Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-04-03

by conservative, concliatory, national course.
The Union men of Virginia would not be willing
to adjourn that convention until we either effect
some settlement of this matter, or are certain
that 1t cannot be done. Mr.. Baldwin then went
on to sketch out a plan of policy which he
thought the President should pursue, embracing
conclllatory plan, issuing call for a great Ma
tlonal Convention, and the Withdrawal OF the
forces from Fort Sumter and Fort Pickens-
This was about the substance of the interview,
MIR: Lincoln giving to MIR. Baldwin no pledge,
and no promise, and making no offer amy sort.
MIR. Baldwin visited Mr.. Seward the same after
noon, and found him extremely earnest in the
desire to settle the matter, and apparently
shrinking from the idea of a clash of arms. Mr..
Baldwin went on to Richmond and reported to
the gentlemen who had sent him. Further on
IN his testimony, he added that he understood
MIR. Lincoln had given a somewhat different
version OF the interview, representing that he
had offered, it the convention would adjourn
sane de, to withdraw the troops from Sumter
and Pickens. II am as clear" said Mr. Bal
dwin, I'm my recollection as 1t as possible to Be,
that he made no such suggestion, as [ unde9-
stood At, and SAID nothing from, aclich l could
infer 1t.
STATEMENT OF MIR. Bolts.
Mr.. Bolts stated that on Sunday afternoon,
April I, 1861, being then in Washington, he
received a note from Mr.. Lincoln, saying that
he would be glad to see him during the even
ing, and that he went the same evening to the
White House, and remained in conversation
with Mr.. Lincoln from seven o'clock until eley-
en- O'Clock, during which time Mr. Lincoln re-
lated the particulars Of the visit of Baldwin
substantially as follows: ''Ah, Mr. Baldwin"
said MIR. Lincoln, why did you not come here
sooner; l have been waiting and expecting
Of ho 10,
come to me for more than week past [ had
most important proposition to make to you,
and L am afraid you have come too late How
ever, will make the proposition now We
have In Fort Sumter with Major Anderson
about eighty men, and [ learn from Major An
derson that his provisions are nearly exhausted.
| have not only written to Governor Pickens,
but have sent special messenger to him, to
say that if he will allow Major Anderson to OBJ
tain his marketing at the Charleston market, or
will have it sent to him, will make no effort
to provision the fort; but if he does not do that,
will not permit these people to starve, and
shall send a vessel loaded with bread and that
if he fires on that vessel he will fire upon an
unarmed vessel but [ shall at the same time
send fleet along with her, with instructions
not to enter the harbor of Charleston unless that
vessel is fired into, and if she is, then the feet
IS to enter the harbor and protect her. Now,
Mr.. Baldwin, that fleet is now lying in the har-
Dor Of New York, and viii be ready to sail this
afternoon at five o'clock. Although fear it is
almost too late, yet | will submit the PROPOSE
ton which l intended when sent for Mr.. Sum
mers. Your convention in Richmond has been
sitting nearly two months, and all that they
have done has been to shake the rod over my
head. You have recently taken a vote in the
Virginia Convention on the right Of secession,
which was rejected by 80 to 45, majority Of
two-thirds, showing the strength Of the Union
party in that convention. Ii you will go back
to Richmond and get that Union majority to
adjourn and go home without passing the ordi
nance OF secession, so anxious am L for the
preservation of the peace of this country, and
to save Virginia and the other Border States
from going out, that will take the responsible
ity of eyacuating Fort Sumter, and take the
chance Of negotiating with the Cotton States,
which have already gone out. well, Mr..
Lincoln, inquired Mr.. Bolts, chow did Mr.
said Mr.. Lincoln raising up his hands, he
would not listen to it for moment; he hardly
treated me with ciyiity. He asked me what 1
meant by an adjournment. Did mean an ad-
journment sine de? Why, of course, Mr.
Baldwin, said [, | mean an adjournment sine
de. | do not mean to assume such a respon-
sibility as that Of surrendering that fort to the
people Of Charleston upon your adjournment,
and then for you to return in week OF ten days
and pass your ordinance OF secession after l
have given up the fort.
Mr.. Bolts, very much incensed, as he says,
that Mr.. Baldwin should have rejected the
proposition, asked Mr.. Lincoln to authorize him
to make it to the Union men of the Convention,
assuring him that they would adopt it willingly
and cheerfuily, to which Mr. Lincoln replied
"Oh, it is too late; the feet has sailed, and
have no means OF communicating with it. =
Mr.. Bolts then asked permission to mention
the circumstances for Mr. Lincoln's own bene-
fit, but Mr.. Lincoln said, 'well, not just now,
Bolts after awhile you may Mr. Bolts in
ference was that Mr. Lincoln was assuming a
responsibility which would at that day have
been extremely distasteful to those who had
elevated him to the Presidency, but he thought
it due now to history, and to the character Of
Mr.. Lincoln, to make it known.
Mr.. Bolts was here asked the question, ''are
you perfectly sure, according to your best recol-
lection, that Mr.. Lincoln told you that he had
made that proposition to Mr.. Baldwin, to evac-
uate Fort Sumter on this condition? p Answer,
Il know it as well as | know you are standing
before me and that [ am answering your cues
tion"
Mr. Bolts relates that some weeks afterwards
he returned to Richmond and mentioned one
evening to MIR. Jno. +. Lewis, a Union member
of the Convention, the substance of the CONVEX
sation he.had with Mr.. Lincoln, and that next
morning Mr. Lewis and Mr. Baldwin drove to
his house, and had an interview with him,
which he narrates as follows:
well, Mr.. Baldwin" said Mr. Bolts, cit is
true that Mr.. Lincoln did propose to you that
if the Convention would adjourn and go home
without passing the ordinance of secession he
would eyacuate Fort Sumter
Yes said Mr.. Baldwin, che did,
s'My God, Mr.. Baldwin, said Bolts, ''why
did you reject such proposition as that?'
The only answer that Baldwin made was by
taking out his watch and saying, 1T only wants
twenty minutes Of the hour Of the meeting of
the Convention, when a most important vote is
to be taken,' meaning the vote on the ordinance
of secession Il am obliged to be there pune
tually at the hour, and have not time to make
the explanation [ desire, but will avail myself
OF the earliest opportunity to make full eX-
i a