The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-26
THE LINCOLN HEGIRA.

ulnary night from Harrisburg to Washington oI
Friday night last:
TIE CAUSE OF Mr.. LGYCoLN's FLIGHT.
The correspondent Of the Philadelphia American
who is well informed Of events in Republican cir
cles, gives the following as the reasons for Mr. Lin
Ecoln's secret passage through Baltimore:
As this sudden change of his arrangements i
likely to be misrepresented, it is proper that th
material facts should be known Information wa
communicated to the War Department and to Gen
eral Scott Thursday, to the effect that the pres
ence of the President elect in Baltimore might b.
made the preteXt for riot, the consequences 0
which could not be foreseen, even with all the pre-
cautionary arrangements which had been made By
the police.
And there is reason to fear that certain desper
ate characters were ready to avail themselves o
that or some other opportunity to execute tiend
lsh plot against his life. Taken in connection with
the recent attempt in Indiana, where nothing bu
Providential interpostion Saved the train bearing
Mr.. Llncoln's party from wreck, and with other
facts which came to the knowledge of the proper
authorities, 1t was very natural that anxiety and
apprehension should be felt and precautions taken
lnfammatory appeals had been made in Baltimore,
which only needed the spark of any accident or
word to burst into dangerous connagration
a special messenger was sent to Harrisburg on
Thursday, at the instance Of those charged with
the preservation of order here and not by his DO
i'ical friends, as has been stated. Another mes
senger, bearing almost similar intelligence, OBJ
tanned through the police at New York, also
reached there nearly at the same time.
Under these peculiar circumstances Mr. Lincoln
yielded to the advice from Washington, and
changed the programme. He did not feel at liberty
IN any way to risk the public peace for his own
convenience, though unable to realize any cause for
fearing personal danger. Mr.. Lincoln adopted the
suggestions of General Scott and others. who had
access to knowledge which he could not possibly
possess
The following story is the invention of the
"speciaP' of the Philadelphia Inquirer:
After the telegraph office at Harrisburg had been
closed on Friday evening, it was whispered around
that the bird had 1own-that Mr.. Lincoln had been
sent for by General Scott and VIM. Ii. Seward at
the earnest request of Secretary Holt and Presi-
dent Buchanan, to avoid the route over the North
ern Central Railroad and the ride through Balt-
more-that positive evidence of trouble ahead was
before them-rumors of the train having to go
over high bridges that were to be burnt: round
sudden curves and find trees fell across the track;
over high embankm ents, beneath which kegs Of
powder had been placed; through dense pieces of
woods, where, behind each tree, was hid fire
eater, bristlng with bowie-knives and revolvers;
right by the side of large factories, at the windows
or which were "hungry mechanics armed with
guns, each one impelled by the idea that in MUIR
dering all the passengers on the extra train he
would deserve Immortality, save the Union and
pocket million of dollars slight reward of
his services, from the benevolent and liberal gen
temen from the South" Another story was that
Mr.. Lincoln's presence was of the utmost import
ance in Washington on Saturday morning at the
Peace Congress. Another, that he had been slight
ed by the authorities in Baltimore, and the Repub-
licans there were determined to make demonstra-
tiOn that would be unwise, tend to provoke resent
ment, and make bad feeling.
There are many reasons for believing that the
course pursuedby Mr.. Linccln was advised by Gem
eral Scott.
On the arrival of the President elect at his ho
tel at Harrisburg, Friday evening last he took
supper with his family. Immediately after the la
dies had retired hewas waited upon in the same room
by two officers of the United States Army, who had
come from Washington direct. The conversation
was earnest and prolonged, and carried on in whis-
pers, lnaudible even to the few persons who were
privileged to remain in the apartment. The Off
GERS used every argument to iIduce Mr. Lincoln to
consent to leave Harrisburg at once, and in secret
for Washington ria Baltimore
Finally, Governor Curtin admitted to the
conference, and very reluctantly the consent of Mr.
lincoln was given to the proposed arrangements
Soon after, while the bar room and parIors of the
hotel were crowded with parties desrous OF seeing
he guest, he quietly passed through the private
iwelling of MIR. Coverly, adjoining the hotel, and
vent to the house of Governor Curtin. From
hence, by an arrangement made with the officers
,f the Pennsylvania Railroad, he proceeded to the
ame car in which he had reached Harrisburg, in
company with Enoch Lewis, Superintendent of the
pennsylvania Railroad, and Col Lemon, of the
United States Army Reaching West Philadelphia
Hty lpbh d carriage anu uFOVe rapidly to the de-
)ot at Broad and Prime streets, where two tickets
we're bought for Washington, and bertbs taken in
The sleeping car.
