Confiscation Act Passes by Congress

In early August, just prior to their adjournment on the sixth, Congress passed the Confiscation Act, allowing for the confiscation of any property used to aid the Confederacy. The primary focus on the act was to allow for the confiscation of slaves.

Congress also acted to authorize items President Lincoln had already taken upon himself to do without authorization due to Congress being absent from the scene. Among those programs now given full authorization were his inaugurating of war, his initial calling of the troops, and his appropriations of funds needed to suppress the rebellion. All were heartily approved.

Mr. Lincoln monitored the war efforts from the War office where he could read the telegrams from the field at the instant they arrived.  He spent much of his time there. He also opened the White House to allow persons seeking federal appointments to walk in most any time and talk to him. He thought the public had a right to converse with the president.  All federal appointments were open for the first time in the country’s history to members of the Republican party.