Abraham Lincoln to Ulysses S. Grant, August 17, 1864

Executive Mansion,
Washington, August 17, 1864.

Lieutenant General Grant.

I have seen your despatch expressing your wish that all competition for negro laborers might be suppressed. I do not wish to be understood as authorizing any thing which would be illegal or improper; but I do wish to say that I am not aware of any legal or proper authority for the suppression of such competition.

Yours truly,
A. Lincoln