Newbern weekly progress., 1861-03-05
THE PLAN TO AssAssINATE ABRAHAM
LINCOiN-HOW IT LEAKED OUT

says he was forcibly locked up in room and
kept there for two hours in order to prevent
him telegraphing the news of Mr. Lincoln's
depar ture. This correspondent writing on
Saturday, tells the following story which, like
that from the Times is of decided 6 sensation
order:
The reasons for this movement, so extraor-
binary and unprecedented, are that Lincoln's
friends believed, from information acquired
[ am not permitted to tell how-that if he car
ried out his programme, and left by special train
at nine this morning, the train would either
be run off an embankment, blown up by gre
nades placed beneath the track, or in some
way destroyed, between the Maryland line and
Baltimore, or that, this falling, Mr.. Lincoln,
would be mobbed and assassinated in Balti-
more during his ride from depot to depot
How imminent his friends thought this danger
was may be Judged by the fact that one of
those who was aware of the plot, but
obliged to go where Mr.. Lincoln went, made
his will, sealed up his papers, and prepared for
sudden death in case Mr.. Lincoln should insist
upon going on this morning
To avoid demonstration at Baltimore, Mr..
Wood who had charge of the trains, was unde-
! termined last night whether to go via Philadel-
phia to avoid change of cars or to go by the di-
rect route from Harrisburg and cross Balti-
more in close carriages. He declined the lat
ter course, and in response to letter from
Erastus Corning, saying that the Peace Con-
gress desired Mr. Lincoln to be in Washington
as soon as possible, he arranged to arrive sew
eral hours before the time set down in the pro-
gramme. Older heads were at work, however
and not until Mr.. Lincoln had gone was Wood
| let into the secret, and his trouble proven use
| less So complete was Woods mysttication
that after Mr.. Lincoln left he was botherin &
himself as to which Baltimore delegation (three
are presently should be received, and wanted to
see the President elect about it.
Although not divulged to Mr.. Lincoln till
yesterday as some say, the whole plan was
arranged days ago. Only three persons were
to be let into the plot, including Mrs. Lincoln
and Mr. Judd of Illinois. Speeches and recep-
tions were to be kept up meanwhile. Special
trains were arranged, the telegraph silen-
ced, the wires to be cut if necessary, Lincoln
to leave, Judd to be out of the way, Mrs Lin
coin and family to return to Philadelphia, and
| the announcement here to be kept back till
about 8 o'clock this morning.
Too many vessels were entrusted with the
| secret however. Some were leaky--and it is
| out Mr.. Lincoln returned from the ceremO-
nies at the State House at three o'clock yester-
day afternoon Then the plan was laid before
him He is said to have Indignantly rejecte
it. Mrs. Lincoln begged of him to go. Other
persons had to be let into the secret in order
! to persuade Mr.. Lincoln among them Cover
!
most wept with anger at this plan, called it
| abominable and said that Lincoln brave
man, but he had coWardly friends.
Lincoln was assured that he would certain
ly be assassinated, perhaps the whole family
destroyed, and that an attack would be made
upon Fort Sumter at the same time: finally,
his trends, persuasion and Mrs. Lincoln S tears,
| induced him. who was to be our future Jack
son, to consent to the arrangement. Lincoln
! a covered
carriage ad drawn swiftly to the depot. Few
saw him depart, and these were assured that
he had gone to Governor Curtin's residence
| to rest.
In the evening crowds assembled at the
hotel to attend the reception, but Wood as
sured the company that Lincoln was i'll, and
had gone to bed Mrs. Lincoln's agitation
nearly discovered the whole secret, and she
was obliged to give up the ladies' reception
pleading fatigue and sickness, the great crowd
and the smallness of the parlors. The crow1
gradually dispersed, the last serenade ant
cheers died away, and the secret was safe
Few knew it, Mrs. Lincoln was in her hus
bands room to answer enquirers. These pre-
cautious were all the more necessary, as man,
Baltimoreans were in town. Only one person
supposed to be Mr. Judd, went to the tram
Unfortunately, Col Sumner had fren'
to whom, unable to restrain his indigna
ton, he told Mr.. Lincoln had left town.
) Another person said that a special train wit
| only one car had left, under charge of snperin
; tendent Lewis, for Philadelphia. Then thu
murder was out
Your reporter was released at half past one
as soon as the secret was public and immedi
) ately CALLED upon Mr. Wood. On the street
and in the bar-rooms the few people stirring
were discussing the plan, some think it pr1
, dent; but the majority declaring that 1t wa
2 cowardly, and that no harm would have haE
3 pened if Lincoln had staid in Baltimore
week:
SNEAKING INTO PLACE.-History records SCI
eral instar ces of rulers sneaking out of plae
and power, to avoid the indignant vengeance
an oppressed or deluded people, but A. Blinku
: enjoys the distinction of being the first Pres
i dent elect who sneaked and skulked into tt
site of his official Inauguration.
F After public show from, Springfield to Ne
: York, and after stopping at as many places q
d nossible, and after general exhibition throug