The New York herald., 1863-09-08
THE PEACE QUESTION.
Important Correspondence Between
President Lincoln and Fer
nando Wood.
Mr.. Wood to President Lineoin.


Mr. wood 70 President Lincoln.
NEW YoRK, Dec. 8, 1862.
Hon ApRAnAx LINCOLN President Of the United staes
px.n s,n-On the 25th Of November last advised
NV an authority which deemed likely to be well In.
formed as well reliable and truthful that the Southern
States would send to the next Congress
provided that full and general amnesty should permit
them 20 do So No guarantees terms asked for
other the amnesty referred to. Deeming this nfor
nation Of great value, f well founded communicated II
iu substance the Hon. George 0pdyke the Mayor Of
this city whom knew hold confidential relations TO
members Of your administration and proposing through
him, that n the government would permit tho CORES
pondenoe uader inspection, would undertake TO
procure something definite and positive from persons con-
necLed with the called Confederate authorities Mr.
sOpdyko stated In reply that several Senators from New
England States then In this city on their way 70
Washington 10 whom he would at once communicate the
propostion and advise OF the Knowing that
Chose gentlemen your friends and suppospg that
they would immediately with you ON their arrival
II the capital supposng that should be speedily in
formed o, the result, have delayed until now making
!, Communication direct to you.
now learn, however, from Mr. Opdyke this day that
he failed TO Senators when in New York, and
he had made the proposition and that therefore
you not in possession Of It as coming from myself
As humble but loyal citizen. deeply impressed with
the great sty restoring the Union OF these States
1 yonr immediate this subject. The mag
ntade the interests at stake executive
action predcsted upon this information If it be only to
ascertain II 1t be grounded even probable ounda
tion. II it shall prove groundless shal! have
b done provided the inquiry be made as It Can boz
without compromising the government or injury to tho
Cause IN which II Is engaged. II, however, shall
provo well founded there high place
upon iis national value.
Now therefore, Mr.: President, suggest that gentlemen
whose former political And social re aious with the
adsrs uie Southern revolt may be allowed to hold
uno.nelal CORES ndence with them this subject-the
s,rresponderce TO submitted to you. II may be thus
what any, creence may be to these
statements and also whether peaceful solution Of the pre-
sent struggle may not bc atnabe. am nothing that
I say add to your well known desire pro
this result. Your exalted position, the enbarass
uents responsibilities which you upon all
aides, tho bsedioR condition OF the country becoming
exhausted not only In the impoverishment Of s best life
blood Of industrial producton but In the deterioration
sad consequent Of political Institutions
call upon you chief ruler take step upon
she road o peaceful effort by which 10 ASCERTAIN whether
Inc has arrived when other methods than brute
Sighting may p.sh what military has fail
10 do In the origin Of this struggle you foesaw that
such time would Your inaugural address, dciiv-
aoa the certain results OF the impending conflict o.
Your language then was, "Suppose you go war.
you cannot Hght always. and WHOM, after much
1oss on both sides aud gain either, you
oeasc lighting, the Identical questions 10 terms
OF antereourse again upon you" You that a'tcr
bloody apd terrible struggle "he sti small voice OF
soason" would intervene and aottle the controversy
You know ths ,abIshmcnt o5 Christian ctvik
cation negotiation and compromise ator
arnh be ihaS.
wise here Has the arrived whsn quote your
Own language, should hghng," at least long
enough TO ascertain whether "the identical questions
about which began the fight may not DO amicabiy and
bouoraby adjusted, aud the terms Of intercourse DO
once psacsaby estabiishedf II IL 70 this end that
nov adaress you-with confidence In your patriotism
end with no Interfere with your icesinatc
SttutI nal prssogalyss. am with high respect yours
ysry truly. FERNANDO WOOD.
President Linc0in TO Mr.. Wood.
Exsoruvx MANaox, wAsHnoros, Dec. II, 1881
Hon. FssxAxpo WOOD
Mr. Dsaa a-Your letter OF the 9Th, with the accompa
nying note OF same date, received yesterday
rns mos. important paragraph tho sstcr, a. con-
sder d Ia these words'On the 2oth November last
vas advised by an authority whoh deemed likely 70 be
well informed ~ wei reliable and truthful, that the
Southern would send representatives TO the next
Congress- provied that fun and general amnesty should
peru them to do So No qua terms wore asked
for ether than the amnesty referred to-"
Istronxy suspect your Information VIII prove 70 30
roundess nevertheless thank you for communicating
|, TO mo. Understanding the phrase In tho paragraph
ab we qaotea-the southern states would send repre-
ecntatvss TO tho Congrcss-to be substansaythe
Same n tha. "ths people Southern States would
CO 10 resistance would renaugursts submit 10 and
maintain the national authority within the limits Of such
lha ituti /
say that in such case would the part OF
the United states; and that within reasonable time
ga full and general Amaesty" were nscessasy 70 such
end II would not be withheld
I do not think IL would be proper now 70 communicate
this formally or informally, 10 the people Of tho South.
ern States My belief that they already know it; aud
when they choose, ever, they can communicate with
me unequvocaly. Nor do think IL proper now 70 sas
pend military operations Try any experiment Of nego
tiation.
Ishould nevertheless receive with great pleasure The
exact Information you have, and also such other
you may 10 any way obtain Such inormation might be
more valuable before the 1ss January than GtsrwdA
While there i nothing this letter which snail dread
% See in HISTORY, IT, perhaps, bottsr for The present
tsnat s oxisssnes should become public. therefore
have 70 request thas you win regard - con0dsotal.
Your obsdIcus servant A. LINCOLN
Mr.. wood - PssaAAsnt Linsslns
NEW Yoax, Dec. II, leo1
His Esssllsaoy AnaAnAn LucoS;-
M DuAs sm-Your lstssr q sAs l2th Inst HANDED
TO me on the afsssncoa Of the lssh inss oy Mr. wsst
man the Postmaster Of this city.
Pardon me, Mr. Prssidsos when ~ thaa your reply
has nlsd me With profound regret II declines What
bad conceived 70 b innoosat sos 70 ASCERTAIN tho
foandation Sor nformatou N my posssaioa q desys In
,hs south rsssrn 70 ~ csos shas appear V bs
an indication % your part 70 continue policy which
mr. judgment po% only unwiss, but n tbs opinion u
many n In conflict with the consstutionA authority vss
I'D in ths federal gcvsrunsn1
Think, howsvss, tbaA ny psoposissoa y IN keeping
with your expressed conditions upoa which hs VA
shall cease Ycs say shss people Of ~ south
efn states would osass rssisases would rsinaueu.
rate submit and maintain the national authority win.