“During the year many availed themselves of the general provision, and many more would, only that the sign of bad faith in some led to such precautionary measures as rendered the practical power less easy and certain. During the same time, also, special pardons have been granted to individuals of excepted classes, and no voluntary individual application has been denied. “Thus, practically, the door has been for a full year open to all, except such as were not in condition to make free choice; that is, such as were in custody or under constraint. It is still so open to all; but the time may come, probably will come, when public duty shall demand that it be closed, and that, in lieu, more vigorous measures than heretofore shall be adopted. “In presenting the abandonment of armed resistance to the National authority, on the part of the insurgents, as the only indispensable condition to ending the war on the part of the Government, I retract nothing heretofore said as to slavery. I repeat the declaration made a year ago, that while I remain in my present position I shall not attempt to retract or modify the Emancipation Proclamation, nor shall I return to slavery any person who is free by the terms of that proclamation or by any of the acts of Congress. “If the people should, by whatever mode, or means, make it an Executive duty to re-enslave such persons, another, and not I, must be their instrument to perform it. “In stating a single condition of peace, I mean simply to say that the war will cease on the part of the Government whenever it shall have ceased on the part of those who began it. “ABRAHAM LINCOLN.” CHAPTER XXIII. TIGHTENING THE LINES. Speech at a Serenade--Reply to a Presentation Address--Peace Rumors--Rebel Commissioners--Instructions to Secretary Seward-- The Conference in Hampton Roads--Result--Extra Session of the Senate--Military Situation--Sherman--Charleston--Columbia-- Wilmington--Fort Fisher--Sheridan--Grant--Rebel Congress-- Second Inauguration--Inaugural--English Comment--Proclamation to Deserters. As illustrative of the genial, pleasant manner of the President, take the following, in response to a serenade, December 6th, 1864: “FRIENDS AND FELLOW-CITIZENS:--I believe I shall never be old enough to speak without embarrassment when I have nothing to talk about. I have no good news to tell you, and yet I have no bad news to tell. We have talked of elections until there is nothing more to say about them. The most interesting news we now have is from Sherman. We all know where he went in at, but I can’t tell where he will come out at. I will now close by proposing three cheers for General Sherman and his army.”