I do therefore invite all my fellow-citizens, as well those who may be at sea or sojourning in foreign lands as those at home, to set apart and observe Thursday, the 24th day of November, as a day of national thanksgiving, to come together…

Few years in our history have afforded such cause for thanksgiving as this.

We may laud and magnify His holy name that the cessation of hostilities came so soon as to spare both sides the countless sorrows and disasters that attend protracted war.

The skies have been for a time darkened by the cloud of war, but as we were compelled to take up the sword in the cause of humanity we are permitted to rejoice that the conflict has been of brief duration and the losses we have had to…

No deliberation can be too mature, or self-control too constant, in this solemn hour of our history.

Who will dim the splendor of their achievements!

One of the great laws of life is progress.

We never enter upon a war until every effort for peace without it has been exhausted.

Right action follows right purpose.

Peace, with whose blessings we have been so singularly favored, is the national desire and the goal of every American aspiration.

The problems will not be solved in a day.

In an age of expositions they have added yet another magnificent example.

We have avoided the temptations of conquest in the spirit of gain.

I put upon you no limit to the scope of your investigation.

I cannot impress upon you too strongly my wish that your investigation shall be so thorough and complete that your report, when made, shall fix the responsibility for any failure or fault, by reason of neglect, incompetency, or…

The records of the War Department and the assistance of its officers shall be subject to your call.

It is my earnest desire that you shall thoroughly investigate these charges.

If there have been wrongs committed, the wrong doers must not escape conviction and punishment.