Annotation
[1] AES, DNA FS RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters. Lincoln's endorsement is written on the back of a copy, forwarded by the clerk of the House of Representatives, of Clement L. Vallandigham's resolution of December 9, asking for copies of ``all proclamations, or orders, issued and published in the press, or otherwise made public, by himself, or any Head of Department, or any Military or Naval officer of the United States, since the Fourth of March last, relating to the pending contest. . . .'' Seward's report of December 14, deeming it not expedient to comply with the request, and an unsigned letter of transmittal of the same date, are both in the Lincoln Papers. From this evidence and the lack of reference to any reply in the House Journal or Congressional Globe, it seems probable that Lincoln simply withheld the matter to avoid controversy.