New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-07-14
The Late President Lincolns Interview with
Virginians Daring the State Con-
vention Of 1861.
Mr. John Minor Bolts in Retaliation OF
]. B. Baldwin.
The Presidents Terms to Virginia, and
overtures for Peace.


BsAed 1t viii be remembered that Mr. Baldwin before the
Committee Of Congress denied Mr. Lincoln had made the
psoposon Fort Sumter, IN case virginia 10
manned loyal and voted down the motion to sooede
Mr. Bolts succeeds in disproyng Mr. Balwins statements
long interesting letter Dvested OF matters mort
personal than historical this letter has many points Of interest
We PRINT immediate reference to the subject OF the
Interview. MI. Bolts proceeds as follows
But what are think Of Mr. LDcon He has not had
s e 81 sends letter. through the Secretary Of State
urge Mr. summers eadng member OF the Convention 70
himtha he see him on business OF great
importance NJ Summers not responding promptly aspecla
dispatched for Mr. Summersor somebody else to
Mr.. Allen MoGrudcr is selected who Is told by NJ
Lncoln that be desires to Mr. Summers on matters OF
Abe A'gha poreathat he did not wish to trust to the
10 communicate confdeutaiy" See Mr. McGruders letter
No li the messenger starts the night Of the Sdi
be reaches Richmond on The morning oil he J5 DC ana M
Baldwin both leave EehoDd three hours and reach w sh
inGtoD Of the ih Shortly after 10 o'clock the
iormahy OF si9ie dplomSc! Is eOne"yu' ~ au th
tiop Of Mr. Baldwin ~ Whisper 20 Mr. Lincoln through
soud corroboraie Mr. LiHoolns statement If he WOULD Mr.
Lincoln NJ Baldwin most cordially and having i'm.
portsDt communications To make that lac would not trust
either with the mails the telegraph takes him INTO BACK
room opening another passes across the hall into
corresponding small ROOM opposite and through that into
large which there bed locks the door and
getting behind bed dsoses Mr. Bsdv the important
and astounding fact that he has come too late
Mr. BALDWIN makes quite lengthy harangue gases for
hour and poor Mr. Lincoln who has taken so much
pains fret writing, then in dispatchng messenger ana
ihen gong from room 20 ROOM nn he gets behind oed mas
proposition 10 make" makes no pledge no undertaking
q. o no promise OF any sort ana TO all the gas BALDWIN
late for Baldwin 40 rliea he gas reply"
What "lame and mpoent conclusion"
stories that ever read listened OF in my life:
be pardoned for saying tins is the most incredible was
there such pompous State opening with such final
hze sneh inconsistent testimony as this may SUIT
sueh Willing ear Ss t1Hse % N.Y. S ~ b 1p
of MT Badwins forty or hy witnesses and with MI
without being handled pretty roughly a: he might be
oow time and felt the necessity for doing go For
myself / can only say. "Credat Jadri's Apia eso"
may be here remarked that MI Baldwin gave his tes
m WASHINGTON Richmond that night and that in day
s0 s5T z, RsTS aps& of M Wh
been written by himself or by bis authority and was
published under bis immediate eve and aequieseed n
IN which II is stated he Mr. Baldwin, Pvoposcd 70 M
LiRo that be should withdraw The troops from toTi sumter
ihatsuch different Of this testimony could be pub
bshed Tie DisBaoA from that which was given before the
o. otl DO EAGtf" He NJ Lincoln
wsy Was not the fact embodied in MIR baldwin, testimony
that Mr.. Lincoln said be would do that aua why was At
not communicated his colleagues in the ConTenOnf No
matter from which side the proposition came. here
sss this aHdakiAS and not an cSeT 1t certainly
But Il that time Of that interview while pro-
c 70 s Of Ss most "n@ With
large majority OF Union men II the Convention be threatened
na t.c1 he saws M his s%cny II there i gun fred
sumter don't which side is fired the thing
en- there fired at Sumter the thing Is gone Why
=. %nd Of Mr. Bswo to 60 to he enemy and take
service in their cause which be did three days think
from The passage Of the ordinance.
