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The President replied： 〃As you may suppose； I have considered that；
and the proposition now submitted does not encounter any
constitutional difficulty。 It proposes simply to co…operate with any
State by giving such State pecuniary aid〃； and he thought that the
resolution； as proposed by him； would be considered rather as the
expression of a sentiment than as involving any constitutional
question。
Mr。 Hall； of Missouri； thought that if this proposition was adopted
at all it should be by the votes of the free States； and come as a
proposition from them to the slave States； affording them an
inducement to put aside this subject of discord； that it ought not to
be expected that members representing slaveholding constituencies
should declare at once； and in advance of any proposition to them；
for the emancipation of slavery。
The President said he saw and felt the force of the objection； it was
a fearful responsibility； and every gentleman must do as he thought
best； that he did not know how this scheme was received by the
members from the free States； some of them had spoken to him and
received it kindly； but for the most part they were as reserved and
chary as we had been； and he could not tell how they would vote。 And
in reply to some expression of Mr。 Hall as to his own opinion
regarding slavery； he said he did not pretend to disguise his anti…
slavery feeling； that he thought it was wrong； and should continue to
think so； but that was not the question we had to deal with now。
Slavery existed； and that； too； as well by the act of the North as of
the South； and in any scheme to get rid of it the North as well as
the South was morally bound to do its full and equal share。 He
thought the institution wrong and ought never to have existed； but
yet he recognized the rights of property which had grown out of it；
and would respect those rights as fully as similar rights in any
other property； that property can exist and does legally exist。 He
thought such a law wrong； but the rights of property resulting must
be respected； he would get rid of the odious law； not by violating
the rights； but by encouraging the proposition and offering
inducements to give it up。
Here the interview； so far as this subject is concerned； terminated
by Mr。 Crittenden's assuring the President that； whatever might be
our final action； we all thought him solely moved by a high
patriotism and sincere devotion to the happiness and glory of his
country； and with that conviction we should consider respectfully the
important suggestions he had made。
After some conversation on the current war news； we retired； and I
immediately proceeded to my room and wrote out this paper。
J。 W。 CRISFIELD。
We were present at the interview described in the foregoing paper of
Mr。 Crisfield； and we certify that the substance of what passed on
the occasion is in this paper faithfully and fully given。
J。 W。 MENZIES；
J。 J。 CRITTENDEN；
R。 MALLORY。
March 10； 1862。
PRESIDENT'S SPECIAL WAR ORDER NO。3。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON； March 11； 1862。
Major…General McClellan having personally taken the field at the head
of the Army of the Potomac； until otherwise ordered he is relieved
from the command of the other military departments； he retaining
command of the Department of the Potomac。
Ordered further； That the departments now under the respective
commands of Generals Halleck and Hunter； together with so much of
that under General Buell as lies west of a north and south line
indefinitely drawn through Knoxville； Tenn。； be consolidated and
designated the Department of the Mississippi； and that until
otherwise ordered Major General Halleck have command of said
department。
Ordered also； That the country west of the Department of the Potomac
and east of the Department of the Mississippi be a military
department； to be called the Mountain Department； and that the same
be commanded by Major…General Fremont。
That all the commanders of departments； after the receipt of this
order by them； respectively report severally and directly to the
Secretary of War； and that prompt； full； and frequent reports will be
expected of all and each of them。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN。
FROM SECRETARY STANTON TO GENERAL MCCLELLAN。
WAR DEPARTMENT； March 13； 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL GEORGE B。 MCCLELLAN：
The President； having considered the plan of operations agreed upon
by yourself and the commanders of army corps； makes no objection to
the same but gives the following directions as to its execution：
1。 Leave such force at Manassas Junction as shall make it entirely
certain that the enemy shall no repossess himself of that position
and line of communication。
2。 Leave Washington entirely secure。
3。 Move the remainder of the force down the Potomac； choosing a new
base at Fortress Monroe or anywhere between here and there； or； at
all events； move such remainder of the army at once in pursuit of the
enemy by some route。
EDWARD M。 STANTON；
Secretary of War。
SPEECH TO A PARTY OF MASSACHUSETTS GENTLEMAN
WASHINGTON； MARCH 13； 1862
I thank you； Mr。 Train； for your kindness in presenting me with this
truly elegant and highly creditable specimen of the handiwork of the
mechanics of your State of Massachusetts； and I beg of you to express
my hearty thanks to the donors。 It displays a perfection of
workmanship which I really wish I had time to acknowledge in more
fitting words； and I might then follow your idea that it is
suggestive； for it is evidently expected that a good deal of whipping
is to be done。 But as we meet here socially let us not think only of
whipping rebels； or of those who seem to think only of whipping
negroes； but of those pleasant days； which it is to be hoped are in
store for us； when seated behind a good pair of horses we can crack
our whips and drive through a peaceful； happy； and prosperous land。
With this idea； gentlemen； I must leave you for my business duties。
＇It was likely a Buggy…Whip D。W。＇
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS。
WASHINGTON CITY； March 20； 1862。
TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES：
The third section of the 〃Act further to promote the efficiency of
the Navy； 〃 approved December21； 1861； provides：
〃That the President of the United States； by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate； shall have the authority to detail from the
retired list of the navy for the command of squadrons and single
ships such officers as he may believe the good of the service
requires to be thus placed in command； and such officers may； if upon
the recommendation of the President of the United States they shall
receive a vote of thanks cf Congress for their services and gallantry
in action against an enemy； be restored to the active list； and not
otherwise。〃
In conformity with this law； Captain Samuel