The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-09-18

MIR. WOOD TO PRESIDENT LINCOLN
NEW YORK. Dec. IL, 1862.
HIS Ercellency abraham Lincoln:
My DEAR SIR-Your letter Of the 18th inst
was handed to me on the afternoon of the 18th
inst. by Mr.. Wakeman, the Postmaster of this
city. Pardon me, Mr.. President, when l say
that your reply has filed me with profound
regret. 1t declines what had conceived to be
an innocent effort to ascertain the foundation
for information in my possession of a desire in
the South to return to the Union. 1t thus APP
pears to be an indication on your part to con-
tinue policy which in my judgment is not
only unwise, but, in the opinion of many, is in
conflict with the constitutional authority vested
in the Federal Government. l think, however,
that my proposition is in keeping with your
own expressed convictions upon which the
war shall cease. You say that when the people
of the southern States would cease resistance
and would reinaugurate, submit to, and MAIN
tain 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 as correct, you will see
that, as a condition precedent to such submis-
sion, the opportunity to do SO must be afford
ed. 1t Cannot be expected that the southern
people will cease resistance SO long as we pro-
claim our intention to destroy their local insti-
buttons, their property and their lives, and ac-
company the declaration with corresponding
legislative executive, social and political action
They cannot cease resistance, and reinaugurate
submit, and maintain the Federal authority, if
we will not let them alone long enough to do
so. If they really desire acquiescence and are
willing to send delegates to the next Congress,
as am advised, how can they do so without
the opportunity and without some limitations
or guarantees as to the reception of their repre-
sentatiyes at Washington. The act of sending
ltotiy 10 will
full compliance with your own conditions. If
thus represented by their own elected agents
under the forms and in pursuance of their local
State laws governing such elections, they will
compose an integral portion OF the government
and thus give the assurance of an acquiescence
and submission of the very highest and most
satisfactory character. My respectful sugges-
ton was that you should put it in their power
to take this course. 1t would require simple
proclamation of general amnesty, to be quail
fed, if you please, by such conditions as to rem
der it void in case OF non compliance within q
limited period. You have established prece-
dent for this mode of speaking to those people.
Your emancipation proclamation told of pun
ishment. Let another be issued speaking the
language OF mercy, and breathing the spirit of
Cancellation. The painful events which have
occurred since my communication of the 8th
inst, but embOlden me to renew these sugge5-
tiOns. hope you will now no longer refuse
to suspend military operations to try an exper-
iment of negotiation. feel that military ope-
rations so bloody as ours must sooner or later
be suspended. The day of suspension mu t
come; the only question is whether it shall be
before the whole American people, North and
South shall be involved in general ruin, or
whether it shall be whilst there is remaining
sufficient of the recuperative element of life by
which to restore our once happy, prosperous
and peaceful American Union. In compliance
the present become public, 1 shall withhold its
publication at this time.
With high regards, yours. &C.,
FERNANDO WOOD.