of Louisiana will apply to other States.  And yet so great peculiarities pertain to each State, and such important and sudden changes occur in the same State, and withal so new and unprecedented is the whole case, that no exclusive and inflexible plan can safely be prescribed as to details and collaterals.  Such exclusive and inflexible plan would surely become a new entanglement.  Important principles may and must be inflexible.  In the present situation as the phrase goes, it may be my duty to make some new announcement to the people of the South.  I am considering, and shall not fail to act, when satisfied that action will be proper.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. WEITZEL.

Washington, D. C., April 12, 1865. 
Major-general Weitzel, Richmond, Va.: 

I have seen your despatch to Colonel Hardie about the matter of prayers.  I do not remember hearing prayers spoken of while I was in Richmond; but I have no doubt you have acted in what appeared to you to be the spirit and temper manifested by me while there.  Is there any sign of the rebel legislature coming together on the understanding of my letter to you?  If there is any such sign, inform me what it is; if there is no such sign, you may withdraw the offer.

A. Lincoln.

Telegram to general G. Weitzel. 
Washington, D.C., April 12, 1865.

Major-general Weitzel, Richmond, Va.: 

I have just seen Judge Campbell’s letter to you of the 7th.  He assumes, as appears to me, that I have called the insurgent legislature of Virginia together, as the rightful legislature of the State, to settle all differences with the United States.  I have done no such thing.  I spoke of them, not as a legislature, but as “the gentlemen who have acted as the legislature of Virginia in support of the rebellion.”  I did this on purpose to exclude the assumption that I was recognizing them as a rightful body.  I deal with them as men having power de facto to do a specific thing, to wit:  “To withdraw the Virginia troops and other support from resistance to the General Government,” for which, in the paper handed Judge Campbell, I promised a specific equivalent, to wit:  a remission to the people of the State, except in certain cases, of the confiscation of their property.  I meant this, and no more.  Inasmuch, however, as Judge Campbell misconstrues this, and is still pressing for an armistice, contrary to the explicit statement of the paper I gave him, and particularly as General Grant has since captured the Virginia troops, so that giving a consideration for their withdrawal is no longer applicable, let my letter to you and the paper to Judge Campbell both be withdrawn, or countermanded, and he be notified of it.  Do not now allow them to assemble, but if any have come, allow them safe return to their homes.