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A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G。 B。 McCLELLAN。
WASHINGTON； June 21 1862 6 PM。
MAJOR…GENERAL GEORGE B。 McCLELLAN：
Your despatch of yesterday （2 P。 M。） was received this morning。 If
it would not divert too much of your time and attention from the army
under your immediate command； I would be glad to have your views as
to the present state of military affairs throughout the whole
country； as you say you would be glad to give them。 I would rather
it should be by letter than by telegraph； because of the better
chance of secrecy。 As to the numbers and positions of the troops not
under your command in Virginia and elsewhere； even if I could do it
with accuracy； which I cannot； I would rather not transmit either by
telegraph or by letter； because of the chances of its reaching the
enemy。 I would be very glad to talk with you； but you cannot leave
your camp； and I cannot well leave here。
A。 LINCOLN； President
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL N。 P。 BANKS。
WAR DEPARTMENT； June 22； 1862
MAJOR…GENERAL BANKS； Middletown：
I am very glad you are looking well to the west for a movement of the
enemy in that direction。 You know my anxiety on that point。
All was quiet at General McClellan's headquarters at two o'clock
to…day。
A。 LINCOLN。
TREATY WITH MEXICO
MESSAGE TO THE SENATE。
WASHINGTON； June 23； 1862。
TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES：
On the 7th day of December； 1861； I submitted to the Senate the
project of a treaty between the United States and Mexico which had
been proposed to me by Mr。 Corwin； our minister to Mexico； and
respectfully requested the advice of the Senate thereupon。
On the 25th day of February last a resolution was adopted by the
Senate to the effect
〃that it is not advisable to negotiate a treaty that will require the
United States to assume any portion of the principal or interest of
the debt of Mexico； or that will require the concurrence of European
powers。〃
This resolution having been duly communicated to me； notice thereof
was immediately given by the Secretary of State to Mr。 Corwin； and he
was informed that he was to consider his instructions upon the
subject referred to modified by this resolution and would govern his
course accordingly。 That despatch failed to reach Mr。 Corwin； by
reason of the disturbed condition of Mexico； until a very recent
date； Mr。 Corwin being without instructions； or thus practically left
without instructions； to negotiate further with Mexico。
In view of the very important events Occurring there； he has thought
that the interests of the United States would be promoted by the
conclusion of two treaties which should provide for a loan to that
republic。 He has therefore signed such treaties； and they having
been duly ratified by the Government of Mexico； he has transmitted
them to me for my consideration。 The action of the Senate is of
course conclusive against an acceptance of the treaties On my part。
I have； nevertheless； thought it just to our excellent minister in
Mexico and respectful to the Government of that republic to lay the
treaties before the Senate； together with the correspondence which
has occurred in relation to them。 In performing this duty I have
only to add that the importance of the subject thus submitted to the
Senate； can not be over estimated； and I shall cheerfully receive and
consider with the highest respect any further advice the Senate may
think proper to give upon the subject。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN。
VETO OF A CURRENCY BILL
MESSAGE TO THE SENATE； JUNE 23； 1862。
TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES：
The bill which has passed the House of Representatives and the
Senate； entitled 〃An act to repeal that part of an act of Congress
which prohibits the circulation of bank…notes of a less denomination
than five dollars in the District of Columbia；〃 has received my
attentive consideration； and I now return it to the Senate； in which
it originated； with the following objections：
1。 The bill proposes to repeal the existing legislation prohibiting
the circulation of bank…notes of a less denomination than five
dollars within the District of Columbia； without permitting the
issuing of such bills by banks not now legally authorized to issue
them。 In my judgment； it will be found impracticable； in the
present condition of the currency； to make such a discrimination。
The banks have generally suspended specie payments； and a legal
sanction given to the circulation of the irredeemable notes of one
class of them will almost certainly be so extended； in practical
operation； as to include those of all classes； whether authorized or
unauthorized。 If this view be correct； the currency of the District；
should this act become a law； will certainly and greatly deteriorate；
to the serious injury of honest trade and honest labor。
2。 This bill seems to contemplate no end which cannot be otherwise
more certainly and beneficially attained。 During the existing war it
is peculiarly the duty of the National Government to secure to the
people a sound circulating medium。 This duty has been； under
existing circumstances； satisfactorily performed； in part at least；
by authorizing the issue of United States notes； receivable for all
government dues except customs； and made a legal tender for all
debts； public and private； except interest on public debt。 The
object of the bill submitted to menamely； that of providing a small
note currency during the present suspensioncan be fully
accomplished by authorizing the issue； as part of any new emission of
United States notes made necessary by the circumstances of the
country； of notes of a similar character； but of less denomination
than five dollars。 Such an issue would answer all the beneficial
purposes of the bill； would save a considerable amount to the
treasury in interest； would greatly facilitate payments to soldiers
and other creditors of small sums； and would furnish； to the people a
currency as safe as their own government。
Entertaining these objections to the bill； I feel myself constrained
to withhold from it my approval and return it for the further
consideration and action of Congress。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
SPEECH AT JERSEY CITY； JUNE 24； 1862。
When birds and animals are looked at through a fog； they are seen to
disadvantage； and so it might be with you if I were to attempt to
tell you why I went to see General Scott。 I can only say that my
visit to West Point did not have the importance which has been
attached to it； but it concerned matters that you understand quite as
well as if I were to tell you all about them。 Now； I can only remark
that it had nothing whatever to do with making or unmaking any
general in the country。 The Secretary of War； you know； holds a
pretty tight rein on the press； so that they shall not tell more than
they ought to； and I 'm afraid that if I blab too much； he might draw
a tight rein on me。
TO GENERAL G。 B。 McCLELLAN。
WASHINGTON； June 26； 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL McCLELLAN：
Your three despatches of yesterday in relation to the affair； ending
with the statement that you completely succeeded in making your
point； are very gratifying。
The later one of 6。15 P。M。； suggesting the probability of your being
overwhelmed by two hundred thousand； and talking of where the
responsibility will belong； pains me very much。 I give you all I
can； and act on the presumption that you will do the best you can
with what you have； while you continue； ungenerously I think； to
assume that I could give you more if I would。 I have omitted； and
shall omit； no opportunity to send you reinforcements whenever I
possibly can。
A。 LINCOLN。
P。 S。 General Pope thinks if you fall back it would be much better
towards York River than towards the James。 As Pope now has charge of
the capital； please confer with him through the telegraph。
ORDER CONSTITUTING THE ARMY OF VIRGINIA。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON； D。 C。；
June 26； 1862。
Ordered：
1st。 The forces under Major…Generals Fremont； Banks； and McDowell；
including the troops now under Brigadier…General Sturgis at
Washington； shall be consolidated and form one army； to be called the
Army of Virginia。
2d。 The command of the Army of Virginia is specially assigned to
Major…General John Pope； as commanding general。 The troops of the
Mountain Department； heretofore under command of General Fremont；
shall constitute the First Army Corps； under the command of General
Fremont； the troops of the Shenandoah Department； now under General
Banks； shall constitute the Second Army Corps； and be commanded by
him； the troops under the command of General McDowell； except those
within the fortifications and city of Washington； shall form the
