and fortieth New York
Volunteers, is here under sentence to the Dry Tortugas for an attempt to
desert. His friends appeal to me and if his colonel and you consent, I
will send him to his regiment. Please answer.

A. LINCOLN.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL W. S. ROSECRANS. WASHINGTON, June 8, 1864.

MAJOR-GENERAL ROSECRANS, St. Louis, Missouri:

Yours of to-day received. I am unable to conceive how a message can be
less safe by the express than by a staff-officer. If you send a verbal
message, the messenger is one additional person let into the secret.

A. LINCOLN

REPLY TO THE COMMITTEE NOTIFYING PRESIDENT LINCOLN OF HIS RENOMINATION,

JUNE 9, 1864.

Mr. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMITTEE:

I will neither conceal my gratification nor restrain the expression of
my gratitude that the Union people, through their convention, in their
continued effort to save and advance the nation, have deemed me not
unworthy to remain in my present position. I know no reason to doubt
that I shall accept the nomination tendered; and yet perhaps I should
not declare definitely before reading and considering what is called the
platform. I will say now, however, I approve the declaration in favor of
so amending the Constitution as to prohibit slavery throughout the nation.
When the people in revolt, with a hundred days of explicit notice that
they could within those days resume their allegiance without the overthrow
of their institution, and that they could not so resume it afterward,
elected to stand out, such amendment of the Constitution as now proposed
became a fitting and necessary conclusion to the final success of
the Union cause. Such alone can meet and cover all cavils. Now the
unconditional Union men, North and South, perceive its importance and
embrace it. In the joint names of Liberty and Union, let us labor to give
it legal form and practical effect.

PLATFORM OF THE UNION NATIONAL CONVENTION HELD IN BALTIMORE, MD., JUNE 7
AND 8, 1864.

1. Resolved, That it is the highest duty of every American citizen to
maintain against all their enemies the integrity of the Union and the
paramount authority of the Constitution and laws of the United States;
and that, laying aside all differences of political opinion, we pledge
ourselves, as Union men, animated by a common sentiment and aiming at
a common object, to do everything in our power to aid the Government in
quelling by force of arms the rebellion now ragi