Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-02-25

StaUo Of the Presidential IOuF---Ihe
Plot 60 AsERssinats Mr.. Lincoln.
The country was startled on Saturday
morning By the announcement that Mr. Lin
coin had arrived in Washington at an early
hour Of that day, having LEFT Harrisburg dur
ing Friday night and passed through Balti
more at 8 o'clock Saturday morning iHeog.
All sorts Of reasons were assigned for this
sudden and startling change in the official
progrsmmej and there were many, who, in
the haste Of their Judgment accused the
President elect with having yielded to fears
for his personal safety, and taken refuge in
fight The more prudent and sensible waited
for further explanations, satisfied that at TIT
back of this movement was some weighty
and satisfactory reason. Our Saturday night,
dispatches give that explanation, and reveal
plst which, in diabolical conception, has few
parallels in modern times a plot, the exist
ence Of which shall ever be damning dis
grace to the State Of Maryland, and to the
lawlessness which runs riot in the city Of
Baltimore.
The first move Of the plot was to throw
the Presidential train from the track before
reaching Baltimore, in such place and under
such circumstances that all IN board would
be either killed BY the accident OF murdered
BY the conspirators. Had this fendish plan
failed, then Mr. Lincoln was have been assas-
sinated in the streets Of Baltimore, by dagger
Or pistol This plot was revealed to Mr.. Lin
coin late on Thursday night, after he had re-
tired, by. some person whose name is not
given, but whom we conceive to be a special
agent sent By Geneaal Scott, or else Gov.
Hicks himself The particulars of the plot
were set fOrih, and Mr.. Lincoln, after long
persuasion, yielded to his friends and con-
sented to do ss they saw fit. This decision
was made on Friday evening, and at 9 o'clock
that night he left Harrisburg by special train,
and rushed through to Washington. In doing
this, Mr. lincoln took the wisest course. The
country cannot afford to lose him, and had
be insisted upon the original plan Of transit
in all probability we should to-day be called
upon 70 dress our columns fE mourning, moi
only for the great and good man who, one
week from to-day, is to take his place as the
head Of the nation, but for scores of others
who accompanied him upon histOur. Itwas
due, not to / mself alone, but to the position
in which the people have placed him, and to
the whole country, that be should avoid every
danger which his enemies could lay in his
path. And those who can, at such a time,
accuse him Of flying through Baltimore
through coWardice, arc themselves lost to all
the ordinary impulses Of patriotism.
The danger is not yet over. The exposure
Of this inuraerOhs plot has aroused and added
ten-fOld to the fears Of danger upon the in
suguratiOn day. Such a powerful and dss-
perats organization As would thus oonrOci
measures for wholesale murder, are not likely
to relinquish their purpose without further
attempts. Lincoln is IN danger to-day, and
the assassin viii wait for him at every corner
until the Inauguration is past Eternal vigi-
lance will be the price Of bis life. We all
remember the wholesale poisoning at the
National Hotel four years ago, the evident
design Of which was to poison Mr.. Buchanan,
then ascending the chair Of State. The acts
Of that man, thea saved from violent death,
hs1s encouraged the present revolution, in
which the party which has bis sympathy
seeks the assassination Of his successor. That
party would grasp the bloody hand Of the
murderer cf Abraham Lincoln, and heapun-
bounded konors upon bis accursed head.