Abraham Lincoln: “The expediency of sanctioning the acceptance of the gift is submitted to your consideration.”

If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.

I am considering, and shall not fail to act when satisfied that action will be proper.

Unlike a case of war between independent nations, there is no organized organ for us to treat with,--no one man has authority to give up the rebellion for any other man.

I believe that it is not only possible, but in fact easier, to do this without deciding or even considering whether these States have ever been out of the Union, than with it.