attorney-General, Brigadier-General Richard Delafield, and Colonel C. W. Foster, be, and they are hereby constituted, a board to examine into the proper quotas and credits of the respective States and districts under the call of December 19, 1864, with directions, if any errors be found therein, to make such corrections as the law and facts may require, and report their determination to the Provost-Marshal-General. The determination of said board to be final and conclusive, and the draft to be made in conformity therewith. 2. The Provost-Marshal-General is ordered to make the draft in the respective districts as speedily as the same can be done after the 15th of this month. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO LIEUTENANT-COLONEL GLENN EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 7, 1865. Lieutenant-Colonel Glenn, Henderson, Ky.: Complaint is made to me that you are forcing negroes into the military service, and even torturing them-riding them on rails and the like -to extort their consent. I hope this may be a mistake. The like must not be done by you, or any one under you. You must not force negroes any more than white men. Answer me on this. A. LINCOLN. LETTER TO GENERAL U. S. GRANT EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 7, 1865. Lieutenant-General Grant, City Point, Va.: General Singleton, who bears you this, claims that he already has arrangements made, if you consent, to bring a large amount of Southern produce through your lines. For its bearing on our finances I would be glad for this to be done if it can be without injuriously disturbing your military operations, or supplying the enemy. I wish you to be judge and master on these points. Please see and hear him fully, and decide whether anything, and if anything what, can be done in the premises. Yours truly, 'A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL U. S. GRANT EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 8, 1865. Lieutenant-General Grant, City Point, Va.: I am called on by the House of Representatives |