That we shall be entirely successful in our efforts I firmly believe.

The blessing of God and the efforts of good and faithful men will bring us an earlier and happier consummation than the most sanguine friends of the freedmen could reasonably expect.

Yours,

A. Lincoln,

Telegram to general U.S.  Grant. 
Washington, D. C., March 2, 1865.

Lieutenant-general grant, City Point, Va.: 

You have not sent contents of Richmond papers for Tuesday or Wednesday.  Did you not receive them?  If not, does it indicate anything?

A. Lincoln.

Telegram from Secretary Stanton
to general grant. 
Washington, March 3, 1865. 12 PM.

Lieutenant-general grant: 

The President directs me to say to you that he wishes you to have no conference with General Lee unless it be for the capitulation of General Lee’s army, or on some minor and purely military matter.  He instructs me to say that you are not to decide, discuss, or confer upon any political question.  Such questions the President holds in his own hands, and will submit them to no military conferences or conventions.  Meantime you are to press to the utmost your military advantages.

Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War.

SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS,

March 4, 1865.

Fellow-countrymen:—­At this second appearing to take the oath of the presidential office there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first.  Then a statement somewhat in detail of a course to be pursued seemed fitting and proper.  Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the great contest which still absorbs the attention and engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is new could be presented.  The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself, and it is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all.  With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured.

On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war.  All dreaded it, all sought to avert it.  While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, insurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war seeking to dissolve the Union and divide effects by negotiation.  Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came.