John G. Nicolay, A Short Life of Abraham Lincoln, condensed from Nicolay and Hayes' Abraham Lincoln: A History

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Chapter 32.

The bogus proclamation

-- the Wade -- Davis manifesto -- resignation of Mr. Chase -- Fessenden Succeeds him -- the Greeley peace conference -- Jaquess -- Gilmore mission -- letter of Raymond -- bad outlook for the election -- Mr. Lincoln on the issues of the campaign -- President's secret memorandum -- meeting of Democratic national convention -- McClellan nominated -- his letter of acceptance -- Lincoln reelected -- his speech on night of election -- the electoral vote -- annual message of December 6, 1864 -- resignation of McClellan from the army

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The seizure of the New York Journal of commerce and New York World, in May, 1864, for publishing a forged proclamation calling for four hundred thousand more troops, had caused great excitement among the critics of Mr. Lincoln's administration. The terrible slaughter of Grant's opening campaign against Richmond rendered the country painfully sensitive to such news at the moment; and the forgery, which proved to be the work of two young Bohemians of the press, accomplished its purpose of raising the price of gold, and throwing the Stock Exchange into a temporary fever. Telegraphic announcement of the imposture soon quieted the flurry, and the quick detection of the guilty parties reduced the incident to its true rank; but the fact that the fiery Secretary of War had meanwhile issued orders for the suppression of both newspapers and the arrest of their editors was