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Done at the City of Washington； this fourth day of February； A。D。
1862； and of the independence of the United States the eighty…sixth。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN。
By the President：
WILLIAM H。 SEWARD； Secretary of State。
MESSAGE TO THE SENATE。
WASHINGTON CITY； February 4。 1862
To THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES：
The third section of the 〃Act further to promote the efficiency of
the Navy；〃 approved December 21； 1862； provides：
〃That the President of the United States； by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate； shall have the authority to detail from the
retired list of the navy for the command of squadrons and single
ships such officers as he may believe that the good of the service
requires to be thus placed in command； and such officers may； if upon
the recommendation of the President of the United States they shall
receive a vote of thanks of Congress for their services and gallantry
in action against an enemy； be restored to the active list； and not
otherwise。〃
In conformity with this law； Captain Samuel F。 Du Pont； of the navy；
was nominated to the Senate for continuance as the flag…officer in
command of the squadron which recently rendered such important
service to the Union in the expedition to the coast of South
Carolina。
Believing that no occasion could arise which would more fully
correspond with the intention of the law； or be more pregnant with
happy influence as an example； I cordially recommend that Captain
Samuel F。 Du Pont receive a vote of thanks of Congress for his
services and gallantry displayed in the capture of Forts Walker and
Beauregard； commanding the entrance of Port Royal Harbor； on the 7th
of November； 1861。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN。
TO GENERALS D。 HUNTER AND J。 H。 LANE。
EXECUTIVE MANSION WASHINGTON； FEBRUARY 4； 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL HUNTER AND BRIGADIER…GENERAL LANE；
Leavenworth； Kansas：
My wish has been and is to avail the government of the services of
both General Hunter and General Lane； and； so far as possible； to
personally oblige both。 General Hunter is the senior officer； and
must command when they serve together； though in so far as he can
consistently with the public service and his own honor oblige General
Lane； he will also oblige me。 If they cannot come to an amicable
understanding； General Lane must report to General Hunter for duty；
according to the rules； or decline the service。
A。 LINCOLN。
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO。 1； RELATING TO POLITICAL
PRISONERS。
WAR DEPARTMENT； WASHINGTON；
February 14；1862。
The breaking out of a formidable insurrection based on a conflict of
political ideas； being an event without precedent in the United
States； was necessarily attended by great confusion and perplexity of
the public mind。 Disloyalty before unsuspected suddenly became bold；
and treason astonished the world by bringing at once into the field
military forces superior in number to the standing army of the United
States。
Every department of the government was paralyzed by treason。
Defection appeared in the Senate； in the House of Representatives； in
the Cabinet； in the Federal courts； ministers and consuls returned
from foreign countries to enter the insurrectionary councils of land
or naval forces； commanding and other officers of the army and in the
navy betrayed our councils or deserted their posts for commands in
the insurgent forces。 Treason was flagrant in the revenue and in the
post…office service； as well as in the Territorial governments and in
the Indian reserves。
Not only governors； judges； legislators； and ministerial officers in
the States； but even whole States rushed one after another with
apparent unanimity into rebellion。 The capital was besieged and its
connection with all the States cut off。 Even in the portions of the
country which were most loyal； political combinations and secret
societies were formed furthering tile work of disunion； while； from
motives of disloyalty or cupidity or from excited passions or
perverted sympathies； individuals were found furnishing men； money；
and materials of war and supplies to the insurgents' military and
naval forces。 Armies； ships； fortifications； navy yards； arsenals；
military posts； and garrisons one after another were betrayed or
abandoned to the insurgents。
Congress had not anticipated； and so had not provided for； the
emergency。 The municipal authorities were powerless and inactive。
The judicial machinery seemed as if it had been designed； not to
sustain the government； but to embarrass and betray it。
Foreign intervention； openly invited and industriously instigated by
the abettors of the insurrection； became imminent； and has only been
prevented by the practice of strict and impartial justice； with the
most perfect moderation； in our intercourse with nations。
The public mind was alarmed and apprehensive； though fortunately not
distracted or disheartened。 It seemed to be doubtful whether the
Federal Government； which one year before had been thought a model
worthy of universal acceptance； had indeed the ability to defend and
maintain itself。
Some reverses； which； perhaps； were unavoidable； suffered by newly
levied and inefficient forces； discouraged the loyal and gave new
hopes to the insurgents。 Voluntary enlistments seemed about to cease
and desertions commenced。 Parties speculated upon the question
whether conscription had not become necessary to fill up the armies
of the United States。
In this emergency the President felt it his duty to employ with
energy the extraordinary powers which the Constitution confides to
him in cases of insurrection。 He called into the field such military
and naval forces； unauthorized by the existing laws； as seemed
necessary。 He directed measures to prevent the use of the post…
office for treasonable correspondence。 He subjected passengers to
and from foreign countries to new passport regulations； and he
instituted a blockade； suspended the writ of habeas corpus in various
places； and caused persons who were represented to him as being or
about to engage in disloyal and treasonable practices to be arrested
by special civil as well as military agencies and detained in
military custody when necessary to prevent them and deter others from
such practices。 Examinations of such cases were instituted； and some
of the persons so arrested have been discharged from time to time
under circumstances or upon conditions compatible； as was thought；
with the public safety。
Meantime a favorable change of public opinion has occurred。 The line
between loyalty and disloyalty is plainly defined。 The whole
structure of the government is firm and stable。 Apprehension of
public danger and facilities for treasonable practices have
diminished with the passions which prompted heedless persons to adopt
them。 The insurrection is believed to have culminated and to be
declining。
The President； in view of these facts； and anxious to favor a return
to the normal course of the administration as far as regard for the
public welfare will allow； directs that all political prisoners or
state prisoners now held in military custody be released on their
subscribing to a parole engaging them to render no aid or comfort to
the enemies in hostility to the United States。
The Secretary of War will； however； in his discretion； except from
the effect of this order any persons detained as spies in the service
of the insurgents； or others whose release at the present moment may
be deemed incompatible with the public safety。
To all persons who shall be so released； and who shall keep their
parole； the President grants an amnesty for any past offences of
treason or disloyalty which they may have comminuted。
Extraordinary arrests will hereafter be made under the direction of
the military authorities alone。
By order o