President interviews Cong. William H. Randall (Ky.) and orders discharge of two prisoners of war. Order for Discharge of Thomas Rice and Reuben Turner, 12 December 1864, CW, 8:165.

Sends request to Sen. Lane (Ind.): "Please call and see me at once." Abraham Lincoln to Henry S. Lane, 12 December 1864, CW, 8:165.

Directs Sec. Seward to study problem of seizure by Danish government of 2,200 carbines belonging to U.S. citizens. Seward to Lincoln, 15 December 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Reviews for Gen. Canby motive of government in questions of cotton and Louisiana state government. "I do not wish either . . . to take precedence of the military . . . but there is a strong public reason for treating each with so much favor as may not be substantially detrimental to the military." Abraham Lincoln to Edward R. S. Canby, 12 December 1864, CW, 8:163-65.