the gift is submitted to your consideration. ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

REPLY TO A COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS, REPORTING THE RESULT OF THE ELECTORAL COUNT, February 9, 1865.

With deep gratitude to my countrymen for this mark of their confidence; with a distrust of my own ability to perform the duty required under the most favorable circumstances, and now rendered doubly difficult by existing national perils; yet with a firm reliance on the strength of our free government, and the eventual loyalty of the people to the just principles upon which it is founded, and above all with an unshaken faith in the Supreme Ruler of nations, I accept this trust. Be pleased to signify this to the respective Houses of Congress.

MESSAGE TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, February 10, 1865

To the Honorable the House of Representatives: In response to your resolution of the 8th instant, requesting information in relation to a conference recently held in Hampton Roads, I have the honor to state that on the day of the date I gave Francis P. Blair, Sr., a card written on as follows, to wit:

Allow the bearer, F. P. Blair, Sr., to pass our lines, go south, and return. A. LINCOLN.

December 28, 1864.

That at the time I was informed that Mr. Blair sought the card as a means of getting to Richmond, Virginia; but he was given no authority to speak or act for the government, nor was I informed of anything he would say or do on his own account, or otherwise. Afterward Mr. Blair told me that he had been to Richmond, and had seen Mr. Jefferson Davis; and he (Mr. Blair) at the same time left with me a manuscript letter, as follows, to wit:

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, January 12, 1865.

F. P. BLAIR, Esq.

Sir: I have deemed it proper, and probably desirable to you, to give you, in this form, the substance of remarks made by me, to be repeated by you to President Lincoln, etc., etc.

I have no disposition to find obstacles in forms, and am willing, now as heretofore, to enter into negotiations for the restoration of peace; am ready to send a commission whenever I have reason to suppose it will be received, or to receive a commission, if the United States Government shall choose to send one. That, notwithstanding the rejection of our former offers, I would, if you could promise that a commissioner, minister, or other agent would be received,

appoint one immediately, and renew the effort to enter into conference, with a view to secure peace to the two countries. Yours, etc., JEFFERSON DAVIS. Afterward, and with the view that it should be shown to Mr. Davis, I wrote and delivered to Mr. Blair a letter as follows, to wit:

F. P. BLAIR, Esq.

WASHINGTON, January 18, 1865.

Sir: You having shown me Mr. Davis's letter to you of the 12th instant, you may say to him that I have constantly been, am now, and shall continue ready to receive any agent whom he, or any other influential person now resisting the national authority, may informally send to me, with the view of securing peace to the people of our one common country.

Yours, etc., A. LINCOLN.

Afterward Mr. Blair dictated for and authorized me to make an entry on the back of my retained copy of the letter last above recited, which entry is as follows:

January 28, 1865.

To-day Mr. Blair tells me that on the 21st instant he delivered to Mr. Davis the original, of which the within is a copy, and left it with him; that at the time of delivering it Mr. Davis read it over twice in Mr. Blair's presence, at the close of which he (Mr. Blair) remarked that the part about "our one common country" related to the part of Mr. Davis's letter about "the two countries," to which Mr. Davis replied that he so understood it. A. LINCOLN.

Afterward the Secretary of War placed in my hands the following telegram, indorsed by him as appears:

(Cipher.)

EXECUTIVE MANSION,

The following telegram received at Washington, January 29, 1865:

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE JAMES,

January 29, 1865. 6:30 P. M.

The following despatch just received from MajorGeneral Parke, who refers it to me for my action. I refer it to you in Lieutenant-General Grant's ab

sence.

E. O. C. ORD, Maj.-Gen. Commanding.

HON. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

January 29, 1865. 4 P. M. The following despatch is forwarded to you for your action. Since I have no knowledge of General Grant's having had any understanding of this kind, I refer the matter to you as the ranking officer present in the two armies.

JNO. G. PARKE, Major-General Commanding. MAJOR-GENERAL E. O. C. ORD,

Headquarters Army of the James.

FROM HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, 29th. Alex. H. Stephens, R. M. T. Hunter, and J. A. Campbell desire to cross my lines, in accordance with an understanding claimed to exist with Lieutenant

General Grant, on their way to Washington as peace commissioners. Shall they be admitted? They desire an early answer, to come through immediately. Would like to reach City Point to-night if they can. If they cannot do this, they would like to come through at 10 A. M. to-morrow morning.

O. B. WILCOX,

Major-General Commanding 9th Corps.

MAJOR-GENERAL JNO. G. PARKE,

Headquarters Army of the Potomac.

Respectfully referred to the President for such instructions as he may be pleased to give.

EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.

January 29, 1865. 8:30 P. M.

It appears that about the time of placing the foregoing telegram in my hands, the Secretary of War despatched General Ord as follows, to wit:

(Private and confidential.)`

WAR DEPARTMENT, January 29, 1865. 10 P. M. This department has no knowledge of any understanding by General Grant to allow any person to come within his lines as commissioner of any sort. You will therefore allow no one to come into your lines under such character or profession until you receive the President's instructions, to whom your telegram will be submitted for his directions.

EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. MAJOR-GENERAL ORD.