Cabinet meets. "President's conservative policy is sustained by his Cabinet with entire unanimity." New York Times, 3 December 1861.

Chief Justice Roger B. Taney and the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court call on President. National Republican (Washington, DC), 5 December 1861, 2:4; New York Times, 3 December 1861.

At 2 P.M. Joint Committee announces to President that Congress is ready to receive communications. Lincoln informs them that Annual Message will be communicated to Congress tomorrow morning. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 2 December 1861, 3:6; Senate Journal, 6.

President empowers Gen. Halleck, commanding at St. Louis, "to suspend the Writ of Habeas Corpus within the limits of the military division." Abraham Lincoln to Henry W. Halleck, 2 December 1861, CW, 5:35.