“Freedom has given us one hundred and fifty thousand men, raised on Southern soil.  It will give us more yet.  Just so much it has subtracted from the enemy, and, instead of alienating the South, there are now evidences of a fraternal feeling growing up between our men and the rank and file of the rebel soldiers.  Let my enemies prove to the country that the destruction of slavery is not necessary to a restoration of the Union.  I will abide the issue.”

ENDORSEMENT OF APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT, AUGUST 15, 1864.

I am always for the man who wishes to work; and I shall be glad for this man to get suitable employment at Cavalry Depot, or elsewhere.

A. Lincoln.

TO H. J. RAYMOND.

Executive Mansion
Washington, August 15, 1864

Hon.  Henry J. Raymond.

My dear sir:—­I have proposed to Mr. Greeley that the Niagara correspondence be published, suppressing only the parts of his letters over which the red pencil is drawn in the copy which I herewith send.  He declines giving his consent to the publication of his letters unless these parts be published with the rest.  I have concluded that it is better for me to submit, for the time, to the consequences of the false position in which I consider he has placed me, than to subject the country to the consequences of publishing these discouraging and injurious parts.  I send you this, and the accompanying copy, not for publication, but merely to explain to you, and that you may preserve them until their proper time shall come.

Yours truly,

Abraham Lincoln.

Telegram to general U. S. Grant. 
Executive Mansion, Washington, August 17, 1864.

Lieutenant-general grant, City Point, Va.: 

I have seen your despatch expressing your unwillingness to break your hold where you are.  Neither am I willing.  Hold on with a bulldog grip, and chew and choke as much as possible.

A. Lincoln.

PROCLAMATION CONCERNING COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS, AUGUST 18, 1864.

By the president of the united states of America: 

A Proclamation.

Whereas the act of Congress of the 28th of September, 1850, entitled “An act to create additional collection districts in the State of California, and to change the existing districts therein, and to modify the existing collection districts in the United States,” extends to merchandise warehoused under bond the privilege of being exported to the British North American provinces adjoining the United States, in the manner prescribed in the act of Congress of the 3d of March, 1845, which