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The point is not that all the States tolerating slavery would very

soon; if at all; initiate emancipation; but that; while the offer is

equally made to all; the more northern shall by such initiation make

it certain to the more southern that in no event will the former ever

join the latter in their proposed confederacy。  I say 〃initiation〃

because; in my judgment; gradual and not sudden emancipation is

better for all。  In the mere financial or pecuniary view; any member

of Congress with the census tables and treasury reports before him

can readily see for himself how very soon the current expenditures of

this war would purchase; at fair valuation; all the slaves in any

named State。  Such a proposition on the part of the General

Government sets up no claim of a right by Federal authority to

interfere with slavery within State limits; referring; as it does;

the absolute control of the subject in each case to the State and its

people immediately interested。  It is proposed as a matter of

perfectly free choice with them。



In the annual message last December; I thought fit to say; 〃The Union

must be preserved; and hence all indispensable means must be

employed。〃 I said this not hastily; but deliberately。  War has been

made and continues to be an indispensable means to this end。  A

practical reacknowledgment of the national authority would render the

war unnecessary; and it would at once cease。  If; however; resistance

continues; the war must also continue; and it is impossible to

foresee all the incidents which may attend and all the ruin which may

follow it。  Such as may seem indispensable or may obviously promise

great efficiency toward ending the struggle must and will come。



The proposition now made (though an offer only); I hope it may be

esteemed no offense to ask whether the pecuniary consideration

tendered would not be of more value to the States and private persons

concerned than are the institution and property in it in the present

aspect of affairs。



While it is true that the adoption of the proposed resolution would

be merely initiatory; and not within itself a practical measure; it

is recommended in the hope that it would soon lead to important

practical results。  In full view of my great responsibility to my God

and to my country; I earnestly beg the attention of Congress and the

people to the subject。



ABRAHAM LINCOLN。









INDORSEMENT ON LETTER FROM GOVERNOR YATES。



STATE OF ILLINOIS; EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT;

SPRINGFIELD; ILL。; March 1; 1862



HON。 EDWIN M。 STANTON;

SECRETARY OF WAR; Washington; D。 C。



SIR:The government at my special request a few months since

contracted for fourteen batteries of the James rifled gun; 6…pounder

calibre; and a limited quantity of the James projectiles; weighing

about fourteen pounds each。 The reports showing the superiority of

this gun and projectile; both as regards range; accuracy; and

execution; for field service over that of all others at the battle of

Fort Donelson; leads me to request that there be furnished to the

State of Illinois in the shortest time practicable seven batteries of

12…pounder calibre James rifled guns; with carriages; harness;

implements; etc。; complete and ready for field service; together with

the following fixed ammunition to each gun; viz。; 225 shells; 225

canister; and 50 solid projectiles; weighing about 24 pounds each;

and also 200 shells; 100 canister; and 100 solid projectiles for each

of the guns of the fourteen batteries named above; weighing about

14 pounds each; all to be of the James model。



Very respectfully;



RICHARD YATES;

Governor of Illinois。



'Indorsement。'



March 8; 1862。



The within is from the Governor of Illinois。 I understand the seven

additional batteries now sought are to be 6…gun batteries; and the

object is to mix them with the fourteen batteries they already have

so as to make each battery consist of four 6…pounders and two

12…pounders。 I shall be very glad to have the requisition filled if

it can be without detriment to the service。



A。 LINCOLN。









PRESIDENT'S GENERAL WAR ORDER NO。2。



EXECUTIVE MANSION; WASHINGTON



March 8; 1862。



Ordered:

1。  That the major…general commanding the Army of the Potomac proceed

forthwith to organize that part of the said army destined to enter

upon active operations (including the reserve; but excluding the

troops to be left in the fortifications about Washington) into four

army corps; to be commanded according to seniority of rank; as

follows:



First Corps to consist of four divisions; and to be commanded by

Major…General I。 McDowell。

Second Corps to consist of three divisions; and to be commanded by

Brigadier…General E。 V。 Sumner。

Third Corps to consist of three divisions; and to be commanded by

Brigadier…General S。 P。 Heintzelman。

Fourth Corps to consist of three divisions; and to be commanded by

Brigadier…General E。 D。 Keyes。



2。   That the divisions now commanded by the officers above assigned

to the commands of army corps shall be embraced in and form part of

their respective corps。



3。   The forces left for the defense of Washington will be placed in

command of Brigadier…General James S。 Wadsworth; who shall also be

military governor of the District of Columbia。



4。   That this order be executed with such promptness and dispatch as

not to delay the commencement of the operations already directed to

be underwritten by the Army of the Potomac。



5。  A fifth army corps; to be commanded by Major general N。 P。 Banks;

will be formed from his own and General Shields's (late General

Lander's) divisions。



ABRAHAM LINCOLN。









PRESIDENT'S GENERAL WAR ORDER NO。3。



EXECUTIVE MANSION; WASHINGTON; MARCH 8;1862



Ordered: That no change of the base of operations of the Army of the

Potomac shall be made without leaving in and about Washington such a

force as in the opinion of the general…in…chief and the commanders of

all the army corps shall leave said city entirely secure。



That no more than two army corps (about 50;000 troops) of said Army

of the Potomac shall be moved en route for a new base of operations

until the navigation of the Potomac from Washington to the Chesapeake

Bay shall be freed from enemy's batteries and other obstructions; or

until the President shall hereafter give express permission。



That any movements as aforesaid en route for a new base of operations

which may be ordered by the general…in…chief; and which may be

intended to move upon the Chesapeake Bay; shall begin to move upon

the bay as early as the 18th day of March instant; and the

general…in…chief shall be responsible that it so move as early as

that day。



Ordered; That the army and navy co…operate in an immediate effort to

capture the enemy's batteries upon the Potomac between Washington and

the Chesapeake Bay。



A。 LINCOLN









MEMORANDUM OF AN INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND SOME BORDER

SLAVE STATE REPRESENTATIVES; BY HON。 J。 W。 CRISFIELD。



〃DEAR SIR:I called; at the request of the President; to ask you to

come to the White House tomorrow morning; at nine o'clock; and bring

such of your colleagues as are in town。〃



WASHINGTON; March 10; 1862。



Yesterday; on my return from church; I found Mr。 Postmaster…General

Blair in my room; writing the above note; which he immediately

suspended; and verbally communicated the President's invitation; and

stated that the President's purpose was to have some conversation

with the delegations of Kentucky; Missouri; Maryland; Virginia; and

Delaware; in explanation of his message of the 6th instant。



This morning these delegations; or such of them as were in town;

assembled at the White House at the appointed time; and after some

little delay were admitted to an audience。  Mr。 Leary and myself were

the only members from Maryland present; and; I think; were th

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