"These sentiments have never been weakened, even when it has sometimes seemed to me that this great object of our efforts and sacrifices was imperilled, and those efforts and sacrifices made more costly, if not fruitless, by errors of civil policy or of military or financial administration. Nor, amid such errors, and all errors tolerated during the 'throes and convulsions' of civil war, by the people, who were in so unaccustomed a situation, and were intensely occupied by the great struggle in which they were involved, have I ever lost faith that, when the struggle should be once successfully over, they would completely re-establish the great traditions of constitutional government, founded on local self-control and on individual liberty and personal rights. "Let me add that, in the present posture of our public affairs, it is better to look forward than to look behind--to think of battles to be fought rather than of victories already won, and in preparing that wise and liberal statesmanship by which alone a complete pacification of the country is to be attained, to remember that '_peace hath its victories, not less renowned than war_.' "To co-operate, candidly and cordially, with the existing public agents in all measures for bringing the war to a successful close, and to remove the evils it will have engendered in our civil and social systems seems to me as plain a duty as it is at every election to promote the choice of such public agents as will, in our judgment, best attain these ends. "With much respect, I remain, "Truly yours, "S. J. TILDEN." PETER W. COOPER AND OTHERS TO TILDEN "EIGHTEENTH WARD, "NEW YORK, _April 3rd, 1865_. "DEAR SIR,--We appeal to your generous kindness and well-known liberality in all public concerns to aid us in the effort to avoid the necessity of having the draft enforced in this ward. "A number of citizens have contributed to a fund for this purpose, and we venture to hope that you will not withhold your assistance to save a number of good and useful citizens from being taken from their families. "Please enclose your contribution to either of the undersigned. "PET. W. COOPER, "JAMES KELLY, "CHARLES P. KIRKLAND." SAMUEL L. M. BARLOW TO TILDEN "NEW YORK, _Aug. 31, 1865_. "MY DEAR SIR,--My friend, Mr. Houston, of Ky., has returned from Washington. I am more satisfied than ever before of the position of the President, but I think you should at once go to Washington and have an interview with him. I enclose Mr. Houston's card, which will insure an early meeting after your arrival.