The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-04-19
The Conspiracy to Assassinate Presi-
dent Lincoln.

listed to assassinate him on his way
TO Washington, act on foot an inves-
tigation OF the matter. For this
purpose they employed a Detective
Of great experience, who was en-
gagged at Baltimore in the business
some three weeks prior to Mr.. Lin
coins expected arrival there, EN-.
ploying both men and women to as.
sist him. Shortly after coming to
Baltimore, the Detective discovered
a combination of men banded togeth
er under solemn oath 10 assassinate
the President elect. The leader OF
the conspirators was an Italian refu.
geo, Barber, well known in Balti-
more, wno assumed the name Of
Orsini, az indicative Of the part he
was to perform. The assistants
employed by the Detective, who,
like himself, were strangers in Balti.
more city, by assuming to be seces.
sionists from Louisiana and other
seeding states, gained the confidence
OF some of the conspirators, and were
entrusted with their plans. Ii was
rarged in case Mr.. Lincoln should
pass safely over tire railroad to Bal.
timore, that the coDspirators should
mingle with the crowd which might
surround his carriage, and by pre-
tending to be his friends, be enabled
to approach his person, when, upon
signal from their leader, some of
them would shoot at Mr.. Lincoln
with their pistols, and others would
throw into his carriage hand gren AIDES
filled with decorating powder, SINH
lar to those used in the attempted
assassination OF the Emperor l. ,uis
Napoleon. 1t was inten led that in
the confusion which shonld result
from this attack, the as'ailants should
escape to vessel which was waiting
! in the harbor to receive them, and
he carried to Mobile, in the seeding
state Of Alabama.
Upon Mr.. I.incoln's arrival in
Philadelphia, upon Thursday, the
2l-t of February, the Detective Wis
tied Philadelphil, and submitted to
certain friends OF the President elect
the information he had collected as
to the conspirators and their plans.
An interview was Immediately ar.
ranged between Mr.. Lincoln and the
Detective. The interview took place
in Mr.. Ii coins room, in the Con.
tinental Hotel. where he was staying
during his visit in Philadelphia.
Mr.. Lincoln. having beard the
officers statement, informed him that
he had prom sel h. r Use tho Amer.
lcan flag on Independence Hall on
the next uiorning-the morning oi
the anniversary of Washington's
birthday-and that he had accepted
the invitation ut the Pennsylvania
Legislature to he publicly received
by that body in the afternoon OF the
same day. "Hoth Of these engage
meuts," said he, with emphasis, Il
will keep ii it costs me my life. II.
however, after | shall have concluded
these engagement, You can take me
in safety to Washington, will place
lnyeelf at your disposal, and author
ize you to make such arrangements
as you may deem proper for that
purpose"
On the next day, in the morning,
Mr. Lincoln performed the ceremony
of raising the American flag on In-
dependence Hall, in Philadelphia.
according to his promise, and arrived
at Harrisburg on the afternoon of
: the same day, where he was formally
' welcomed by the Pennsylvania Leg,
A islatrre. After the reception, he
retired to his hotel the Jones House
and withdrew With lew confidential
friends to a private apartment
Here he remained until nearly six
o'clock in the evening. wher, in
company with Colonel Lamon, he
quietly entered carriage without
observation, and was driven 10 the
: Pennsylvania Railroad, where n spe'
cial train for Philadelphia was wal,
ing for him. Simultaneously with
his departure from Harrisburg, the
telegraph wires were cut, so that his
departure, lift should become known
!. might not be communicated at a
distance.
{ { The special train arrived in Phil.
adelphia at 10i o'clock at night. -
Here he was met by the Detective
d who had carriage in readiness int(
which the party entered, and wert
driven to the depot Of the Philadcl
s. phia, Wilmington and Baltirnor,
: Railroad.
They did not reach the depot unit
n 1T o'clock, but fortunately tor them
'e the regular train, the hour OF which
- for starting, WAS eleven, had beer
delayed. The party then took berth
70 in the sleeping car, and withou
y, u change of cars, passed direcll,
N through to W Washington, where the,
IS arrived at the usual hour, half-pas
six o'clock, on the morning OF Sa,
O. urday the 23rd. Mr.. Lincoln wor
O. 20 disguise whatever, but journeys
Ill in an ordinary travelling dress.
ltisproper to state here, that Prio
ne to Mr.. Lincoln's arrival in Philade'
to phia, General Scott and Senate
I'd Seward, in Washington, had bee
- ~ apprised, from independent sources
ne that imminent danger threatene
ed Mr.. Lincoln in case he should put
;" licly pass through Baltimore, an
accordingly special messenger, M
e. Frederick w. Seward, a son OF Ser
"a ator Seward, was dispatched to Phi
adelphia, to urge Mr.. Lincoln
-. l...a.A A. INa