"I beg of you a calm and enlarged consideration of them, ranging, if it may be, far above personal and partisan politics."
"Neither General Hunter nor any other commander or person has been authorized by the Government of the United States to make proclamations declaring the slaves of any State free"
"whether it be competent for me, as Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, to declare the slaves of any State or States free, and whether at any time, in any case, it shall have become a necessity in..."
"For your kind expressions I am extremely grateful, but on the other hand I assure you that the nation is more indebted to you, and such as you, than to me."
"I bid you farewell."
"It has not been customary heretofore, nor will it be hereafter, for me to say something to every regiment passing in review."
"The thanks of the nation will follow you, and may God's blessing rest upon you now and forever."
"I hope that upon your return to your homes you will find your friends and loved ones well and happy."
"For their services and gallantry on those occasions I cordially recommend that they should by name receive a vote of thanks of Congress."
"Believing that no occasion could arise which would more fully correspond with the intention of the law or be more pregnant with happy influence as an example, I cordially recommend that Captain D. G. ..."
"Now, therefore, be it known that I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, pursuant to the authority in me vested by the fifth section of the act of Congress approved on the 13th of July las..."