established by said judge. These appointments are to continue during the pleasure of the president, not extending beyond the military occupation of the city of New Orleans, or the restoration of the civil authority in that city and in the State of Louisiana. These officers shall be paid out of the contingent fund of the war department. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. LETTER GIVEN TO THOMAS R. SMITH, OF BOLIVAR, TENN. October 31, 1862. Major-General Grant, Governor Johnson, and all having military, naval and civil authorities under the United States within the State of Tennessee: The bearer of this, Thomas R. Smith, a citizen of Tennessee, goes to that state, seeking to have such of the people thereof as desire to avoid the unsatisfactory prospect before them, and to have peace again upon the old terms, under the Constitution of the United States, to manifest such desire by election of members to the Congress of the United States particularly, and perhaps a legislature, state officers, and a United States senator, friendly to their object. I shall be glad for you and each of you, to aid him, and all others acting for this object, as much as possible. In all available ways give the people a chance to express their wishes at these elections. Follow law and forms of law as far as convenient; but, at all events, get the expression of the largest number of people possible. All see how such an action will connect with and affect the proclamation of September 22. Of course the men elected should be gentlemen of character, willing to swear to support the constitution as of old, and known to be above reasonable suspicion of duplicYours very respectfully, A. LINCOLN. ity. To MCCLELLAN, OCTOBER 25, 1862. I have just read your dispatch about sore-tongue and fatigued horses. Will you pardon me for asking what the horses of your army have done since the battle of Antietam that fatigues any thing? A. LINCOLN. To MCCLELLAN, OCTOBER 26, 1862. Yours in reply to mine about horses received. Of course you know the facts better than I. Still, two considerations remain; Stuart's cavalry outmarched ours, having certainly done more marked service on the peninsula and every where since. Secondly; will not a movement of our army be a relief to the cavalry, compelling the enemy to concentrate instead of “foraging" in squads every-where? But I am so rejoiced to learn from your dispatch to General Halleck that you began crossing the river this morning. A. LINCOLN. Executive Mansion, Washington, Nov. 1, 1862. To whom it may concern:-Captain Derrickson, with his company, has been for some time keeping guard at my residence, now at the Soldiers' Retreat. He and his company are very agreeable to me, and while it is deemed proper for any guard to remain, none would be more satisfactory to me than Captain D— and his company. A. LINCOLN. LETTER TO GOVERNOR BRADFORD, NOVEMBER, 2, 1863. Sir:-Yours of the 31st ultimo was received yesterday about noon, and since then I have been giving most earnest attention to the subject-matter of it. At my call General Schenck has attended, and he assures me it is almost certain that violence will be used at some of the voting places on election day, unless prevented by his provost guards. He says that in some of those places the Union voters will not attend at all, or run a ticket, unless they have assurance of protection. This makes the Missouri case of my action, in regard to which you express your approval. The remaining point of your letter is a protest against any person offering to vote being put to any test not found in the laws of Maryland. This brings us to a difference between Missouri and Maryland. With the same reason in both states, Missouri has, by law, provided a test for the voter with reference to the present rebellion, while Maryland has not. For example, General Trimble, captured fighting us at Gettysburg, is, without recanting his treason, a legal voter by the laws of Maryland. Even General Schenck's order admits him to vote, if he recants upon oath. I think that is cheap enough. My order in Missouri, which you approve, and General Schenck's order here, reach precisely the same end. Each assures the right of voting to all loyal men, and whether that man is loyal, each allows that man to fix by his own oath. Your suggestion that nearly all the candidates are loyal I do not think quite meets the case. In this struggle for the nation's life, I can not so confidently rely on those whose election may have depended upon disloyal votes. Such men, when elected, may prove true, but such votes are given them in expectation that they will prove false. Nor do I think that to keep the peace at the polls, and to prevent the persistently disloyal from voting, constitutes just cause of offense to Maryland. I think she has her own example for it. If I mistake not, it is precisely what General Dix did when your excellency was elected governor. I revoke the first of the three propositions in General Schenck's general order, No. 53, not that it is wrong in principle, but because the military being of necessity exclusive judges as to who shall be arrested, the provision is liable to abuse. For the revoked part I substitute the following: That all provost marshals and other military officers do prevent all disturbance and violence at or about the polls, whether offered by such persons as above described, or by any other person or persons whatso ever. The other two propositions of the order I allow to stand. General Schenck is fully determined, and has my strict order besides, that all loyal men may vote, and vote for whom they please. Your obedient servant, A. LINCOLN. PRESIDENT'S ORDER RELIEVING GENERAL MCCLELLAN. Executive Mansion, Washington, November 5, 1862. By direction of the President, it is ordered that Major-General McClellan be relieved from the command of the Army of the Potomac, and that MajorGeneral Burnside take command of that army. Also that Major-General Hunter take command of the corps in said army which is now commanded by General Burnside. That Major-General Fitz John Porter be relieved from the command of the corps he now commands in said army, and that Major-General Hooker take command of such corps. The General-in-chief is authorized in (his) discretion, to issue an order substantially as the above, forthwith, or so soon as he may deem proper. A. LINCOLN. PROCLAMATION. Eecutive Mansion, Washington, Nov., 16, 1862. The President, Commander-in-chief of the Army and Navy, desires and enjoins the orderly observance of the Sabbath by the officers and men in the military and naval service. The importance for man and beast of the prescribed weekly rest, the sacred rights of Christian soldiers and sailors, a becoming deference to the best sentiment of a Christian people, and a due regard for the Divine will, demand that Sunday labor in the army and navy be reduced to the measure of strict necessity. The discipline and character of the national forces should not suffer, nor the cause they defend be imperiled, by the profanation of the day or the name of the Most High. "At the time of public distress," adopting the words of Washington in 1776, "men may find enough to do in the service of God and their country, without abandoning themselves to vice and immorality." The first general order issued by the Father of his Country, after the Declaration of Independence, indicates the spirit in which our insti |