The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-04-01

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| dents support from Connecticut to Pennsyl-
vania and thence to the Pacific Ocean.
The veto OF the Freedmen's Bureau bill
was but the distant thunder announcing
the approaching storm. This veto is the
storm itself, and when it shall have passed
away we shall have purer political sky
and better atmosphere. But before that
happy change the radical msjorities of Con-
| gress Will be swept away, and all the thirty
SIX States of the Union will be invited into
both houses under the successful restoration
| policy Of Andrew Johnson.
We dare say that this Civil Rights bill
| against the Presidents objections will share
the fate of the Freedmen's Bureau; but, in
| any event, it is declaration of war against
the radicals and their impractieable schemes
and Andrew johnson, as in the rebellion,
is the man to fight it through on his plat
form OF the Union and the Constitution.
An Interesting Historical DeVelOpe-
ment.
Amongst the mass of testimony touch
ing the State of Virginia, published re-
Gently by order of the Central Direc-
tory" is a historical episode connected
with the secession of the State, and the
outbreak of the rebellion.
This was q conference sought for and held
by Mr.. Lincoln with member of the Vir.
ginia secession convention, delegated by the
Union members Of that body-Mr. John B.
Baldwin-priOr to the opening Of the rebel
batteries on Fort Sumter. The first state
ment on tbe subject came from Mr.. John F.
Lewis, an uncompromising Union man all
through the war, and who had been HIM
self member of the Virginia convention.
He testified that on the evening Of April
l6, 1861, he visited John Minor Bolts in
Richmond, and learned from him that Mr..
Lincoln had informed him he had had an in
terView with JnO. B. Baldwin, Judge Sum
mers, for whom a special messenger had
been sent, not having been able 10 20 to
Washington, and the Union members hav-
ing delegated Baldwin, and had made
proposition that, if the Virginia convention
would adjourn sine die without passing an
ordinance Of secession, he (Mr. Lineoln)
would take the responsibility of withdraw
ing the troops from Fort Sumter. Col. Bsld-
win declined to aecede to the proposition,
and did not communicate it to the cOnven-
ton. Next morning, after hearing this
statement, Lewis prevailed on Baldwin to
accompany him to the house of Bolts, who
repeated the statement made to him bv Mr..
of God, he could take the responsibility of
Withholding the knowledge of such an in
terview from the convention; to which
Baldwin, looking at his watch, replied that
it was then near the hour for the meeting
of the conYention-that he had to be there,
and that he would see him (Botts) hgain.
The narrative of the same transaction
given by Mr.. Baldwin il this: After relat-
ing the circumstances Of special messen-
ger being sent to Richmond by Mr. Seward
with a request that Judge Summers or some
other leading Union member should come
TO Washington TO have conference with
Mr.. Lincoln, of his (Baldwin's) being Sc
leeted, and accompanying the messenger to
Washington the same night, of his being
introduced the next morning by Mr.. Seward
to Mr.. Lincoln, and of Mr.. Lincoln's taking
him into private bed room that they might
be the more free from interruption, he gave
a narrative of the conversation, which was
opened by Mr.. Lincoln remarking:
"Mr. Baldwin, am afraid you have come
too late"
Too late for what?"
"I am afraid you have come too late"
said he. al wish you could have been here
three or four days ago."
"Why," replied Baldwin, "allow me to
say, Mr.. President, that do not understand
your remark. You sent a special messen-
ger to Richmond, who arrived there yester-
day, l returned with HIM by the shorest and
NEST expeditions mode Of travel known"
"Why do you not all adjourn the Virginia
Convention?" said Mr.. Lincoln.
"Adjourn it hOw2 Do you mean siHs
"Yes, sine die. It is q standing mensce
TO me, which embarrasses me very much"
al am very much surprised" said Bald
The Virginia Convention is in the hands Of
Union men. We have in it a clear and con-
trolling majority. We are controlling it for
conservative result, We can do it with per-
feet certainty if you will uphold our hands
by a conservative policy here"
"lf we were to adjourn sine die, leaving
these questions unsettled, it would place the
Union men of Virginia in the altitude Of
confessing an inability to meet the occasion.
The result would be that another conven-
ton 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 that we have, and for
you to uphold our hands by conservative,
conciliatory, national course. The Union
men Of Virginia would not be willing TO
adjourn that convention until we either ef-
feet some settlement of this matter or ascer-
tain that it caunot be done."
Mr.. Baldwin then went on 10 sketch plan
Of policy which he thought the President
should pursue, embracing q conciliatory
and assuring proclamation, call for a
great national convention, and the with
drawal of the forces from Sumter and Pick
ems.
This was about the substance Of the inter-
view, Mr.. Lincoln giving 10 Mr.. Baldwin
No "a lnNdr nd M.
offer OF any sort. Mr.. Baldwin visited Mr..
Seward the same afternoon aud found him
extremely earnest in the desire 70 settle the
matter, and apparently shrinking from the
idea Of a clash of arms. Mr.. Baldwin went
on to Richmond and reported to the gentle
men who had sent him.
Further on in his testimony he added,
that he understood that Mr.. Lincoln had
given a somewhat difiereSt version Of the
interview, representing that be had offered,
if the convention would adjourn sine dc, 10
withdraw the troops from Sumter and Pick
ems. 81 an as clear" said Baldwin, Sin
my recollection as it is possible to be, that
be made no such suggestion, as understood
it, and said nothing nom which | could in
FER il.
Mr.. John Minor Bolts gave his version Of
the interview as il was related to him By
Mr.. Lincoln. He says that on Sunday af-
ternoon, April :, 1861, being then in Wash
ington, he received 8 note from Mr.. Lincoln,
saying that he would be glad to see him
during the evening; and that he went the
same evening 20 the White House and re-
mained in conversation with Mr.. Lincoln
from o'clock until IL o'clock. during
which time Mr.. Lincoln related the partic-
ulars Of the visit Of Mr.. Baldwin, substan-
tally as iollows;
a6h, Mr.. Baldwin," said Mr.. Lincoln,
Uwhy did YOU not come here soonerg
have been waiting and expecting some OF
you gentlemen OF the conYention to come
% me for more than q week past. I had q
most i'm portsnt propositiouItoimake to you,
Ind ! ana afraid you have come too late. /
However, ] vIll make the proposition now. /
we have IN Fort Sumter, with Major An
dersoa. about so men, and ! learn from
Major Anderson that his provisions are
nearly exhausted. / have not only written
to Governor Pickens, but ] have sent q
special messenger 20 him 10 ssy that, Il he |
Will taIlaw Major Anderson 70 obtain his /
marketing Al the Charleston market, or will /
have IL sent 70 him, I will make no effort 10
provision the fort, but that n he does not
10 that, viii not permit these people 70
ttarye, and shall send vessel loaded with I
bread, and that If be hres on that vessel he
uiU Ore upon an unarmed vessel but
sh.us Al the same time send a aeet along
with her with instructions not 70 enter the
bsrbsr Of Charleston unless that vessel is
fred into; and II she il, then the feet is 70
estar the harbor and protect her. Nov,
Nr. Baldwin, thst ieet Is lyiog in the har-
Dor Of New York, and vii Be ready 20 sail
Ills afternoon at fve o'ciocki and sltheugh
! fear It Is almost too late, yes ! vii lbu'it
the proposition which ! intended Nhen
sent for MIR. Summers. Your ecnvention N
Richmond has been sitting nearly i've