This address, the longest of the presidential period with the exception of the First Inaugural, was delivered before a great crowd gathered in front of the White House, four days before Lincoln’s assassination.  The evening before, on a similar occasion, he had requested the people to wait until he could prepare his remarks, adding that he wished to be careful, as everything he said got into print.  The newspaper reports of the following day state that it was received with great enthusiasm.  The address is of special interest as indicating the attitude of the President toward the difficult question of Reconstruction.

The evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond.  April 2 and 3 respectively.  General Lee surrendered April 9.

The new constitution of Louisiana.  The constitution was adopted September 5, 1861.

The proposed amendment.  The thirteenth amendment, abolishing slavery throughout the United States, was proposed in 1864, but failed to receive the necessary two-thirds vote in the House of Representatives.  It was passed in 1865, and after receiving the endorsement of the necessary number of States went into effect December 15 of the same year.