The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-05-21
MISCELLANY.
Macpherson,s Dream Of Peace.
nm the Nep Orlsans Era,


The waning Moon, all pale and dim, went
up and the eternal stars, and gazed with Sc
rene countenance down the stovepipe of my
diapidated hospitable abode, at o'clock a. m,
when, moved by that powerful love OF nature
and art which has made me the wisest man in
the Confederacy, / arose from my sleepless
couch, and stood erect gazing through hole
In the wall. II occurred 10 me that the Pythia
of Delphi declared the will of the divinties,
after inhaling the vapor that proceeded from
the sacred assure; and l asked myself why,
standing by this assure, and inhaling the sa-
cred odor of Louisiana Rum, | might not hear
the Oracular Voice of Fate.
Accordingly, unc orked a bottle of that d.
vine liquid, and applied the muzzle to my
nose, aud gazing through the crevice, inhal-
ed its sweet odor, which soothed my spirit and
inspired me with new hopes FOR the Confeder-
acy. AT last thought heard a voice within
me say: "Drink.'
SIS it the artic speaking voice of Fate ?"
asked, "or one OF Longlellows Voices of the
Night? Hard is the lot you impose upon the
Plato of the Conlederacy; but as dreams, Wis
ions and preternatural voices announced the
will of the divinities in ancient days, even SO
do unaccountable sounds and signs declare the
glory of the Confederacy and since it is the
unmistakable will of Jupiter that | should
imbibe this liquid, | sacrifice the inclinatons
of my pious and temperate mind to the fate
which impels me!' then raised my eyes to
heaven, and drank the contents of the bottle
as though had really desired it
The divine liquid swift as quicksilver coursed
through the natural gates and alleys of the
body, and filed me with the spirit of prophecy.
Il am cried aloud, ''the Oracle of the Con-
federacy; and as Pythia declared the fate of
conquerors and empires, so do / declare the
glory of the New Nation.' l then gave the
Confederate snort, and found a voice which
spake within me independent of the usual
organs of speech, as Balaam's ass uttered
words of wisdom without the exercise of Intel
lect or Will. therefore asked the oracle when
we should have peace.
"Peace, April 23d, 1863" was the response
Wherefore" | inquired, 'fixest thou that
day?D
"One of Hawkins Zouaves dreamed it,
replied the voice; land subsequently man in
Fort Warren dreamed the same thing four
months before, and the Picayune published it,
and it shall surely come to pass ~
SLOW" asked, SIS this to beaccomplished %
"By you," responded the voice. arise and
clothe thyself with ambassadorial dignity ard
powers plenipotentiary. and proceed to New
Orleans, true representative of the Coned-
eracy, and there confer with Samuel Hotaling
on the part of the United States, and agree
upon a treaty OF peace"
81 CO." l replied, lin obedience to the Orac-
ular Voice of Fate" Walking to the door,
found that Destiny had provided me with
transportation without requsition upon the
Quartermaster's Department For milkman
at that moment drove up TO my hospi,able
abode, when seized him by the collar, dragged
the vile culprit forth, and hurting him to the
earth with my gigantic strength, cried !:
Fate DEGREES that thou shalt be deprived of
thine earthly goods, which hereby seize and
confiscate in the name of the Confederacy"
then kicked him in the eye, and mounting
the milkcart, started on my mission Of peace
on earth. As / approached the city, the
Oracular Voice of Fate babe me proceed TO
the ST. Louis Hotel 1T is closed and unoccu-
Pied" answered. ''SSmuch the BETTER said
the Voice; "you c an enjoy the quiet so CRATE
ful to a philosophic mind.'
/ accordingly established the headquarters
of the Confederate Peace Commission in the
Dining Room OF the deserted building, and
sent to Mr.. Hotaling an invitation to meet me
on the part of the United States, (which letter
will be found in the appendix 10 arrange the
terms of peace. Then walked up and down
the hall in solitary granduer, when my medi-
tations were interrupted by the entrance of a
tall and manly form, who uncovered his head
aud saluted me with profound bow. IL have
the honor, presume of addressing Mr.. Mac
Pherson," he said, "the author and philoso-
pher. and the self-constituted Confederate
Peace Commission"
"You have" replied, shat distinguished
honor, and presume You are the United
States.r
4All right he replied "if you think so. /
understand you desire to treat
We then took four drinks of whiskey each
from a'two gallon demijohn which l had had
filed for the occasion. "Now," / said, "let
us proceed to business"
Before entering upon the discharge of our
responsible duties" remarked the United
States, Il beg leave to suggest the propriety
Of taking drink
"A very proper suggestion, / replied; and
we took four drinks apiece. / then submitted
to him the following Confederate Propositions:
THE GREAT TREATY OF PEACE.
1t is stipulated and agreed bet,ceen the Con-
federdte States of Americd and ,chat is left
Of the United States, as .foltors, to-,rit:
/. The Yankees are inferior beings, and
commenced and are alone responsible tor the
rebellion.
2. The rebellion was right and justifiabe,
and the independence of the Confederate
States of America is hereby acknowledged
and proclaimed.
3. The Coniederacy shall include all States
and places south of Mason and Dixon's line
and the United States shall Immediately with
draw all its forces from the said territory; but
a National Vigilance Committee shall name
sons shall be publicly hanged.
a. The United States shall assume all the
debts of the Confederacy, and pay the highest
market value for all the niggers that have run
away during the war: and the United States
Treasury shall be turned over to j. b. Floyd.
B. This treaty shall take effect on the 23d
day OF April, Ammo Domini 1868, and Ammo
Considerations 3, provided the same be ratified
by Fernando and Ben. Wood of New York
Done at the Headquarters of the Confederate
Peace Commission, st. Louis Hotel. in the
city of New Orleans, State of Louisiana, in
the Confederate Year of Jubilee l.
Signed in behalf of c. S. A..
JAMES b. MACPHERSON.
Confederate Ambassador,
and Minister Plenipotentiary.
In behalf of the United States,
JOHN SMITH.
William " l exclaimed, as l looked upon
the signature OF the United States, "art thou
not Samuel Hotaling?"
Mary Hoat," he said, at the same time fill
ing tumbler to the brim.
False one, love thee stillm exclaimed.
Though mortal foes, we can meet upon this
common platform of humanity" We then
took four drinks apiece.
/ was about to declare the Great Peace Con-
ference at an end, the objects for which it was
convened having been fully accomplished,
when clamor arose in the streets, and the
newsboys, as il inspired by their master, the
devil, went rushing wildly through the streets,