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vessel； as prisoners of war or otherwise； except the small number
necessary as witnesses in the prize court。
NOTE。…The practice here forbidden is also charged to exist； which； if
true； is disapproved and must cease。
My dear sir； it is not intended to be insinuated that you have been
remiss in the performance of the arduous and responsible duties of
your department； which； I take pleasure in affirming； has in your
hands been conducted with admirable success。 Yet； while your
subordinates are almost of necessity brought into angry collision
with the subjects of foreign states； the representatives of those
states and yourself do not come into immediate contact for the
purpose of keeping the peace； in spite of such collisions。 At that
point there is an ultimate and heavy responsibility upon me。
What I propose is in strict accordance with international law； and is
therefore unobjectionable； whilst； if it does no other good； it will
contribute to sustain a considerable portion of the present British
ministry in their places； who； if displaced； are sure to be replaced
by others more unfavorable to us。
Your obedient servant；
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
LETTER TO GOVERNOR PARKER。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON；
July 25； 1863。
HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR JOEL PARKER。
SIR：Yours of the 21st is received； and I have taken time and
considered and discussed the subject with the Secretary of War and
Provost…Marshal General； in order； if possible； to make you a more
favorable answer than I finally find myself able to do。
It is a vital point with us to not have a special stipulation with
the governor of any one State； because it would breed trouble in
many； if not all； other States； and my idea was when I wrote you； as
it still is； to get a point of time to which we could wait； on the
reason that we were not ready ourselves to proceed； and which might
enable you to raise the quota of your State； in whole； or in large
part； without the draft。 The points of time you fix are much farther
off than I had hoped。 We might have got along in the way I have
indicated for twenty； or possibly thirty； days。 As it stands； the
best I can say is that every volunteer you will present us within
thirty days from this date； fit and ready to be mustered into the
United States service； on the usual terms； shall be pro tanto an
abatement of your quota of the draft。 That quota I can now state at
eight thousand seven hundred and eighty…three （8783）。 No draft from
New Jersey； other than for the above quota； will be made before an
additional draft； common to ＇all＇ the States； shall be required； and
I may add that if we get well through with this draft； I entertain a
strong hope that any further one may never be needed。 This
expression of hope； however； must not be construed into a promise。
As to conducting the draft by townships； I find it would require such
a waste of labor already done； and such an additional amount of it；
and such a loss of time； as to make it； I fear； inadmissible。
Your obedient servant；
A。 LINCOLN。
P。 S。Since writing the above； getting additional information； I am
enabled to say that the draft may be made in subdistricts； as the
enrolment has been made； or is in process of making。 This will
amount practically to drafting by townships； as the enrollment
subdistricts are generally about the extent of townships。
A。L。
To GENERAL G。 G。 MEADE。
（Private。）
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON；
July 27； 1863。
MAJOR…GENERAL MEADE：
I have not thrown General Hooker away； and therefore I would like to
know whether it would be agreeable to you； all things considered； for
him to take a corps under you； if he himself is willing to do so。
Write me in perfect freedom； with the assurance that I will not
subject you to any embarrassment by making your letter or its
contents known to any one。 I wish to know your wishes before I
decide whether to break the subject to him。 Do not lean a hair's
breadth against your own feelings； or your judgment of the public
service； on the idea of gratifying me。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL A。 B。 BURNSIDE。
WAR DEPARTMENT； WASHINGTON； July 27； 1863。
MAJOR…GENERAL BURNSIDE； Cincinnati； O。：
Let me explain。 In General Grant's first despatch after the fall of
Vicksburg； he said； among other things； he would send the Ninth Corps
to you。 Thinking it would be pleasant to you； I asked the Secretary
of War to telegraph you the news。 For some reasons never mentioned
to us by General Grant； they have not been sent； though we have seen
outside intimations that they took part in the expedition against
Jackson。 General Grant is a copious worker and fighter； but a very
meager writer or telegrapher。 No doubt he changed his purpose in
regard to the Ninth Corps for some sufficient reason； but has
forgotten to notify us of it。
A。 LINCOLN。
TO GENERAL H。 W。 HALLECK。
EXECUTIVE MANSION；
July 29； 1863
MAJOR…GENERAL HALLECK：
Seeing General Meade's despatch of yesterday to yourself causes me to
fear that he supposes the Government here is demanding of him to
bring on a general engagement with Lee as soon as possible。 I am
claiming no such thing of him。 In fact； my judgment is against it；
which judgment； of course； I will yield if yours and his are the
contrary。 If he could not safely engage Lee at Williamsport； it
seems absurd to suppose he can safely engage him now； when he has
scarcely more than two thirds of the force he had at Williamsport；
while it must be that Lee has been reinforced。 True； I desired
General Meade to pursue Lee across the Potomac； hoping； as has proved
true； that he would thereby clear the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad；
and get some advantages by harassing him on his retreat。 These being
past； I am unwilling he should now get into a general engagement on
the impression that we here are pressing him； and I shall be glad for
you to so inform him； unless your own judgment is against it。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
H。 W。 HALLECK； General…in…Chief。
TO SECRETARY STANTON。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON；
July 29； 1863
HON。 SECRETARY OF WAR。
SIR：Can we not renew the effort to organize a force to go to
western Texas？
Please consult with the general…in…chief on the subject。
If the Governor of New Jersey shall furnish any new regiments； might
not they be put into such an expedition？ Please think of it。
I believe no local object is now more desirable。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
ORDER OF RETALIATION。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON；
July 30； 1863。
It is the duty of every government to give protection to its
citizens； of whatever class； color； or condition； and especially to
those who are duly organized as soldiers in the public service。 T