The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-09-18
THE PEACE QUESTION.
Correspondence Between Fernando
Wood and the President.
Letter from Fernando Wood to Pres.
fdent LfncOln.-The Presidents Re.
ply..NIr. Woods RejOinder.

Special Dispatch to the Chicago Times.
New YORK, Sept. Z.
The following is the correspondence be-
tween President Lincoln and Fernando
Wood:
MR.. WOOD TO PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
New YORK. Dec. 8, 1862.
To Hon. abraham Lincoln, President of the
United States:
DEAR SIR-On the 25th of November last, I
was advised by authority which / deemed
likely to be well informed as well as reliable
and truthful, that the Southern States would
send Representatives to the next congress,
provided that full and general amnesty should
permit them to do so. No guarantees or terms
were asked for other than the amnesty re-
ferred to. Deeming this information of great
value, if we'll founded, I communicated it in
substance to the Hon. George Opdyke, the
Mayor of this city, whom know to hold con-
fdential relations to members of your admins
tration and proposed through him that if 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 confed-
crate authorities. Mr.. Opdyke stated in reply
that several Senators from the New England
States were then in this city on their way to
Washington, to whom he would at once COM
municate the proposition and advise me of the
answer. Knowing that these gentlemen were
your friends and suppOsing that they would
Immediately confer with you on their arrival at
the capital. and supposing that l should be
speedily informed of the result; l have. delayed
until now making communication direct to
you. / now learn, however, from MIR. Opdyke,
this day, that he failed to see the Senators
when in New York, and that he had not made
the proposition, and that, therefore, you are
not in possession of it. AS coming from nay
self as an humble but loyal citizen, deeply i'm
pressed with the great necessity of restoring
the Union of these States, l ask your imnle-
date attention to the subject. The magnitude
of the interests at stake warrant some execu-
tive action, predicated upon this information,
if it be only to ascertain if it be grounded upon
eve probable foundation.
Ii it shall prove grOundless, no harm shall
have been done. provided the inquiry be made,
as it can be, without compromising the gov
eminent Or injury to the cause in which it is
now engaged. If, however it shall prove well
founded. there is no estimate too high to place
upon its national value. Now therefore, Mr..
President suggest that gentleman with for
mer political and social relations with the lead
ers OF the Southern revolt, may be allowed to
hold unofficial correspondence with them on
this subject, the correspondence to be submit
ted to you. 1t may be thus ascer.ained what,
if any, credence may be given to those state
mentS. and also whether q peaceful solution of
the present struggle may not be attainable. |
am sure that nothing can say can add to your
own well known desire to produce this result.
Your exalted position, the embarrassments,
and the responsibilities which surround you OH
all sides the bleeding condition of the coun.
try. becoming exhausted not only in the i'm
| pOverishme of its best life blood and indus
| trial production, but the deterioration and con-
sequent destruction OF our political institutions
all call upon you, as our chief ruler, to take
oT ,T.,1
| which to ascertain whether the time has not
| arrived when other methods than brute fight
| ing may not accomplish what military force
has failed to do. IN the origin of this struggle
you foresaw that such time would come.
| Your inaugural address delivered near two
years ago, pointed ont with prophetic vision
| the certain results OF the impending conflict of
! arms. Your language was: Suppose you 90
to war, you cannot fight always; and When,
| at er much loss on both sides and no gain on
| either, you cease fighting. tie Identical ques-
tons as to terms OF intercourse are again upon
| YOU" You saw that, after Il bloody anu teri j.
Bile struggle, the still. small voice of reason
would intervene and settle the controversy
| You know that since the establishment of
| Christian civilization, negotiation and colnpiO-
. mise have sooner or later determined every
military contest 1t cannot be otherwise here.
| Has not the time arrived when, to quote your
own language, we should cease fighting, at
| least long enough 10 ascertain whether TIE
/ identical questions about which We began the
fight may not he amicabiy and honorably ad
/ justed, and the terms OF intercourse be once
! more peaceably established? 1t is to this end
! that i now address you. with confidence i'll
YOUR patriotism and with no desire to inter-
| iere with your legitimate constitutional prero-
gatiyes.
am. with high respect,
.,s 4 l-ttsf. Yours, very truly,
FERNANDO WOOD.