按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
records of the trials； and for which reason I herewith transmit a
copy； marked C。 I also； for the same reason； inclose a printed
memorial of the citizens of St。 Paul； addressed to me； and forwarded
with the letter aforesaid。
Anxious to not act with so much clemency as to encourage another
outbreak on the one hand； nor with so much severity as to be real
cruelty on the other； I caused a careful examination of the records
of trials to be made； in view of first ordering the execution of such
as had been proved guilty of violating females。 Contrary to my
expectation； only two of this class were found。 I then directed a
further examination and a classification of all who were proven to
have participated in massacres； as distinguished from participation
in battles。 This class numbered forty； and included the two
convicted of female violation。 One of the number is strongly
recommended； by the commission which tried them； for commutation to
ten years imprisonment I have ordered the other thirty…nine to be
executed on Friday the 19th instant。 The order was despatched from
here on Monday； the 8th instant； by a messenger to General Sibley；
and a copy of which order is herewith transmitted； marked D。
An abstract of the evidence as to the forty is herewith inclosed；
marked E。
To avoid the immense amount of copying； I lay before the Senate the
original transcripts of the records of trials； as received by me。
This is as full and complete a response to the resolution as it is in
my power to make。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN。
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS。
December 12； 1862。
FELLOW…CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES：
I have in my possession three valuable swords； formerly the property
of General David E。 Twiggs； which I now place at the disposal of
Congress。 They are forwarded to me from New Orleans by Major…General
Benjamin F。 Butler。 If they or any of them shall be by Congress
disposed of in reward or compliment of military service； I think
General Butler is entitled to the first consideration。 A copy of the
General's letter to me accompanying the swords is herewith
transmitted。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN。
TO FERNANDO WOOD。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON
DECEMBER 12； 1862。
HON。 FERNANDO WOOD。
MY DEAR SIR：Your letter of the 8th； with the accompanying note of
same date； was received yesterday。 The most important paragraph in
the letter； as I consider； is in these words：
〃On the 25th of November last I was advised by an authority which I
deemed likely to be well informed； as well as reliable and truthful；
that the Southern States would send representatives to the next
Congress； provided that a full and general amnesty should permit them
to do so。 No guarantee or terms were asked for other than the
amnesty referred to。〃
I strongly suspect your information will prove to be groundless；
nevertheless； I thank you for communicating it to me。 Understanding
the phrase in the paragraph just quoted〃the Southern States would
send representatives to the next Congress〃to be substantially the
same as that 〃the people of the Southern States would cease
resistance； and would reinaugurate； submit to； and maintain the
national authority within the limits of such States； under the
Constitution of the United States；〃 I say that in such case the war
would cease on the part of the United States； and that if within a
reasonable time 〃a full and general amnesty〃 were necessary to such
end； it would not be withheld。
I do not think it would be proper now to communicate this； formally
or informally； to the people of the Southern States。 My belief is
that they already know it； and when they choose； if ever； they can
communicate with me unequivocally。 Nor do I think it proper now to
suspend military operations to try any experiment of negotiation
I should nevertheless receive with great pleasure the exact
information you now have； and also such other as you may in any way
obtain。 Such information might be more valuable before the 1st of
January than afterwards。
While there is nothing in this letter which I shall dread to see in
history； it is； perhaps； better for the present that its existence
should not become public。 I therefore have to request that you will
regard it as confidential。
Your obedient servant；
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL CURTIS。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON； December 14； 1862
MAJOR…GENERAL CURTIS； St。 Louis； Missouri：
If my friend Dr。 William Fithian； of Danville； Ill。； should call on
YOU； please give him such facilities as you consistently can about
recovering the remains of a step…son； and matters connected
therewith。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL H。 H。 SIBLEY。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON； December 16； 1862。
BRIG。 GEN。 H。 H。 SIBLEY； Saint Paul； Minn。：
As you suggest； let the executions fixed for Friday the 19th instant
be postponed to； and be done on； Friday the 26th instant。
A。 LINCOLN。
（Private。）
Operator please send this very carefully and accurately。 A。 L。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL CURTIS。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON； December 16； 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL CURTIS； Saint Louis； Missouri：
N。 W。 Watkins； of Jackson； Mo。； （who is half brother to Henry Clay）；
writes me that a colonel of ours has driven him from his home at
Jackson。 Will you please look into the case and restore the old man
to his home if the public interest will admit？
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL BURNSIDE。
WAR DEPARTMENT； WASHINGTON CITY； D。 C。；
December 16； 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL BURNSIDE； Falmouth：
Your despatch about General Stahel is received。 Please ascertain from
General Sigel and his old corps whether Stahel or Schurz is
preferable and telegraph the result； and I will act immediately。
After all I shall be governed by your preference。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL CURTIS。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON；
December 17； 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL CURTIS：
Could the civil authority be reintroduced into Missouri in lieu of
the military to any extent； with advantage and safety？
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL BURNSIDE。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON；
December 17； 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL BURNSIDE
George Patten says he was a classmate of yours and was in the same
regiment of artillery。 Have you a place you would like to put him
in？ And if so what is it？
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR GAMBLE。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON；
December 18； 1862。
GOVERNOR GAMBLE； Saint Louis； MO。：
It is represented to me that the enrolled militia alone would now
maintain law and order in all the counties of your State north of the
Missouri River。 If so all other forces there might be removed south
of the river； or ou