That all the commanders of departments, after the receipt of this order by them, respectively report severally and directly to the Secretary of War, and that prompt, full, and frequent reports will be expected of all and each of them.
Executive Order—President's Special War Order No. 3
Share & report
More from Abraham Lincoln
In his own view, however, the two Houses of Congress, convened under the twelfth article of the Constitution, have complete power to exclude from counting all electoral votes deemed by them to be illegal, and it is not competent for the Executive to defeat or obstruct that power by a veto, as would be the case if his action were at all essential in the matter.
Induced by a dispatch from General Grant, I join you at Fort Monroe as soon as I come.
But there is a task yet before us---to go forward and consummate by the votes of the States that which Congress so nobly began yesterday.
I transmit herewith the letter of the Secretary of War, with accompanying report of the Adjutant-General, in reply to the resolution of the House of Representatives dated December 7, 1864.
Other voices in this conversation
