Letter from Joseph Medill (letterhead: Office of Daily Tribune) to Abraham Lincoln, 1865-04-14

"I am confident that the vast majority of the Republican party will sustain the views laid down in your recent speech. Now that the rebellion is in the condition of that fellow's dog which swallowed the cake containing powder and junk[?], the people will feel desirous of admitting the seceded states as fast as it can safely be done. Your illustration of the egg and the fowl I think was very happy. If you have time to run your eye over the enclosed slip you will perceive that we back you up stoutly. ... We do hope that you will not deal too leniently with the cruel, vindictive villains who starved to death with devilish malice 25,000 of our brave patriotic sons and brothers. There can be no forgiveness for them on this side of the grave. At their head is the miscreant Jeff Davis. If it be deemed best not to hang many of the ringleaders, some at least ought to be executed and no seceder from Congress should ever be allowed to set foot in the halls of Congress again. ... It may not be advisable to confiscate the property of rebels or to hang many of them, but surely the leaders should all be disfranchised and forbidden to hold office."