Anxious to not act with so much clemency as to encourage another outbreak on the one hand, nor with so much severity as to be real cruelty on the other, I caused a careful examination of the records of trials to be made, in view of first ordering the execution of such as had been proved guilty of violating females.  Contrary to my expectations, only two of this class were found.  I then directed a further examination, and a classification of all who were proven to have participated in massacres, as distinguished from participation in battles.  This class numbered forty, and included the two convicted of female violation.  One of the number is strongly recommended by the commission which tried them for commutation to ten years’ imprisonment.  I have ordered the other thirty-nine to be executed on Friday, the 19th instant.  The order was dispatched from here on Monday, the 8th instant, by a messenger to General Sibley, and a copy of which order is herewith transmitted, marked D.

An abstract of the evidence as to the forty is herewith inclosed, marked E.

To avoid the immense amount of copying, I lay before the Senate the original transcripts of the records of trials as received by me.

This is as full and complete a response to the resolution as it is in my power to make.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

DECEMBER 11, 1862.

WASHINGTON, December 11, 1862.

To the Senate of the United States: 

I transmit to the Senate, for its consideration with a view to ratification, a treaty between the United States and the Republic of Liberia, signed at London by the plenipotentiaries of the parties on the 21st of October last.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

DECEMBER 12, 1862.

Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives: 

I have in my possession three valuable swords, formerly the property of General David E. Twiggs, which I now place at the disposal of Congress.  They are forwarded to me from New Orleans by Major-General Benjamin F. Butler.  If they or any of them shall be by Congress disposed of in reward or compliment of military service, I think General Butler is entitled to the first consideration.  A copy of the General’s letter to me accompanying the swords is herewith transmitted.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

WASHINGTON, D.C., December 13, 1862.

To the Senate of the United States: 

In the list of nominations transmitted to the Senate under date of the 1st instant Captain William M. Glendy, United States Navy, was included therein for promotion to the grade of commodore.

Since submitting this nomination it appears that this officer was ineligible for the advancement to which he had been nominated in consequence of his age, being 62 on the 23d of May, 1862, and under the law of 21st December, 1861, should, had this fact been known to the Navy Department, have been transferred to the retired list on the day when he completed sixty-two years.