The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-31
Che Aortolk Cost.
SATURDAY, MARCH 81, 1866.
HISTORICAL.

facts in regard to conference between
John B. Baldwin and President Lin
coin, previous to the outbreak of the
war, were ELECTED by the committee. 1t
will be seen that we owe all this war,
and bIoodshed, and trouble, through
which we have passed. to John b. Bald
win. In regard to this bit of history the
witnesses examined were Jno. +. Lewis,
John Minor Bolts, and Jno. b. Baldwin,
and the three Johns makea very plain
case: so esq aN
'rn STATEMENT OF Mr. LEWIS -
The first statement on the subject came
from Mr.. John +. Lewis, an uncompro-
missing Union man all through the war,
and who had been himself member OF
the Virginia Convention. He testified
that on the evening of the 10th April.
1851, be visited John Minor Bolts in
Richmond, and learned from him that
Mr.. Lincoln had Informed him he had
had an interview with John b. Bald
win--Judge Summers, for whom spec
ial messenger had been sent, not having
been able to go to Washington, and the
Union members having delegated Bald
win-and had made proposition that
IL the Virginia Convention would adj
journ sine die, without passing an ordi-
nance of secession, he Mr.. Lincoln)
would take the responsibility OF with
drawing the troops from Fort Sumter.
Col Baldwin declined to accede 10 the
proposition, and did not communicate
1t to the convention. NeG morning,
after hearing this statement, Mr.. Lewis
prevailed on Baldwin to accompany
him to the house of Mr.. Bolts, who re-
peated the statement made TO him by
Mr.. Lincoln, aud asked him ''how in
the name Of God he could take the re-
sponsibility of Withholding the knowl-
edge of such an interview from the con-
vention ?" to which Baldwin, looking
at his watch, replied that 1t was then
near the hour for the meeting of the
convention that he had to be there.
and that he would see him (Mr. Botts)
again.
STATEMENT OF MR.. BALDWIN.
The narrative of the same transaction
given by Mr.. Baldwin is this: After re-
Iating the circumstances OF special
messenger being sent To Richmond by
Mr.. Seward, with request that Judge
Summers, or some other leading Union
member, should come to Washington to
have a conferen &c with Mr.. Lincoln; of
his (Baldwin's) being selected and ac-
companying the messenger to WASH
ington the same night; Of his being in
troduced the next morning by Mr..
Seward to Mr.. Lincoln, and 6 Mr. Lin.
coins taking him into a private bed
room, that they might be the more free
from INTERRUPTIONS no yn~a . ------ti.-~
of the conversation, which opened by
Mr.. Lincoln remarking, mr.. Baldwin,
/ am afraid you have come too late. y
s.Too late for what ?" asked Baldwin.
"I am afraid you have come too late, y
said lie II wish you could have been
here three or four days ago." Why"
replied Baldwin, "allow me to say, Mr..
President, that do not understand
your remark; you sent special mes
senger to Richmond, who arrived there
yesterday returned with him by the
shortest and most expeditions mode OF
travel known why do you not ad.
journ the Virginia Convention ~
said Mr.. Lincoln. Adjourn 1t how ?
Do you mean sine die ~ Eyes. sine
die. 1t 10 standing menace to
me, which embarrasses me very much.
II am very much surprised" said
Baldwin, ito hear you express that
opinion. The Virginia Convention is
in the hands of Union men. We have
in it clear and controlling majority;
we are controlling il for conservative re-
suits; we can do it with perfect certain.
ty, II you will uphold our hands by a
conservative policy here. II we were to
adjourn sine die, leaving this question
unsettled, IL would place the Union meii
of Virginia in the attitude Of coDfessing
an inability to meet the occasion. The
result would be that another convention
would be called, which would be under
the exclusive control of Secessionists,
and an ordinance Of secession would be
passed in less than six weeks. Our true
policy il to hold the position thnt we
have, and for you to uphold our hands
by conservative, conciliatory, 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 doIe." Mr.. Baldwin
then went on to sketch out q plan oil
policy which he thought the President
should pursue, embracing aconciliatory
plan, issuing u call for great National
Convention, aud the with travail of the
forces from Fort Sumter and Fort
Pickens. This was about the substance
of the interview. Mr.. Lincoln giving 10
Mr.. Baldwin no pledge. and no promise,
aud making no offer of any sort. Mr..
Baldwin visited Mr.. Seward the same
afternoon, and found him extremely
earnest In the desire to settle the mat.
/ ter, and apparently shrinking from the
idea of 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 Mr.. Lincoln had
given a somewhat different version oil
| the interview, representing that he had
| offered, IL the convention would adjourn
sine die, to withdraw the troops from
| Sumter and Pickens. ~ am as clear
said Mr.. Baldwin, Sin my recollection
as IL is possible to be, that he made nc
| suggestion, as 1 understood it, and said
nothing from which i could infer it."
| STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN MINOR Bolts
| Mr.. John Minor Bolts gave his YER
| sion of the interview as 1t was related te
him by Mr.. Lincoln. He says that or
Sunday afternoon, April 2, 1861, being
In Washington, he received note from
j Mr.. Lincoln, saying that he would b,
\ glad to see him during the evening, aut
that he went the same evening TO th,
White House, and remained in CONVEX
| cation with Mr.. Lincoln from sever
| o'clock until eleven o'clock, durin,
| which time Mr.. Lincoln related the par
ticulars of the visit of Mr.. Baldwin sub
stantially as follows: .Ah. Mr.. Bald
}win,n said Mr.. Lincoln, why did yo
not come here sooner; have been wal,
ling and expecting some of you gentle
men OF the Convention to come to m
| for more than a week mast had a mo