The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-06-12
SPiRlTUALISM At THE WHITE
HOUSE.
Napoleon, Lafayette, Washington,
Franklin, Douglas, and Henry
Knox on the Conduct OF
the War.
Some Good Advice from the Other
World.
Correspondence of the Boston CT .ett

President Ofthe United States, WIS induced
to give spiritual soiree n tn, crimson
room at the White House, to test the
wonderful alleged supernatural powers of
Mr.. Charles E. Shockle. 1t was my good
fortune, as friend of the medium, to be
present, the party consisting of the Presi-
dent, Mr.. Welles, Mr.. Stanton, Mr.. l.,
of New York, and Mr.. F., OF Phila-
delphia. We took our seats in the circle
about s O'Clock, but the President was
called away shortly after the manifesto
lions commenced, and the spirits, who
had apparently assembled to convince him
of the power, gave visible tokens Of their
displeasure at the Presidents absence, by
pinching Mr.. Stanton's ears, and twitch-
ing Mr.. Welles' 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
influence was very unpropitiOus. For
some half hour the demonstrations were
of physical character-tables were moved
and the picture of Henry Clay, which
hangs on the wall, was swayed more than
a foot, and two candelabras, presented by
the Dey of Algiers to President Adams,
were twice raised nearly to the ceiling.
1t was nearly nine o'clock before Shockle
was fully under spiritual influence, and so
powerful were the subsequent manifes-
tations tlat twice during the evening res
toratives were applied, for he was much
weakened, and though l took no notes,
shall endeavor to give you as faithful an
account as possible of what took place.
oh ,,ro
heard directly beneath the Presidents
feet, and Mr. ShOckle stated that an Indi-
an desired to communicate.
"Well, SIR" said the President, 81
should be happy to hear what his Indian
majesty has to say. We have recently
had visitation from our red brethren,
and it was the only delegation, black,
white, or blue, which did not volunteer
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 materi-
ais were carefully concealed from sight.
In less space of time than it has taken 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. Proclamations
are useless Make bold front and fight
the enemy; leave traitors at home to the
care of loyal men. Less note of prepa-
ration, less parade and policy-talk, and
mora action HFNpy KNOy
"That is not Indian talk, Mr. Shockle,"
Knox"
suggested to the medium to ask who
General 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.
81 should like to ask General Knox, I"
said the President, /" if it is within the
scope of his ability to tell us when this re-
bellion will be put down.
In the same manner as before this mes
sage was received:
Washington, Lafayette, Franklin, Will
berforce, Napoleon, and myself, have held
frequent consultations upon this point.
There is something which our spiritual eyes
cannot detect, which appear we'll formed
Evil has come at times by the removal of
men from high positions, and there are
those in retirement whose abilities should
be made useful to hasten the end. Ma
poleon says concentrate your forces upon
one point; lafayette thinks the rebellion
will die of exhaustion; Franklin sees the
end approaching, as the South must give
up for the want of mechanical ability to
compete against Northern mechanics.
Wilberforce sees hope only in negro
army. KNOX
Well," exclaimed the President, cop
inions differ among the saints as we'll as
among the sinners. They don't seem to
understand running the machines among
the celestials 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 conclusions to
dIIlVc dU.
Heavy raps were heard and the alpha
bet was called for, when "That's what's
the NATTER" was spelt out.
There was a shout of laughter, and
Welles stroked his beard.
"That means, Mr.. Welles," said the
President, ''that you are apt to be long
winded and the nearest way home is the
longest way round. Short cuts in war
times. wish the spirits could tell us how
to catch the Alabama
The lights which had been partially
lowered, almost instaneously became so
dim that / could not see sufficiently to
distinguish the features of any one in the
room, and on the large mirror over the
mantel piece there appeared the most
beautiful though supernatural picture ever
beheld. 1t represented sea view, the
Alabama with all steam up flying from the
pursuit of another large steamer. Two
merchantmen in the distance were seen