Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-05-01
Interview with the President in ref
erence to Cessation OF HOstiII-

Interview with the President in ref
erence TO Cessation OF HOstiII-
tics.
The Baltimore San has the following in rela-
ton to an interview which took place between
the President and a committee of the Young
Mems Christian Association of Baltimore" The
Sun says
We learn that a delegation from five of the
Young Mems Christian Associations of Balt-
more, consisting of six members from each, yes
terday proceeded to Washington for an interview
with the President, the purpose being to inter
cede with him in behalf OF peaceful policy, and
to entreat him not to pass troops through Balti-
more or Maryland. Rev DR.. Fuller, of the Bap-
fist Church, accompanied the party, by invita-
ton, and the conversation was conducted mainly
between him and Mr. Lincoln, and was not heard
entire by all the members of the delegation.
Our informant, however, vOuches for what We
now write. He states that upon the Introduction
they were received very cordially by Mr.. Lin
cOln-a sort of rude familiarity of manner-and
the conversation opened by DR.. Fuller, seeking
to impress upon Mr.. Lincoln the vast response
bility of the position he occupied and that upon
him depended the issues of peace or war-on one
hand terrible, fratricidal conflict, and on the
other peace.
'But," said Mr. Lincoln, "what am to do?"
why, sir, let the country know that you are
disposed to recognize the independence of the
Southern States. | say nothing of SECESSION re-
cognize the fact that they have formed Govern
ment of their own, that they will never be united
again with the North, and peace will instantly
take the place of anxiety aud suspense, and war
NAV be averted"
"And what is to become of the revenue? |
shall have no GOvernment-nO resources"
DR.. Fuller expressed the opinion that the Norths
ern States would constitute an imposing Govern
ment, and furnish revenue, but our informant
could not follow the exact turn of remark.
The conversation turned upon the passage of
troops through Maryland; Dr. Fuller expressed
very earnestly the hope that no more would be
ordered over the soil of this State. Heremarked
that Maryland had shed her blood freely in the
war of Independence she was the first to move for
the adoption of the Constitution, and had only
| yielded her clinging attachment to the Union
when the blood of her citizens had been shed by
strangers on their way to conflict with her sis
| tiers of the South.
Mr.. Lincoln insisted that he wanted the troops
only for the defense of the Capital not for the in
vasion of the Southern States "And," said he
al must have the troops and mathematically the
necessity exists that they should come through
Maryland. They can't crawl under the earth,
and they can't fly over it, and mechanically
they must come across it. Why, sir, those Caro-
linans are now crossing Virginia to come here
and hang me, and what can do2"
In some allusion to the Importance of peace
policy, Mr. Lincoln remarked that if he adopted
it under the circumstances, there would be no
Washington in that, no jackson in that, no spunk
in that %
Dr. Fuller hoped that Mr. Lincoln would not
allow "spunk" to override patriotism.
Mr.. Lincoln doubted if he or Congress could
recognize the Southern Confederacy. And we
suspect that such Congress as the next will be,
with all the Southern States out of it, is not likely
to recognize it. With regard to the Government,
! he said, che must run the machine as be found
! 1t. And with reference to passing troops through
Baltimore or Mar, land he said: "NOw, sir, if you
won't hit me, won't hit you"
AS the delegations were leaving, Mr.. Lincoln
said to one or two young men, an tell you a
story. You have heard of the Irishman, who
when a fellow was cutting his throat with blunt
razor, complained that he haggled it. Now if /
can't have troops direct through Maryland, and
must have them all the way round by water, oil
marched across out of the-way territory, l shall
be haggled"
The delegation, on leaving "the presence,
conferred together and agreed on the hopeless
ness of their errand and the sad prospect of any
good thing from such a source, and the exclama
ton was actually made, "God have mercy on US
when the Government is placed in the hands of I
man like this ~