date of this proclamation; nor shall any such plea of alienage be allowed in favor of any such person who has so, as aforesaid, declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States, and shall have exercised at any time the right of suffrage, or any other political franchise, within the United States, under the laws thereof, or under the laws of any of the several States. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington, this eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord one [SEAL.] thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-seventh. By the President: WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. HOOKER. WASHINGTON, D. C., May 8, 1863. 4. P.M. MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER: The news is here of the capture by our forces of Grand Gulf-a large and very important thing. General Willich, an exchanged prisoner just from Richmond, has talked with me this morning. He was there when our cavalry cut the roads in that vicinity. He says there was not a sound pair of legs in Richmond, and that our men, had they known it, could have safely gone in and burned everything and brought in Jeff Davis. We captured and paroled 300 or 400 men. He says as he came to City Point there was an army three miles long (Longstreet's, he thought) moving toward Richmond. Milroy has captured a despatch of General Lee, in which he says his loss was fearful in his last battle with you. A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. A. DIX. MAJOR-GENEral Dix: WAR DEPARTMENT, May 9, 1863. It is very important for Hooker to know exactly what damage is done to the railroads at all points between Fredericksburg and Richmond. As yet we have no word as to whether the crossings of the North and South Anna, or any of them, have been touched. There are four of these crossings; that is, one on each road on each stream. You readily perceive why this information is desired. I suppose Kilpatrick or Davis can tell. Please ascertain fully what was done, and what is the present condition, as near as you can, and advise me at once. A. LINCOLN. TO SECRETARY SEWARD. [WASHINGTON,] May 9 [1863]. I believe Mr. L. is a good man, but two things need to be remembered. Ist. Mr. R.'s rival was a relative of Mr. L. 2d. I hear of nobody calling Mr. R. a "Copperhead" but Mr. L. However, let us watch. A. L. TO SECRETARY STANTON. EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, HON. SECRETARY OF WAR. DEAR SIR: I have again concluded to relieve General Curtis. I see no other way to avoid the worst consequences there. I think of General Schofield as his successor, but I do not wish to take the matter of a successor out of the hands of yourself and General Halleck. Yours truly, A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL DIX. War Department, Washington CITY, May 11, 1863. MAJOR-GENERAL DIX: Do the Richmond papers have anything about Grand Gulf or Vicksburg? A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL BUTTerfield. WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, [Cipher.] May 11, 1863. MAJOR-GENERal Butterfield: About what distance is it from the observatory we stopped at last Thursday to the line of enemies' works you ranged the glass upon for me? A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR SEYMOUR GOVERNOR SEYMOUR, Albany, N. Y.: Dr. Swinburne and Mr. Gillett are here, having been refused, as they say, by the War Department, permission to go to the Army of the Potomac. They now appeal to me, saying you wish them to go. I suppose they have been excluded by a rule which experience has induced the department to deem proper; still they shall have leave to go, if you say you desire it. Please answer. A. LINCOLN TELEGRAM TO A. G. HENRY. EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON DR. A. G. HENRY, Metropolitan Hotel, New York: Governor Chase's feelings were hurt by my action in his absence. Smith is removed, but Governor Chase wishes to name his successor, and asks a day or two to make the designation. A. LINCOLN. TO GENERAL J. HOOKER. EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D.C. MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER, Commanding. MY DEAR SIR:-When I wrote on the 7th, I had an impression that possibly by an early movement you could get some advantage from the supposed facts that the enemy's communications were disturbed and that he was somewhat deranged in position. That idea has now passed away, the enemy having re-established his communications, regained his positions, and actually received reinforcements. It does not now appear probable to me that you can gain anything by an early renewal of the attempt to cross the Rappahannock. I therefore shall not complain if you do no more for a time than to keep the enemy at bay and out of other mischief by menaces and occasional cavalry raids, if practicable, and to put your own army in good condition again. Still, if in your own clear judgment you can renew the attack successfully, I do not mean to restrain you. Bearing upon this last point, I must tell you that I have some painful intimations that some of your corps and division commanders are not giving you their entire confidence. This would be ruinous, if true, and you should therefore, first of all, ascertain the real facts beyond all possibility of doubt. Yours truly, A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO H. T. BLOW AND OTHERS. EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, May 15, 1863. HON. H. T. BLOW, C. D. DRAKE, AND OTHERS, St. Louis, Mo.: Your despatch of to-day is just received. It is very painful to me that you in Missouri cannot or will not settle your factional quarrel among your |