Passing quietly to the car, the President was
oon safely enSconced in berth, unknown to any
,ne on the train, save his COMPANION, Col. Lemon.
lalf, A. NJ, the conductor remarked to a promi-
lent opponent of Mr.. Lincoln, "Did YOU know YOU
have rode with the President?" "Non he replied
n astonishment. Mr.. Seward, standing by, ex-
claimed, "Where is he? is he safe ~ The con-
iuctor, in astonishment, replied be knew nothing
about it; he had not heard of Mr.. Lincon's being
N the tran but if he was, he was on the rear car
'Oh!" said Mr.. Seward, "I was looking for my son
Ind daughter Proceeding to the rear car, he
net Mr.. Lincoln, and taking him to the rear of the
lepot, they stepped into carriage, and drove to
Wizards Hotel.
COMMENTS OF THE PRESS.
[From The philadelphia PennSyIranianf
To reach Washington, the President elect had
o pass over patch of slave territory-a portion
If Delaware and Maryland, including Baltimore,
o which city the Plug Uglies have given a bad
ame; Up to that point of his journey he had
Tavelled in pomp and splendor. Privacy and re-
erve were altogether disregarded. He belonged
the public, and to the public he surrendered him
elf. He showed himself to the people everywhere,
md with the people he shook hands and conversed
lis travelling arrangements were published far
md near. Nothing was concealed. He was in the
rec States and he felt as brave as lion. But the
moment he touched slave territory he hacked.
Conscious of his sin against the South, and the sin
If his party, he trembled with a guilty fear-be
hook and covered. Violating ali published ar
angements, disappointing the public deceiving the
-ery friends who accompanied him, insulting the
Committee and the people of Baltimore and Mary
and he stole through Baltimore like fugitive
rom justice, like thief in the night and arrived
It the National metropolis more like an escaped
'enitentary convict than a President.
tie Is said to have left Harrisburg disguised, to
I'D ~
light car, and to have travelled iacognito all the
way to Washington. When he arrived there none
ut a chosen few knew of the change that had been
made in the programme. Arrangements for his
eception and for his protection had been made
10Th IN Baltimore and Washington, but in his par
ysis of fear he broke through them all. His
light was disgrace from which he can never re-
over, and is striking commentary upon his flip
ant declaration that "nothing is going wrong
obody is hurt" &c. He showed very plainly that
ften spoke of, and that he hnNS3Nwas personally
fraid of being "hurt." He n7sfEsonsider himself
nobody"-if so, multitudes now dgree with him,
The circumstances connected with this first
american HegtrG is destined to be an epoch of
gnOminy in our history. Various reasons are as
igned for it. Some say that General Scott tele-
raphed MIR. Lincoln that conspiracy was on foot
o mob and murder him in Baltimore. Others say
hat Seward ordered him to Washington for CON
utation in regard to the course to be pursued by
he Republicans in the Peace Conference. That
ear, base and cowardy fear, the cause OF his
ndden flight, is evidenced by many circumstances
by his disgusting himself and skulking like
by deceiving his suite as to his change
programme; by the fact that this his first dodge
Tas at the very moment when he touched slave
arritory; and by the hundred groundess rumors as
conspiracy for his assassination, started by the
lack Republicans. How despicable does it appear |
'hen we behold him trusting his wife and children
train which he avoided because he feared that |
was to be thrown off the track! His only care |
GEMS to have been for number one His own
ifety secured, it mattered but little if his family |
Mould perish.
From The PHILADELPHIA PressI
"All is well that ends we,' however, and the |
ountry generally will rejoice that he has reached
le national capital in safety, even while it
ay be regretted that any real or apparent cause
sisted for manifesting a feeling of dislrust to-
ards the people of Maryland-the great body of |
HON would doubtless resent as quickly and be as
Ostie to any attempt to inure the President elect
the people of any Northern State.
From the National IntelligencerI
Our own solution is that, under all the crcum- |
ances of the case, which we doubt not Mr.. Lin
,ln himself correctly appreciated, he deemed it |
ould be best to avoid all chances of turmoil, and |
the same time to be relieved of all further demon
rations, OF which his journey had been already |
nply full.
From the " Y. YriJune.l
What, then, is the conclusion? Simply that one
'ction OF this country is only semi-civilized. 1t
ay can ltSell repuollcanj IL may profess the ao-
ract faith of Christianity; it may possess, to
ertan limited degree, the arts of cultivated peo-
lie; it may live under of the forms of enlight-
ned society; but it wants that inherent moral
,nse, that accurate conception of social law, that
ltelligent submission to the purpose of civil gov
rnment, which mark the highest civilization. 1t
merely semi barbarous in its spirit, savage in its
lstincts, reckless of human life and human rights
.ithless in everything but brute force, unintelli
ent in its aims, and unscrupulous in the means
hich it seeks to attain them. In a society spcon-
.ituted, it is not strange there should be found
lany persons who could conceive and execute some
iabolical plot of slaughter, sparing neither age,
Or sex. nor numhers-snch The dastrnctinn of |