The New York herald., 1863-11-17

President Lincoln on Peace ana thu
Shaksperian Drama.
Some time ago we announced that President
Lincoln. tired of the diplomacy Of Seward and
the blunderngs OF poor Greeley, had at length
resolved to take the peace negotiations into bis
own hands, and had despatched as special, &C.
cret envoy to Richmond the celebrated Doctor
Zacharie, the chiropodist the corncutter, the
wearer OF big diamond breastpin and the pos
SCISSOR of the finest Roman nose which has ever as
tonished the world since the time fCGsar We
are now sorry to say that the Doctor has appa-
rently failed in his mission, in spite of his wisdom
and science, which far surpass those of Hippo
crates, Galen and Harvey combined, and in
spite of his magnificent nose, which is the sign
that nature always hangs outside of the head
when she has placed mighty mind vfrhin.
Nobody knows anything of Zacharie. Nobody
has heard of him. JEFF Davis may have slaugh-
tered him in order to steal his diamonds or he
may be traitorously cutting the corns Of the
rebel army. preparatory to another invasion of
the North. At any rate, President Lincoln has
given him up as gone chiropodist, and has
turned his attention to another sort of ambassa-
dors.
We will not admit, however, that any dis
credit attaches either to Doctor Zacharie or the
President, even if our worst fears are realized
and the rebels have robbed earth of its choicest
corncutter. When all our other diplomats
have failed, why should we hope that the cru
dite Zacharie would succeed Secretary Sew
ard has sent the Chevalier Weed, Archbishop
Hughes and Parson Beecher to Europe, in order
to secure peace in that way. The Chevalier
Weed went to play the devil in contracts,
Archbishop Hughes went to lay the devil by
sermons, and Parson Beecher went to raise the
devil generally. They all succeeded pretty
well in their undertakings especially Parson
Beecher, who has left all England in hot wa
ter-but we have not had any peace. Greeley
authorized Colorado Jewett to buy peace with
his gold mines; but the Chevalier expended all
his gold for letter paper and postage, and is
now sharing the misery Of Greeley's other
friend, Vallandigham, on the Canadian side of
Niagara Falls, and is exhibited to tourists with
the other natural curiosities of that region.
The Chevalier Barney, who would not leave
the girls alone, took the trouble to
get captured by the rebels in order
to argue them into peace; but Bar
ney only achieved fasco. The Cheva-
lier J. Wesley Green left the State Prison for
the White House, and received one hundred
dollars from the verdant Chase for his news of
peace, which turned out to be forgery, as
matter of course. Last, but not least, the Hon.
Fernando Wood tried to start peace CORES
pondence with somebody, but could only OBJ
tain letter from Lamar about cotton specu-
lation, which fell through ON account of our
invincible blockaders. These were Zacha-
rie's predecessors. After SO many failures,
what chance had he of being the lucky diplo-
mat?
And yet it was by no means bad idea of
President Lincoln's to send Zacharie to Rich
mond. He has better idea now; but the first
was very good. In life as in an abolition con-
vention. extremes often meet. Who could say
but that the direct road to rebel hearts and
heads was through rebel toes! To use the
metaphorical language of the East, Zacharie
had removed the corn of inactivity from the
feet Of our armies, and why should he not
be able to cut the corns of rebellion from both
extremities of Jen. Davis? Still, he has not
done so, and we shall say no more about him.
These people greatly mistake President Lin
coins character, however, who suppose that
Zacharie's failure has disheartened him. On
the contrary, he has another diplomatic
gun ready 10 be fred into the enemys camp.
That gun is Parrot Of tremendous bore and
weight. 1t is Mr.. Ealstsff Haokett, the great
shaksperian comedian, the prairie howar, the
great farmer of the great West. As our read
ers will see by the announcement in another
column, President Lincoln has invited Mr.
Hackett to play before him at Washington
during the session of Congress next month. It
is rumored that he has also invited Mr.. Hack
ett's friend and colaborer, Edwin Forrest, an
other very heavy and effective gun. Can any
one suppose that these invitations are merely
for the purpose Of gratifying Mr.. Lincoln's
taste for the drama! Would he turn aside
from the war simply to enjoy Hackett's
comicalities and Forests heroics without
any ulterior and superior object in viewg
Patriotism forbid! President Lincoln is no
such man. With two eyes-not "a single
eyev--to the salvation of his distracted eoun-
try, with heart brimfull of zeal for the Union,
with mind continually on the rack to devise
some plan to honorably end the war, Honest
Old Abe sees in corn doctors, chevalers. arch
bishops parsons and players the means which
Providence has provided to accomplish the su-
preme end of his existence and his administra-
tion. Undoubtedly, after little preliminary
training, he will send Hackett and Forrest
to Richmond. But let him not send them
together. Remember the fate of the cats of
Kilkenny.
This scheme OF the Presidents is shrewd
one; but 1t is not original. Hamlet informed
us, long age, that the "play's the thing in
which to catch the conscience Of the King"
Probably, therefore, this notable plan was the
result of the Presidents recent Shsksperian
studies. II is most apropos at present, because
the rebels are greatly in want Of actors, and