the writings-6-第30章
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should have none left； Republicans or others not even yourself。 For
be assured； my dear sir； there are men who have 〃heart in it〃 that
think you are performing your part as poorly as you think I am
performing mine。 I certainly have been dissatisfied with the
slowness of Buell and McClellan； but before I relieved them I had
great fears I should not find successors to them who would do better；
and I am sorry to add that I have seen little since to relieve those
fears。
I do not see clearly the prospect of any more rapid movements。 I
fear we shall at last find out that the difficulty is in our case
rather than in particular generals。 I wish to disparage no one
certainly not those who sympathize with me； but I must say I need
success more than I need sympathy； and that I have not seen the so
much greater evidence of getting success from my sympathizers than
from those who are denounced as the contrary。 It does seem to me
that in the field the two classes have been very much alike in what
they have done and what they have failed to do。 In sealing their
faith with their blood； Baker and Lyon and Bohien and Richardson；
Republicans； did all that men could do； but did they any more than
Kearny and Stevens and Reno and Mansfield； none of whom were
Republicans； and some at least of whom have been bitterly and
repeatedly denounced to me as secession sympathizers？ I will not
perform the ungrateful task of comparing cases of failure。
In answer to your question； 〃Has it not been publicly stated in the
newspapers； and apparently proved as a fact； that from the
commencement of the war the enemy was continually supplied with
information by some of the confidential subordinates of as important
an officer as Adjutant…General Thomas？〃 I must say 〃No；〃 as far as my
knowledge extends。 And I add that if you can give any tangible
evidence upon the subject； I will thank you to come to this city and
do so。
Very truly your friend；
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL A。 E。 BURNSIDE。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON； November 25； 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL BURNSIDE； Falmouth； Virginia：
If I should be in boat off Aquia Creek at dark tomorrow （Wednesday）
evening； could you； without inconvenience； meet me and pass an hour
or two with me？
A。 LINCOLN。
TO ATTORNEY…GENERAL BATES。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON；
November 29； 1862。
HON。 ATTORNEY…GENERAL。
MY DEAR SIR：Few things perplex me more than this question between
Governor Gamble and the War Department； as to whether the peculiar
force organized by the former in Missouri are State troops or United
States troops。 Now； this is either an immaterial or a mischievous
question。 First； if no more is desired than to have it settled what
name the force is to be called by； it is immaterial。 Secondly； if it
is desired for more than the fixing a name； it can only be to get a
position from which to draw practical inferences； then it is
mischievous。 Instead of settling one dispute by deciding the
question； I should merely furnish a nest…full of eggs for hatching
new disputes。 I believe the force is not strictly either 〃State
troops〃 or 〃United States troops。〃 It is of mixed character。 I
therefore think it is safer； when a practical question arises； to
decide that question directly； and not indirectly by deciding a
general abstraction supposed to include it； and also including a
great deal more。 Without dispute Governor Gamble appoints the
officers of this force； and fills vacancies when they occur。 The
question now practically in dispute is： Can Governor Gamble make a
vacancy by removing an officer or accepting a resignation？ Now；
while it is proper that this question shall be settled； I do not
perceive why either Governor Gamble or the government here should
care which way it is settled。 I am perplexed with it only because
there seems to be pertinacity about it。 It seems to me that it might
be either way without injury to the service； or that the offer of the
Secretary of War to let Governor Gamble make vacancies； and he （the
Secretary） to ratify the making of them； ought to be satisfactory。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL CURTIS。
＇Cipher。＇
WASHINGTON； November 30； 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL CURTIS； Saint Louis； Missouri：
Frank Blair wants Manter's Thirty…second； Curly's Twenty seventh；
Boyd's Twenty…fourth and the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry to go with him
down the river。 I understand it is with you to decide whether he
shall have them and if so； and if also it is consistent with the
public service； you will oblige me a good deal by letting him have
them。
A。 LINCOLN。
ON EXECUTING 300 INDIANS
LETTER TO JUDGE…ADVOCATE…GENERAL。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON；
December 1； 1862。
JUDGE…ADVOCATE…GENERAL。
SIR：Three hundred Indians have been sentenced to death in Minnesota
by a military commission； and execution only awaits my action。 I
wish your legal opinion whether if I should conclude to execute only
a part of them； I must myself designate which； or could I leave the
designation to some officer on the ground？
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
ANNUAL MESSAGE TO CONGRESS；
DECEMBER 1； 1862。
FELLOW…CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Since
your last annual assembling another year of health and bountiful
harvests has passed； and while it has not pleased the Almighty to
bless us with a return of peace； we can but press on； guided by the
best light he gives us； trusting that in his own good time and wise
way all will yet be well。
The correspondence touching foreign affairs which has taken place
during the last year is herewith submitted； in virtual compliance
with a request to that effect； made by the House of Representatives
near the close of the last session of Congress。
If the condition of our relations with other nations is less
gratifying than it has usually been at former periods； it is
certainly more satisfactory than a nation so unhappily distracted as
we are might reasonably have apprehended。 In the month of June last
there were some grounds to expect that the maritime powers which； at
the beginning of our domestic difficulties； so unwisely and
unnecessarily； as we think； recognized the insurgents as a
belligerent； would soon recede from that position； which has proved
only less injurious to themselves than to our own country。 But the
temporary reverses which afterward befell the national arms； and
which were exaggerated by our own disloyal citizens abroad； have
hitherto delayed that act of simple justice。
The civil war； which has so radically changed； for the moment； the
occupations and habits of the American people； has necessarily
disturbed the social condition； and affected very deeply the
prosperity； of the nations with which we have carried on a commerce
that has been steadily increasing throughout a period of half a
century。 It has； at the same time； excited political ambitions and
apprehensions which have produced a profound agitation throughout the
civilized world。 In this unusual agitation we have forborne from
taking part in any controversy between foreign states； and between
parties or factions in such states。 We have attempted no
propagandism and acknowledged no revolution； but we have left to
every nation the exclusive conduct and management of its own affairs。
Our struggle has been； of course； contemplated by foreign nations
with reference less to its own merits than to its supposed and often
exaggerated effects and consequences resulting to those nations
themselves； nevertheless； complaint on the part of this government；
even if it were just； would certainly be unwise。
The treaty with Great Britain for the suppression of the slave trade
has been put into operation with a good prospect of complete success。
It i
