Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 5 [Oct. 24, 1861-Dec. 12, 1862].

To Fernando Wood1Jump to section

Executive Mansion, Washington,
Hon. Fernando Wood December 12, 1862.

My dear Sir Your letter of the 8th. with the accompanying note of same date, was received yesterday. The most important paragraph in the letter, as I consider, is in these words: ``On the 25th. November last I was advised by an authority which I 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 a full and general amnesty should permit them to do so. No guarranties or terms were asked for other than the amnesty referred to.''

I strongly suspect your information will prove to be groundless; nevertheless I thank you for communicating it to me.

Understanding the phrase in the paragraph above quoted ``the Southern States would send representatives to the next congress'' to be substantially the same as that ``the people of the Southern States would cease resistance, and would re-inaugerate, submit to, and maintain the national authority, within the limits of such states under the Constitution of the United States,'' I say, that in such case, the war would cease on the part of the United States; and that, if within a reasonable time ``a full and general amnesty'' were necessary to such end, it would not be withheld.

I do not think it would be proper now for me to communicate this, formally or informally, to the people of the Southern States. My belief is that they already know it; and when they choose, if ever, they can communicate with me unequivocally. Nor do I think it proper now to suspend military operations to try any experiment of negotiation.

I should, nevertheless, receive with great pleasure the exact information

you now have, and also such other as you may in any way obtain. Such information2Jump to section might be more valuable before the first of January than afterwards.

While there is nothing in this letter which I shall dread to see in history, it is, perhaps, better for the present, that it's existence should not become public.

I therefore have to request that you will regard it as confidential. Your Obt. Servt A. LINCOLN

Annotation

[1]   ADfS, DLC-RTL. Fernando Wood's letter of December 8, 1862, reads in part as follows:

``On the 25th November last I was advised by an authority which I 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 a full and general amnesty should permit them to do so. No guarantees or terms were asked for other than the amnesty referred to. Deeming this information of great value . . . I communicated it . . . to . . . George Opdyke . . . whom I knew to hold confidential relations to members of your administration, and proposing through him that if the government would permit the correspondence, under its own inspection I would undertake to procure something definite & positive from persons connected with the so called Confederate authorities. Mr. Opdyke in reply stated that several senators from New England . . . were then in this city . . . to whom he would at once communicate the proposition and advise me of the answer . . . supposing that they would immediately confer with you. . . .

``I now learn . . . from Mr. Opdyke this day that he failed to see these Senators. . . . Therefore the object of this letter.

``As an humble, but loyal citizen . . . I ask your immediate attention to this subject. . . . I suggest that gentlemen whose former social & political relations with the leaders of the southern revolt may be allowed to hold unofficial correspondence with them on this subject. . . . Your Inaugural address . . . pointed out with prophetic vision. . . . that after a bloody and terrible struggle `the still small voice of reason' would intervene and settle the controversy. . . . Has not the time arrived when to quote your own language we should `cease fighting'--- at least long enough to ascertain whether the `identical questions' about which we began the fight may not be amicably & honorably adjusted, and `the terms of intercourse' be once more established? It is to this end that I address you. . . .'' (DLC-RTL).

On December 17, Wood replied to Lincoln's letter, ``Your letter of the 12th inst. was handed to me on the afternoon of the 15th inst. by Mr. Wakeman, the Post-master of this city;---Pardon me Mr. President when I say that your reply has filled me with profound regret. It declines what I 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. . . . In compliance with your request, that your letter shall not for the present become public I shall withhold its publication at this time.'' (DLC-RTL).

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[2]   This paragraph was revised; Lincoln had first written: ``Any information you may in your own way, obtain upon this subject, I shall be glad to receive, if you please. Any such information. . . .''

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