New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-04-26
WHO PLANNED THE AssAsslNA.
TICNS

Whether Jefferson Davis and other Rebe
leaders cOntrived, authorized, or will openly up
prove the assassination of President Lincoln i
u question to which We cannot yet give direct
sanswer. The evidence in the case is cOlatera
aud illustrative rather than positive. Whci
Preston s. Brooks Of South Carolina assaultet
and tried to murder Charles Sumner, we OF thu
North said: The South will denounce that ac
as cowardly and Infamous; but on The
CONTRARY the South by her newspapers
and public men without one exception
|applauded it. Since then, beside max
ing war on the Republic the South has evincet
its fiendish hatred of the North by the atrocities
committed on cur dead soldiers at Bull Run
Iby the massacres at Milliken's Benz
and Fort Pillow, by the systematic
cructics inflicted on our prisoners, by
the Alabama Outragcs, by the st. Alban'
and other piracies on the border, by the hotel
burning plots. And so far as threats went
there has been abundant evidence that assas
sination was deemed an equally Legitimate and
Unsuitable method of warfare. The advertise
mcnts and editorials, appearing repeatedly un
irebuked in Southern papers, proposing rewards
for the murder or Kidnapping OF Mr.. Lincoln,
show that the Rebel leaders did not object tc
such schemes though they may motor may
have melted them.
The event reminds us Of certain letters pub.
|lshed in our columns last year from a CORE
spondent who had for some time been on duty
inside the war Office at Richmond, and who, es-
Gaping 10 Washington, sent us thence a great
deal Of valuable aud timely information. He
wrote subsequently, from Canada, disclosing and
thereby preventing more than one scheme for II
|murderous ioray across the border. He ioret0!d
the plot which eliminated in New-York in the
attempt 70 fire the hotels. And he revealed the
particulars Of a conspiracy to kidnap President
Lincoln, which the following details will show
10 have been considered and approved by the
Rebel President, Secretary Of State and Secre-
tary of War. We quote in full passage from
a letter published in TnB TRIBUNE of March 10,
ls6i:
In former communication I stated that plan had
been submitted 10 the Rebel war Department u! tOi
Nargrayo who had been for considerable tine NJ
eissay In the North. 10 kdnap President Lincoln and
carry HIM TO Richmond or If II should be found in
possible 10 escape with him to the Rebel lines to assas
snate him. Owing 10 change IN the position ~ ne
armies about this time the plan proposed was rendered
|impraoticnble
IN the early part Of November. and only few DAYS
before he was sent North Col Margfave submitted an
other plan the details a which may be interesting TO
the reader To give the plan In minuiia would occupy
too much space and digest of 1t will prove quite IN
telgiblc
One hundred and fry picked men TO 60 secretly
North ma take quarters In Washington. Georgetown
Baltimore ard AioIandra, 80 ~ 10 DO able to conmun
cate daily with each other and. upon day htcd by
their leader we're To assemble IN WASHINGTON for the
purpose Of making the seizure The Precedent, u was
claimed could be easily seized AT private hour nj the
White House. in going to or returning from church.
or other favorable oosason. aud thrust Into o.
carriage and driven or Thecarrioge 10 b. joined
few miles out OF the city Nv - or 20 armed men on
horseback Ii Wa proposed 20 drive TO lDdin Point
about - miles south Of Washington. on Tie Potomac
three relays Of feet borses being stationed on
tie way-wkere boat to be IN waiting 10 crvss tie
river and land the captive few miles south 81 Deco
guam when it would be easy matter for bis capios
to work their with him through tho woods by night
into the Re- FL lines To prevent pursuit. every bridge
between Washington ana Indian Point t. be mibed
beforehand aud Blown mp the captive and hi-
capors had crossed. Huge trees were also TO be read
cut and thrown the road In various places. as
they had passed. by men stationed along for the
purpose. WHO were aforward to separate and escape
AZ best they could.
Tie Secretary Of War thought this scheme might
succeed; bnt be doubted whether such proceeding
wonld be of military character aud jusiErhc undo.
the laws ~ war. he promised. however, "a consult the
President and MT. Benjamini bui Nhst conclusion was
arrived ut | nm unable with certainty 70 .sy Ap"ut
week however after the plan was submitted and The
same day that Col MnrgTaSe lett Tor TIE Norh lhskcd
Mr. Wexford. WHO IL familiar with al tne secrets cf The
Department IL the plan had been adopted. ard he
sycred You will see Old Abe here Ia the Spring ~
sure MS God" A few days aiterward l Was sent 10
Atauta and never returned to Richmond to hear about
the matter.
But this il not the only scheme by any ineasS that
has been devised for kidnapping our Prcsdens Last
Sumner club society Of wealthy cii1eLs OF liich
mond was formed for The purpose OF raising iuni ior
this object Circulars were 10 Trustworthy citizens
in every other city and town IN the tonedeoy n,it
ing cooperation In the grand undertaking and an I'M
I1ense Of money was subscribed. The hTm 81
Merry Co., bankers. in Richmond subscribed si0cfN
and Sumner Arenis aGctonecrs subscribed 5000
and have beard ON good authority that there were
several in the capital who subscribed even more lber
ally than the parties named bit who they we're did
not learn one man Of Charleston. ). g. whose name
have forgotten. subscribed $1,000 II was proposed.
when AL was ready. 10 obtain furoueh for MOsby,
and make him leader Of the enterprise.
Whether these schemes have been abandoned. or
whether the kdnappers are only awaiting favorable
opportunity 70 execute them remains 10 be seen but
sin IL is that too much caution cannot be- observed
by the President the military commanders stationed
at the capital.
As these statements were questioned BY sun
dry Rebel journals at the North, the writer sub
sequently forwarded US the following document
ary evidence, being letter from Calhoun Cul-
lon, Captain in North Carolina regiment, and
well known in the Confederacy. The original
letter was sent us, enyelopcd, post-mTked,
stamped with Confederate ten-cent postage
stamp, and addressed to Mr.. Wexford, clerk
in the war-offce at Richmond Although it
vas published in The TRIBUNE so long ago as
April %. 1864, its genuineness has never been