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

Annotation

[1]   ES, IHi; ADf, DLC-RTL. The autograph draft is undated and reads: ``The within paper was written at my suggestion, by gentlemen representing Philadelphia, to present their views of the subject embraced, & to be signed by me, if I could approve it. I can not sign it, but order for the present, that the Philadelphia quotas be adjusted for the calls of 1863 & 1864 already made, upon the basis that she was under no deficit on Nov. 3, 1862, and allowing full credits for all since that date; and further that all other questions presented on said paper are left open for further adjustment.''

The endorsement signed by Lincoln accompanies the following communication dated April 15, 1864, and addressed to Colonel James B. Fry:

``Finding that the quotas assigned to the different Congressional Districts of the State of Pennsylvania, under the calls for men of the years 1863 & 1864, are all affected by distributed portions of a supposed deficiency of that state, under calls of the years 1861 & 1862, when no accounts were kept by your department

with Congressional Districts, but only with the state at large; and evidence having been adduced before me tending to shew that persons acting officially, and by authority from the Governor of that state, did, on November 3d. 1862, make a report to him, that, so far as the City of Philadelphia was concerned, she had complied with all calls upon her up to that time; which report was accepted by said Governor, who, acting thereupon, at once ordered that no draft should take place in said City; & now, that we have begun to keep accounts with Congressional Districts, and even smaller localities, I am disposed to regard this report, so accepted and acted upon by said Governor, as conclusive in favor of said City, upon the questions therein decided. You will please direct the officers of your Bureau of Enrolment to act upon this report as follows: viz.

``1st. To strike out all charge against said City of Philadelphia, as for a deficiency under the calls of 1861 & 1862.

``2d. To give said City the benefit of any credit that may result to her, under the present practice of your department to reduce all charges & credits to terms of three years men, from the facts appearing in said report and the accompanying documents, shewing that she furnished three years men who, in said report, are made to stand no better than nine months men furnished by other parts of the state.

``3d. That credit be further given to said City for all men mustered into the service from November 3d. 1862, the date at which her quotas were declared filled by the proper officers, under their existing regulations, until the date when accounts were opened by your Bureau with the several Congressional Districts

``4th. That any credits, resulting from these orders, for surplus troops furnished under the calls of 1861 & 1862, shall be a balance to the credit of Philadelphia under the calls of 1863 & 1864.''