The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-03-31
THE DISPATCH BUILDING IS ON Co
VERNON STREET, NEAR TO MAIN, AND
NEARLY OPPOSITE THE OLD DISPATCH
CORNER
4 Middle.

the very great diihcnlty-nay, almost impossi-
bility--of obtaining from any two witnesses
entirely concurrent statements of any event
or any conversation. 1t is this which has
thrown doubt upon history-one of the
graNest forms of human teStimony-and
given it SO much the character of fable. We
have recently been forcibly reminded of this
by the published testimony given before the
Reconstruction Committee at Washington in
rela ton TO n conference between President
LINCOLN and Mr.. JOHN b. BALDWIN, of this
State. In this published testimony appears
the evidence given in by Mr.. BALDWIN, Mr..
Boris, and Mr.. JoHy +. LEWIS, of Rocking
ham. Two of the city press yesterday noticed
the point of difference in the statements made
by MesSrs. BALDWIN and Boris and we will
help this morning to add to the confusion of
the case by the newspaper reports of Mi.
BALDwIS's testimony, published Immediately
after the return of the Virginia Delegation
from Washington, in February last. 1t will
be remembered that it was on the occasion OF
the visit of that delegation to the metropolis
TO convey TO President JOHNSON the legislative
resolutions approving his policy that the gen
tlemen composing il We're called before the
Committee on Reconstruction. Mr.. BALDWIN,
chairman of the delegation, then gave the tcs
timony in question.
First, then, Mr. Boris solemnly teslifleS that,
on the eth of April, lS6l, Sunday afternoon
he waited upon Mr.. LINCOLN, on his invita-
ton. Mr.. LINCOLN rccounted 4 conversation
be had had with Mr.. BALDWIN. In that con-
yersation he (AIr. LINcoLS ~ described the stu
alton of the garrison at Fort Sumter and the
necessity of provisioning it remarking that
haI md a. a
sail that evening at ) o'clock-that one of the
vessels was loaded with bread, and was to
enter the harbor to supply Major ANDERSON;
and that if it were fired upon, the armed fleet
escorting that one was instructed 10 follow her
to protect her: they 10 remain outside the bar
unless the bread vessel was so fired on. AL
though he feared it was too late TO stop this
fleet, he would submit the proposition he had
intended to offer when he sent for Mr.. Sun
MBRs (Mr. BALDWIN had gone to Washington
instead of Mr.. SUMMERS, TO meet Mr.. LINCOLN,
by arrangement of their friends.) Remarkng
that, by Il recent vote in the Virginia Conven-
ton, he saw that the Union party had ma
iority of two thirds, Mr.. LINCOLN (as reported
by Mr.. BoTrs) said:
IF you will go back to Richmond and get
that Union majority TO adjourn and 60 home
anxious am l for the preservation of the
peace of this country, and 10 save Nirginia and
the other border States from going out, that
will take the responsibility OF eTacuating Fort
Sumter, and take the chance of negotiating
with the cotton States which have already
gone out"
''Well, Mr.. Lincoln" inquired Mr.. Bolts,
- how did Mr.. Baldwin receive that PROPOSE
ton ?" Sir" said Mr.. Lincoln, (raisinG up
his hands, che would not listen TO il for Il
pnn a hardly
He asked me what l meant by an adjourn
ment-did i mean an adlournment SlHe dteI
Why, of course, Mr.. Baldwin, said ], mean
an adjournment sine die l do not mean 10
assume such a responsibility as that Of sur
rendering that fort to the people OF Charles
ton upon your adjournment, and then Tor you
10 return in n week or ten days and pass your
ordinance of secession after l have given up
the fort
Mr.. Boris, incensed, as he says, that the
proposition should have been rejected, asked
permission to make it known to the Union
men of the Virginia Convention. MI. LIN
coin replied that it was too late, adding, "the
3" fleet HAS sailed, and l have no means OF
- communicating with it," Mr.. Boris then
asked permission to mention the circumstances;
but Mr.. LINCOLN replied, "Well, not just now
Boris: after a while you may"
Afterwards, in Richmond, Mr.. Boris says
he mentioned this conversation to Mr.. LEWIS
who was 4 member of the Virginia ConVen-
lion. and the next day that gentleman ana
Mr.. BALDWIN drove up to his house, and the
which followed is thus stated b.
Mr.. Boris:
.swen, Mr.. Baldwin," said Bolts, us II
true that Mr.. Lincoln did propose to you tha'
if the Convention would adjourn and 90 nome
without passing the ordinance OF secession hc
wOuld eyacuate Fort Sumter ~
YES said Mr.. Baldwin, he did.
"My God, Mr. Baldwin," said Bolts, "why
did you reject such proposition as tha w.. -,
The only answer that Baldwin made was by
taking out his watch and saying:
cit only wants twenty minutes OF the hour
of meeting of the Convention, when Il most
important vote is TO be taken,' Qmeahih? the
vote on the ordinance of SECESSION - an
obliged to be there punctually at the hour, ana
| have not time TO make the explanation
desire, but will avail myself of the earliest
opportunity To make 4 full explanation OF the
whole of it"
Mr.. Boris states that he never saw MI
BALDWIN afterwards, and never heard an
explanation from him. Mr.. LEWIS, in his les
timony, narrates the fact OF Mr.. LINCOLN
having sent 10 Richmond for Mr.. SUMMERS,
and of Mr.. BALDWIN being prevailed upon 10
90 in his stead; also, the circumstances OF The
interview between Messrs. Boris and BALD
WIN in confederation of Mr.. Boris $ state
ment of the same.
Now, turning to Mr.. BALDwlN's testimony
AS reported in the official record of the Com
mittee of Reconstruction, we find positive
contradiction of the tenor of the interview
between himself and Mr.. LINCOLN, as reported
by Mr.. Boris. After recounting the facts,
before set forth, of his going to Washington,
and his introduction into Mr.. IINcoN's bed
room, for the sake of greater privacy Mr..
BALDWIN procceds--beginning with the remark
of the President:
clam afraid you have come too late l wish
Won could have been here three or four days
ago" j..
"Why 90 replied Baldwin. " Allow me to
saw, Mr. President, that do not understand
YOUR remark. You sent special messenger
TO Richmond, who arrived there yesterday. l
returned with him by the shortest ana most
expeditions mode OF travel known"
Why do you not all adjourn the Virginia
Convention - said Mr.. Lincoln. -,
Adjourn il! HowY DO you mean sine de
Yes, sine die. 1t is II standing menace 10
me, which embarrasses me very much.
q am very much surprised" said BALDWIN
i" to hear you express that opinion. Inc II
ginia Convention is In the hands OF Union