The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-06-12
President Lincoln has an Inter-
view with the "Spirit RapperS."
Secretaries Stanton and Welles, and
j. W. Forney Present.
Franklin, Washing
ton, etc., Consulted on the Re-
belliOn.
THE FATE OF THE ALABAMA
PREDICTED.


PREDICTED.
We find the following interesting ac-
count of an evening spent by President
Lincoln and others with the spirits, in
the Boston Gazette:
WASHINGTON, April %, 1868.
A few evenings since, Abraham Lin.
coin, the President of the United States,
was induced to give spiritual soiree in
the crimson room at the White House, to
test the wonderful alleged supernatural
powers of Mr.. Charles =. Shockle. 1t
was my good fortune, aS friend of the
medium, tv be present, the party cons
sisting of the President, Mrs, Lincoln,
Mr. Welles, Mr.. Stanton, Mr.. L.,
Of New York, and Mr.. F., of Phil.
adelphia. We took our seats in the cir.
Gle about 8 o'clock, but the President
was called away shortly after the mani
festationS commenced, and the spirits,
which had apparently assembled to con.
vince him of their power, gave visible
tokens of their displeasure at the Presi-
dents absence, by pinching Mr. Stan.
toms ears and twitching Mr.. Welles's
beard. He soon returned, but it was
some time before harmony was restored,
for the mishaps to the Secretaries caused
such bursts of laughter, that the inau.
ence was very unpropitious. For some
half hour the demonstrations were of q
physical haracter-.the tables were
moved, and the picture Of Henry Clay
which hangs on the wall, was swayed
more than foot, and two candelabras,
presented by the Dey Of AlgierS to Pres.
ident Adams, were twice raised nearly
to the ceiling.
1t was nearly nine o'clock before
Shockle was fully under spiritual inau-
ence, and go powerful were the subse-
quent manifestations that twice during
the evening restoratives were applied,
for he was much weakened, and though
| took no notes, l shall endeavor to give
you as faithful an account as possible of
what took place.
Loud rappings, about 8 o'clock, were
heard directly beneath the Presidents
feet, and Mr.. Shockle stated that an In
dian desired to communicate.
"Well, SIR" said the President, II
should be happy to hear what his In
dian majesty has to say. We have re-
Gently had visitation from our red
brethren, and it was the only delegation,
black white or blue, which did not vol.
unteer some advice about the conduct OF
the war;"
The medium then called for pencil
and paper, and they were laid upon the
table in sight Of all. A handkerchief
was then taken from Mr.. Stanton, and
the materials were carefully concealed
from sight. In less space of time than
it has required me to write this, knocks
were heard and the paper was uncovered.
To the surprise of all present it read as
follows:
Haste makes waste; but delays cause
vexations. Give vitality by energy
Use every means to subdue. Proclama-
tionS are useless; make bold front and
fight the enemy; leave traitors at home
to the care of loyal men. Less note of
preparation, less parade and policy.talk
and more action. HENRY KNOX"
"That is not Indian talk, Mr.. Shock
le," said the President. "Who is Henry
Knox ?"
suggested to the medium to ask who
Gen. Knox was, and before the words
were from my lips, the medium spoke in
strange voice, "'The First Secretary of
War"
"Oh, yes, General Knox," said the
President, who, turning to the Secretary
said, "Stanton, that message is for you
it is from your predecessor"
Mr.. Stanton made no reply. -
II should like to ask General knox,"
said the President, "if it is within the
scope Of his ability to tell us when this
rebellion will be put down"
In the same manner as before this
message was received:
Washington, Lafayette, Franklin,
Wllberforce, Napoleon and myself have
held frequent consultations upon this
point. There is something which our
spiritual eyes can not detect which ap-
pear we'll formed. Evil has come at
times by removal Of men from high po.
sitions, and there are those in retirement
whose abilities should be made useful to
hasten the end. Napoleon says concen-
trate your forces upon one point. La.
fayette thinks that the rebellion will die
of exhaustion. Franklin sees the end
approaching as the South must give up
for want of mechanical ability to CON-
pete against Northern mechanics. Will.
berforce sees hope only in q negro army.
KNOX"
"Well," exclaimed the President
"opinions differ among the saints as well
as among the sinners, They don't seem
to understandrunning the machine among
the celestals much better than we do. -
Their talk and advice sound very much
like the talk Of my cabinet-dont you
think SO, Mr.. Welles ?"
"Well, / don't know--I will think the
matter over and see what conclusion to
arrive at"
Heavy raps we're heard aud the alpha
bet was called for, when THAT'S what's
the matter" was spelled out.
There was shout Of laughter, and
Mr.. Welles stroked his beard.
"That means, Mr.. Welles," said the
President, 'that you are apt to be long
winded, and think the nearest way home