June 1, 1863
I must repeat now in writing what I have told Mr. Kelly verbally, that the courts and not the President, must decide questions of land titles. There may be some questions in regard to pre-emptions, which by law, are to be decided through the Department, with appeal to me, and when such a case shall come regularly to me, I shall hear it. But I must now say, once for all, that mere vague assertions that the decisions of the Courts are fraudulent, with appeals to me to reverse them, can [not] be entertained.
June 1, 1863 A. LINCOLN.