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delicacy； in presenting views at the opening of an administration
under the peculiar circumstances attending my entrance upon the
official duties connected with the Government。 I studied all the
points with great anxiety； and presented them with whatever of
ability and sense of justice I could bring to bear。 If it met the
approbation of our good friends in Massachusetts； I shall be
exceedingly gratified； while I hope it will meet the approbation of
friends everywhere。 I am thankful for the expressions of those who
have voted with us； and like every other man of you； I like them as
certainly as I do others。 As the President in the administration of
the Government； I hope to be man enough not to know one citizen of
the United States from another； nor one section from another。 I
shall be gratified to have good friends of Massachusetts and others
who have thus far supported me in these national views still to
support me in carrying them out。
TO SECRETARY SEWARD
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER； MARCH 7； 1861
MY DEAR SIR：Herewith is the diplomatic address and my reply。 To
whom the reply should be addressedthat is； by what title or style
I do not quite understand； and therefore I have left it blank。
Will you please bring with you to…day the message from the War
Department； with General Scott's note upon it； which we had here
yesterday？ I wish to examine the General's opinion； which I have not
yet done。
Yours very truly
A。 LINCOLN。
REPLY TO THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS
WASHINGTON； THURSDAY； MARCH 7； 1861
Mr。 FIGANIERE AND GENTLEMEN OF THE DIPLOMATIC BODY：Please accept my
sincere thanks for your kind congratulations。 It affords me pleasure
to confirm the confidence you so generously express in the friendly
disposition of the United States； through me； towards the sovereigns
and governments you respectively represent。 With equal satisfaction
I accept the assurance you are pleased to give； that the same
disposition is reciprocated by your sovereigns； your governments； and
yourselves。
Allow me to express the hope that these friendly relations may remain
undisturbed； arid also my fervent wishes for the health and happiness
of yourselves personally。
TO SECRETARY SEWARD
EXECUTIVE MANSION； MARCH 11；1861
HON。 SECRETARY OF STATE。
DEAR SIR：What think you of sending ministers at once as follows：
Dayton to England； Fremont to France； Clay to Spain； Corwin to
Mexico？
We need to have these points guarded as strongly and quickly as
possible。 This is suggestion merely； and not dictation。
Your obedient servant；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO J。 COLLAMER
EXECUTIVE MANSION； MARCH 12； 1861
HON。 JACOB COLLAMER。
MY DEAR SIR：God help me。 It is said I have offended you。 I hope
you will tell me how。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
March 14； 1861。
DEAR SIR：I am entirely unconscious that you have any way offended
me。 I cherish no sentiment towards you but that of kindness and
confidence。
Your humble servant；
J。 COLLAMER
＇Returned with indorsement：＇
Very glad to know that I have n't。
A。 LINCOLN。
TO THE POSTMASTER…GENERAL。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； MARCH 13； 1861
HON。 P。 M。 G。
DEAR SIR：The bearer of this； Mr。 C。 T。 Hempstow； is a Virginian who
wishes to get； for his son； a small place in your Dept。 I think
Virginia should be heard； in such cases。
LINCOLN。
NOTE ASKING CABINET OPINIONS ON FORT SUMTER。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； MARCH 15； 1861
THE HONORABLE SECRETARY OF WAR。
MY DEAR SIR：Assuming it to be possible to now provision Fort
Sumter； under all the circumstances is it wise to attempt it？ Please
give me your opinion in writing on this question。
Your obedient servant；
A。 LINCOLN。
＇Same to other members of the Cabinet。＇
ON ROYAL ARBITRATION OF AMERICAN BOUNDARY LINE
TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
The Senate has transmitted to me a copy of the message sent by my
predecessor to that body on the 21st of February last； proposing to
take its advice on the subject of a proposition made by the British
Government through its minister here to refer the matter in
controversy between that government and the Government of the United
States to the arbitrament of the King of Sweden and Norway； the King
of the Netherlands； or the Republic of the Swiss Confederation。
In that message my predecessor stated that he wished to present to
the Senate the precise questions following； namely：
〃Will the Senate approve a treaty referring to either of the
sovereign powers above named the dispute now existing between the
governments of the United States and Great Britain concerning the
boundary line between Vancouver's Island and the American continent？
In case the referee shall find himself unable to decide where the
line is by the description of it in the treaty of June 15； 1846；
shall he be authorized to establish a line according to the treaty as
nearly as possible？ Which of the three powers named by Great Britain
as an arbiter shall be chosen by the United States？〃
I find no reason to disapprove of the course of my predecessor in
this important matter； but； on the contrary； I not only shall receive
the advice of the Senate thereon cheerfully； but I respectfully ask
the Senate for their advice on the three questions before recited
ABRAHAM LINCOLN。
WASHINGTON； March 16； 1861
AMBASSADORIAL APPOINTMENTS
TO SECRETARY SEWARD。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； MARCH 18； 1861
HON。 SECRETARY OF STATE。
MY DEAR SIR：I believe it is a necessity with us to make the
appointments I mentioned last nightthat is； Charles F。 Adams to
England； William L。 Dayton to France； George P。 Marsh to Sardinia；
and Anson Burlingame to Austria。 These gentlemen all have my highest
esteem； but no one of them is originally suggested by me except Mr。
Dayton。 Mr。 Adams I take because you suggested him； coupled with his
eminent fitness for the place。 Mr。 Marsh and Mr。 Burlingame I take
because of the intense pressure of their respective States； and their
fitness also。
The objection to this card is that locally they are so huddled up
three being in New England and two from a single State。 I have
considered this； and will not shrink from the responsibility。 This；
being done； leaves but five full missions undisposed ofRome； China；
Brazil； Peru； and Chili。 And then what about Carl Schurz； or； in
other words； what about our German friends？
Shall we put the card through； and arrange the rest afterward？ What
say you？
Your obedient servant；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO G。 E。 PATTEN。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； March 19； 1861。
TO MASTER GEO。 EVANS PATTEN。
WHOM IT MAY CONCERN：I did see and talk with Master Geo。 Evans
Patten last May at Springfield； Ill。
Respectfully；
A。 LINCOLN。