Abraham Lincoln: “Be pleased to signify this to the respective Houses of Congress.”

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

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

Now, therefore, be it known that I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim and direct that all persons detected in that nefarious traffic shall be arrested and tried by court-martial at the nearest…

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.