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identical with a law already existing。



The eleventh section simply assumes to confer discretionary power

upon the executive。   Without the law; I have no hesitation to go as

far in the direction indicated as I may at any time deem expedient。

And I am ready to say nowI think it is proper for our military

commanders to employ; as laborers; as many persons of African descent

as can be used to advantage。



The twelfth and thirteenth sections are something better than

unobjectionable; and the fourteenth is entirely proper; if all other

parts of the act shall stand。



That to which I chiefly object pervades most parts of the act; but

more distinctly appears in the first; second; seventh; and eighth

sections。  It is the sum of those provisions which results in the

divesting of title forever。



For the causes of treason and ingredients of treason; not amounting

to the full crime; it declares forfeiture extending beyond the lives

of the guilty parties; whereas the Constitution of the United States

declares that 〃no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood

or forfeiture except during the life of the person attainted。〃 True;

there is to be no formal attainder in this case; still; I think the

greater punishment cannot be constitutionally inflicted; in a

different form; for the same offence。



With great respect I am constrained to say I think this feature of

the act is unconstitutional。  It would not be difficult to modify it。



I may remark that the provision of the Constitution; put in language

borrowed from Great Britain; applies only in this country; as I

understand; to real or landed estate。



Again; this act in rem forfeits property for the ingredients of

treason without a conviction of the supposed criminal; or a personal

hearing given him in any proceeding。  That we may not touch property

lying within our reach; because we cannot give personal notice to an

owner who is absent endeavoring to destroy the government; is

certainly not satisfactory。  Still; the owner may not be thus

engaged; and I think a reasonable time should be provided for such

parties to appear and have personal hearings。  Similar provisions are

not uncommon in connection with proceedings in rem。



For the reasons stated; I return the bill to the House in which it

originated。









TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G。 B。 McCLELLAN。



WAR DEPARTMENT; WASHINGTON CITY; D。C。; July 21; 1862。



MAJOR…GENERAL McCLELLAN:



This is Monday。  I hope to be able to tell you on Thursday what is to

be done with Burnside。



A。 LINCOLN。









ORDER IN REGARD TO BEHAVIOR OF ALIENS

WAR DEPARTMENT; ADJUTANT…GENERAL'S OFFICE;



WASHINGTON; July 21; 1862。



The following order has been received from the President of the

United States:



Representations have been made to the President by the ministers of

various foreign powers in amity with the United States that subjects

of such powers have during the present insurrection been obliged or

required by military authorities to take an oath of general or

qualified allegiance to this government。  It is the duty of all

aliens residing in the United States to submit to and obey the laws

and respect the authority of the government。  For any proceeding or

conduct inconsistent with this obligation and subversive of that

authority they may rightfully be subjected to military restraints

when this may be necessary。  But they cannot be required to take an

oath of allegiance to this government; because it conflicts with the

duty they owe to their own sovereigns。  All such obligations

heretofore taken are therefore remitted and annulled。  Military

commanders will abstain from imposing similar obligations in future;

and will in lieu thereof adopt such other restraints of the character

indicated as they shall find necessary; convenient; and effectual for

the public safety。  It is further directed that whenever any order

shall be made affecting the personal liberty of an alien reports of

the same and of the causes thereof shall be made to the War

Department for the consideration of the Department of State。



By order of the Secretary of War:

L。 THOMAS;  Adjutant…General。









ORDER AUTHORIZING EMPLOYMENT OF 〃CONTRABANDS。〃



WAR DEPARTMENT; July 22; 1862。



Ordered:

1。  That military commanders within the States of Virginia; South

Carolina; Georgia; Florida; Alabama; Mississippi; Louisiana; Texas;

and Arkansas in an orderly manner seize and use any property; real or

personal; which may be necessary or convenient for their several

commands as supplies or for other military purposes; and that while

property may be destroyed for proper military objects; none shall be

destroyed in wantonness or malice。



2。  That military and naval commanders shall employ as laborers

within and from said States so many persons of African descent as can

be advantageously used for military or naval purposes; giving them

reasonable wages for their labor。



3。  That as to both property and persons of African descent accounts

shall be kept sufficiently accurate and in detail to show quantities

and amounts and from whom both property and such persons shall have

come; as a basis upon which compensation can be made in proper cases;

and the several departments of this government shall attend to and

perform their appropriate parts toward the execution of these orders。



By order of the President:

EDWIN M。 STANTON;  Secretary of War。









WARNING TO REBEL SYMPATHIZERS



PROCLAMATION; JULY 25; 1862。



THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:



A Proclamation。



In pursuance of the sixth section of the act of Congress entitled 〃An

act to suppress insurrection and to punish treason and rebellion; to

seize and confiscate property of rebels; and for other purposes;〃

approved July 17; 1862; and which act and the joint resolution

explanatory thereof are herewith published; I; Abraham Lincoln;

President of the United States; do hereby proclaim to and warn all

persons within the contemplation of said sixth section to cease

participating in; aiding; countenancing; or abetting the existing

rebellion or any rebellion against the Government of the United

States and to return to their proper allegiance to the United States;

on pain of the forfeitures and seizures as within and by said sixth

section provided。



In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal

of the United States to be affixed。



Done at the city of Washington; this twenty…fifth day of July; A。D。

1862; and of the independence of the United States the

eighty…seventh。



ABRAHAM LINCOLN。



By the President:

WILLIAM H。 SEWARD; Secretary of State。









HOLD MY HAND WHILST THE ENEMY STABS ME



TO REVERDY JOHNSON。



(Private。)



EXECUTIVE MANSION; WASHINGTON; July 26; 1862。



HON。 REVERDY JOHNSON。



MY DEAR SIR:Yours of the 16th is received。。。。。。。。。。。



You are ready to say I apply to friends what is due only to enemies。

I distrust the wisdom if not the sincerity of friends who would hold

my hands while my enemies stab me。  This appeal of  professed friends

has paralyzed me more in this struggle than any other one thing。  You

remember telling me; the day after the Baltimore mob in April; 1861;

that it would crush all Union feeling in Maryland for me to attempt

bringing troops over Maryland soil to Washington。  I brought the

troops notwithstanding; and yet there was Union feeling enough left

to elect a Legislature the next autumn; which in turn elected a very

excellent Union United States senator! I am a patient manalways

willing to forgive on the Christian terms of repentance; and also to

give ample time for repentance。  Still; I must save this government;

if possible。  What I cannot do; of course; I will not do; but it may

as well be understood; once for all; that I shall not surrender this

game leaving any available card unplayed。



Yours truly;



A。 LINCOLN。









TO CUTHBERT BULLITT。

(Private。)

WASHINGTON; D。 C。; July 28; 1862。





CUTHBERT BULLITT; Esq。; New Orleans; Louisiana。



SIR:The copy of a letter addressed to yourself by Mr。 Thomas J。

Durant has been shown to me。  The writer appears to be an able; a

dispassionate; and an entirely sincere man。  The first part of the

letter is devoted to an effort to show that the secession ordinance

of Louisiana was adopted against the will of a majority of the

people。  This is probably true; and in that fact may be found some

instruction。  Why did they allow the ordinance to go into effect?

Why did they not assert themselves?  Why stand passive and allow

themselves to be trodden down by minority?  Why did they not hold

popular meetings and have a convention of their own to express and

enforce the true sentiment of the State?  If preorganization was

against them then; why not do this no

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