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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