other and to the enemy as did the armies of McDowell and Patterson before the battle of Bull Run. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. W. HALLECK, Major-General. [Indorsement.] The within is a copy of a letter just received from General Halleck. It is exceedingly discouraging. As everywhere else, nothing can be done. A. LINCOLN. CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO THE RESIGNATION OF SECRETARY CAMERON 1 M EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 11, 1862. Y DEAR SIR: As you have more than once expressed a desire for a change of position, I can now gratify you consistently with my view of the public interest. I therefore propose nominating you to the Senate next Monday as minister to Russia. Very sincerely, your friend, (Private.) A. LINCOLN. EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 11, 1862. Dear Sir: Though I have said nothing hitherto in response to your wish, expressed long since, to resign your seat in the Cabinet, I have not been unmindful of it. I have been only unwilling to consent to a change at a time and under circumstances which might give occasion to misconstruction, and unable till now to see how such misconstruction could be avoided. 'From the beginning of his official duties, Secretary Cameron proved not to be the man to meet the tremendous difficulties of the War Department. His unfortunate maladministration culminated when, in his report for December, 1861, he advocated a measure in favor of arming slaves and using "their services But the desire of Mr. Clay to return home and to offer his services to his country in the field enables me now to gratify your wish, and at the same time evince my personal regard for you, and my confidence in your ability, patriotism, and fidelity to public trust. I therefore tender to your acceptance, if you still desire to resign your present position, the post of minister to Russia. Should you accept it, you will bear with you the assurance of my undiminished confidence, of my affectionate esteem, and of my sure expectation that, near the great sovereign whose personal and hereditary friendship for the United States so much endears him to Americans, you will be able to render services to your country not less important than those you could render at home. Very sincerely, your friend, WAR DEPARTMENT, A. LINCOLN. January 11, 1862. My dear Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge your favor of this date, and to thank you, with proagainst the rebels, under proper military regulations, discipline, and command." The report was sent out before the President had chance to pass upon it, but at his order it was withdrawn from circulation. Lincoln handled the case with rare tact. Soon after he found opportunity for relieving his Secretary from a position for which he was unqualified, and conferred upon him a foreign mission. found respect, for its kind and generous tone. When you were elected President, a result to which I contributed my best exertions, I had no thought of leaving the Senate of the United States or of accepting any position within your gift. But when you invited me to Springfield, Illinois, and presented me the choice of one of two named places in the list of your constitutional advisers, I could not, for grave public reasons and after great reflections, refuse a trust so trying and laborious. My life had been one of constant labor and excitement. I looked to the Senate as the best field, after such a life, in which to serve my country and my State. It was only when I realized that I might be of service to the general cause in the darkly foreshadowed future that I ventured to undertake the manifold and various responsibilities of the War Department. I felt when I saw the traitors leaving their seats in Congress, and when the Star of [the] West was fired upon in Charleston harbor, that a bloody conflict was inevitable. I have devoted myself without interruption to my official duties, and have given to them all my energies. I have done my best. It was impossible, in the direction of operations so extensive, but that some mistakes should have happened and some complications and complaints should have arisen. In view of such considerations, I thank you for the expression of your confidence in my ability, patriotism, and fidelity to public trust. Thus my own conscientious sense of doing my duty by the executive and by my country is approved by the acknowledged head of the government himself. When I became a member of your administration I avowed my purpose to retire from the cabinet as soon as my duty to my country would allow me to do So. In your letter of this day's date, so illustrative of your just and upright character, you revive the fact that I some time ago expressed the same purpose to you, and in reminding me of this you proffer for my acceptance one of the highest diplomatic positions. at your bestowal as an additional mark of your confidence and esteem. In retiring from the War Department I feel that the mighty army of the United States is ready to do battle for the Constitution; that it is marshaled by gallant and experienced leaders; that it is animated with the greatest enthusiasm for the good cause, and also that my successor in this department is my personal friend, who unites to wonderful intellect and vigor the grand essential of being in earnest in the present struggle, and of being resolved upon a speedy and overwhelming triumph of our arms. I therefore frankly accept the new distinction you have tendered. me, and as soon as important and long-neglected private business can be arranged I will enter upon the important duties of the mission which you have assigned me. I have the honor to be, my dear sir, |