I believe I shall never be old enough to speak without embarrassment when I have anything [nothing?] to talk about.

I will now close by proposing three cheers for Gen. Sherman and the army.

Again the blessings of health and abundant harvests claim our profoundest gratitude to Almighty God.

I solicit your authority to furnish to the Republic a gunboat at moderate cost, to be reimbursed to the United States by installments.

For myself, I have no doubt of the power and duty of the Executive, under the law of nations, to exclude enemies of the human race from an asylum in the United States.

We could not exaggerate either the commercial or the political importance of that great improvement.

If Congress should think that proceedings in such cases lack the authority of law, or ought to be further regulated by it, I recommend that provision be made for effectually preventing foreign slave traders from acquiring domicile and…

We have talked of elections until there is nothing more to say about them.

I have no good news to tell you, and yet I have no bad news to tell.

It is a source of much satisfaction that the difficulties which for a moment excited some political apprehensions and caused a closing of the interoceanic transit route have been amicably adjusted.

We all know where he went in at, but I can't tell where he will come out at.

In conformity to the law of July 16, 1862, I most cordially recommend that Captain John A. Winslow, United States Navy, receive a vote of thanks from Congress for the skill and gallantry exhibited by him in the brilliant action, while in…

The destruction of so formidable a vessel, which had resisted the continued attacks of a number of our vessels on former occasions, is an important event touching our future naval and military operations, and would reflect honor on any…

By virtue of the authority contained in the sixth section of the act of 21st April, 1864, which enacts that any officer in the naval service, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, may be advanced not exceeding thirty numbers in…

This recommendation is specially made in order to comply with the requirements of the ninth section of the aforesaid act.

I most cordially recommend that Lieutenant William B. Cushing, United States Navy, receive a vote of thanks from Congress for his important, gallant, and perilous achievement in destroying the rebel ironclad steamer Albemarle on the night…

The affair was executed in a most creditable manner.

The purchase money will be held in trust toward satisfying any valid claims which may be presented by the Japanese on account of the construction of the steamer and the failure to deliver the same, as above set forth.