The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-09-29
op TO PREsIpRNr LINCOLN.

= New YoRK, Dec 8, 1889
To Hon. Abraham Lincoln President of the United
States:
DEAR SlR:-On the 22, Of Noveule, la.'
l was advis Ivy an authority, ahick deem
cd likely to he we'll informed. and trus worthy
and truthful, that the Southern States you'd
send Representatives for the next Congress
provided that full and general amnesty
should permit them to do SO. No guarantees
or terms were asked for other than annestv
referred to- Deeming this information Of
great value, If well founded, l com,nusicat
ed in sulstsnce to the llou George Opdyke,
the Moayor Of this city, whom knew to hold
confidential relations TO members Of your
ad minis,raion, and proposing, through him,
that if the Government would permit the cor
rcspondence unier its own inspection, would
uuderlake'to percure something definite and
positive from persons connected with the so
called Confederate authorities. Mr.. Opdyke
stated in reply tina, several Senators from New
England were op.their way TO Washington +,
10 whom hs would az once communicate the
propositions, and advise me OF the answer.
Knuwing that these gentlemen were your
friends, and supposng that they would i'm
immediately con.er with you on their arrival
at the Capital, and supposing that should
he speedily informed of The result, have de
layed until now making communication to
you. rVr
now learn. however, from Mr. Opdyke this
dsy. that be- tailed TO see these Senators when
ip New York, and that he had Hot made the
proposition, and that, therefore you are not in
possess ion of il MS coming from myself.
AS an humble but loyal citizen, deeply i'm
pressed with the necessity OF restoring the
Union OF these States. ask your immediate
attent on TO this subject. The magnitude Of
the interests at stake warrant some executive
predlctaed, upon tLis information, IL il be only
10 ascertain f it he grounded upon probable
foundation. II it shall prove grouudless NJ
harm shall have been done, providing the IN
quiry I've made. as it can he, vlthout comprom.
ising the Government or inquiry to the cause in
which it Is now engaged. If, however, il
shall prove well 'ounded, there is no estimate
too high to place upon it's national value
Now, therefore, NJ President, sugge.t that
gentlemen whose political and social relations
with the leaders Of the southern revolt may
be allowed to hold unofficial correspondence
with them ou his suject-tbe correspondence
to be sutni, I'd 10 you. II may b. thus as
cerlalned wha, credence, ifany, may be given
to these statements, and also whether peace.
ful solution of The present struggle may not
be a,tainable. | sm shure nothing can say
can add to your well known desire to pro
duce this result Your exalted position. the
embarfassmenls and responsibilities which sur
round you on all sides, The bleeding condition
the counir becoming exh ,usled not ouly in
the impovershmeDt ot its best life blood Of in
du.,,la production. but in tue deterioration
and consequent destruction Of our political in
stl'u,loDs--all calls upon you, as our chief
ruler 10 take one step upon tho road Of peacss
fu Effort. 10y which to ascertain whether the
time has not arrived when other me thols than
brute fighting may not accomplish what
military force has failed 10 do Ia the origin
of this Struggle, you foresaw that such atme
would come. Your Inaugural address, de-
ivered near two years ago. pointed out with
prophetic vision the certain results Of tn i'm.
pending conflict Of arms. Your langua G
then was, "Supp Sc you go TO war; you cam
not fight always; aud when after much oss
on 10th sides and no gam on either, yor
cease iablng, the identical questions ss 10
terms Cfinle'course are upon you " You saw
that after a bloody and terrible struggle The
still small voice Of reason" would intervene
aud settle the controversy. You know tba,
since the establishment of Christian civizs
ton, negotiation aud compromise have sooner
or later determined every military contest
1t cannot be otherwise here. Has not the
time arrived wien, to quote your own Lao.
guage, we should "cease fighting, at least
long enough to ascertain whether the aid.
en,,caI ques,io,s" sbou' which we .beguv
the fight may not be amicably and bop' raj ly
adjusted, and the "terms OF intercourse" be
once more pcaceably cstablishedi 1t is to
this end that | pow address you-witb con.
fdeuce in your patriotism, and with no desire
to interfere with your legitimate constitutional
fpre,ogaiives
am with gn at respect, yours truly.
FERNANDO WOOD.