New-York daily tribune., 1864-04-16
SOUTHERN INTELLIGENCE.
The Forgcry Of the IT. Eu'icr r&ing hci-
ter-Tbc Attempted pCniai by the
Dnily Ncws-An Analysis end nn Ex-
posure-Thc News Brought TO BOsls

WASHINGTON, March 81. 1864.
The partiaity of The Daily Ners for poetica
prayers was clearly eyinoed few days ago by the pub
lcntion in that paper of rythmcal Prayer for Peacc
but whether its editor did not the day Offer OF
ought not TO have oeredas doubtless his Confedorates
in the King letter hoax have dons-n the sanc,ity OF
his Sanctum the ancient and p0etical prayer to
the Goddess Of Rogucs:
Good good LRverns grant me aid
For such a cheat; let ell believe me good
Let me seem Just Lnd honest TO the crowd,
And Q 'er my cheats and iorgeiies cast a cloud"
il will not be difficult for the intelligent reader to de-
tcrmine II is to be hoped that Conoorda the God
Of Hosts win receive tie Prayer for Peace with
greater favor than Laverna appears TO have received
the prayer o cast cloud DER the cheats and orcercs
Of the Rebe-Copperhead fabrcaors Of the King letter
The latter goddess tired probably Of dispensing fa
yors 10 these machiayias and wishing to deny such
ardent worshpers entirely, answered the prayer for
cloud with only thin fog. rs may be seen from Ihe
Nrs defense 1t is only necessary TO invoke Ph0bGs
once for sunshine enough dpel this fog and reveal
the orgers and uttercr Of this King letter IN their true
characters 10 tho public gaze
In nv exposure of this extraordinary letter dis
closed the names Of the Rebels in Richmond who at TIE
instgation Of Northern Copperheads had forged ond
sent it here for publications but as oil OF them aeklns
are distinguished have by their silence confessed their
guilt il is unnecessary il would be uncharabe for me
to add anything further in regard to them Bui re
lead tie unwary aud create disunon ut the North by
means Of this letter with tho erontery Of hardened
criminal pleaded like 10 have said NOT Gnity-peaded
an incoheren and confused plea which Is expected the
careless reader 10 accept as not guilty.
1t will be remembered that my communication e1'
posing this little scheme OF the elCopperbead ira
terpity of Richmond ard New.York, directly charges
The Mere with uttcring the forged letter knowing TO
be such; and yet tha! sensitive Journal so TenhTkabe
for its promPtness and boldnoss IN aispglng esery
sonant with its views and wishes. MAINTAINS
profound and ominOus silence in regard 10 the serons
charge for more than mOnth-in fact until absolutely
driven by the editorial structures Of IIIB Tribune and
another letter from myself Etoa corner where t was
obliged ~ cry ptceor cay something in Its de!enSe
And what did it say. at lastf II more conclusive
evidence Of it's guilt wanted than thn circumstance
Of its protracted silence that evidence would be found
in its attempted vndicotion published on the I'D inst
II 2bs Ns had then fully appreciated the axiom which
couple Of days later it tauntingy flung a its neghbor
The SBn, that "a guilty party only makes his case
by preyaricaton and awkward attempts TO eade
TO the charge would not have betrayed ss
IL then did the frailty and folly itself But it
doubtless hoped by compound of bilingsgate sophs-
try, subterfuge and falsehood TO SO completely beog
the subject TO conceal from the reader its failure 10
answer the charge
Let us now winnow from tn, NepSs balderdash the
little that Is relevant 10 the indictment against It, md
see whether logically treated IL tends 20 repe main
tain the accusation 1t Is absurd" says that Journal
TO suppose that would oonnive at forgery that
would be valuable 10 political opponents" Quite
true-but how could the King letter be valuable TO them
In what does t favor their principles or theory
On the other hand, does ~
and doctrines OF the Peace paryi
understand the leading doctrines OF that pnry to be
first that the Federal Government has neither the night
nor the might 10 cOcrce the rebel0ns States. On
this point Mr. King made by the forged letter 10 say
1.-The events OF the past two years should be sufficient
10 convince every reasonable man. both North nnd
South, that 1t Is impossible Tor the Federal GO'efnment
to subjugate our people"
Secondly. understand II to claim that peace and the
Union can be restored BY change in the adminstra-
ton policy Of the Government and guaranteeing 10 the
South certain rights &c And In support Of this prUpo
sition the King letter says II the people Of the North
would now concede our rights and the Federal Govern
ment them to the danger with which
threatened by remaining In the Union would be removed
and We ght with honor and advantage return to it,
Thirdly That party claims that the Government
should offer an armstice send commissioners south
propose terms Of peace On this point the King letter
says Until the North evinces pacific disposition, and
hOstilities suspended for negotiation. nothing
mains for us but 10 devote ali our energies skill and re-
sources 10 the cOnbict.'
