Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 7 [Nov. 5, 1863-Sept. 12, 1864].

About this Item

Title: Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 7 [Nov. 5, 1863-Sept. 12, 1864].
Author: Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865.
Publication: New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press; 1953.
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Link to this Item: http://name.umdl.umich.edu/lincoln7
Cite this Item: "Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 7 [Nov. 5, 1863-Sept. 12, 1864]." In the digital collection Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/lincoln7. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 21, 2025.

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To the Senate and House of Representatives1Jump to section

February 22, 1864

To the Senate and House of Representatives:

I transmit to Congress the copy of a correspondence which has recently taken place between Her Britannic Majesty's Minister accredited to this Government and the Secretary of State, in order that the expediency of sanctioning the acceptance, by the Master of the American schooner ``Highlander,'' of a present of a watch which the Lords of the Committee of Her Majesty's Privy Council for Trade propose to present to him in recognition of services rendered by him to the crew of the British vessel ``Pearl,'' may be taken into consideration. ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Washington, 22d. Feby. 1864.

Annotation

[1] DS, DNA RG 46, Senate 38A F2; DS, DNA RG 233, House Executive Document No. 43. The correspondence transmitted concerned the request (December 31, 1863) of the British Privy Council for Trade for permission to present a gold watch to the master of the Highlander (unnamed), in recognition of his rescue of the crew of the British vessel Pearl. Secretary Seward replied

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on February 20, 1864, that congressional assent was necessary (Thirty-eighth Congress, First Session, Executive Document No. 43). On March 1, Senator Sumner reported a joint resolution giving assent, which was tabled on March 3. On March 9, Sumner offered a resolution which was passed, to the effect that the master of the Highlander was not an officer of the U.S. Navy and held no office of trust or profit such as contemplated by the Constitution for congressional consent for acceptance of gifts.