a. Mr. BadWin IN hs interview with Mr. Lineoln accord
ing testimony draws marked line between the
man II wouli have been well H. N the outset book
had formed the pablo which Of the two capacities he
tben acting for ny part recognize no such distinction
In M Balewins pamphlet he giyes lutte lengthy con
od e th I'D take piece bCore ny GOD as bore for hsgp
this world and for aud salvation IN the world 70
sustain Mr. BALDWIN in the statement lie makes Of his con-
ssrsatioa with me viii acknowledge myself utterly
credit Nh BaldWnWGs in my house than
ave minutes and think less in great hurry
get avAy tbst he aid NOT take seat Now then this very
brief conversation could for lack Of memory any other
be perverted and tortured this unquesonaby has
besn-and Mr. BALDWIN Iecoec, Washington
Richmond the nature Of testimony before the
uewba confidence to be TePosed IN any statement that
Iasked Mr. Baldwin but Two questions and got but two an
Ss s, Sos Mr Rd%n 10 nv house and "o 81 ", eS
Mr. Lewis says Mr. Lincoln informed Mr. Bolts that he
had this proposition 80 Col Baldwin that the Con
yenon would adjourn without passing an odlnanee Of Seees
sion be sr lincoln would take the fespons oy Of with;
drawing the troops from Fort Sumter Col Baldwin declined
% aeeeoe 70 A. and no snSn pIOpOSS& was s H Hs Of
to ne 10 The eas M Eo wS U1
tod bin be informed such an interview kad taken place
ton Of in Of God be could take the responsibility
q Withholding the knowledge Of such an interview from the
kosr for the meeting Of the Convention, and that he
was compelled be there, but wonid see him again"
Lewis! the number Of questions PIT and answered
usual santatoDs. and on being told BY MI Lewis that MI
Baldwin had up explain why be did not accept &C.
& propose to You hat the Convention would adjourn and
go without passing ordinance Of Secession he would
absS that proposition fomthe Convention - Yes said
Mr. BALDWIN he did My God said ]. MI Baldwin.
be made by taking out his watch and saving 1t
only minutes of the hour Of meeting Of the Conycn
60 Be- there punctuaiy at the hour and haven't the
tine 20 make the explanation desire, bat viii avail
,1sSS,ioS Of he whole Of II" 50 much for Mr. Bald.
testimony IN chief As for his witnesses have nothing
60 tlemihere question between them and ny
eeh or between them and Mr. Lewis between them and
Mr. Lincoln They only state that Mr Baldwin made very
eFent representation them from that made by Mr. Lin
ooln and rop that admitted by Mr. Baldwin himself
both 10 Nj Lewis and myself lsee Mr. Lewss further add
tona statement below There is issue, them between
these gentlemen aud myself II is not for 70 account for
this discrepancy the statement made 20 them and 20 Mr.
Lewis myself II l. for TO defend MI Baldwin for
not making the Convention Mr. Lncons overture
Tor peace tor now denying what Mr. Lewis and myself
one thing is CERTAIN. If Mr. BALDWIN tells the truth then
Mr. Lincoln John Lewis and mysef were three as ioa-
ouhed liars spoke untruih. II have told the
truth then say the least Of IT, Mr. Badwins Secession
ffendsaA including Mr. Whitehead. who has been in such
bet haste pronounce judgment advance against meust
admit MIR Baldwin has made very isakss for
agentemsn q be unusually good memory By.iasyay N
Gays Baldwin ought remember that this h not the first
bic recollection has been questioned MAJOR Kyle and
capben PuCkney are both Wiling to testify against him on
Vsy soon ser the publication Of ny testimony received
eel knowledge Of HIN. been consistent Democrat and
sesloas opponent to ne, politically
WASHINGTON, 5ls, March. 1850.
pas sra src. .ss you have snsa ron hest su
onsy Mr. Laacon IL April 1884, tod Geseral len and D
ssssan, and precise contained test,
:sisssny Cen NJ BALDWIN s6oa i
On receiving this letter wrote to Nj Parker
whether liberty 10 use his letter to which be rePhed
- Am ssoa 70 v,i, Noron and vii Mi,on. had
~ss.son With Governor Ppoin, md think be vi,
ss.s.insd and not Necessary should prefer flat letter