The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-09-14
Monday Morning. September Ia. 1868.
Mr.. Fernando Woods Correspondence with
the President.

the President.
Mr.. FERNANDO WooD has been supposed
to be a clever politician, but we do not think
he has proved his eleyerness by publishing his
correspondence with the President. He has
made fatal mistake, as all politicians are apt
TO do. For months the Democratic party has
been mysteriously limiting of proposals for
peace, made by the authority of the leaders of
the rebellion, and rejected without Il hearing
by the Government. Vast is the influence OF
mystery. secret, simply because it is a Sc
cret, Is ail-powerIill with the Imagination, and
works upon the minds of men oltentimes more
efficiently than argument. Mr.. WooD having
secret, had better have kept it. lie spoke OF
a mountain, he produces mouse. No, not
even mouse, but a nlousetet-the most insig-
nfcant OF mice. Had he kept it in conceal
ment, certain of us might have yet supposed
him the fortunate possessor of some thing of
ordinary Importance. OF course no one could
suppose him the owner of anything extraor-
dinary, unless it be his own unequaled au-
dacity.
1t will be remembered that the President.
in his letter to the Springfield Convention. af-
firmed that the rebel leaders have made no
proposals OF peace. Mr.. Wood has repeatedly
affirmed that they have, and we presume this
correspondence is intended to convince the
country that Mr.. Lincoln was in error when
he said:
"Allow me to assure you that no wor, or iutima-
ton from the rebel army or from auy of the men
controlling 1t, IN relation to any peace compromise
has ever come TO my knowledge or belief All charg-
es and iatimations to the contrary deceptive
groundless, aud promise You thai if any such prop
osiiion shall hereafter come, it shall be rejected
and kept secret from you"
On the contrary nothing in the letter contra
diets Mr.. Lincoln's positive assertion unless
it be that Mr.. Wood is one of the .men con-
trolling the rebel army" for the peace propos
WnDuss ltsf 10 md |, n,I,
They are dated at New York, not at Rich
mond. They are endorsed neither by Jefier-
son DAVIS, nor MIR. Stephens, nor by any of
their companions, Ii the South desires TO
send representatives to Congress, it would not
treat with this Mr. Wood upon the subject
The gentleman fatters himself. 1t is the only
fiattery he will receive.
Three years ago the United States was at
peace with all the world, happy, prosperous,
and united. Suddenly, as a terrible storm
leaps out of the deceitful tranquility of a
tropical sky, the great rebellion burst forth
and plunged the unwilling but indignant
North into fratricidal war. The leaders of
that rebellion declared that their object was
the destruction OF the Union; again and again
have they assured the world that they would
never lay down their arms till they had secur-
ed the independence of the South. For this
they forced fierce wars upon the country, cru
ely and unjustly staying thousands OF lives,
and bringing misery into thousands of fami-
lies once happy. All the loyalty OF America
arose to defend the Republic. The war be-
came giant-like, and all the great interests of
humanity hung trembling on the issue. In
the midst Of this mighty struggle, little Mr..
Fernando Wood writes letter to the Presi-
dent, asking him to suspend hostilites. be-
cause little MIR. Fernando Wood is advised"
by authority which be deems truthful" that
the rebels will submit to the Government if
the war is stopped Who is Mr.. Wood? What
right has the Government to attach any na-
uonal Importance to the opinion of private
citizen? The extreme of imperiinence and
sef-esteem is reached by this fiith-rate poll
tican.
MIR. Lincolns reply has one fault, which,
from the dignity of his office, could not be
avoided lit treats the letter OF Mr. Wood
seriously. Yet because the President is Sc
rlous and candid answering Mr.. Wood as if
his request was not a monstrous absurdity, it
Is the more severe. To consider a Joke with
gravity makes it more ridiculous. Mr.. Lin
coin tells his correspondent that be suspects
MS Information viii prove TO be groundless.
lie declines TO interrupt the war in order that
Mr.. Woods theories may be tested and as
sures hlm that lie will receive any Information
from him with pleasure. Nor does he omit to
say twnat all the world knowSl that peace may
be restored at any moment which the peopIe
on the Southern States may choose. Mr..
WOODS reply to this assurance is childish: he
complains that the Southern people cannot
submit until the Government .lets them alonen
Let them let the Government alone, and take
their traitorous hands Off the Constitution.
The readers of his second letter cannot fail to
observe that he takes no notice of the Presi-
dents request that he should produce his au-
thorlty Tor statement which fatty contradicts
the deliberate words and actions of the rebel
leaders.
The President could not have REPLIED more
fairly and good-naturedy to such monstrous
request; he might, with good reason. have de-
clined to respond to it at ALL But the cores
pondence will be Of great good. 1t will show
the country the unparalleled animosity of the
peace Democrats, who desire the war suspen-
ded for reasons suggested by an ANONYMOUS
authority it reveals the interesting fact that
Mr.. Fernando Wood has no evidence that the
leaders Of the rebellion are anxious to submit
to the Government; for if he had, would he
not have produced it? 1t will strengthen the
conviction of the majority of the loyal people,
lhat, so lar as our present knowledge of the
temper ana purposes of the rebels extends, the
only way TO obtain their submission is to en-
force lt-thdt tchile Jefferson Davis continues
the rebellion for the destruction of the Union.
Abraham Lincoln is bound to naintain the
acdr for its protectioR-IPhiladelphi Press.