Executive Mansion, Washington, January 22. 1863.
To-day, Mr. Prentiss, calls as Atty. of Herman Koppel, saying the latter is a loyal citizen, that he resided at Charleston S.C. at the beginning of the rebellion; that he converted what he had into a few bales of cotten and other articles, apparantly to break the blockade, as a mode of getting out, but really intending to surrender to the blockade, which he did of purpose & with no effort to avoid it---that his property has been condemned by a prize court, and he appeals to me to remit to him the proceeds of the property, or at least the government's moiety of it.
Admitting this all to be true, is it both lawful and proper for me to do this?