at Gettysburg, is, without recanting his treason, a legal voter by the laws of Maryland.  Even General Schenck’s order admits him to vote, if he recants upon oath.  I think that is cheap enough.  My order in Missouri, which you approve, and General Scherick’s order here, reach precisely the same end.  Bach assures the right of voting to all loyal men, and whether a man is loyal, each allows that man to fix by his own oath.  Your suggestion that nearly all the candidates are loyal, I do not think quite meets the case.  In this struggle for the nation’s life, I cannot so confidently rely on those whose elections may have depended upon disloyal votes.  Such men, when elected, may prove true; but such votes are given them in the expectation that they will prove false.

Nor do I think that to keep the peace at the polls, and to prevent the persistently disloyal from voting, constitutes just cause of offense to Maryland.  I think she has her own example for it.  If I mistake not, it is precisely what General Dix did when your Excellency was elected Governor.

I revoke the first of the three propositions in General Schenek’s General Order No. 53; not that it is wrong in principle, but because the military, being of necessity exclusive judges as to who shall be arrested, the provision is too liable to abuse.  For the revoked part I substitute the following: 

That, all provost-marshals and other military officers do prevent all disturbance and violence at or about the polls, whether offered by such persons as above described, or by any other person or persons whomsoever.

The other two propositions of the order I allow to stand.  General Schenek is fully determined, and has my strict orders besides, that all loyal men may vote, and vote for whom they please.

Your obedient servant,

A. Lincoln.

To J. H. Hackett
[Private.]
Executive Mansion, Washington,
November 2, 1863.

James H. Hackett.

My dear sir:—­Yours of October 22d is received, as also was, in due course, that of October 3d.  I look forward with pleasure to the fulfillment of the promise made in the former to visit Washington the following winter and to “call.”

Give yourself no uneasiness on the subject mentioned in that of the 22d.  My note to you I certainly did not expect to see in print, yet I have not been much shocked by the newspaper comments upon it.

Those comments constitute a fair specimen of what has occurred to me through life.  I have endured a great deal of ridicule, without much malice; and have received a great deal of kindness not quite free from ridicule.  I am used to it.

Telegram to W. H. Seward. 
War department,
Washington city, November 3, 1863.

Hon.  W. H. Seward, Auburn, N. Y.: