Abraham Lincoln: “Neither General Hunter nor any other commander or person has been authorized by the Government of the United States to…”

Or, if one out of four will, for his own freedom fight to keep the other three in slavery, he ought to be a slave for his selfish meanness.

Let us strive to deserve, as far as mortals may, the continued favor of Almighty God.

I do hereby notify them that all deserters who shall, within sixty days from the date of this proclamation, viz, on or before the 10th day of May, 1865, return to service or report themselves to a provost-marshal shall be pardoned, on…

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