The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-03

intended to offer when he sent for Mr. |
Summers (Mr. Baldwin had gone to
Washington instead of Mr.. Summers,
to meet Mr.. Lincoln, by arrangement OF
their friends.) Remarking that, by a
recent vote in the Virginia Convention,
he saw that the Union party had a ma
jority of two-thirds, Mr.. Lincoln (as re-
ported by Mr.. Botts) said:
IF you willgo back to Richmond and
get that Union majority to adjourn and
go home without passing the ordinance
of secession, so anxious am for the
preservation of the peace of this cOun-
try, and to save Virginia and the other
border states from going out, that will
take the responsibility of evacuating
Fort Sumter, and take the chance of
negotiating with the cotton states which
have already gone out"
"Well, Mr.. Lincoln inquired Mr.
Bolts, show did Mr.. Baldwin receive
that proposition?" "Sir," said Mr.. Lin
coin, (raising up his hands,) "he would
not listen to it for moment; he hardly
treated me with civility. He asked me
what meant by an adjournment-did
/ mean an adjournment sine die? Why,
OF course, Mr.. Baldwin, said l, l mean
an adjournment sine die. do not mean
to assume such responsibility as that
of surrendering that fort to the people of
Charleston upon your adjournment, and
then for you to return in a week or ten
days and pass your ordinance of seces-
sion after have given up the fort"
Mr.. Bolts, incensed, as he says, that
the proposition should have been reject
ed, asked permission to make it known
to the Union men of the Virginia Con-
vention. Mr.. Lincoln replied that it
was too late, adding "the fleet has sail
ed, and have no means of cOmmunica-
ting with it," Mr.. Bolts then asked per-
mission to mention the circumstances,
but Mr.. Lincoln replied, "Well, not just
now, Bolts: after while you may"
Afterwards, In Richmond, Mr. Bolts
says he mentioned this conversation to
Mr.. Lewis, who was a member of the
Virginia Convention, and the next day
| up to his house, and the conversation
which followed is thus stated by Mr..
Bolts:
"Well, Mr.. Baldwin, said Bolts, lis
| il true that Mr.. Lincoln did propose TO
you that if the Convention would adj
journ and go home without passing the
ordinance of secession, he would evacu-
ate Fort Sumter
EYES," said Mr.. Baldwin, "he did,
"My God, Mr.. Baldwin," said Bolts,
"why did you reject such proposition
as that?"
The only answer that Baldwin made
was by taking out his watch aud saying:
1t only wants twenty minutes of the
hour of meeting of the Convention.
when most important vote is to be
taken," (meaning the vote on the ordi
nance of secession am obliged to
be there punctually at the hour, and l
have not time to make the explanation
desire, but will avail myself of the
earliest opportunity to make full ex-
PLANTATION of the whole of it,
Mr.. Bolts states that he never saw Mr.
Baldwin afterwards, and never heard an
explanation from him. Mr. Lewis, in
his testimony, narrates the fact of Mr.
Lincoln having sent to Richmond for
Mr.. Summers, and of Mr.. Baldwin be-
ing prevailed upon to go in his stead !;
also the circumstances of the interview
between Messrs. Bolts and Baldwin, in
confederation of Mr.. BOtts's statement
of the same.
Now, turning to Mr.. Baldwin's testi-
mony as reported in the official record
of the Committee of Reconstruction, We
find positive contradiction of the tenor
Of the interview between himself and
Mr.. Lincoln, as reported by Mr.. Bolts.
After recOunting the facts, before set
forth, of his going to Washington, and
his introduction into Mr.. Lincoln's bed
room, for the sake of greater privacy,
Mr.. Baldwin proceeds-beginn with
the remark of the President:
II am afraid you have come too late;
I wish you could have been here three
or four days ago."
| "Why?' replied Baldwin. ALLOW
me to say, Mr. President, that l do not
understand your remark. You sent a
special messenger to Richmond, who
arrived there yesterday. returned
| with him by the shortest and most ex-
peditious mode of travel known
"Why do you not all adjourn the Vir-
ginia Convention % - Mr.. Lincoln.
"Adjourn it How Do you mean
sine die Z"
Yes, sine die. 1t is a stan ding menace
to me; which enbarrasses me very
| II am very much surprised" said
Baldwin, ITO 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 conservative
results. We can do it with q perfect
certainty If you will uphold our hands
by a conservative policy here"
| .'If We were to adjourn sine die,
| leaving these questions unsettled, it
would place the Union men of Virginia
in the attitude of confessing an inabii-
| ty 10 meet the occasion. The result
would be that another convention 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 ia conservative, conciiatory,
national course. The Union men of
Virginia would not be willing to adjourn
that Convention until either effect some
settlement of this matter, or ascertain
that it cannot be done.
Mr.. Baldwin then went on to sketch
out plan of policy which he thought
the President should pursue, embracing
concilatory and assuring proclamation,
call for great national convention,
and the withdrawal of the forces from
Sumter and Pickens. H
This was about the substance of the