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.

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TIlE LIFE, PUBLIC SERVICES, AND

institutions of the District of Columbia, which have hitherto been establisled or fostered by Congress, and respectfully refer for information concerning them, and in relation to the Washington Aqueduct, the Capito',
and other mattels of local interest, to the report of the Secretary.
The Agricultural Department, under the supervision of its present
energetic and faithful head, is rapidly commending itself to the great and
vital inter'cst it was created to advance. It is peculiarly the people's
departmnet, in which they feel more directly concerned than in nny other.
I commend it to the continued attention and fostering care of Congress.
The war continues. Since the last annual message, all the important
lines and lpositions then occupied by our forces.have been maintained, and
our armies have steadily advanced, thus liberating the regions left in the
rear; so that Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and parts of other States
have again produced reasonably fair crops.
The most remarkable feature in the military operations of the year is
General Sherman's attempted march of three hundred miles, directly
through an insurgent region. It tends to show a great increase of our
relative strength, that our General-in-Chief should feel able to confront
and hold in cleck every active force of the enemy, and yet to detach a
well-appointed large army to move on such an expedition. The result
not yet being known, conjecture in regard to it cannot here be indulged.
Important movements have also occurred during the year, to the effect
of moulding society for durability in the Union. Although short of complete success, it is much in the right direction that 12,000 citizens in each
of the States of Arkansas and Louisiana have organized loyal State Governments, with free constitutions, and are earnestly struggling to maintain and
administer tlhem.
The movements in the same direction, more extensive though less
definite, in Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee, should not be overlooked.
But Maryland presents the example of complete success. Maryland is
secure to liberty and Union for all the future. The genius of rebellion
will no more claim Maryland. Like another foul spirit, being driven out,
it may seek to tear her, but it will woo her no more.
At the last session of Congress, a proposed amendment of the Constitution, abolishing slavery througlout the United States, passed the Senate,
but failed for lack of the requisite two-thirds vote in the House of Representatives. Although the present is the same Congress, and nearly the
same members, and without questioning the wisdom or patriotism of those
who stood in opposition, I venture to recommend the reconsideration and
passage of the measure at the present session. Of course the abstract question is not changed, but an intervening election shows almost certainly that
the next Congress will pass the measure, if this does not. Hence there is
only a question of time as to when the proposed amendment will go to the
States for their action, and as it is to go at all events, may we not agree
that the sooner the better? It is not claimed that the election has imposed a duty on members to change their views or their votes any further