Abraham... Ah, most illiterate ignoramuses! Such admission would most preposterous be. 2d Con... Well, Massa, den what you mean! Abraham...We mean that you are "free" to emigrate, And my subjects foot the bills, in "freedom's" name, 1st Con... Massa, dem's most 'culiar sent’ments. You can't dese chiles fool by any such a stuff. 2d Con...We won't go to Quito or Liberia. 3d Con... No, dat we won't. We'll wid de white folks be free and equal, Just as you say Massa Jefferson foretold us. 4th Con... If de darkies all dis land do leab, What will the bobolishioners do for votes? 5th Con... Da can't do widout us, And, Massa Abraham, we all see you d--d Afore we go wa to hunt up "freedom"! Good da, Massa--good da. [Exeunt Contrabands.] Abraham (to the Duke of York)...I say, good Duke, D. of Y...I see the troubles thicken, and irrepressible Edwin... This was the fatal rock, Gideon... We too late find it an ignus fatuus, Deliver us from the monster of our own creation. Caleb... And may we 'scape Acteon's fate, Who by his own dogs was eaten up. Montgomery... Long have I known It was a phantom, which, for our classic party "Twere death to hug, and no less fatal To disembrace. May I hope your health's par excellent? You seldom 'pear in more rosy plight. Abraham... Alas, your Lordship, Appearances do oft, e'en the elect, deceive. My physical, perhaps, wern't never better, But in spirit am I most. sorely troubled! Yet, for that, good Lord, no matter! t I would enquire the state of our Exchequer." The Wall St. barometer bodes storms, I fear! The tempest swiftly comes. We must take in sail, For by a private telegram it is announced That our Legal Tenders wont stand the metal test, And 'tis feared our plethoric batch of Green Backs May sink to that old Continental standard, When a solid cord of picture currency Would hardly purchase one good brandy sling, Such as I, for a levy, did once to Suckers sell! Now, what can be done to save our credit? Salmon... Good Father Abraham I pray you on that score rest quite at ease. For my ample "system" will ere long restore The equilibrium 'twixt mint drops and our rags. But that's neither here nor there--it's small concern, Compared with that other matter pressing. Abraham...What "other matter" mean your Lordship? Salmon... Why, 'tis that peerless one, Your counsellors have so often urged, (Save Montgomery, Caleb and the Duke of York.) I mean the Proclamation. It will at one fell swoop, Crush the rebels and liberate the contrabands. 'Tis cheaper warfare than maintaining armies. Abraham... E'er I'll so foul offense commit- I cannot--will not listen to’t- No, no, I'll die, So long as my spinal nerve holds out. We'd be like the greedy sow, seeing the moon's disc And by her greed lost all her supper. 1st Divine.. [Enter Religious Delegation from Chicago.] We are come, your Highness, To present from our great Western Synod, A petition, urgent--that you will, at once The Proclamation issue, and thus to Freedom Lend the bent of your almighty power! Say, shall we despond, or hope? Abraham... If thou'lt convince me · That Ethiopes are of more due concernment Than thirty millions of the Anglo Saxon race, And that all our treasure, time and blood, Should on black "extractions" be exhausted, Then might I listen to your importunities. But what can I do--of what ayail Would be my proclamation, in those parts Where I have not the power to send an agent To collect a shekel of our revenue? Such a proclamation would do no more good, Than the "Pope's Bull against the Comet ! Or Crocket's swear against the earthquake. [Exeunt Delegation, in a huff.] D. of Y....Bravo! Bravo! Edwin...I echo bravo, (in a horn.) Salmon, (aside, to the balance.)...[My Lords, go steady We must these foibles humor, yet awhile, until We can, by strategy, more pressure bring! His Highness and the Duke of York doth fear Too much the puissant Democracy, And the conservatives of our own household. Of events, which, when ripe, will bring His Highness down, as Scott did cooney.] Gideon, (aside, in reply.)...Ah, indeed, my Lord, And to what new role do you refer, I pray, That e'en in hope looks cheering?] Salmon (aside--responsive.)... [I will explain:-- Then, we'll have their ultimatum--no more troops! My tete a tete with Gideon., 'Tis only This convocation is most opportune, indeed, Read you not the Proclamation, just o'er the wires? As the choice we made of ruler at the polls! Or else the radical votes we lose. Duke of Hampshire... Thou hast spoken wisely, Barron de Accident...Ich weis nicht was sie sagen wol len That we may His Highness congratulate ACT IX. SCENE.