The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1863-09-16
From the n. Y, News, September. Sth.
Peace PToposiitOuS-C COrresp on
denee Of december last Be-
tween President Lincoln and
FerDand0 Wood

t"Nco 1dfsb0eht AtGcOiu ina
Fernando Wood
Mr. woon To PREsiDBSr LINCOLN.
NEw IoRK. December g. 1862.
Hon. Abraham Lincoln, President of the u.
S:
DEAR Sra: On the 25,h Of November Iast
| was advised by an authority, which
deemed likely to be well informed as we'll as
reliable and truthful, that the Southern
States would send representatives to the
next Congress, provided that full and gen
eral amnesty should permit them to do so.-I
No guarantees or terms were asked Tor other
than the amnesty referred TO. Deeming this
information OF great value, if well founded,
communicated it in substanceto Hon. u.
Opdyke, the Mayor OF this city, whom |
knew TO hold confidential relations to mem.
bers ofyour Administration, and propositions
through him, that, il the Government would
permit the correspondence under its own
inspection, | would undertake TO procure
something definite and positive from persons
connected with the so-called Confederate au-
thorities. Mr.. Opdyke stated, in reply,
that several Senators from New England
States were then in this city, on their way
to Washington. to whom be would at once
communicate the rropositon, and advise us
Of the answer. Knowing that these gentle
man were your friends. and supposing that
they would Immediately confer with you on
their arrival at the capital, and supposing
that | should be speedily in nfOrmed Of the re-
suit, have delayed until now making
communication direct to you.
now learn from Mr.. 0pdyke this day,
that he Jailed to see these Senators when in
New York, and that he had not made the
proposition, and that therefore, you are not
in possession oft as coming from myself.
As an humble but loyal citizen, deeply
impressed with the great necessity of restOr'
ing the Union OF these States, | ask your
immediate attention to this subject. The
magnitude of the interests at stake warrant
some executive actionpredicted upon this in.
formation, il it be only to ascertain if it be
grounded upon even probable foundation, II
1t shall prove groundIess, no harm shall bave
been done, provided the inquiry be made-as
it can be, without compromising the Govern
ment or injury to the cause in which 1t is
now engaged. II, however, it shall prove
we'll founded, there is estimate too high to
place upon its national value.
Now, therefore. MIR. President, suggest
that gentlemen whose former political and
social relations with the leaders Of the South
ern revolu ion may be allowed to hold unof
fetal correspondence with them on this sub"
ject, the correspondence to be submitted to
you 1t may be thus ascertained what, il
any credence may be given to these state
msDts; and, also, whether a peace lul solu
tion Of the present struggle may not be at
talnsble. am sure nothing that | can say
can add to your weil~knnwn desire to pro
duce this result. Your exalted position, the
endorsements and responsibilities which
surround you upon all sides, the bleeding
condition Of The country, becoming exhaust.
ed not only in the impoverishment OF its
best lie blood OF industrial production, but
in the deterioration and consequent destruc-
tion Of our political institutions, all call up.
on you, as our chief ruler to take one step
| upon the road OF pescsiul effort, by which to
ascertain whether the time has not arrived
when other me hods than brute lighting may
not accomplish what military force has fail"
ed TO do. In the origin Of this struggle you
foresaw that such time would come. Your
inaugural address, delivered near two years
ago, pointed out with prophetic vision the
certain results OF the impending conflict of
arms. Your language then was: Suppose
you 60 to war you can not fight always; and
" hen, after much loss on both sides, and no
gain on either, you cease fighting, the linden.
tical questions as to terms OF intercourse are
again upon YOU" You saw that, after a
bloody and terrible struggle, the "stll small
voice OF reason' would intervene and settle
5 kbo y Vot In N ci, ba
establishment OF Christian civilization nego
tiations and compromises have sooner or la
ter determined every mill ary contest. 1t
can not be otherwise here. Has not the
time arrived when, to quote your own Ian
gusgo, we should cease fighting at least
long enough to ascertain whether "the iden.
tical questions" about which we began the
fghhmay not be amicRbly and honorably
adjusted, and the "terms OF intercourse" be
once more peacebly established? 1t is to
this end now address you, with confidence
in your patriotisnl and with no desire to in
torisre with your legitimate constitutional
preIosatives am, with high respect,
Yours very truly,
ra FERNANDO WOOD.
PRESIDENT LINCOLN TO MR., WOOD.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, .
WASHINGTON, December IL, 1862. {
Hon. Fernando Wood: 4s. .a.li .
My DEAR SIR our letter OF the 8th,
with the accompanying note Of same date,
was received yesterday. ~ -.g.0.t .'.
The most important paragraph in the let
ter as | consider, is in these words: son
the 25th of November last was advised by
an authority which / deemed likely to be
well informed as well as reliable and truthful
that the Southern States would send repre-
sentatives at the next Congress, provided
that iuil and general amnesty should per.
init them to do SO No guarantee or terms
wefe asked Tor other than the amnesty re-
ferred to. f. 4.,,a
Isrongly suspect your information will
prove to be groundless nevertheless, | thank
you for communicating it to me. Under.
Standing the phrase in the paragraph above
quo led--"the Southern States would send
representatives to the next Congress" to DO
substantially the same as that "the people Of
the Southern States would cease resistance,
and would reinaugurate, submit to, and
maintain the ma ional authority within the
limits of such States, under the Constitution
of the United States" say that in such
case the war would cease on the part OF the
United States; and that il within reasona
BILE time "a iull and general amnesty" were
necessary to such end, i; would not be With
held.
do not think 1T would be proper now to
communicate this, formerly or inormerly, to
the people OF the Southern States. MY be>
lief that they already know it; and when
they chose, If ever, they can. communicate
with me unequivocally. Nor do think 1t
proper now to suspend military operations
to try any experiment Of negotiation.
| should nevertheless receive, with great
pleasure, the exact information you now have