President and cabinet members at Capitol to approve and sign bills. Lincoln hesitates before signing bill authorizing confiscation of property used for insurrectionary purposes. N.Y. Times, 7 August 1861; Stat. L., XII, 319.

Signs law giving freedom to slaves employed by Confederates in carrying on war. Barton, Life of Lincoln, 2:82.

Approves act authorizing penalty for recruiting soldiers or sailors, and for enlisting, against U.S. Stat. L., XII, 317.

Congress passes and Lincoln signs army bill establishing pay of private soldier with amendment legalizing proclamations and orders of President since inauguration. National Intelligencer, 6 August 1861; Stat. L., XII, 326.

Appoints Hezekiah G. Wells, state officeholder of Michigan, minister to Honduras. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 8 August 1861, 2:1.

Consults with Sen. Andrew Johnson (Tenn.) and Cong. Horace Maynard (Tenn.) about conditions in Tennessee and troops to support Gen. Robert Anderson. Anderson to wife, 6 August 1861, Robert Anderson Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Senate and House committees notify President of adjournment unless he has further communications. Senate Journal, 198; House Journal, 257.