Government

I say here, so far as I know, the Secretary of War has withheld no one thing at any time in my power to give him.

It is the duty of all aliens residing in the United States to submit to and obey the laws and respect the authority of the Government.

But they can not be required to take an oath of allegiance to this Government, because it conflicts with the duty they owe to their own sovereigns.

That we may not touch property lying within our reach because we can not give personal notice to an owner who is absent endeavoring to destroy the Government is certainly not very satisfactory.

I perceive no objection to Congress deciding in advance that they shall be free.

Please inform the Senate that I shall be obliged if they will postpone the adjournment at least one day beyond the time which I understand to be now fixed for it.

The portion of the said railroad line which reaches from Rolla to Lebanon be repaired, extended, and completed, so as to be made available for the military uses of the Government, as speedily as may be.

I have decided to call into the service an additional force of 300,000 men.

Thus reenforced our gallant Army will be enabled to realize the hopes and expectations of the Government and the people.

To accomplish the object stated we require without delay 150,000 men, including those recently called for by the Secretary of War.

Rather than hazard the misapprehension of our military condition and of groundless alarm by a call for troops by proclamation, I have deemed it best to address you in this form.

Such an issue would answer all the beneficial purposes of the bill, would save a considerable amount to the Treasury in interest, would greatly facilitate payments to soldiers and other creditors of small sums, and would furnish to the…

I shall cheerfully receive and consider with the highest respect any further advice the Senate may think proper to give upon the subject.

It is desirable that such legislation as may be necessary to carry the treaty into effect should be enacted as soon as may comport with the convenience of Congress.

I am not aware that a dollar of the public funds thus confided without authority of law to unofficial persons was either lost or wasted, although apprehensions of such misdirection occurred to me as objections to those extraordinary…

There was no time to convene them.

Neither General Hunter nor any other commander or person has been authorized by the Government of the United States to make proclamations declaring the slaves of any State free

In accordance with the suggestion of the Secretary of the Treasury contained in the accompanying letter, I have the honor to transmit the inclosed petition and report thereon of the Third Auditor for the consideration of Congress.