The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-27
Plots and Counter -PIots-Thc Presidents
Perils.


Plots and Counter -Piots-The Presidents
Perils.
All our readers are familiar with the tremen-
dous conspiracies TO take the life Of the Presi-
lent elect. and to put out of the way at the
same time all his suite, including lachry NOSE
colonel Of dragons and a major Of artillery
who had already suffered in the cause Of Old Abe
to the extent of disagreeable dislocation. Mr.
Lincoln's night ride to Washington will make
hereafter splendid incident for the theatre,
while bis Scotch cap will be as famous as
the green turban of the Prophet, and his
long military cloak be placed with the uniform
of Washington in the Patent Office. When the
NJ Wa Of the plots arrived the country shivered
in its shoes; when the country was In
formed that the second Washington had
been safely EMBODIED In the protecting
arms OF Mr.. Seward, the country took long
breath, and felt relieved. Subsequently, the
country desired to know all the particulars of
these terrible conspiracies, and wished to be in
formed why the triumphal tour of the Presi-
dent elect had been so suddenly interrupted.
Among other things, the country has been
uando, but w. s. Wood, who oficiated as the
Grand Chamberlain for Uncle Abe. Nobody
seemed to know who Wood was, or by whose
authority be acted. We are happy to be able
to throw some light upon this subject Wood
is related to Erastus Corning, the well known
railway manager and King of the Albany
Regency. Wood first beamed upon the
people of New York as q jeweller, and
opened a shop in Broadway, near Beck's
famous dry goodsery. Woods jewelry was
laid out upon black velvet, and made dazzling
display. OF course he made his "eternal for
tune" in Broadway, then disappeared for
time, and afterwards turned up in Maiden lane,
still jeweller, and, as usual, making great
sensation and large amounts of money. Next,
we find the ubiquitous and ever restless Wood
at Syracuse, fascinating the maids and matrons
Of the saline city with his byouterie Syracuse
is a city where everybody is more or less in
terested in railway business, and Wood fol-
lowed the popular tide. He appeared at Spring
field with credentials from Thurlow Weed to
Lincoln. Although jeweller, Woodwas not
the sort of person to permit any gem to remain
In the dark, unfathomed caves Of ocean,
and was fully persuaded that it was
useless to be born to blush I'M
seen, and waste his sweetness on the
desert air. So, in the name of Weed he took
possession of Abraham Lincoln and piloted
him as far as Harrisburg. The railway compa-
MES provided special trains; unlimited amounts
of eatables and drinkables cheered the illus
trious travellers, and everything was provided
free of charge. AS they neared the end Of the
journey, dark hints of plots and counter-plots
began to be circulated. Already the second
Washington had been warned by a Brown
Forester that his food might be poisoned, and
his friends began to feel alarmed. Again. a
villanous scheme to throw the train of the
track had been discovered, and It was known
that large numbers Of individuals, with carpet
bags filed with hand grenadcs, had made at
tempts to smuggle themselves into the Prcsi-
Dental suite. One conspirator left his bag,
grenade and all, and we presume that Barnum
has secured it before this time. He was per-
suaded to go to the Opera here, and, it is said,
narrowly escaped with his life. 1t is a suspi-
cious circumstance that several merchants,
bankers and statesmen" who never miss an
Opera night absented themselves on this occa-
sion. 1t is stated that Lincoln was to be as
sassinated at the same moment that the tenor
falls by the hand Of the baritone but some
leaky vessel informed the police, and the
Presidential party left the Academy pre-
cipitately. Between New York and Philadel-
phia large number of mysterious strangers
waited on the President and divulged divers
plots, more or less disagrceable, and at Harris
burg Wood resolved on a coup d'etot, with the
result of which the country Is already familiar.
Some people declare that these alleged conspi
racies arc all bosh, and that they have been
manufactured by the Weed party to take Lin
coin out Of the hands of the radical republi-
cans and hand him over to Seward at the ear
liest possible moment We are assured that
Mr.. Weed was actuated by the purest motives,
the highest and most unselfsh patriotism, and
that in this connection the subject Of free wool
statistics never entered his comprehensive
mind.
The other and more sanguinary hypothesis
is, that the plot to kill off the President elect is
still alive, and will be kicking on Inauguration
day; that ten thousand hand grenades, similar
to the Orsini bombs, and Of the same pattern
as that used by the Man with the Carpet
Bag, have been sent hence to Washing
ton in, spite of Kennedy and his blue
coats, and that the President, Vice President,
Cabinet and all hands are TO be blown into
ten thousand fragments, more or less. IL the
President elect should escape, he will have the
pleasure enjoyed by The French Emperor, after
hearing from Project Pictri long story about
the Orsini affair, and can say to Kennedy, "All
that you have said TO me, sir, quite confirms
me in an opinion which have held for long
time, that the police Of New York is the most
extensive humbug in the world" II will be
better however for Old Abe "a cut WaahinU-