The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-06-09

1 w iu nsh utcCuonD Tnoo0 Coet arc unoDf0 70
effect their escape will hsve rather hard time
OF 1t To such Of them q may find II difficult
TO got along with the ''short commons" Of Fort
Lafayette we tender. beforehand, libesaa aid
from the surplus abundance Of Fort Washington
| PresideAs Lincoln aAd Fsraando
Weed.
The public il already aware that President
Lincoln and Fernando Wood recently had an
interview at the White House. During this in
terview many droll sayings and remarkable
sayings and important sayings were uttered on
both sides; but so far a. we are informed,
nothing was actually done out. of the ordinary
way. Several versions of this affair have ap-
peared in other papers, and their misstatements
were 80 gross as to oblige Mr.. Wood to write Q
contradictory card, which we published in yes
terday's issue. The fact is that our contempt
raries are as ignorant upon this subject as upon
most Of the other subjects in regard to which
they presume to speak. The only full, true,
impartial and authentic account of this msmen-
tOus interview between two of the greatest
men in the country, if not in the world, is our
own, and that we shall proceed to divulge
forthwith. ply 2H
On the morning after the peace meeting
at the Cooper Institute, where he addressed
thirty thousand noisy democrats, clamor-
Gus for peace and plenty, Fernando Wood
packed his valise and took the cars for
Washington. he arrived safely in that city Of
mud. dust and magnificent distances, and that
night he enjoyed the bad cookery. worse
liquors. hard beds and high prices of one of the
Washington hOtels-no matter which one, for
they are all alike in these respects. The next
morning he strolled up to the White House, and
reached that palatial edifce somewhere be-
tween ten O'Clock A. M. and twelve M We are
particular upon this point because the other
papers appear to be cropping in the dark, and
lsboring under the impression that the meeting
was held, like conspiracy or frework exhi-
btion, at midnight In the broad, bright glare
of the honest sun, therefore, Fernando Wood
entered the White House, and near the door be
encountered the Usher Of the Black Rod or
Gold Stick in Waiting, whose beaming Dutch
face has been familiar in that locality since the
Buchanan regime. Then occurred the following
curious and interesting diplomatic dialogue,
MIR. Wood asked, SIS the President in?" HE
is, replied the doorkeeper. "Can see him -
asked Mr. Wood. "Well, l don't think you
| can" answered the usher; ''you see the Presi
dent is very much engaged, and there are one
gentleman and forty-nine contractors ahead of
you." Mr.. Wood then drew himself up to his
full height-fve feet eleven and half--and,
with his usual benign smile, remarked, ~ think
be will see me. Will you take him this card?"
Tha ,oha oil nj
sently the President called out in q stentorian
voice, admit Mr.. Wood Immediately The
usher bowed and scraped, the fifty disappointed
ones smiled and swore, and Fernando Wood
walked placidly into the Presidential presence.
He was most heartily welcomed and cordially
invited to take seat. General Halleck was in
the ROOM but the President soon shuffled him
of by a reference to pontoons. A long and
confidential conversation then ensued. This
was the first time Mr.. Wood had seen the Presi-
dent since, IS Mayor of New York, be welcomed
him to this metropolis just prior to the ssca-
pade in the Scotch cap and long military cloak
Consequently they had much to say to each
other Mr.. Wood did not disavow his peace
speeches, Is come journals assert On tho con-
trary, he praised the accuracy Of the HERALD
reporters, and stated that the masses Of New
York were in favor Of peace. $50 am l." re-
piled the President, "and 80 is everybody.
The only point in dispute is how peace
may be best secured" After this the
conversation was still more confidential
President Lincoln enumerated some of the
trials OF his position, warned Mr.. Wood
| never to accept the Office, and declared
that he often wished himself back at Spring
field, Illinois Overcome by the sympathetic
emotion Of the moment, Mr.. Wood promised to
give the President all the support in his power
in the next Congress, saying that. though he
was in favor of peace, he did not want to Grip
pie the government by cutting OF the supplies
The conversation then became so very confiden-
tial that we would not repeat it, even II we
knew what it was. The President and Mr.
Wood parted full Of mutual admiration after
most delightful and satisfactory interview
Mr.. Wood has been looking for an honest man
among politicians for the past thirty years At
last. more fortunate than Diogenes he found
an honest man in the White House.
Upon leaving the President Fernando Wood.
although peace man. called upon the Score
tary Of War. From bis bearing il was impos-
sible TO divine whether he intended 10 beard
the lion in bis den, or whether he meant to give
himself up quietly and save the administration
the trouble and expense Of srresting him.
The fact that he had been twice o. bold and
cutspoken as Vallsndigbann favored the latter
conclusion. Secretary stanton received Mr..
Wood with great polteness and suavity. Mr..
stantons politeness wss susceptible of
double Interpretation. Mr. Wood was doubtful
whether stanton had determined to invite him
to dinner, OF whether he lad resolved to smile
upon him then and srreet him that night, as he
did with poor Ives However. Stantons better
VI III e.