-In the Green Room. [Enter Abraham, Councillors and Politicians, Nov.] Edwin... Well, your Highness, How think you the elections are decided? I fear From the blue complexion of the October fashions, That we may suffer still greater losses. Poh! Impossible! I e'en do fear New York deserting. The policy of our lettres de catchet. That, I fear, The people, instead of being cowed, as 'twas intended, Caleb... Thy prognostications, my Lords, Remind me of a story, about the jackass And the kid, which I'll relateEdwin...(interrupting.) O, dm the stories. I'm sick of stories, and besides, here comes the Page With a telegram. Now look out for thunder! [Enter Page.] Edwin...How, now--any news from York? Then I have lost the oysters! D. of Y.... I knew it aforetime, and thus my wager sav'd ; Your radical measures hath overturn'd our porridge. Gideon... Well, Page, what news from other quarters? Alas, my Lords, What an unkind hour is this to me! Into my unwilling ears, results, astounding, As his story runs, the exasperated masses My Lords, that we're too well succeeded While I did the middle course conserve, To be riven by the first ill-omened blast! They've press'd me night and day-"on to Richmond," When our prosperity was at its highest flow, Well, To please the malcontents, I the Bull did issue. Without a parallel, excuse, or palliation: Thrice hath our Grand Army-Potomac's pride! Where, to "modify" my new role-under pressure chosen, Would my reputation forever compromise, [Aside.] [0, fell disasters!-ripe fruits of giving o'er To clamors of a rabble mob, insatiate. O, Heaven's vengeance, swift as lightning's bolt, Resign my Cabinet-make room for Holt!] Alas, alas! I am so weary of these sad disasters So cowards fight when they can fly no longer... ACT XI. [Exeunt omnes.] SCENE...Senatorial Caucus in the Capitol. Fessenden... [Enter thirty-one Senators.] We are to this solemn purpose call'd Wade... Fes... At least, the Duke of York Fes... I do affirm the Duke of York. To be the cause of our sad reverses. He is the Jonah of the Cabinet, and then, He doth denounce the proclamation As an idle bagatelle. Sumner... He must go out, or else no peace Will Abraham enjoy, Mark that. I move that we His Highness do address A firm, yet most decisive protest The motion's carried, and five of our number [Exeunt omnes.]] SCENE 2D--Cabinet Meeting. Abraham... [Enter Committee of five Senators.] Good morrow, your honors; What's now agog in Parliament? Fes... We are come, your Highness, As select men from last evening's caucus, To favor your Highness with this Protest. [Hands out a paper, which Abraham reads.] Abraham... And is this your role? My Court will understand the purpose: Those doughty Senators do of me demand A modification of my Cabinet, faith; And the Duke of York, most faithful, What say my Court? At least shall go. D. of Y... I say, your Highness, Here's my portfolio...take it back: I can be useful unless I'm wholly black. Salmon...And here's my portfolio, full of checks; Take it, and I'll run my chance for Senator. Montgomery... And, your Highness, I, too am ready for the slaughter. Edwin... I'll see 'em d...d e'er I Will yield an Inch. I'd rather die. Abraham... Take back your folios, all; We're all upon ill fortune's track, [Exeunt Committee, exasperated.] Edwin... A pretty bold attempt, your Highness For little boys to Wade beyond their depths, Without bladders 'neath their arms. Edwin... [Enter Halleck.] Here comes the fatal cause Of all our most malicious ills. Halleck... Such epithets address you sir, to me? I'll not brook such contemptuous slurs. Sir, you are a coward, and never fought for spurs. Edwin... Me a coward...then you're a lying whelp, And dare not resent, without procuring help. Halleck...(Slaps his face.) Take that, paltroon, my legal tender, And show how brave you play your own defender. [They clinch and have a savage set-to.] My rabid Lords, Abraham... It grieves me sore to see this cruel sport, D. of Y... 219 185 219 219 Atrocious Sentiments... Sen. Wilson on Shooting Cop- Abolitionists... Selling Negroes for Cotton.. On Vallandigham Case... Anti-Slavery Standard on.... N. Y. Post and Tribune on... For Dissolution--Various Extracts on............................... 54-63 · 90 122 Where are They?--Pets of the Administration.. 106 Army Voting...Borrowed from Cæsar and Napoleon To make a French Despot....... Dr. Lieber on..... Tuttle and Vallandigham... Interference in Kentucky Elections.... Army Transportation...Van Wyck on.. 267 278 276 276 277 277 280 318 293 ..... 304 265 Army of the Potomac...Too near Washington.. Army Force...Number of men called for... Anti-Copperhead Resolutions... How the Soldiers view- ed them.. Brown, John... His "solution". His Harper Ferry Raid...Various Extracts, 102-3 Seward and Hale toasted by Louisville Journal 64 ..74 to 77 29 287 161 Blue Lights... Hoisted by Federals.... 34 90 170 Beecher, H. Ward...Constitution the "cause" of the 93 59 90 Emancipation object of the war,...................99, 100 118 Blair's Declares the President the Government. 121 141 |