Joint congressional committee announces to President that Congress is ready to receive communications. Senate Journal, 6.

President communicates Second Annual Message to Congress: Foreign relations are more satisfactory than might be expected. Treaty with Great Britain for suppression of slave trade is in operation with prospect of success. Negro colonies from U.S. may soon migrate to Liberia and Haiti. Commercial relations with leading nations are undisturbed. System of banking associations will circulate notes of uniform appearance and security. Treasury receipts amounted to $583 million, expenditures to $570 million. Public lands are no longer source of revenue. System for Indian affairs may need remodeling. Progress has been made on construction of Pacific railroad. Department of Agriculture has been organized. President recommends that Congress propose three amendments to Constitution: 1. Every State that abolishes slavery before January 1, 1900, shall receive compensation from the U.S. 2. All slaves who shall have enjoyed actual freedom by chances of war shall be forever free. 3. Congress may appropriate money, and otherwise provide for colonizing free colored persons with their own consent, at any place or places outside U.S. Annual Message to Congress, 1 December 1862, CW, 5:518-37.

President writes Judge Adv. Gen. Joseph Holt: "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." Abraham Lincoln to Joseph Holt, 1 December 1862, CW, 5:537-38.

In afternoon Lincoln repeats to Sen. Browning (Ill.) at White House, "McClellan is too slow." Browning, Diary.

Informs Sec. Stanton of order that officers of military forces organized by Gov. Gamble (Mo.) may be removed and resignations accepted by Gov. Gamble, whose action will be confirmed by War Dept. Abraham Lincoln to Edwin M. Stanton, 2 December 1862, CW, 5:538.

President recommends to Congress that $9,500 be paid owner of French brig "Jules et Marie" for damage done by U.S.S. "San Jacinto." Abraham Lincoln to the Senate and House of Representatives, 3 December 1862, CW, 5:539.

White House detectives arrest Francis X. Rabstock for annoying President. Washington Chronicle, 4 December 1862.

Mrs. Lincoln sends bouquet to Mrs. Fox. Fox, Diary, Gist-Blair Family Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln endorses John W. True of 54th Regiment Illinois Volunteers: "I personally know the writer of this to be a good man." Abraham Lincoln to Edwin M. Stanton, 4 December 1862, CW, 5:540.

Sen. Sumner (Mass.) interviews President in interest of Gen. Butler. Benjamin F. Butler, Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences . . . Butler's Book (Boston: A. M. Thayer, 1892), 552.

President receives Senate resolution requesting "all information in his possession touching the late Indian barbarities in the State of Minnesota." Abraham Lincoln to Caleb B. Smith, 5 December 1862, CW, 5:540-41.

Receives November salary warrant for $2,022.34. Pratt, Personal Finances, 182.

[Irwin deposits $75 in Springfield Marine Bank, interest on Cline note. Pratt, Personal Finances, 165.]

Lincoln writes to General Henry H. Sibley, who heads a military commission that sentenced 303 Dakota Indians to death for killing military personnel and civilians in Minnesota. After evaluating the testimony, Lincoln recommended that only thirty-nine of the accused merited execution. On this day, Lincoln issues an order listing the names of the thirty-nine "Indians and Half-breeds . . . to be executed on Friday, the nineteenth day of December." Annual Message to Congress, 1 December 1862, CW, 5:518-537; Abraham Lincoln to Joseph Holt, 1 December 1862, CW, 5:537-538; Abraham Lincoln to Henry H. Sibley, 6 December 1862, CW, 5:542-43.

Sen. John B. Henderson (Mo.) and Cong. Thomas L. Price (Mo.) interview President on behalf of Rufus K. Sanders. Abraham Lincoln to Edwin M. Stanton, 6 December 1862, CW, 5:543.

5 P.M. Sunday dinner party at White House includes Sen. Browning (Ill.), Sen. Harris (N.Y.), and members of President's staff. Nicolay to Bates, 7 December 1862, John G. Nicolay Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Browning, Diary.

Sen. Doolittle (Wis.) reviews with President case of Gen. C. S. Hamilton. Howe to Lincoln, 10 December 1862, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln asks Capt. Dahlgren to see him at once. Abraham Lincoln to John A. Dahlgren, 8 December 1862, CW, 5:545.

Sends recommendation to Congress on behalf of Comdr. John L. Worden. Abraham Lincoln to the Senate and House of Representatives, 8 December 1862, CW, 5:547.

Borrows "Lyrics by the letter 'H'" from Library of Congress. [Charles Graham Halpine, Lyrics by the Letter H, New York and Cincinnati, 1854.] Borrowers' Ledger 1861-63, 114, Archives of the Library of Congress, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

President sends to Senate correspondence relative to attempted seizure of Joseph Fauchet, minister from France, by commander of "Africa" [on August 1, 1795]. Abraham Lincoln to the Senate, 9 December 1862, CW, 5:547-48.

Cautions Gen. Henry H. Sibley not to hang innocent Indian as a result of confusing similar names. Nicolay to Sibley, 9 December 1862, John G. Nicolay Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

[Irwin withdraws $1,500 from Springfield Marine Bank, as personal loan. Pratt, Personal Finances, 177.]

Sen. Wilmot (Pa.) asks President to appoint his son, Thomas M. Wilmot, to West Point. Memorandum: Appointment of Thomas M. Wilmot, 10 December 1862, CW, 5:549.

President sends communication to House of Representatives regarding arrest of part of crew of U.S.S. "Sumter." Abraham Lincoln to the House of Representatives, 10 December 1862, CW, 5:549.

Recommends to Congress that vote of thanks be given Lt. Comdr. George U. Morris (USN.) for valiant action against "Merrimac" at Hampton Roads. Abraham Lincoln to the Senate and House of Representatives, 10 December 1862, CW, 5:549-50.

