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WHOM IT MAY CONCERN：I did see and talk with Master Geo。 Evans
Patten last May at Springfield； Ill。
Respectfully；
A。 LINCOLN。
＇Written because of a denial that any interview with young Patten；
then a schoolboy； had ever taken place。＇
RESPONSE TO SENATE INQUIRY RE。 FORT SUMTER
MESSAGE TO THE SENATE。
TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES：I have received a copy of the
resolution of the Senate； passed on the 25th instant； requesting me；
if in my opinion not incompatible with the public interest； to
communicate to the Senate the despatches of Major Robert Anderson to
the War Department during the time he has been in command of Fort
Sumter。 On examination of the correspondence thus called for； I
have； with the highest respect for the Senate； come to the conclusion
that at the present moment the publication of it would be
inexpedient。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
WASHINGTON； MARCH 16； 1861
PREPARATION OF FIRST NAVAL ACTION
TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR
EXECUTIVE MANSION； MARCH 29； 1861
HONORABLE SECRETARY OF WAR。
SIR：I desire that an expedition to move by sea be got ready to sail
as early as the 6th of April next； the whole according to memorandum
attached； and that you cooperate with the Secretary of the Navy for
that object。
Your obedient servant；
A。 LINCOLN。
＇Inclosure。＇
Steamers Pocahontas at Norfolk； Paunee at Washington； Harriet Lane at
New York； to be under sailing orders for sea； with stores； etc。； for
one month。 Three hundred men to be kept ready for departure from on
board the receiving…ships at New York。 Two hundred men to be ready to
leave Governor's Island in New York。 Supplies for twelve months for
one hundred men to be put in portable shape； ready for instant
shipping。 A large steamer and three tugs conditionally engaged。
TO ______ STUART。
WASHINGTON； March 30； 1861
DEAR STUART：
Cousin Lizzie shows me your letter of the 27th。 The question of
giving her the Springfield post…office troubles me。 You see I have
already appointed William Jayne a Territorial governor and Judge
Trumbull's brother to a land…office。 Will it do for me to go on and
justify the declaration that Trumbull and I have divided out all the
offices among our relatives？ Dr。 Wallace； you know； is needy； and
looks to me； and I personally owe him much。
I see by the papers； a vote is to be taken as to the post…office。
Could you not set up Lizzie and beat them all？ She； being here； need
know nothing of it； so therefore there would be no indelicacy on her
part。 Yours as ever；
TO THE COMMANDANT OF THE NEW YORK NAVY…YARD。
NAVY DEPT。； WASHINGTON； April 1； 1861
TO THE COMMANDANT OF THE NAVY…YARD；
Brooklyn； N。 Y。
Fit out the Powhatan to go to sea at the earnest possible moment
under sealed orders。 Orders by a confidential messenger go forward
to…morrow。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN。
TO LIEUTENANT D。 D。 PORTER
EXECUTIVE MANSION； April 1； 1861
LIEUTENANT D。 D。 PORTER； United States Navy。
SIR：You will proceed to New York； and with the least possible
delay； assuming command of any naval steamer available； proceed to
Pensacola Harbor； and at any cost or risk prevent any expedition from
the mainland reaching Fort Pickens or Santa Rosa Island。
You will exhibit this order to any naval officer at Pensacola； if you
deem it necessary； after you have established yourself within the
harbor； and will request co…operation by the entrance of at least one
other steamer。
This order； its object； and your destination will be communicated to
no person whatever until you reach the harbor of Pensacola。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN。
Recommended； WILLIAM H。 SEWARD。
RELIEF EXPEDITION FOR FORT SUMTER
ORDER TO OFFICERS OF THE ARMY AND NAVY。
WASHINGTON； EXECUTIVE MANSION； April 1； 1861。
All officers of the army and navy to whom this order may be exhibited
will aid by every means in their power the expedition under the
command of Colonel Harvey Brown； supplying him with men and material；
and co…operating with him as he may desire。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN。
ORDER TO CAPTAIN SAMUEL MERCER。
（Confidential。）
WASHINGTON CITY；
April 1； 1861
SIR：Circumstances render it necessary to place in command of your
ship （and for a special purpose） an officer who is fully informed and
instructed in relation to the wishes of the Government； and you will
therefore consider yourself detached。 But in taking this step the
Government does not in the least reflect upon your efficiency or
patriotism； on the contrary； have the fullest confidence in your
ability to perform any duty required of you。 Hoping soon to be able
to give you a better command than the one you now enjoy； and trusting
that you will have full confidence in the disposition of the
Government toward you；
I remain； etc。；
ABRAHAM LINCOLN。
SECRETARY SEWARD'S BID FOR POWER
MEMORANDUM FROM SECRETARY SEWARD；
APRIL 1； 1861
Some thoughts for the President's Consideration；
First。 We are at the end of a month's administration； and yet
without a policy either domestic or foreign。
Second。 This； however； is not culpable； and it has even been
unavoidable。 The presence of the Senate； with the need to meet
applications for patronage； have prevented attention to other and
more grave matters。
Third。 But further delay to adopt and prosecute our policies for
both domestic and foreign affairs would not only bring scandal on the
administration； but danger upon the country。
Fourth。 To do this we must dismiss the applicants for office。 But
how？ I suggest that we make the local appointments forthwith； leaving
foreign or general ones for ulterior and occasional action。
Fifth。 The policy at home。 I am aware that my views are singular；
and perhaps not sufficiently explained。 My system is built upon this
idea as a ruling one； namely； that we must
CHANGE THE QUESTION BEFORE THE PUBLIC FROM ONE UPON SLAVERY； OR ABOUT
SLAVERY； for a question upon UNION OR DISUNION：
In other words； from what would be regarded as a party question； to
one of patriotism or union。
The occupation or evacuation of Fort Sumter； although not in fact a
slavery or a party question； is so regarded。 Witness the temper
manifested by the Republicans in the free States； and even by the
Union men in the South。
I would therefore terminate it as a safe means for changing the
issue。 I deem it fortunate that the last administration created the
necessity。
For the rest； I would simultaneously defend and reinforce all the
ports in the gulf； and have the navy recalled from foreign stations
to be prepared for a blockade。 Put the island of Key West under
martial law。
This will raise distinctly the question of union or disunion。 I
would maintain every fort a