Abraham Lincoln: “I deem it proper to add that on the 17th day of November last an Executive order was made upon this subject and…”

As a general rule I abstain from reading the reports of attacks upon myself, wishing not to be provoked by that to which I cannot properly offer an answer.

Important principles may and must be inflexible.

I do the very best I know how--the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end.

If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won't amount to anything.