The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-04-05
An Interesting Historical Epi-
sOde.

Among the witnesses lately before the
Reconstruction Committee was John B.
Baldwin, of Virginia, who testified with
reference to the Secession of Virginia.
It appears that conference had been
sought by Mr.. Lincoln with a member of
the Virginia Secession Convention, and
that Mr. Baldwin had been sent on that
mission by the Convention. Here is the
substance of what Mr.. Baldwin says trans
pired at the Conference:
After relating the circumstances of
special messenger being sent to Richmond
by Mr.. Seward, with request that Judge
Summers or some other leading member
should come to Washington to have a
conference with Mr.. Lincoln Of his { Mr..
Baldwin's) being sent and accompanying
the messenger to Washington the same
night; of his being introduced next NOR
ming by Mr.. Seward to Mr.. Lincoln of
Mr.. Lincoln's taking him into a private
bedroom that they might be the more free
from interruption, he gave narration of
the conversation, which was opened by
Mr. Liacoln's -emarking:
"Mr. Baldwin, [ am afraid you have
come too late"
"Too late for what ?'
''I am afraid you have come too late,"
said he !; fI wish you could have been here
three or four days ago."
"Why ?" replied Mr.. Baldwin. "Allow
me to say, Mr.. President, that I do not
understand your remarks. You sent a
| special messenger to Richmond, who
arrived there yesterday. | returned with
him by the shortest and most expeditions
| mode of travel known
"Why do you not adjourn the Virginia
| Convention ?'' said Mr.. Lincoln.
"Adjourn it! How? Do you mean
sine die ?"
eyes; sine die 1t is standing men
ace to me which embarasses me very
much"
"I am very much surprised" said MI.
Baldwin, "to hear you express that opin-
ion. The Virginia Convention is in the
hands of Union men. We have in it a
clear and controlling majority; we are
controlling it for conservative results
1 We can do it with perfect certainty, if
you will uphold our hands by a conserva-
1 tive pOllCy uGIo. II NC HCIO " III
sine die, leaving the questions unsettled,
it would place the Union men OF Virginia
in the attitude of confessing 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 is to hold the
position we have, and for you to uphold
our hands by a conservative, conciliatory,
national course The Union men of Vir-
ginia would not be willing to adjourn that
Convention until we either effect some
settlement of this matter, or ascertain
that it cannot be done"
John Minor Bolts also gave his version
of the interview to the Committee, as it
was related to him by Mr.. Lincoln himself.
The following is the substance of it:
He said that on Sunday afternoon, April
| 7, 1861, being then in Washington, he
| received note from Mr.. Lincoln, saying
that he would be glad to see him during
the evening, and that he went the same
evening to the White House and re-
NAMED in conversation with Mr.. Lincoln
from 7 o'clock until IL o'clock, during
which time Mr.. Lincoln related the par
ticulars of the visit of Mr.. Baldwin, sub.
stantially as follows:
"Oh! Mr.. Baldwin," said Mr.. Lincoln
"why did you not come sooner? have
been waiting and expecting some Of you
gentlemen of the Convention to come to
mo for more than week past. had q
most important proposition to make to you
and am AFRAID you have come TOO late
However, 1 will make the proposition now
We have in Fort Sumter, with Maj
Anderson, about 80 men, and learn from
Major Anderson that his provisions are
nearly exhausted. I have not only writ
ten to Gov Pickens but I have sent ;
special messenger to him to say that if h
will allow Major Anderson to obtain hi
marketing at the Charleston market, o
will have it sent to him, will make n,
effort to provision the Fort; and that i
he does not do that will not permit thes
people to starve, and shall seEd vesse
laden with bread, and that if he fires OF
that vessel, he will fire upon an unarme
vessel. But 1 shall, at the same time
! send fleet along with her, with instruc
tions not to enter the harbor of Charlesto
unless that vessel is fired into; and, if sh
Ii is, then the feet is to enter the harbo
and protect her Now, Mr.. Baldwin, tina