Message of the President of the United States to the Two Houses of Congress at the Commencement of the second Session of the 37th Congress. Vol 1 Published in Washington by The Government Printing Office Speech dated 1861.Book was actually published in 1862. Great Reading in this 6+ X 9 in hardcover, 839 page book. It includes:

Dec.3, 1861 Pres. Lincoln's 20 pg Message to Congress with extensive emphasis on the first 8 months of the Civil War

Papers relating to Foreign Affairs including:

Circulars and messages sent in early 1861 (prior to actual Civil War) by Secretary of State J.S. Black and his successor William Seward to our Foreign ministers urging the foreign governments not to acknowledge the independence of the Confederate states.

Many interesting and informative communiques between the US Dept of State and foreign countries some for example: Hawaii's proclamation of neutrality, Japanese reluctance to accept foreigners and report of a "daring and murderous attack...on the British legation", many dealing with piracy and other Naval matters, one from the Russians stating that the "Emperor returned to Moscow a few days ago, where, it is said, he was engaged in suppressing the insurrections of the serfs", another from the Egyptian Consulate concerning "the prospective deficiency of cotton produced by the pending conflict in the US... endeavor to induce the Egyptian government to extend their cultivation".

Report of the Sectretary of Interior Due to the War the large inventory of surveyed public land there were no proclaimation of public sales. Indian Affairs "the spirit of rebellion... has been instilled into a portion of the Indian tribes...Cherokees, Chickasaws, Choctaws... have suspended all intercourse" with US agents. Problems with "licensing traders to traffic with Indians" resulting in huge profits for the traders by cheating the "incompetent" Indians.

Other topics include: Pension Office (suspension of payments to the insurrectionary States), Eighth Census (recommendation to establish a Bureau of Agriculture & Statistics), Public Printing, Patent Office, etc. Report of the Commissioner of the General Land Office has historical information on lands, state boundary disputes, Railroad grants, Minerals, etc. Report of the Commissioner of Indian AffairsMany interesting pages on opinions about Indians and what should be done. Reports and Statistics on Pensions, Bounty Land, Public Buildings, Police, etc

Report of the Secretary of War Appropriation estimates required for fiscal year and necesary to cover deficiencies in 1961-2, use of slaves from captured areas, Paymaster reports,Surgeon General, Commisary, Quartermaster,Engineers, Topographical Bureau, etc.

Report of the Secretary of the Navy First 7-8 months of war naval operations incl: (1) Closing of all insurgent ports, regulations, international blockage (2) Organization of combined naval & military operations (3) Active pursuit of the piratical cruisers..., Articles on The Potomac flotilla, Sinking Vessels, The Squadrons, Vessels Captured, Seizure of Southern Ports, Mississippi River, Pursuit of Privateers, rebel emissaries, The Naval Force and its Increase including charts of statistics, Construction New Vessels, Purchase of Vessels, Armored Ships, Steven's Battery, Marine Corps, Naval School, Capture of Slaver, Empoyment of Fugitives etc.

Pictorial impressed cloth front & back black hard cover book is in very good condition with slight fraying on binding edges only. Slight fading on gold binding imprints. Small white spots on cover appear to be paper stuck to surface. Front endpapers have slight foxing but rest of book is clean with slight age tan (almost white) pages. One page has small tear. No writing, Very tight binding. An excellent copy of this rare book.

Please excuse any photo imperfections. Please refer to the listing description for details. Feel free to email me with questions. Guaranteed to be as described.