The life and public services of Abraham Lincoln ... together with his state papers, including his speeches, addresses, messages, letters, and proclamations, and the closing scenes connected with his life and death. By Henry J. Raymond. To which are added anecdotes and personal reminiscences of President Lincoln, by Frank B. Carpenter.

STATE PAPERS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

445

CHAPTER XV.
THE CONGRESS OF 1863-4.-MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.-ACTION
OF THE SESSION.-PROGRESS IN RAISING TROOPS.
THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.-THE PROOLAMATION OF AMNESTY.-EXPLANATORY PROOLAMATION.-DEBATE ON SLAVERY.-OALL FOR TROOPS.GENERAL BLAIR'S RESIGNATION.-DIPLOMATIO CORRESPONDENCE.-OUR
RELATIONS WITH ENGLAND.-FRANOE AND MEXICO.-TLE PRESIDENT
AND THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
CONGRESS met on Monday, December 7, 1863. The
House of Representatives was promptly organized by the
election of Hon. Schuyler Colfax, a Republican from Indiana, to be Speaker-he receiving one hundred and one
votes out of one hundred and eighty-one, the whole number cast. Mr. Cox, of Ohio, was the leading candidate
of the Democratic opposition, but he received only fiftyone votes, the remaining twenty-nine being divided among
several Democratic members. In the Senate, the Senators from WAest Virginia were admitted to their seats by
a vote of thirty-six to five.
On the 9th, the President transmitted to both Houses
the following Message:Fellow-.Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives:
Another year of health and of sufficiently abundant harvests has
passed. For these, and especially for the improved condition of our na
tional affairs, our renewed and profoundest gratitude to God is due. We
remain in peace and friendship with foreign Powers. The efforts of disloyal citizens of the United States to involve us in foreign wars to aid an
inexcusable insurrection have been unavailing. 'Her Britannic Majesty's
Government, as was justly expected, have exercised their authority to
prevent the departure of new hostile expeditions from British ports.
The Emperor of France has, by a like proceeding, promptly vindicated
the neutrality which he proclaimed at the beginning of the contest.
Questions of great intricacy and importance have arisen out of the
blockade, and other beligerent operations, between the Government and
several of the maritime Powers, but they have been discussed, anld as