Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-04-05

Baldwin, to hear you express that opin.
ion. The Virginia Convention is in the
hands OF Union men We have in il a clear
snd controlling majority We are controlling
II for conservative results We can do il
with perfect certainty, If you will uphold
our hands BY conservative policy here. IL
We adjourn sine die, leaving these questions
unsettled, 1t would place the Union uen Of
Virginia ip the attitude Of confe.sing an in.
ability TO meet the occasion. The result
would be that another Convention would be
called which would be under the exclusive
control of SIcessiOnists, and an ordinance Of
secession would be passed in less than six
weeks. Ou. true policy Is 10 hold the posi-.
ton We have, and for ysu to uphold our
hands by coonservative, c0nciliatory, Ma
tiopal course. The Union men Of Virginia
would not be willing to adjourn thst Con
vsntion until VIC either effect some settle
ment OF this matter, or ascertain that it can
not be done.
Mr.. Baldwin then went nm 10 sketch out
plan OF policy which he thought the Presi.
dent sbould pursue, embracing concilia-
tory and assuring proclamation, call for
great National Convention, and the with
drswal OF the forces from Forts Sumter and
Plckens. This was about the substance
VI RiN1OX
to MIR. Baldwin no pledge and no
promise, and making No offer of apy SORT.
Mr.. Baldwin visited Mr.. Seward the same
afternoon, an found him extremsly earn
est in the desire to settle the u,stter, end,
apparently. shrinking from the idea OF
clash oil arms Mr.. Baldwin went on to
Richmond and reported to the gentlemen
who had sent him. ...l
Further on in us testimony he added that
he understood Mr. Lincoln had given
somewhat different version of the interview,
representing that he had offered, if the Con.
yeDtion would adjourn sine de 10 withdraw
the troops from Sumter and Pickens. II
am as clear, said Mr.. Baldwin, " in my
recollection, as it is possible to be, that he
made no such suggestion, as understood it,
and said nothing frow which could infer
| it.
Mr.. John Minor Bolts gave his version
| of the interview. as it wa. related to him by
Mr.. Lincoln. He says that on Sunday at
ternoon, April 7, 1861, being then in Wash
| ington, he received note from Mr.. Lin.
coin, saying that he would be glad to see
him during the evening, and that he went
the same evening to the White House and
remained in conversation with Mr. Lincoln
from O'Clock until | | o clock, during which
time MIR. Line lln related the particulars of
the visit OF Mr.. Baldwin, substantially as
follows:
"Ohl Mr.. Baldwin, " said Mr. Lincoln,
why did you not come sooner? have
have been waiting and expecting some Of
you gentlemen Of the Convention to come to
me for more than a week past. | had a
most important proposition to make to you,
and | am afraid you have come too late.
However. | will make the proposition now.
We have in Fort Sumter, with Major An
derson, about 50 men, and learn frou
Major Anderson that his provisions are near
" exhausted. have not only written ts
Gov. Pickens but have sent special mes
senger 10 him to say that il he will ALLOW
Major Anderson to obtain bis marketing a
the Charleston market or will have it sen
to him, will make no effort to provision
the Fort; and that if he does not do that
will not permit these pespe to starve, ant
shall send vessel laden with bread, anc
that if he fires on that vessel, he will frt
upon an unarmed vessel. But shall, Al
the same time. send feet along with her
with instructions not to enter the harbor o.
Charleston unless that vessel is fired into
aud, if she is, then the feet is to snter th,
harber and protect her. Now, Mr.. Bald
win, that feet is lying in the harbor Of Nes
York and will sail this afternoon at clock
: and, although fear it is almost too late
yet | will submit the proposition which
intended when l sent for Mr. Summers.
Q Your Convention in Richmond has been sill
I ting nearly two months, and all that the
have done has been to shake the rod owe
y my head. You have recently taken a vet
in the Virginia Convention on the tight Q
J, secession. which was rejected by 30 to As
II | q ~ nf f,u, II L.. IL
strength Of the Union party in that COnven
tion. If YOU will 90 back to Richmond an
get that Uaien majority to adjourn and &
=. home without passing the ordinance of So
cession, so anxious am for the preserva
J. ton of the peace Of this country, and to saw
Q Virginia and the Border States from gon
: out, that | will take the responsibility q
u evacuating Fort Sumter, and take the chanc
= of negotiating with the ootton States whic
J. have already gone out. "
+ Well, Mr. Lincoln, inquired Nj,
! Bolts, how did Mr. Baldwin receive th,
. proposition ?"
i "Sir, said Mr.. Lincoln, raising up h
! hands, 4" he would not listen to it for a mt
IS ment; he hardly treated me with civility-
:, He asked me what [ meaut by an adjourn
u ment. Did mean an adj ,urnment sine 3iie
II Why, of course. Mr.. Baldwin said di
not mean an adjournment sine die q
70 not mean to assume such a responsibility
e that Of surrendering that fort to the peop
OF Charleston upon your djlurnment, al
J. then for you to return in week or ten da
le and pass your ordinance of Secession after
o have given up the fort.
- Mr.. Botts was very much incensed, as
says that Mr. Baldwin should have reject
N the proposition, and asked Mr. Lincoln
authorize him to make it to the Union M
G. of the Convention. assuring him that tn
" would adopt it willingly and cheerfnliy
&c which Mr.. Lincoln re Dlied: "Oh it is
er late; the feet has sailed ami have
u means of communicating with it, -
Z. Mr.. Bolts then asked permission to me
ng ton the circumstances for Mr. Encoln's o,
ns benefit; but Mr.. Lincoln said: swell, n
a. just now. Bolts; after G while you may"
=, Mr.. Botts's inference was that Mr.. Ii
~. A. cola was assuming a responsibility viii
q. would at that day have bsen extremely
a. - tasteful to those who had elevated him
M the Presidency; but he thought it due M
~ to history and to the character of Mr. Ii
coin, to make it known. Mr.. Bolts "
Z" here asked: e ra..l
ire Q. Are you perfectly sure, according
your best recollection. that Mr.. Line,