Year: 1864

The Washington correspondents Of .Ms. Linz
coins newspaper organ in New York Says. i'd
a letter dated the 9Th instant:


sit is not to be wondered at that the oppoai.
tion journals pounce upon Mr.. Lincoln,s notci
"To all Whom IL May Concern" as affording
them chance 70 pettifog an issue Of such vital
importance as that affecting the status. Of ala
very in connection with peace. 1t is not UNI
derstood, however, that it was the design Of
the President to obtrude arg ultima,un, i.r that
memorandum, Which, at most, glanced at oil
the questions likely to be submitted (in the
grave negotiation limited atj to all classes Of
the northern mind, aud Of which. the matter Of
slavery is but one leading item. No person Of
sense, in official confidence in w Washington, SO
comprehends that memorandumas as to magnify
it into the SIC colo, sic jubeo, of the Executive,
in reference to matters which belong cxclu
sively to the people themselves 1t Is not the
frame Of Mr. Lincoln's mind so to usurp what
belongs to the masses. and l am surprised at
the construction which you say some of our
friends put upon it, ~---- --.- -


The channel through which the above is
given to the public fully justi6es tho supposi-
ton that it was written with the knowledge
and sanction Of the President. That 10. state
menis relative to the tenor Of the "To WHOM,
it may concern" epist!e are in palable contra
diction Of its obvious meaning will not at all
tend to exclude such an Inference. 1t is Mr..
Lincoln's habit to contradict each day what lle
has said Or done the day preceding So Lately
as in his letter of acceptance of the Baltimore
nomination. in explanation of his position on
the Monroe doctrine, he found means within
the compass of a dozen lines to place exactly
opposite views of policy and to aver that he
was in favor of them both. ,. sler. ..


He is frightened at the Indignation which.
his terms and his insoleuce in assuming author
ity to declare them have provoked fIe mis-
Judged the temper and wishes of the people,
and is eager to make retraction. He makes IT,,
however, in his habitu-l thimbe rig style,
through channel which he hopes will be re-.
ccived as authentic, while it leaves him at
liberty to deny all knowledge of or responsible
ity for the statement thus made. 1t is too late
now to repair the mischief he has done him
self. though he may partially atone for that
done the nation by giving proof OF his willing
ness to accept n restoration oil the Union by
the abandonment" of terms which were SO
Indignantly spurned by Clay and Holcombe.


The extract We have quoted eiicits from the
New York Tribune the subjoined:


"Ne do not know, and have not meant to-
affirm, that an immediate settlement OF our ma.
tional troubles is perfectly feasible but we feel
certain that two-thirds of the American people
on either side OF the dividing line, anxiously.
absorbingly desire peace, and are ready to make
all neediul sacrifices to insure it Then why
shall it be long witheld2 Let US know, so soon
as may be, the most that the rebel chiefs will
do to secure peace; let us next ascertain what
is the 'uitimatum' on OUR side; and, If the diff.
ference between these are material, let US fight
all the harder till one side or the other is ready
to make the needtul concession. 1t is high
time matters were coming to point"


1t is indeed 'hgh time matters were coming
to a point" The nation is threatened with
bankruptcy from exhaustion of labor and q
food OF paper currency. The draft for five
hundred thousand more will drain the country
Of all its able bodied laborers, and involve in
ruin our entire agricultural and manufacturing:
interests. We are now at a point where the
reinforcement of productive interests BY tho
return OF our soldiers to peaceful pursuits
would save the nation from the insolvency and
wide. spread misery which the exhaustion Of
another year OF war must inevitably produce.
The sinking credit of the government would
revive under such hope and the prospect Of
decrease in our enormous expenditures. and i,
would be possible TO SO gradually yet speedily
redeem and withdraw so much of our currency
as would place the remainder substantially on
gold basis.


1t is very easy to ascertain whether peace il
attainahlc on terms which we may safely and
honorably accept. The lives of our people
and the interests of the nation are sacrificed to
Mr.. Linco!n's determined purpose not to listen
to terms. This is the reason the soldiers Of
Grant and Sherman are daily precptated
against the defences of Richmond and Atlanta
-Caicago Times. ....