Annotation
[1] AES, DLC-RTL. Lincoln's endorsement is written on the following letter from Governor John A. Andrew, February 12, 1864:
``I respectfully introduce . . . Mr. O[liver]. C. Gibbs, Postmaster of Wareham, Mass. who on many occasions during the past three years has been detailed to visit various camps and Hospitals of the army, as a Messenger of charity and relief to Massachusetts soldiers. I have learned through Mr Gibbs and otherwise, that persons of color, both freemen and refugees from slavery, desiring to pass northward from Washington, seeking to better their fortunes and support their families by reaching Massachusetts, are forcibly and against their will detained. I am at a loss to understand by what color of pretended authority people not charged with crime, and not being engaged in the military service, and being in the peace of the law, are thus subjected to hardship and wrong. Aside from the oppressiveness of such treatment against which I respectfully remonstrate, I appeal in behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, whose right to receive immigrants from all parts of the Union choosing to come here is thus unlawfully interfered with. Suppose the passage of Germans and Irishmen seeking to buy land and make their homes in the great land states of the West was denied, and they were compelled to remain in New England or New York, how long would such an embargo on population be endured by Illinois, and her neighboring States. . . . The industry of Massachusetts imperatively demands every laborer now on her soil or willing to come. The people of Massachusetts, in addition to furnishing her quota of soldiers, manufacture one third of all the woollen goods in the country, without which the army cannot live a day. And notwithstanding the shoe contracts in which she directly participates, many of the shoes contracted for by. . . other States are farmed out at a profit to her shoemakers . . . hold at least one twelfth of the National Loan. How long then can we continue to furnish soldiers, help clothe the army, fabricate ships, machinery and munitions of war, subscribe to the National Loans, and furnish internal revenue if persons desiring to make their way hither are forbidden to come? . . .'' (DLC-RTL).
See Lincoln's reply to Andrew, February 18, infra.