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In conformity with this law； Captain Louis M。 Goldsborough； of the
navy； was nominated to the Senate for continuance as the flag…officer
in command of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron； which recently
rendered such important service to the Union in the expedition to the
coast of North 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
Louis M。 Goldsborough receive a vote of thanks of Congress for his
services and gallantry displayed in the combined attack of the forces
commanded by him and Brigadier…General Burnside in the capture of
Roanoke Island and the destruction of rebel gunboats On the 7th； 8th；
and 10th of February； 1862。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN。
FIRST WRITTEN NOTICE OF GRANT
TO GENERAL H。 W。 HALLECK。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON；
February 16； 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL HALLECK； St。 Louis； Missouri：
You have Fort Donelson safe； unless Grant shall be overwhelmed from
outside； to prevent which latter will； I think； require all the
vigilance； energy； and skill of yourself and Buell； acting in full
co…operation。 Columbus will not get at Grant； but the force from
Bowling Green will。 They hold the railroad from Bowling Green to
within a few miles of Fort Donelson； with the bridge at Clarksville
undisturbed。 It is unsafe to rely that they will not dare to expose
Nashville to Buell。 A small part of their force can retire slowly
toward Nashville； breaking up the railroad as they go； and keep Buell
out of that city twenty days。 Meanwhile Nashville will be abundantly
defended by forces from all South and perhaps from hers at Manassas。
Could not a cavalry force from General Thomas on the upper Cumberland
dash across； almost unresisted； and cut the railroad at or near
Knoxville； Tennessee？ In the midst 6f a bombardment at Fort
Donelson； why could not a gunboat run up and destroy the bridge at
Clarksville？ Our success or failure at Fort Donelson is vastly
important； and I beg you to put your soul in the effort。 I send a
copy of this to Buell。
A。 LINCOLN。
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO。 2。IN RELATION TO STATE PRISONERS。
WAR DEPARTMENT； WASHINGTON CITY；
FEBRUARY 27； 1862
It is ordered：
First。 That a special commission of two persons； one of military
rank and the other in civil life； be appointed to examine the cases
of the state prisoners remaining in the military custody of the
United States； and to determine whether in view of the public Safety
and the existing rebellion they should be discharged； or remain in
military custody； or be remitted to the civil tribunals for trial。
Second。 That Major…General John A。 Dix； commanding in Baltimore； and
the HON。 Edwards Pierrepont； of New York； be； and they are hereby；
appointed commissioners for the purpose above mentioned； and they are
authorized to examine； hear； and determine the cases aforesaid ex
parte and in a summary manner； at such times and places as in their
discretion they may appoint； and make full report to the War
Department。
By order of the President
EDWIN M。 STANTON； Secretary of War。
ORDER RELATING TO COMMERCIAL INTERCOURSE。
Considering that the existing circumstances of the country allow a
partial restoration of commercial intercourse between the inhabitants
of those parts of the United States heretofore declared to be in
insurrection and the citizens of the loyal States of the Union； and
exercising the authority and discretion confided to me by the act of
Congress； approved July 13； 1861； entitled 〃An act further to provide
for the collection of duties on imports； and for other purposes；〃 I
hereby license and permit such commercial intercourse in all cases
within the rules and regulations which have been or may be prescribed
by the Secretary of the Treasury for conducting and carrying on the
same on the inland waters arid ways of the United States。
WASHINGTON； February 28； 1862。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN。
SPEECH TO THE PERUVIAN MINISTER；
WASHINGTON； D。 C。；
MARCH 4； 1862
The United States have no enmities； animosities； or rivalries； and no
interests which conflict with the welfare； safety； and rights or
interests of any other nation。 Their own prosperity； happiness； and
aggrandizement are sought most safely and advantageously through the
preservation not only of peace on their own part； but peace among all
other nations。 But while the United States are thus a friend to all
other nations； they do not seek to conceal the fact that they cherish
especial sentiments of friendship for； and sympathies with； those
who； like themselves； have founded their institutions on the
principle of the equal rights of men； and such nations being more
prominently neighbors of the United States； the latter are
co…operating with them in establishing civilization and culture on
the American continent。 Such being the general principles which
govern the United States in their foreign relations； you may be
assured； sir； that in all things this government will deal justly；
frankly； and； if it be possible； even liberally with Peru； whose
liberal sentiments toward us you have so kindly expressed。
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS RECOMMENDING COMPENSATED EMANCIPATION。
March 6； 1862
FELLOW…CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES：
I recommend the adoption of a joint resolution by your honorable
bodies which shall be substantially as follows：
〃Resolved； That the United States ought to co…operate with any State
which may adopt gradual abolishment of slavery； giving to such State
pecuniary aid； to be used by such State； in its discretion； to
compensate for the inconveniences； public and private； produced by
such change of system。〃
If the proposition contained in the resolution does not meet the
approval of Congress and the country； there is the end； but if it
does command such approval； I deem it of importance that the States
and people immediately interested should be at once distinctly
notified of the fact； so that they may begin to consider whether to
accept or reject it。 The Federal Government would find its highest
interest in such a measure； as one of the most efficient means of
self…preservation。 The leaders of the existing insurrection
entertain the hope that this government will ultimately be forced to
acknowledge the independence of some part of the disaffected region；
and that all the slave States north of such part will then say； 〃The
Union for which we have struggled being already gone； we now choose
to go with the Southern section。〃 To deprive them of this hope
substantially ends the rebellion； and the initiation of emancipation
completely deprives them of it as to all the States initiating it。
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