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help him。 This is the just and generous and prosperous system which
opens the way to all； gives hope to all； and consequent energy and
progress and improvement of condition to all。 No men living are more
worthy to be trusted than those who toil up from poverty； none less
inclined to take or touch aught which they have not honestly earned。
Let them beware of surrendering a political power which they already
possess； and which if surrendered will surely be used to close the
door of advancement against such as they and to fix new disabilities
and burdens upon them till all of liberty shall be lost。
》From the first taking of our national census to the last are seventy
years； and we find our population at the end of the period eight
times as great as it was at the beginning。 The increase of those
other things which men deem desirable has been even greater。 We thus
have at one view what the popular principle； applied to government
through the machinery of the States and the Union； has produced in a
given time； and also what if firmly maintained it promises for the
future。 There are already among us those who if the Union be
preserved will live to see it contain 200；000；000。 The struggle of
to…day is not altogether for to…day； it is for a vast future also。
With a reliance on Providence all the more firm and earnest； let us
proceed in the great task which events have devolved upon us。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN。
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS。
WASHINGTON； December 20； 1861。
TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES：
I transmit to Congress a letter from the secretary of the executive
committee of the commission appointed to represent the interests of
those American citizens who may desire to become exhibitors at the
industrial exhibition to be held in London in 1862； and a memorial of
that commission； with a report of the executive committee thereof and
copies of circulars announcing the decisions of Her Majesty's
commissioners in London； giving directions to be observed in regard
to articles intended for exhibition； and also of circular forms of
application； demands for space； approvals； etc。； according to the
rules prescribed by the British commissioners。
As these papers fully set forth the requirements necessary to enable
those citizens of the United States who may wish to become exhibitors
to avail themselves of the privileges of the exhibition； I commend
them to your early consideration； especially in view of the near
approach of the time when the exhibition will begin。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN。
LETTER OF REPRIMAND TO GENERAL HUNTER
TO GENERAL HUNTER。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON；
Dec。31； 1861
MAJOR…GENERAL HUNTER。
DEAR SIR：Yours of the 23d is received； and I am constrained to say
it is difficult to answer so ugly a letter in good temper。 I am； as
you intimate； losing much of the great confidence I placed in you；
not from any act or omission of yours touching the public service； up
to the time you were sent to Leavenworth； but from the flood of
grumbling despatches and letters I have seen from you since。 I knew
you were being ordered to Leavenworth at the time it was done； and I
aver that with as tender a regard for your honor and your
sensibilities as I had for my own； it never occurred to me that you
were being 〃humiliated； insulted； and disgraced〃； nor have I； up to
this day； heard an intimation that you have been wronged； coming from
any one but yourself。 No one has blamed you for the retrograde
movement from Springfield； nor for the information you gave General
Cameron； and this you could readily understand； if it were not for
your unwarranted assumption that the ordering you to Leavenworth must
necessarily have been done as a punishment for some fault。 I thought
then； and think yet； the position assigned to you is as responsible；
and as honorable； as that assigned to BuellI know that General
McClellan expected more important results from it。 My impression is
that at the time you were assigned to the new Western Department； it
had not been determined to replace General Sherman in Kentucky； but
of this I am not certain； because the idea that a command in Kentucky
was very desirable； and one in the farther West undesirable； had
never occurred to me。 You constantly speak of being placed in
command of only 3000。 Now； tell me； is this not mere impatience？
Have you not known all the while that you are to command four or five
times that many。
I have been； and am sincerely your friend； and if； as such； I dare to
make a suggestion； I would say you are adopting the best possible way
to ruin yourself。 〃Act well your part； there all the honor lies。〃 He
who does something at the head of one regiment； will eclipse him who
does nothing at the head of a hundred。
Your friend； as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL HALLECK。
WASHINGTON； D。C。； December 31； 1861
GENERAL H。 W。 HALLECK； St。 Louis； Missouri：
General McClellan is sick。 Are General Buell and yourself in
concert？ When he moves on Bowling Green； what hinders it being
reinforced from Columbus？ A simultaneous movement by you on Columbus
might prevent it。
A。 LINCOLN。
＇Similar despatch to Buell same date。＇
1862
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL D。 C。 BUELL。
WASHINGTON CITY； January 1； 1862
BRIGADIER…GENERAL BUELL； Louisville：
General McClellan should not yet be disturbed with business。 I think
you better get in concert with General Halleck at once。 I write you
to…night。 I also telegraph and write Halleck。
A。 LINCOLN。
TO GENERAL H。 W。 HALLECK。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； January 1； 1862
DEAR GENERAL HALLECK：
General McClellan is not dangerously ill； as I hope； but would better
not be disturbed with business。 I am very anxious that； in case of
General Buell's moving toward Nashville； the enemy shall not be
greatly reinforced； and I think there is danger he will be from
Columbus。 It seems to me that a real or feigned attack upon Columbus
from up the river at the same time would either prevent this or
compensate for it by throwing Columbus into our hands。 I wrote
General Buell a letter similar to this； meaning that he and you shall
communicate and act in concert； unless it be your judgment and his
that there is no necessity for it。 You and he will understand much
better than I how to do it。 Please do not lose time in this matter。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO THE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND；
In view of the recent declaration of the people of Maryland of their
adhesion to the Union； so distinctly made in their recent election；
the President directs that all the prisoners who having heretofore
been arrested in that State are now detained in military custody by
the President's authority； be released from their imprisonment on the
following conditions； namely： that if they were holding any civil or
military offices when arrested； the terms of which have expired； they
shall not resume or reclaim such office； and secondly； all persons
availing themselves of this proclamation shall engage by oath or
parole of honor to maintain the Union and the Constitution of the
United States； and in no way to aid or abet by arms； counsel；
conversation； or information of any kind the existing insurrection
against the Government of the United States。
To guard against misapprehension it is proper to state that this
proclamation does not apply to prisoners of war。
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS。
WASHINGTON； January 2； 1862
To THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
I transmit to Congress a copy of a letter to the Secretary of State
from James R。 Partridge； secretary to the executive committee to the
in exhibition to be held in London in the course present year； and a
copy of the correspond which it refers； relative to a vessel for the
of taking such articles as persons in this country may wish to
exhibit on that occasion。 As it appears no naval vessel can be spared
for the purpose； I recommend that authority be given to charter a
suitable merchant vessel； in order that facilities similar to those
afforded by the government exhibition of 1851 may also be extended to
citizens of the United States who may desire to contribute to the
exhibition of this year。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
MESSAGES OF DISAPPOINTMENT WITH HIS GENERALS
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL D。 C。 BUELL。
WASHINGTON； January 4； 1862。
GENERAL BUELL：
Have arms gone forward for East Tennessee？ Please tell me the
progress and condition of the movement in that direction。 Answer。
A。 LINCOLN。
TO GENERAL D。 C。 BUELL。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON；
January 6； 1862。
BRIGADIER…GENERAL BUELL。
MY DEAR SIR：Your despatch of yesterday has been received； and