It is believed that so far as American ports and American citizens are concerned that inhuman and odious traffic has been brought to an end.

I do therefore, in conformity to the seventh section of the act approved 16th July, 1862, nominate Commander D. D. Porter to be a rear-admiral in the Navy on the active list from the 4th July, 1863, to fill an existing vacancy.

I recommend that all loyal people do, on receipt of this information, assemble at their places of worship and render special homage and gratitude to Almighty God for this great advancement of the national cause.

The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground.

It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that…

It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.

We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

The question is not whether we will be free, but whether we will be free to choose.

We are met on a great battle-field of that war.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.

Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.

You may fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.

We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorns have roses.