Second.  I think there is great danger that the closing paragraph, in relation to the confiscation of property and the liberating slaves of traitorous owners, will alarm our Southern Union friends and turn them against us; perhaps ruin our rather fair prospect for Kentucky.  Allow me, therefore, to ask that you will, as of your own motion, modify that paragraph so as to conform to the first and fourth sections of the act of Congress entitled “An act to confiscate property used for insurrectionary purposes,” approved August 6, 1861, and a copy of which act I herewith send you.

This letter is written in a spirit of caution, and not of censure.  I send it by special messenger, in order that it may certainly and speedily reach you.

Yours very truly,

A. Lincoln.

Telegram to governors Washburn of Maine, Fairbanks of Vermont, Berry of new Hampshire, Andrew of Massachusetts, Buckingham of Connecticut, and Sprague of Rhode island.

War department, September 11, 1861.

General Butler proposes raising in New England six regiments, to be recruited and commanded by himself, and to go on special service.

I shall be glad if you, as governor of ______, will answer by telegraph
if you consent.

A. Lincoln.

TO GENERAL FREMONT.

WASHINGTON, D.C., SEPTEMBER 11, 1861

Major-general John C. Fremont.

Sir:-Yours of the 8th, in answer to mine of the 2d instant, is just received.  Assuming that you, upon the ground, could better judge of the necessities of your position than I could at this distance, on seeing your proclamation of August 30 I perceived no general objection to it.  The particular clause, however, in relation to the confiscation of property and the liberation of slaves appeared to me to be objectionable in its nonconformity to the act of Congress passed the 6th of last August upon the same subjects; and hence I wrote you, expressing my wish that that clause should be modified accordingly.  Your answer, just received, expresses the preference on your part that I should make an open order for the modification, which I very cheerfully do.  It is therefore ordered that the said clause of said proclamation be so modified, held, and construed as to conform to, and not to transcend, the provisions on the same subject contained in the act of Congress entitled “An act to confiscate property used for insurrectionary purposes,” approved August 6, 1861, and that said act be published at length with this order.

Your obedient servant,

A. Lincoln.

TO MRS. FREMONT.