The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-03-31

That we nave, and for You to uphold our hands
by n conservative, conciliatory, national
course. The Union men of Virginia would not
be willing 10 adjourn that convent ton until we
either effect some settlement of this matter or
ascertain that 1t cannot be done"
Mr.. Baldwin then went on to sketch ont \
plan OF policy which he thought the President
should pursue, embracing n conciIiatory and
assuring proclamation, n call for n great ma
tional convention, and the withdrawal of the
forces from Sumter and Pckens
Ihis was about the substance of the inter-
view, Mr.. Lincoln giving to Mr.. Baldwin no
pieuge ana no promise and making no offer Of
any sort. MIR. Baldwin visited Mr. Seward
the same afternoon, and found him extremely
earnest in the desire 10 settle the matter, and
apparently shrinking from the idea of clash
OF arms Mr.. Baldwin went on 10 Richmond
and reported to the gentlemen who had sent
him.
Further on in his testimony he added that
he understood that Mr.. Lincoln had given "A
somewhat different version of the interview,
representing that he hal offered if the Conven-
ton would adjourn sine die, to withdraw the
troops from Sumter and Pickens. II am rs
clear, SAID Baldwin, - in my recollection as it
Is possible to be, that he made no such sugges-
ton, as l understood il, and said nothing from
which could infer it,"
Now, again, strange as it may seem, several
of the colleagues of Mr.. BALDWIN in his visit
to President JOHNSON, in February last, who
We're like himself, examined by the Committee
OF Reconstruction, gave the purport of that
conversation to two of the newspapers of this
city, and their report differs from the above
official statement from the journdi IF tie cam
miHee!
The DiSpdth thus upon the authority Of
member of the committed reports the tenor of
Mr.. BALDwTS's testimony on this point:
Mr.. Lincoln asked why the Virginia Con-
vention did not adjourn His reply was that,
although there was a Union majority in the
convention, they would not adjourn while
ignorant Of the plans for the adjustment of
our sectional difficulties. He had also said
that If he had Mr.. LincOlns power, he could
settle the dsafiecton in fifteen minutes by
Withdrawing the troops from Sumter and
Pickens and by calling convention of all the
States. Mr.. Lincoln had replied that he
would do this. Mr.. Howard said that he felt
certain that Mr.. Lincoln never had promised
10 Withdraw the troops from Sumter as an
inducement to the Virginia Convention TO ad
lourn, for he would have been swept from his
seat by the indignant people of the North
Mr.. Baldwin replied that his memory was
good, and that such was his impression but
that rs he was alone with Mr.. Lincoln on that
occasion. and there was no one now to rebut
his testimony, he would not give it as any
thing more than an impression left upon his
mind
The Examiner, upon the authority of anot
prominent member of the committee, I'VE
mean the committee sent by our Legisla ture
to convey to President JOHNSON the legisla-
tive resolutions sustaining his policy, in Fe
bruary last,) gives the following version:
Mr.. Baldwin was then asked if he remem-
bered q conversation that had taken place
between himself and President Lincoln prior
TO the Virginia ordinance of secession. Mr..
Baldwin said that he did, and mentioned that
Mr.. Lincoln had then informed him that if
the Virginia Convention, then in session,
would adjourn, he (Alr. Lincoln) would aban-
don Fort Sumter TO its fate. Mr.. Howard
insisted that Mr.. Lincoln would not have
dared TO make such propositions, as it would
have aroused 4 storm of indignation through.
out the entire North Mr.. Baldwin reiterated
that he had good memory, and that such
was his impression of the tenor of Mr.. Lin
coins rcmarks.'
These two reports would make it appear
that Mr.. BALpwiS's statement before the Re
construction Committee accorded fully with
Mr.. BoTrs's, and these reports concur in the
point of the expression of mere
dulity by Mr.. HOWARD. Yet, when we recnr
10 the official record 0ftbe committee bfore lriich
Mr.. BALDwIN's testimony lonS girca (as pub
lished in the Northern papers, we find COM
pletely different version
1t is certainly middle.