Sen. Timothy O. Howe (Wis.) and two colleagues call on Lincoln in interest of Gen. Egbert L. Viele. Howe to Lincoln, 10 December 1862, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln writes J. K. Dubois: "In the summer of 1859 when Mr. Freeman visited Springfield, Illinois, in relation to the McCallister & Stebbins bonds I promised that, . . . I would ask the members of the Legislature to give him a full and fair hearing of his case. . . . I sincerely wish it may be given him." Abraham Lincoln to Jesse K. Dubois, 10 December 1862, CW, 5:548-49.

President recognizes Ludwig von Baumbach, consul of Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt for Wisconsin and Minnesota, and B. B. Haagsma consul of Netherlands for Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois. Washington Star, 11 December 1862.

Goes for drive in carriage. Journal, Samuel P. Heintzelman Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Transmits to Senate treaty with Republic of Liberia and information touching Indian barbarities in Minnesota. Abraham Lincoln to the Senate, 11 December 1862, CW, 5:550; Abraham Lincoln to the Senate, 11 December 1862, CW, 5:550-51.

Recommends to Sec. Stanton: "John Speed named within [2d Lt. John Speed, son of James Speed], is a son of a particular friend of mine." Abraham Lincoln to Edwin M. Stanton, 11 December 1862, CW, 5:552.

President at War Dept. early to get news of Army of Potomac near Fredericksburg, Va. Philadelphia News, 15 December 1862.

Approves action of Sec. Welles in dismissing Comdr. George H. Preble (USN) for failure to do his duty in permitting Confederate ship "Florida" to run blockade at Mobile, Ala. Welles, Diary.

J. W. Forney and friends from Pennsylvania call at White House and present cane to President. Washington Chronicle, 12 December 1862.

Maj. Moses Gist of 4th Delaware Infantry reports to President on firing tests given Peckham rifle cartridges designed to make ramrods unnecessary in loading by muzzle. They drop to bottom of bore and stay in place by means of powder released from cartridge in loading. Bruce, Tools of War, 220-22.

At 6 P.M. President talks to Sen. Browning (Ill.) about army matters and Gen. Cassius M. Clay. Browning, Diary.

John Nicolay makes trip to Fredericksburg; sent by President with letter of introduction to Gen. Burnside. Abraham Lincoln to Ambrose E. Burnside, 12 December 1862, CW, 5:552.

Lincoln forwards to Congress three swords formerly belonging to Gen. David E. Twiggs (CSA) and sent from New Orleans by Gen. Butler. Abraham Lincoln to the Senate and House of Representatives, 12 December 1862, CW, 5:552-53.

President answers Mayor Fernando Wood's (N.Y.) proposal for armistice and peace effort: "The war would cease on the part of the United States," if the people of the Southern States would cease resistance and maintain national authority. "Nor do I think it proper now to suspend military operations to try any experiment of negotiation." Abraham Lincoln to Fernando Wood, 12 December 1862, CW, 5:553-54.

President decides that Thomas Thoroughman disloyalty case may be settled at discretion of Abraham Jonas and Henry Asbury, lawyers of Quincy, Ill. Abraham Lincoln to Edwin M. Stanton, 13 December 1862, CW, 6:1-2.

Notifies Senate that name of Capt. William M. Glendy (USN) has been withdrawn from list of promotions because he is eligible for retirement. Abraham Lincoln to the Senate, 13 December 1862, CW, 6:1.

President enters into agreement with Capt. Isaac R. Diller of Philadelphia to make further tests of new formula gunpowder. Report of Diller to Lincoln, 31 October 1863, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Abraham Lincoln to Isaac R. Diller, 15 December 1862, CW, 6:3-5.

In evening Sen. Browning (Ill.) discusses with Lincoln bill creating new state of West Virginia. Browning, Diary.

President approves change in date for execution of Minnesota Indians from December 19, 1862 to December 26, 1862. Abraham Lincoln to Henry H. Sibley, 16 December 1862, CW, 6:6-7.

Orders Gen. Curtis to investigate evacuation incident involving Nathaniel W. Watkins, halfbrother of Henry Clay, "and restore the old man to his home, if the public interest will admit." Abraham Lincoln to Samuel R. Curtis, 16 December 1862, CW, 6:6.

"President sends much for Gus [Asst. Sec. Fox] lately—that indicates he is in trouble." Fox, Diary, Gist-Blair Family Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

"The President remarked to me the other night . . . that he was very anxious to have us retake Sumter, & that he would man it with negroes . . . President is exceedingly disturbed." John M. Forbes, Letters and Recollections of John Murray Forbes, 2 vols. (Boston: Houghton, Mifflin, 1899), 1:343.

President arranges meeting with senatorial committee for tomorrow evening. Monaghan, Diplomat, 267.

In evening receives from hands of Senator King (N.Y.) resignations of Secretary of State William H. Seward and Assistant Secretary of State Frederick W. Seward following action of Republican senatorial caucus. Scrapbook clipping, 23 December 1862, John G. Nicolay Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Evening Star (Washington, DC), 19 December 1862, 2d ed., 2:2; Bates, Diary, 19 December 1862.

Gen. Haupt visits President in evening and interrupts conversation between Cong. Covode (Pa.) and Lincoln. Correspondence, 26-27, Gideon Welles Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln writes Gen. Curtis: "Could the civil authority be reintroduced into Missouri in lieu of the military to any extent, with advantage and safety?" Abraham Lincoln to Samuel R. Curtis, 17 December 1862, CW, 6:8.

Declines to sign memorandum on behalf of "The colored man William Johnson [who] came with me from Illinois" for fear it will be construed as an order. Memorandum Concerning William H. Johnson, 17 December 1862, CW, 6:8-9.