The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-07-14


minutes, and think less; he was in so
great hurry to get away that he did not
take seat. Now, then, if this very brief
conversation could, for lack of memory, or
any other cause, be so perverted and tor.
tured as this unquestionably has been
and Mr.. Baldwin cannot rccolect from
Washington to Richmond the nature of his
own testimony before the committee
what confidence is to be reposcd in any
statement that he has made on the subject :
| asked Mr.. Baldwin but two questions
and got but two answers, and here they
are: First, as testified to by Mr.. Lewis,
who brought Mr.. Baldwin to my frsslsc,
and not by my request. Mr.. Lewis says A.:
"Mr. Lincoln informed Mr.. Bolts that he
had made this proposition to Colonel Bald
win: that if the Convention would adjourn
without passing an ordinance of secession,
he (Mr. Lincoln) would take the RESPONSE
bility of withdrawing the troops from Fort
| Sumter. Colonel Baldwin declined to ac-
ccdc to it and no such proposition was
ever made or communicated to the Con-
vention. Next morning 9th of April,
1861 took Colonel Baldwin to the house
of Mr.. Bolts, who told him he was in-
.
Colonel Baldwin did not deny it. In an
swer to Mr.. Botts'S question of how, in the
name of God, he could take the response
blity of Withholding the knowledge of such
an interview from the Convention, Colonel
Baldwin remarked that it was near the
hour for the meeting Of the Convention,
and that he was compelled to be there, but
would see him again." Now, see how my
statement tallies with that of Mr.. Lewis
as to the number of questions put and
answered, whose testimony had not seen
when | gave mine. After the usual salu-
tations, and on being told by Mr.. Lewis
that Mr.. Baldwin had come up to explain
why he did not accept, &C., &C., | said ::
"Well, Mr.. Baldwin, is it true that Mr..
| Lincoln did propose to you that if the Con-
vcntion would adjourn and go home without
passing an ordinance of secession, he would
cvacuate Fort Sumter ?" | believe /
added, "And why did you withhold that
proposition from the Convention ~ "Ics,"
said Mr.. Baldwin, "hc did "My God"
said /, "Mr. Baldwin, why did YOU reject
such a proposition as that - The only an
swcr he made was by taking out his watch
and saving: "It only wants twenty minutes
| OI inc llOUI vi lliCctiliE VI lh' S'i'Si'''hj
| when a most important vote Is TO be taken.
am obliged to he there punctually at the
| hour, and haven't the time to make the
explanation | desire, but | will avail my
self of the earliest opportunity to make Il
full explanation of the whole of it, So
much for Mr.. Baldwins testimony in chief
As for his witnesses, | have nothing to do
with thcm-thcrc is no question between
them and myself, or between them and Mr..
Lewis. or between them and Mr.. Lincoln.
They only state that Mr.. Baldwin made Il
very different representation to them from
that made hv Mr.. Lincoln to me, and from
that admitted by Mr.. Baldwin himself both
! to Mr.. Lewis and myself. [Scc Mr.. Lewis )
! further additional statement bclow.I There
| is no issue, then, between these gentlemen
| and myself 1t is not fOH Inc to account
! for this discrepancy in the statement made
| to them and to Mr.. Lewis and myself. 1t
! is not for me to defend Mr.. Baldwin for
not making known to the Convention Mr..
| LincoIn's overture for peace, nor for now
| denying what Mr.. Lewis and myself are
so positively emphatic in asserting he ac-
| knowledged to us.
Whatever else Mr.. Baldwin may be, he
is no fool and it is not to be presumed
| that he made different report to each
member that he communicated with; there
! fore, whatever he reported the first mem
| Der it may well be supposed he commun-
Gated to all. -. But when confronted with
Mr.. Lincoln'S version, who was then living,
he certainly, and beyond all controversy,
did admit lis truth.
One thing is certain if Mr.. Baldwin tells
the truth, then Mr.. Lincoln, John Lewis,
and myself, were three as iUul-mouthcd
liars as ever spoke all untruth. If we have
told the truth, then, to say the least OF 1t,
| Mr.. Baldwn'S secession friends, nH, in
cluding Mr.. Whitehead, who has been in
such hot haste to pronounce judgment in
advance against me, must admit that Mr.
Baldwin has made many cery craze mus
takes for Il gentleman Of his unusually good
memory. BY the way, in letter now be-
fore me from a gentleman i'll the Valley,
he saws: Baldwin ought 10 remember
that this is not the first time his recollcc-
ton has been questioned. Major Kyle
and Campbell Pinckncy are both willing
TO testify against him OH another matter"
There are but two questions that can
arise in this controversy as far as am con-
ccrned. The first is, Did Mr.. Lincoln say
10 me what have alleged! Second, Did
| Mr.. Baldwin, when asked whether Mr..
Lincoln had proposed to him to withdraw
the troops from Fort Sumter on condition
that the Convention would adjourn with
out passing all ordinance OF secession, ad-
nit or deny it! Upon the first point, as
Mr.. Lincoln is now dead, and there was no
other person present, shall be compelled
to RELY upon circumstantial evidence, but
such as will leave no doubt on the mind OF
any one, no matter what the color of ms
head, if his heart is in the right place and
as to the second, there was but one othcr
person present, and he perfectly impair
tial, intelligent, and reliable gentleman, at
that time one ofMr. Baldwin's best friends
but upon each branch of this controversy
| will submit testimony not heretofore
laid before the public.
Very soon after the publication of my
testimony | received the following letter
from gentleman who has, from my ear
licst knowledge of him, been consistent
Democrat and Jealous opponent TO me
politically.
! WASHINGTON, 3lst March, 1890.
| HDa. Joha W. Bolts:
! Dear Sir,-Since / saw you have ascerained
from the best authority that Mr.. Liucoln IN April
| l>tl told General Milson and DR.. Stone all abou
his interview and propositions to Mr.. Baldwin, II
substance and almost theLprecise lang SuaSe con,
/ tanned in your testimony. II Is due TO history taa
YOU shoufd have this corroborative testimony: Car
Mr. Badw in afford TO let the matter stand a. II no"
does? In haste, JOHN A. PAkhEk.
On receiving this letter / wrote TO Mr.
Parker to know whether | was at liberty
to use his letter, to which he replied a.
follows.