Lincoln, Abraham, as Sixteenth President

Autograph letter signed ("A. Lincoln"), 1 page (9 7/8 x 8 in.; 252 x 202 mm) on a bifolium of blue-lined Executive Mansion letterhead, Washington, 27 April 1863, to Assistant Secretary of War Peter H. Watson, docketed in pencil on the verso of the integral blank "President—relative to Republican."

The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, ed. Basler, 6:188-89 

Autograph letter signed ("A. Lincoln"), 1 page (9 7/8 x 8 in.; 252 x 202 mm) on a bifolium of blue-lined Executive Mansion letterhead, Washington, 27 April 1863, to Assistant Secretary of War Peter H. Watson, docketed in pencil on the verso of the integral blank "President—relative to Republican."
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Lincoln articulates one of his guiding principles: "it is better to let the past go by quietly."

The Washington National Republican began publication on 26 November 1860 (just three weeks after Lincoln's election) and was intended to provide a voice for the new party in the nation's capital. Lincoln was an early and staunch supported of the paper. A month into his term he designated it as an official newspaper for the publication of administration messages: "In virtue of his authority to designate at discretion one newspaper in the city of Washington for the publication of notices and advertisements from the Executive departments, in addition to the two entitled to such publication, by having the largest permanent subscription, (U.S. Statutes, Vol. 5, page 795,) the President designates the 'National Republican,' and his private secretary will communicate this order to the several Executive departments" (Basler 4:328).

The National Republican was edited by Simon P. Hanscom, who was one of Lincoln's favorites among the press corps. To Hanscom, writes Allen Guelzo in Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President (2002), "Lincoln would deliberately leak hints, news, and trial ballons, allowing Hanscom to open up an 'official Intelligence' column in the Republican ..." (p. 365). 

The War Department was far less friendly with the press than Lincoln was. While the precise context of this letter has yet to be discovered, it seems likely that the Republican had published a story that Secretary Stanton found injurious to military security. Peter Watson, an Assistant Secretary in the Department—and an Illinois lawyer who had known Lincoln for many years—was evidently dispatched to the White House to discuss the situation with the President and to recommend that the Republican be punished by being stripped of its designation as an official outlet for administration notices and publications.

In typical fashion, Lincoln did not rush to a decision, and, in fact, dismissed Watson without giving him one. Several days later he sent this wonderfully concise letter, which expressed his continued support for the Republican and his characteristic reluctance to dwell on the past.

"I have attentively considered the matter of the 'Republican' in regard to which you called on me the other day; and the result is that I prefer to make no change, unless it shall give just cause of offence, in which case I will, at once withdraw the patronage it is enjoying at my hand. I believe it will not offend again; and, if not, it is better to let the past go by quietly."

Not surprisingly, the War Department was not as disposed as Lincoln to "let the past go by quietly." Having failed to have the National Republican's official status ended, Stanton's office evidently decided to withhold payment to the paper for its government printing. Two further letters from Lincoln to Stanton were required before before the government's accounts with the Republican were settled. On 18 May, Lincoln told the Secretary of War that it would be a "personal relief" to if he would "allow Hanscom's (the Republican's) accounts to settled and paid" (Basler 6:221). Remarkably, the President had to reiterate this request two weeks later: "I wish you would allow the Republican (my paper as you jokingly call it), to be paid for advertising. The non-payment is made a source of trouble to me" (Basler 6:313). The War Department finally sent the Republican a total of $509.76 for printing notices submitted by the Secretary's Office, the Quartermaster General's Office, the Surgeon General's Office, and the Ordinance Office. All other departments within Lincoln's administration had evidently kept their accounts current.