South Danvers Wizard, 1/6/1864, p. 2/ 1
OURSELVES [Editorial]- “The pressure of our presswork and other multifarious duties of Editor and boss combined in the same individual prevented us from making the appeal to our readers which is common at this season of the year.  Considering the state of public affairs, and that so many of our citizens are abroad in the service of the country, we have no reason to complain of want of patronage to the office of the newspaper.  On the contrary, we have found that our people have acted on the sound maxim, to first take care of their own.  They have always shown a generous disposition, when ‘other things are equal’ to give our office the preference, which is all we can ask.  We thank them for this preference, and shall continue to do all we can to deserve it. 
     We do not mean to be content with what we have already attained, but to make renewed and greater efforts to raise the character and standing of the paper.  Changes have been made the past year in its Editorial department, and it is our intention to make such further changes as shall relieve us so far that we can give more personal and particular attention to the details of the office.  As we call upon our citizens for their patronage, we are not unmindful to keep the paper up to the same standard as before, we shall also introduce new features which cannot fail to make it still more worthy of their patronage.  We shall endeavor to give it more of life and vitality and cheerful good humor.  ‘Various that the mind of man, fitful and pleased with novelty may be indulged.’
     We intended at this time to make some remarks on the advantages to a community of sustaining in its midst a local press, but these must be deferred to a future time.”

South Danvers Wizard, 1/27/1864, p. 2/1
TO SUBSCRIBERS – “Owing to a rather unusual pressure of work at our office, we have been unable to call on our Subscribers, as usual, with their yearly bills.  We now give notice that we have placed them in the hands of Mr. Sumner Southwick, who will present them for collection, and his receipt will be valid for all dues up to the 1st inst.”

South Danvers Wizard, 2/24/1864, p. 2/2
LIEUT. A. A. PUTNAM under People & Places A. 

South Danvers Wizard, 4/6/1864, p. 2/4
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT under Massachusetts 17th Regiment, People & Places M. 

South Danvers Wizard, 4/27/1864, p.2/4
RESIGNATION of White, Samuel Quiner. 

South Danvers Wizard, 6/8/1864, p. 2/1-2
APOLOGETICAL [Satire] – “We feel that we must apologize to our readers for the barrenness of our paper today, on account of the absence of the Editor, who has been suddenly called away to Washington.  His presence was needed in that city to advise with the Cabinet and regard to military situations and the conduct of the war.  In his absence the paper is left in a charge of the nine assistant editors, the five local item reporters, the compositors and the devil; - so there is no head nor tail to the concern, except what pertains to the latter personage. It would not be surprising, therefore, if some want of unity, and perhaps consistency, should be discovered in the columns of the Wizard – if its politics should be a little out of joint and its readers puzzled to find our whether it favors the nomination of McClellan, Butler, Fremont, Grant or Lincoln.  We presume the Editor-in-Chief will settle this matter for the future by his attendance at the Convention in Baltimore, where he will see that political affairs are set right.
     Since writing the above, we have a dispatch from the Editor, in which he informs us that he is in negotiating with the government, by which the Wizard office is to have the public printing and the paper recognized as the Government organ.  This plan has the opposition of Stanton  and Chase, and Blair gives it the cold shoulder, but is not very persistent.  The Editor promises to inform us of any further developments.
     Later –By a telegram just received, we learn that the negotiation goes on finely. Chase has come into the arrangement on the condition that the Editor shall devise some plan to pay off immediately the whole public debt without taxing the people.  He has this offer under consideration.  Mr. Stanton requires him to fix the terms of peace with the rebels and effect a re-construction of the Union satisfactory to everybody, North and South.  He has promised to do this.
     Still Later – Another dispatch says that matters are nearly arranged on the basis of a compromise with the Copperheads and Radicals, by which Lincoln is to be nominated and re-elected President, Jeff Davis Vice President and Fremont made Secretary of State, with the prospect of succession to the Presidency.  Vallandigham, Wendell Phillips, Memminger and Parson Brownlow are to have places in the Cabinet, and Daniel Gate appointed Postmaster General.  All questions relating to the Negro are to be adjusted by a Commission, consisting of Charles Sumner, Mason and Slidell and Parker Pillsbury, who are expected to harmonize and fraternize on this subject.  The National debt, and also the Confederate debt, are to be immediately paid off in gold on a plan to be agreed upon between the Editor and Mr. Memminger.  In order to more clearly cement the Union thus formed, we are to have a war with France, and Lieutenant Generals Grant and Lee are to re-conquer Mexico, of which Gen. Butler is to be made Military Governor.  These are but the outlines of the plan agreed upon, which gives promise of abundant success.
     Later Still – The tone of the last dispatch from the Editor is rather despondent.  The plan was a nice one in theory, but it shows symptoms of failure in practice.  He finds some slight obstacles in the way of procuring the requisite quantity of gold.  Sumner and Mason didn’t harmonize on the Negro, and Wendell Phillips can’t fraternize with Vallandigham.  Butler looks at the measure with a cross eye, and Parson Brownlow doubts the loyalty of Jefferson Davis. Fremont, the Pathfinder, says the place of Secretary of State is no sure path to the Presidency, and if the President don’t find a better place for him he’ll give him Jessie.  So they are all in the great reuse.  Jeff Davis insists upon passing Washington’s statue removed from the Boston State House and his own put in its place; and that Bunker Hill Monument shall be removed to Bull Run.  Cate is not to be found.
     Latest –Another dispatch has arrived.  We give it in the Editor’s own words; ‘The fat is all in the fire!  The public printing is not to be done at the Wizard office, and our paper will not be the official organ.  I trust, however, that it will be the organ of the South Danvers Chess Club, and get the advertising for contracts when the fortifications are erected upon Buxton’s Hill.  We had a great blow up at the Cabinet meeting.  I assure you, Welles has treated me shabbily, but Lincoln is a gentleman and he shall have the powerful support of the Wizard.  Of the others I will give you my opinion when I return. 
     The above is the whole of the telegram.  We have received from another source an account of the scene at the Cabinet meeting at the Capitol.  While the Editor was stating his case with great eloquence, Secretary Welles rose and said that, if his application was granted, he would tender his resignation.  The Editor replied that it would meet with the resignation of the whole country.  Upon this Welles attempted to seize him by the collar, when the Editor sprang up and caught hold of the long beard of the secretary, where he hung like a spider from the ceiling, and President Lincoln said it reminded him of a story, - which he could not remember.  Welles then shook off the Editor, who made a contraband of him by throwing the contents of an inkstand in his face, and then ran.  Chase gave chase and the whole Cabinet after him, through the Rotunda, down the steps of the Capitol, and up Pennsylvania Avenue, where they all ran bareheaded, pell mell, towards the White House.  Here our informant lost sight of them.”

South Danvers Wizard, 6/15/1864, p. 2/1-2
EDITOR MISSING [Satire]  – “So much interest has been manifested on account of the prolonged absence of the Editor of the Wizard that we feel bound to give all the particulars we can obtain in regard to him, ever at the risk, of placing private affairs before the public.  But editors are, in a manner, public men, sad, their movements have a public interest…”

South Danvers Wizard, 6/29/1864, p. 2/5
[Editorial Comment]  “President Lincoln has returned from the army confident of its ability to do the work given it; Grant also says that he is satisfied; and all the soldiers are in good spirits and full of hope.  We do not see any need, then, of persons at a distance croaking.  If those at the seat of war are satisfied, we can afford to await the result.”