President creates special commission consisting of Gen. W. F. Smith and Henry Stanbery, former attorney general of Ohio, to investigate and report upon civil and military administration in militarydivision bordering upon and west of Mississippi River. Order Appointing Commissioners to Investigate the Military Division Bordering upon and West of the Mississippi, 10 December 1864, CW, 8:161-62.

Lincoln "intended" to give chief justiceship to Montgomery Blair "but was forced to give it to Chase. L. said he would sooner have eat flat irons than do it." Fox, Diary, Gist-Blair Family Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

[See December 8, 1864.] Interviews Mr. Blondeel and H. A. Risley about "some countrymen of Mr. Blondeel." Risley to Nicolay, 10 December 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Sees Thomas Nast, illustrator for "Harper's Weekly," on introduction of George W. Curtis of New York, leading member of National Union Convention. Curtis to Lincoln, 9 December 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Because Congress is not in session for the day, President is "overwhelmed" by Senators and Representatives from early morning with requests from their constituents. Daily National Republican (Washington, DC), 10 December 1864, 2:4.

Receives letter of resignation from Marshal Lamon, because Lincoln does not take proper precautions against assassination. Ward H. Lamon to Abraham Lincoln, 10 December 1864, Ward H. Lamon Papers, Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.