The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-09-13
Mr.. WOOD TO PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
Nuur Xnnu nac II 1870

MR.. WOOD TO PRESIDENT LINCOLN
New YoRR Dec. IL, 1862.
Ills Ercellency, Abyaham Lincoln:
My DEAR SIR: Your letter Of tho 18th
instant was handed TO ma on the after
noon of the 10Th instant by Mr.. Wake
man, the Postmaster of this City.
Pardon me, Mr.. President, when l say
that your reply has filed me with pro-
found regret IL declines what | had
conceived to be an innocent effort 10 as-
certain the foundation for informs ion in
my possession of desire in the South 70
return TO the Union. IL thus appears TO
be an indication on your part TO con-
tinue policy which, ia my judgment,
il not only unwise, but Ia the opinion, Of
many is 10 conflict with the constitu-
tpnRl authority vested in the Federal
Government.
think, however, that my proposition
is in keeping with your own expressed
conditions upon which the war shall
cease You say that when the people
of the Southern States would cease re-
sistAnce aud would reinaugurate, submit
TO and maintain the national authority
| within the limits Of such States under
the Constitution of the United States,
! that in such case, the war would cease on
the part OF the United states
Admitting this position rs correct, you
will see that as a condition precedent to
su b submission the opportunity 10 do
30 must be offered IL cGnnotbe expect
ed that the Southern people will cease
resistance, so long as we proclaim our
| intention 10 destroy their local institu.
| lions. their property aud their lives, and
accompany the declaration with oorrcs-
ponding legislative, executive, social and
political action. They cannot cease re-
sistauoe and reinaugurste, submit 10 and
maintain the Federal authority, " we will
not let them alone long enough 10 do 30.
! lfthey really desire acquiescence, aud are
willing TO send delegates tJ the next Con-
gress, as am advised, how can they do
so without the opportunity, and without
some inhmations or guarantees as TO the
reception Of their representatives At
WA,hiugton? The act Of sending rep
resentstiyes TO C)nRresI il within itsell
a iull compliance with your own oindi-
,tions. Ii thus represented by their own
selected agents, chosen under the forms
aud in pursuance of heir own local State
laws governing such elections, they will
compose an integral portion Of the Gov
ernment, and thus give the assurance OF
an "AcquIescence aud submission" OF
the very highest aud most satisfactory
cnarac er.
MY respectful suggestion was that you
should put il in their power TO take this
course. II would require a simple pro-
] .N 20 -
quslia dif you please by such conditions
A. 10 render a. void in case Of non-c0m-
pltance within Limited period. You
have established a precedent for This
mode Of speaking to these people. YOui
EmanoipA ion Proclamation told Of pun
isbmenL Let another be issued speak
ing the language OF mercy aud breathing
the spirit OF Cancellation.
Tue pAinful events which have occurred
sinCs my communication Of the Sth lust.
but ombo deus me 10 renew It's sugges
tions. / hope you will now no longer 70
fuse 10 suspend military operations h
try an experiment Of negotiation. F."
feel that military operations, % bloody
and txhausiing as ours, must sooner o
later be su .pended. The day Of suspen
sion must come. The only question
whether 10 shall be before the whole AN
erican people, North and South, shall b,
involved IN general ruin or whether }
shall be Shilst tuere 10 rem ,lning SUN
On Of the rtcap,rati,o element Of life b.
winch to rest no our once happy pros
, porous aud peaceful Union
2 ia compliance wItu your request tina
o your letter shall not fDr lha present bs
/ come pubic, shall WITHHOLD 10 publ
J, cation % Jais umo
With high regard, yours, &c,