The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-04-03
IMPORTANT REVELATIONS.
PRESIDENT LINCoLN's INTERVIEW WITH
JOHN B. BALDwIN-wHo Is RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE WAR

We make the following interesting eX-
tracts from the testimony before the commit
tee on reconstruction.
The narrative of the transaction given by
Mr.. Baldwin is this After relating the cir
cumstances of special messenger being sent
to Richmond by Mr.. Seward, with request
that Judge Summers, or some other leading
linton member, should come to Washington
to have a conference with Mr.. Lincoln, Of his
(Baldwins) being selected, and accompany
ing the messenger to Washington the same
night, of his being introduced next morning
by Mr.. Seward to Mr.. Lincoln, and of Mr..
Lincoln's taking him into private bedroom
that they might be the more free from inter
ruption, he gave narrative of the CONVEX
sation, which was opened by Mr.. Lincoln re-
marking:
"Mr. Baldwin, am afraid you have come
too late"
"Too late for what ?"
II am afraid you have come too late, "
said he II wish you could have been here
three or four days ago.
"Why2" replied Baldwin. "Allow me
to say, MIR. President, that 1 do not under
stand your remark. You sent special mes
senger to Richmond, who arrived there yes
terday. 1 returned with him by the shortest
and most expeditions mode of travel known"
"Why do you all not adjourn the Virginia
Convention % said Mr.. Lincoln.
Adjourn it Howe Do you mean sine
die?"
eyes, sine die 1t is standing menace to
me, which embarrasses me very much.
81 am very much surprised" said Mr..
Baldwin, " to hear you express that opinion
The Virginian Convention is in the hands of
Union men. We have in it a clear and con-
trolling majority. We are controlling it for
conservative results. We can do it with
perfect certainty if you will uphold our
hands by a conservative policy here.
eff we were to adjourn sine die, leaving
these questions unsettled, it would place the
Union men of Virginia in the attitude of con-
Tossing an inability to meet the occasion.
The result would be that another convention
would be called, which would be under the
exclusive control of secessionists, and an Or
dinance 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 up
hold our hands by conservative, conciliato-
ry, national course. The Union men of Vir-
ginia would not be willing to adjourn that
Convention until we either effect some settle
ment of this matter, or ascertain that it can
not be done.''
Mr.. Baldwin then went on to sketch out
plan of policy which he thought the Pres
ident should pursue, embracing Il conciliatory
course and issuing proclamation, call
for a great National Convention, and the
withdrawal of the forces from Sumter and
Pickens.
This was about the substance of the inter
view, Mr.. Lincoln giving to Mr.. Baldwin no
| pledge and no PROMISE and making no offer
of any sort. Mr.. Baldwin visited Mr. Sew
ard the same afternoon, ard found him ex
tremely earnest in the desire to 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
somewhat different version of the interview,
representing that he had offered, if the con-
vention would adjourn sine die, to withdraw
the troops from Sumter and Pickens. 4 am
as clear" said Baldwin, & in my recollection
as it is possible to be, that he made no such
suggestion, as 1 understood it, and said moth
ing from which could infer it.o
Mr.. John Minor Bolts gave his version of
the interview, as it was related to him by Mr.
Lincoln. He says that on Sunday afternoon
April, Z, 1861, being then in Washington, he
received a note from Mr.. Lincoln, 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 con-
versation with Mr.. Lincoln from o'clock I'M
il II o'clock, during which time Mr. Lincoln
elated the particulars of the visit of Mr..
Baldwin, substantially as follows:
why did you not come here sooner9 Ihave |
waiting and expecting some of you |
gentlemen of the convention to come to me
for more than a week past. I had most |
Important proposition to make to you, and l |
am afraid you have come too late. However,
l will make a proposition now. We have in
Fort Sumter, with Major Anderson, about
lightly men, and learn from Major Anderson
hat his provisions are nearly exhausted.
have not only written to Governor Pickens,
out have sent a special messenger to him to
say that, if he will allow MINOR Anderson to
obtain his marketing at the Charleston mar
ket, or will have it sent to him, l will make
no effort to provision the fort; but that if he
does not do that, 1 will not permit these
people to starve. and shall send a vessel load
I'd with bread, and that if he fires on that
7essel he will fire upon an unarmed vessel;
but l shall, at the same time. send fleet
along with her with instructions not to enter
the harbor of Charleston unless that vessel is
tiredinto and if she is, then the fleet is to en-
ter the harbor and protect her. Now, Mr..
that fleet is lying in the harbor of
New York, and will be ready to sail this af
ternoon at 8 o'clock, and although l fear it is
almost too late yet l will submit the pro-
position which 1 intended when 1 sent for
hIr. Summers. Your Convention in Rich
mond has been sitting nearly two months, :
and all they have done has been to shake I
the rod over my head. You have recently !
taken vote in the Virginia Convention on
the right of secession, which was rejected by {
ninety to forty-fve, majority of two thirds,
showing the strength of the Union party in {
hat Convention. If you will go back to
Richmond and get that Union majority to
adjourn and go home, without passing the
ordinance of secession, so anxious am for
he preservation of the peace of this country,
md to save Virginia and the other border
Lfafa Hl,a4 II l.. Al
possibility Of eoacaating Fort Sumter, and :
AXE the chance ofnegtiating with the cotton i
States which have already gone out" c
"Well, Mr.. Lincoln" inquired Bolts, chow c
lid Mr.. Baldwin receive that proposition 81
Sir" said Mr.. Lincoln, Graising mp his 7
lands0 "he would not listen to it for mo- G
nent: he hardly treated me with civility.- O
He asked me what meant by adjournment
lid mean an adjournment sine die! Why.
If course, Mr.. Baldwin, said 1; mean an ,
adjournment sine die. do not mean to as
sumo such responsibility as that of surren- ]
lerin0 that fort to the neonle of Charleston |