States thereof, that they are not absolutely concluded by their aforesaid declaration of intention from renouncing their purpose to become citizens, and that, on the contrary, such persons under treaties or the law of nations retain a right to renounce that purpose and to forego the privileges of citizenship and residence within the United States under the obligations imposed by the aforesaid act of Congress: Now, therefore, to avoid all misapprehensions concerning the liability of persons concerned to perform the service required by such enactment, and to give it full effect, I do hereby order and proclaim that no plea of alienage will be received or allowed to exempt from the obligations imposed by the aforesaid act of Congress, any person of foreign birth who shall have declared on oath his intention to become a citizen of the United States under the laws thereof, and who shall be found within the United States at any time during the continuance of the present insurrection and rebellion, at or after the expiration of the period of sixty-five days from the 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 eight day of May, in the year of our [L. S.] Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-seventh. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. By the President: WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. 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) mov ing 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. LETTER TO SECRETARY CHASE EXECUTIVE MANSION, May 8, 1863. My dear Sir: I address this to you personally rather than officially, because of the nature of the case. My mind is made up to remove Victor Smith as collector of the customs at the Puget Sound district. Yet in doing this I do not decide that the charges against him are true. I only decide that the degree of dissatisfaction with him there is too great for him to be retained. But I believe he is your personal acquaintance and friend, and if you desire it I will try to find some other place for him. Yours as ever, A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. A. Dix WAR DEPARTMENT, May 9, 1863. Major-General Dix: 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 A. LINCOLN. LETTER TO SECRETARY STANTON EXECUTIVE MANSION, May 11, 1863. 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 J. A. Dix WASHINGTON CITY, May 11, 1863. Major-General Dix: Do the Richmond papers have anything about Grand Gulf or Vicksburg? A. LINCOLN. *TELEGRAM TO GENERAL D. BUTTERFIELD WASHINGTON CITY, 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 HORATIO SEYMOUR WASHINGTON, May 12, 1863. 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 DR. A. G. HENRY WASHINGTON, May 13, 1863. 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. LETTER TO SECRETARY CHASE EXECUTIVE MANSION, May 13, 1863. My dear Sir: I return the letters of General Garfield and Mr. Flanders. I am sorry to know the general's pet expedition, under Colonel |