Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 1.
Frank Moore, Ed.

To the President of the United States--Sir: The people of the Free States have now been for some time cut off from communication with the capital of their country, by a mob in the city of Baltimore. The troops of the General Government have been attacked and shot down by the mob, in their passage through that city in pursuance to the orders of the Government. The lines of communication have been destroyed, and the authority of the General Government has been set at defiance. This state of things has been permitted to continue for nearly a week, and our troops going to the capital have been delayed, and have had to find their way by irregular and circuitous routes, very much to their inconvenience. Citizens of the Free States have either been prevented altogether from visiting the capital or from returning thence to their homes, or have been compelled to run the gauntlet, been subjected to all sorts of insult and danger, and have had to resort to the most circuitous routes by private conveyance, and at exorbitant expense. All facilities by mail and telegraph have been cut off by the same unlawful assemblage in Baltimore and other parts of Maryland, at a time when free communication is so much required between the Free States and Washington.

The public mind is already excited to the highest point that this state of things has been so long tolerated; and the people are determined that free and uninterrupted communication with the seat of Government shall be immediately established, not by circuitous routes, but by the direct lines of communication that they have heretofore travelled over. And it is demanded of Government that they at once take measures to open and establish those lines of communication, and that they protect and preserve them from any further interruption. Unless this is done, the people will be compelled to take it into their own hands, let the consequences be what they may, and let them fall where they will. It is certainly most desirable that this be done through the regularly constituted authorities at Washington; and the Government is earnestly desired to act without delay.

There is entire unanimity of feeling on the part of the people of the Free States to sustain the Government and maintain the Union.

I trust, Mr. President, that this letter will not be received unkindly, as, in writing it, I simply do what I feel it to be my duty as a citizen to do in this extraordinary state of things.

I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,