Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-04-28
A CHAPTER OF RECENT HISTORY.
Presldent lincoln and the TIrgInia RebeIs.
SECRETARY sEwARD'sC CONDITION
President johnson.
THE PLOT OF THE AssASsINs.
From the N. Y. Tribune.

WASHINGTON, April 20. 1865.
The following is the history of the author
ity recently given for the assembling of the
Rebel Legislature of Virginia:
While President Lincoln was in Richmond
he was waited upon by Judge John A.
Campbell who observed
Il had an interview with Jefferson Davis,
Benjamin and Breckenridge just before they
left, and said to them The military pow
er of the Confederacy is broken. Its indie
pendence is hopeless. 1t only remains for
as to make the best terms we can The
trouble is, the President of the United
States cannot enter into negotiation with
you; but he does recognize the States, and
can confer with their regular authorities.
Under the doctrine of State Rights, so uni
yersaly held in the South, the troops from
Virginia-the Confederate Government be-
ing fngitive-will recognize the right of
the Virginia Legislature to control them. -
IF you, Mr.. Lincoln, will permit that body
to convene, it will doubtless recall them
from the field. y
Campbelps s arguments for this course were
many and specious. The President was ac-
tuated by his absorbing desire for peace to
listen attentiyely; but he said
D.aakq aaqage qgEae 85Ip 8G5aImpbe ell let US have no misun
Immediately wrote the same propositions
which Mr.. Seward took from him TO the
Hampton Roads Conference:
:. l. lhe territorial integrity of the Repub-
IL No retraction of Executive or Con
greesslonai action on the subject of Slavery.
Ill No armistiee.
10 these be added forth condition that
II Leading tontederates still persisted in the
war, now 1t had become so utterly home
less, then, property should be relentlessly
confscated
Campbell prayed for a modification of
third article, but the President was i'm
movable. He said
We viii not negotiate with men as long
as they are lighting against us. The last
election established this as the deliberate
determln alton of the country.
On the steamboat which brought Mr.
Llnco.n down the James River, he wrote |
this order to Gen Weitzel:
on will permit the persons who call |
themselves the Virginia Legislature to con- |
yene IN Richmond, for the purpose of with
lraWlng the Virginia troops from the Rebel
army; but you will not allow them to use
my treasonable language, or adopt any trea-
onable measures.
Without consulting with any person
or advising any one of its con-
ents, ne sealed this document, and sent it
0 General Weltzel by United States SEN
tor
But on the very day of his death, he re-
elyed letter from Judge Campbell, tinped
nth the usual Rebel insolence, ignoring al
Ogether the proposition which the Presi-
ent had made to him in writing and urg-
lg
1t is true that the military power of the
onfederacy Is destroyed, but the spirit of
ie Southern people still remains unbroken.
your want to coneiliate them, it will he
Use Tor you to grant an armistice, and nee I
sary foi you to treat leniently their lead
g PuDile men, and seek their assistance - I
ms was too much even for Mr. Lincoln's
'od nature. he characterized Campbelrs
urse as ungrateful and outrageous. Mean
lle, the capltulation of General Lee oh
ated the necessity of conveninc the Rebel :
sglslature, and he sent an order counter =
anding the call. = :,
One OF the Presidents last official acts
Isl deed OF mercy towards his enemies g
expressly stated that he meant ia rive 3
leading Conederates an opportunity to
we the country. This telegram from
rtland came to Washington
| beverly Tucker and Jacob Thomson
i be here tomorrow in disguise, to leave =
the steamer for Europe What shall we Y
MIR. Lincoln directed the authorities to let
I'm go. A few hours later he fell bv the
assln's bullet, and beside his deatb-bed =
mber OF the Cabinet countermanded that
ler. Fortunately for their own lives 10
ompson and Tucker did not come into ge
United States after the conspirators had thi
Idered the only man who could have saw of
them from their doom. as
lr. Seward exhibits wonderful vitality Sc
his physicians have little hope that his hr
nth will ever recover its symmetry. n On,
kelyt be awry, and probably power will ant
acklng entirely to close the lower law a p
eral days since the Secretary, with char. ten
sristic unselfshness wrote unon a slata con
'r myself | care nothing; but the neonle az
uld have been more watchful for tbe;r era era
sident '''0i' IL
violence disclose that there were ton con and
ators in the plot; that at a meeting held ten,
lemphls they selected by lot the assas- ;
of the President Our authorities have aaTl =
ter which says 1T becomes vour han cent
OF to destroy this tyrant. You can So con,
the cup, the blade or the bullet bat Dali
h;aol0 ihe catp has once BEEN tried, and a lsay
IT. day
le unhappy lady-the daughter of a At DC
T-England Senator-to whom Both was n,