Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-04-06
additional Testimony before the Recon
struction Committee.

THE coAF -EENcE WITH PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
Outside Of these matters of general inqui-
~ there is Que historical episode connected
with the secession of Virginia and the out
break of the rebellion, on which the testimo-
ny of three witnesses was taken. This was
a conference sought for and held by Mr..
Lincoln with member Of the Virginia Sc
cession Convention, delegated by the Union
members of that body, Mr. John B. Bald
win, prior to the opening of the Rebel bat
tercs on Fort Sumter. The first statement
on the subject came from Mr.. John i. Lewis,
IAN uncompromising Union man all through
the war, and who had been himself a mem
Der of the Virginia Convention. He testified
that on the evening of the 10th of April,
1861, he visited John Minor Bolts in Rich
mond, and learned from him that Mr.. Lin
coin had informed him that he had had an
interview with John B. Baldwin.
a JUDGE SUMMERS.
Judge Summers, for whom special mes
scnger had been sent, not having been able
to 90 to Washington, the Union members
having delegated Mr. Baldwin, and had
rrade a proposition that if the Virginia Con-
vention would adjourn sane die, without pass
ing an ordinance of secession, he, MIR. Lin
coin, would take the responsibility Of with
drawing the troops from Fort Sumter. Col
onel Baldwin refused to accede to the propo-
sition, and did not communicate it to the
Convention, Next morning, after hearing
this statement, Mr.. Lewis prevailed on Mr.
Baldwin to accompany him to the house Of
Mr. Bolts, who repeated the statement made
to him by Mr.. Lincoln, and asked him how
in the name of God he could take the respon-
sibility of withholding the knowledge Of such
an interview from the Convention. Mr.
Baldwin looked at his watch and replied that
it was then near the hour for the meeting of
the Convention; that he had to be there, and
that he would see him (Botts) again. 4.
MIR. BALDWIN.
The narrative Of the same transaction given
by Mr. Baldwin is this:
After relating the circumstances of spe-
cial messenger being sent to Richmond by
Mr.. Seward, with request that udge Sum
mers Or some other leading member should
come to Washington to have a conference
with Mr. Lincoln; Of his (NIr. Baldwin s.
being sent and accompanying the member to
Washington on the same night; Of his being
introduced next morning by Mr.. Seward to
Mr. Lincoln of Mr. Lincoln's taking him
into private bedroom that they might be
the moro free from interruption. He gave
narration of the conversation which was
opened by Mr. Lincoln's remarking, Mr..
Baldwin, / am afraid you have come too late.
Too late for what dE
am afraid you have come too late, said
he [ wish you could have been here three
OF four days ago.
Why? replied Mr.. Baldwin. Allow me
to say Mr. President, that do not under
stand your remarks. You sent 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 Con-
yenton said Mr.. Lincoln
Adjourni,. How? Do you mean sine
die 54
me, which embarrasses me very much.
am very much surprised, said Mr.. Bald
win, to 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 it for conserva-
tive results. We can do it with perfect Ger
tainty if you will uphold our hands by a con-
sentative policy here. If FIVE were to adjourn
sine die, leaving these questions unsettled,
it would place the Union men in Virginia in
the attitude of confessing their inability to
meet the OCCASION The result would be that
another Convention would be called, which
would be under the exclusive control OF Sc
cessionists, and an ordinance of secession
would be passed in less than SIX weeks :
Our true policy is to hold the position that
we have, and for you to uphold our hands BY
conservative national course. Tho Union
men in VIRGINIA yould not ha willing to ad