The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-08-01
Bolts and Baldwin-An IMPORTANT
Point In history Settled


There is q controversy between John NJ.
Bolts and j. B. Baldwin. ofvirglnia. in
which the public outside of the immediate
friends of these gentlemen Is interested. In
his testimony before the Reconstruction
Committee, Mr.. Bolts charged Mr. Bald.
win, who was a member Of the Virginia
Convention which adopted the ordinance Of
secession, with Withholding from that con-
ven,ion proposition made to him by Mr..
Lincoln, to evacuate Fort Sumter, and sub
nit the questions Of difference between the
two sections to the decision Of a National
Convention, provided the Convention Of vir-
ginia. then in session, would adjourn with.
out passing an ordinance Of secession.
This Mr.. Baldwin denied. and has recently
published pamphlet giving his version Of
the interview between Mr.. LINCOLN and him
sell. which is Endorsed BY the Hon. George
w. Summers, Hon. A. Fl. H. Stuart, Sam
del Price, Robert Whitehead. and other dis.
tinguished citizens Of Virginia and members
of the Convention. fro.a which it appears
that Mr.. Baldwin was sent for by Mr.. Lin.
coin to come to Washington !" in hurry"
for the purpose of consultation upon matters
of vital importance. By the advice OF
friends, MIR. Baldwin vert. and in advance
of the time named by MIR. Lincoln. The
proposed interview was held. and resulted in
the conviction Of Mr.. Baldwin that the
prospect Of averting the threatened troubles
aas almost, If not entirely, hopeless. Not
withstanding he was there in qduance Of
time, and urged upon MIR. Lincoln, as the
only means Of safety, the evacuation of Forts
Sumter and Pickens, and the calling Of a
National Convention, he was met by the
reply, :" It is too late" and though repeated
" asking he was not informed sOhy it was
too late.
Shortly after the publication Of Mr.. Bald
wins pamphlet, the following letter, strongly
corroborating the truth of his statements,
was printed 10 the Richmond Dispatch.
RICHMOND, June &c, 1866.
To the Editors Of the Dispatch:
After reading the letters of The two dis
tinguished Yirginians, Bolts and Ba'win, in
relation to a conversation each Of them had
with the late President Lincoln, it has occur.
red to lie that they are both correct in re.
gard to their conversations with President
Lnco y, and that be made mistake in the
person TO whom he pledged himselfto with.
draw the troops from Fort sumter. In
March, 1861, while in the City Of Washing
ton. recived letter from the late Arch
bishop Of Baltimore, enclosing one for Sena
tor Doug from the Bishop OF Chicago
called on Senator Douglas, at his residence
IN company with distinguished clergyman
of Washington, and learned that hs was
confined to his chamber by sickness. l did
not see him, but the clergyman went to his
chamber ard delivered the letter to him.
was subsequently informed by the clcr
gyman that Senator Douglas has been with
President Lincoln until late hour the night
before. and that the war would be ayer1ed
because Presiden, Lincoln had promised hin
(sepator Douglas) 10 withdraw the troops
from both Pickens and Sumter. About
this time The Governors oflhe Northern and
Western States arrived in Washington enc
prevented the President from ordering
the evacuation of Sumter. When Senator
Douglas heard Of the change the Presidents
views had undergone. he called to see him
and charged him with loving his party mort
than he did his country. These facts made
an impression upon my mitd, because was
then an officer in the United States Navy
and was greatly interested in the success o.
Senator Douglass noble efforts to proven,
civil war.
Yours, E. B. BOUTWELL,.
1t thus appears that il Mr.. Lincoln had
been left a'one to his own instincts, he would
have avoided the terrible aud bloody con
fict which eusned. The proof seems clear
that he was pledged to the policy ofcal'ing
national convention, to VIII ch should b.
referred the adjustment Of the d ference,
between the two sections of the Union
And the proof seems equally clear thai
Governors of the Northern and Western
States" prevented the late President from
carrying out. bis pacific intentions. How
much Of responsibility rests upon the mel
who then prevented peaceabIe solution o
our difficulties, future history will yet Sc
forth in characters ofliving light Nash
vile Dispatch.
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