Thus we see that all the cardinal doctrines Of the
Peace party echoed by this letter which The NeKs
gave 10 the public pointing ou, the only way in which
peace and Union could be restored SO much for the
motive The htns had ~ conniye at the forgery.
But. says its cunning editor. THE only alusion we
made 10 it (he letter. that did not think that
the writer correctly estimated the Of the Southern
feeling" So did the villain Iago while endeayoring
poison the mind Of Othello, cuuningly affect not -
credit, rcuctant TO acknowledge what he would fin
have the noble Moor believe. But while initiating the
tactics Of IagO The fN did not fail TO its read
ders that " Mr.. King 10 practical man, and takes n
practioG! view OF things, In view Of the necessities of
the South"
Again, saws The Ne,os unwilling to abandon a letter
50 important 10 its party Its commences has never
been denied by any Southern paper" OF course not
1t absurd to SUPPOSE that the Southern press would
spoil the pretty scheme Of their politicians and
COlperhead friends At the NORTH by exposing the let
tor If they knew it 10 b. forged, is suppose that
Tie Tews would publish letter received from
that could be valuable 10 it, political opponents But
the Southern papers are aware that the letter has been
denounced as forgery and If IL is not one why have
they to the assistance Of Their friend, The heos
and declared il 10 bc genGinef
Lei Us here, en- y0ssont take glance at COpperhead
craft. After having taken more than month Tor
reflection more than time sufficient TO communicate
privately with friends in Richmond. and being forced TO
the dsagIeeabe conclusion that my exposure Of the for
gerry viii be accepted by the intelligent public in spite
OF any effort on is part to uphold IT. re hts' makes
very artful or rather very awkward attempt 10 eIcu
pate itself and fasten tie blame ot The imposition on
somebody else. Alter declaring that its connection
with ~ letter "hns been strictly in accordance with
honorle Journalism it alleges that it received 1t by
mail from Baltimore and from stranger ana that 1t
has reason to believe that the sender Was no other than
ono Livingstone. IL IL believed the story u mas told
and itself deceived in regard 10 the letter In the
first instance. would it not have been more strictly
in accordance with honorable journalism especially
after the genuineDess vi the letter was dISpuhd TO
have denounced il also have Informed the public that
1t had been received from q disreputaDe person ana
could not be relied anthentcf Dd ho' hoielnI
puDhc duty require this at It's hands cah any oheIor
moment doubt, that, had the letter favored tne views
or theory Of the Administration journals re NsTs
would have denounced it soon as IT ad reason 10 Pc
1eVe II had been imposed them by rascal but inc
letter ayored-the doctrine Of the Peace party ana s
leading organ, The keps according TO It's own adms-
SION cared not Jot whether 1t was genuine or iogeu
whether IT received 1t from scoundIel or an hohcst
man.
Bet while the statements Of The Eer', carefully
viewed, are sufficient TO blast that Journal IN the eyes OF
all honorable journalists and honest men, am not ahe
TO accept those statements as true. sorry that IT
Is so for evidently its editor is very wTetcbed anu
much consciencestricken about this affair and regret
that solemn public duty has compelled 10 make the
L A