New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-27
TIE CHANCE IN MR.. LIHCoLES ROUTE

1HC CHdNCE IN NIX. LINCOLF6 KOUIE
We lay before our readers statement Of the fasts
winch are said to have led 10 the alteration Of the pro-
gramme OF Mr.. Lincolns journey to Washington,
inoush not strictly connected with the subject in hand
may DC stated that the original route, as planned by
Yen Scout was Tor Mr.. Lincoln TO come by way Of
fH'Sourgn, hence On by the Pennsylvania Central
through Harrisbureh to Philadelphia. and thence 20
Washington, on the very train which he finally took
IL is not necessary TO go into the reasons whv another
programme adopted. The matter of Mr.. Iincol,,,
personal safety however was one that was never o.
sight Of in fact precautions looking to this were taken
everywhere.
The facts as given by Superintendent Kennedy. ara
substantially follows: The police authorities Of Bal
tmore had come 10 tho conclusion that there would bs
little demonstration of any kind during Mr.. Lncons
passage through the city Indeed 30 firmly had they
become convinced of tbs and that there would be no
riotous proceedings, that they had determined to en-
poy force Of only twenty men for the special duty
Of attending to the route Of the Presidential cortege
through Baltimore. The reason alleged for this course
was that they wished to demonstrate to the cOuntrj
and to the world the law -andorder character Of to
city.
This coming to the Of Gen. Scott he at opee ue
clared that one of two things must be done: either
military escort must be provided for Mr.. Lincoln at
Baltimore, or there must be coup de main by which
he should be brought through the city unknown to the
populace. Under the circumstances, it was thought
that the employment of military escort might create
undue excitement and the cause of its being brought
into requsition misinterpreted. The alternative Of
employing stratagem was therefore determined upon.
A messenger-a civilian and not military man, car
ryng three or four letters from high in position,
| and one from Gen. Scott, was therefore Immediately
dispatched to Philadelphia. lie had AN interview and
delivered his letters sometime toward midnight OF last
Thursday. 1t lie not known that the fact eommu-
ncated 10 any other person than Mr. Lincoln on that
night Mr.. Lincoln, therefore, was apprised Of the
deviation from the published plan Of his journey before
he left Philadelphia. The messenger then went on 10
make arrangements for the special train which con-
viewed Mr. Lincoln from Harrisburg the next morning
Superintendent Kennedy, who had accompanied tha
President in the special train from this city, took his
leave on Thursday evening, about O'Clock. After
calling on few friends he took the IL p N. train and
| returned TO New-York. The next morning, on going
10 his Office he found several letters recitng the fact
of the nadequacy of the police force ordered out for tho
receution nj Baltimore. He determined TO proceed
hitber to induce, if possible, change in the arrange
ments Ii 80 happened that he went on from Philade"
min in the very train which conveyed Mr.. Lincoln
although lie was not aware Of il at the time. Arrived
AZ Baltimore he went to the Police Headquarters on
Holiday street. and learned that yielding 10 the pres
sure Of public opinion, the police authorities had
determined 10 have out the whole force, though they
still believed that twenty men weuld be all sui
fcient. Nobody is going to turn out" said they;
" nobody will take any interest in the thing" Mr.
Kennedy told them they would rd the people Of Bal
timore very much interested and that the full force
would be needed he had found it very convenient ID
New.York, and they would find it moro necessary
| there.
At 10 o'clock a dispatch received from John ).
Glddinss, Railroad Superintendent, stating that Mr.
Lincoln had gone to Washington. This was posted mp
on the newspaper bulletins but the people pronounced
Il hoax and as designed TO lessen the turnout An.
other dispatch shown but this time from one ofths
Committee at Harrisburg stating that Mr. Lincoln wal
there and would start at 9 o'clock for Baltimore
| Other dispatches came, but no one was believed but
this. One came from Washington stating that Mr.
Lincoln had arrived. But this was discredited and
| looked upon az a plan to diminish the crowd which
was one of the largest ever assembled in the Monu
mental City. Franklin street, Center street, NORTH
street. and in the peighborhood of Battle Monument
was one dense mass Of human beings Mr.. Lincoln
never received any invitation to visit Baltimore IL.
Committees from that city all arrived in Harrisburg
after Mr.. Lincoln had departed 1t should be said that
no Disguise of any sort was adopted by Mr.. Lincoln
all reports to that effect being entirely false.