LIEUTENANT—GENERALGRANT：
ThePresidentdirectsmetosaytoyouthathewishesyoutohavenoconferencewithGeneralLeeunlessitbeforthecapitulationofGeneralLee’sarmy，oronsomeminorandpurelymilitarymatter。Heinstructsmetosaythatyouarenottodecide，discuss，orconferuponanypoliticalquestion。SuchquestionsthePresidentholdsinhisownhands，andwillsubmitthemtonomilitaryconferencesorconventions。Meantimeyouaretopresstotheutmostyourmilitaryadvantages。
EDWINM。STANTON，SecretaryofWar。
SECONDINAUGURALADDRESS，MARCH4，1865。
FELLOW—COUNTRYMEN：——Atthissecondappearingtotaketheoathofthepresidentialofficethereislessoccasionforanextendedaddressthantherewasatthefirst。Thenastatementsomewhatindetailofacoursetobepursuedseemedfittingandproper。Now，attheexpirationoffouryears，duringwhichpublicdeclarationshavebeenconstantlycalledforthoneverypointandphaseofthegreatcontestwhichstillabsorbstheattentionandengrossestheenergiesofthenation，littlethatisnewcouldbepresented。Theprogressofourarms，uponwhichallelsechieflydepends，isaswellknowntothepublicastomyself，anditis，Itrust，reasonablysatisfactoryandencouragingtoall。Withhighhopeforthefuture，nopredictioninregardtoitisventured。