Yours very sincerely and respectfully,

Abraham Lincoln.

TO J. PHILLIPS.

Executive Mansion, Washington,
November 21, 1864.

Deacon John Phillips.

My dear sir:—­I have heard of the incident at the polls in your town, in which you acted so honorable a part, and I take the liberty of writing to you to express my personal gratitude for the compliment paid me by the suffrage of a citizen so venerable.

The example of such devotion to civic duties in one whose days have already been extended an average lifetime beyond the Psalmist’s limit, cannot but be valuable and fruitful.  It is not for myself only, but for the country which you have in your sphere served so long and so well, that I thank you.

Your friend and servant,

Abraham Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR BRAMLETTE.  WASHINGTON, D. C. NOVEMBER 22, 1864.

Governor Bramlette, Frankfort, Ky.: 

Yours of to-day received.  It seems that Lieutenant-Governor Jacobs and Colonel Wolford are stationary now.  General Sudarth and Mr. Hodges are here, and the Secretary of War and myself are trying to devise means of pacification and harmony for Kentucky, which we hope to effect soon, now that the passion-exciting subject of the election is past.

A. Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR CURTIN, WASHINGTON, D.C., NOVEMBER 25, 1864

Governor Curtin, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania;

I have no knowledge, information, or belief, that three States—­or any States, offer to resume allegiance.

A. Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL ROSECRANS.  EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON D.C., NOV. 26, 1864

Major-general Rosecrans: 

Please telegraph me briefly on what charge and evidence Mrs. Anna B.
Martin has been sent to the penitentiary at Alton.

A. Lincoln.

MEMORANDUM,

December 3, 1864.

On Thursday of last week, two ladies from Tennessee came before the President, asking the release of their husbands held as prisoners of war at Johnson’s Island.  They were put off until Friday, when they came again, and were again put off until Saturday.  At each of the interviews one of the ladies urged that her husband was a religious man, and on Saturday the President ordered the release of the prisoners, when he said to this lady:  “You say your husband is a religious man; tell him when you meet him, that I say I am not much of a judge of religion, but that, in my opinion, the religion that sets men to rebel and fight against their own government, because, as they think, that government does not sufficiently help some men to eat their bread in the sweat of other men’s faces, is not the sort of religion upon which people can get to heaven.”