Annotation
[1] ALS, IaHA. The act reproduced preceding the letter appears in the manuscript as a printed text below which Lincoln wrote his letter. On the verso appears the printed form for certification of elected members of congress by the governor of the state:
BY HIS EXCELLENCY
.....
Governor of the State of .....
I,....., governor of the State of....., do hereby certify and make known that the following persons, namely:
Names. Districts.
have been regularly elected members of the House of Representatives of the United States for the thirty-eighth Congress, and for the districts above mentioned, in accordance with the laws of the said State and of the United States, and that they only have been so elected.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the.....seal of the said State to be affixed.
.....
.....
Secretary of State.
Senator Grimes replied on November 3, 1863: ``Yours of the 29th ultimo, is recd. The Iowa delegation in congress will not fail to be present at the opening of the session & I will see to it that additional & specific credentials be furnished to each member of the House of Rep.'' (DLC-RTL).