In stating a single condition of peace I mean simply to say that the war will cease on the part of the Government whenever it shall have ceased on the part of those who began it.

Abraham Lincoln.

RESPONSE TO A SERENADE, DECEMBER 6, 1864.

Friends and fellow-citizens:—­I believe I shall never be old enough to speak without embarrassment when I have nothing to talk about.  I have no good news to tell you, and yet I have no bad news to tell.  We have talked of elections until there is nothing more to say about them.  The most interesting news now we have is from Sherman.  We all know where he went in at, but I can’t tell where he will come out at.  I will now close by proposing three cheers for General Sherman and his army.

TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR HALL.

Executive Mansion,
Washington, December 7, 1864.

Governor Hall, Jefferson City, Mo.: 

Complaint is made to me of the doings of a man at Hannibal, Mo., by the name of Haywood, who, as I am told, has charge of some militia force, and is not in the United States service.  Please inquire into the matter and correct anything you may find amiss if in your power.

A. Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO COLONEL FASLEIGH.

Executive Mansion,
Washington, D. C., December 8, 1864.

Colonel FASLEIGH, Louisville, Ky.: 

I am appealed to in behalf of a man by the name of Frank Fairbairns, said to have been for a long time and still in prison, without any definite ground stated.  How is it?

A. Lincoln.

ORDER APPOINTING COMMISSIONERS TO INVESTIGATE THE MILITARY DIVISION WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

Executive Mansion, December 10, 1864.

Ordered, First, that Major-General William P. Smith and the Hon. Henry Stanbery be, and they are hereby, appointed special commissioners to investigate and report, for the information of the President; upon the civil and military administration in the military division bordering upon and west of the Mississippi, under such instructions as shall be issued by authority of the President and the War Department.

Second, said commissioners shall have power to examine witnesses upon oath, and to take such proofs orally or in writing, upon the subject-matters of investigation as they may deem expedient, and return the same together with their report.

Third, all officers and persons in the military, naval and revenue services, or in any branch of the public service under the authority of the United States Government, are required, upon subpoena issued by direction of the said commissioners, to appear before them at such time and place as may be designated in said subpoena and to give testimony on oath touching such matters as may be inquired of by the commissioners, and to produce such books, papers, writings, and documents as they may be notified or required to produce by the commissioners, and as may be in their possession.