Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-03-29

has long entertained that the State would be much
better without them; and he repudiates the idea that
crueltes were purpOsely inflicted on Federal prison
ers of war.
The testimony of the members of the Virginia
Legislature-gentlemen who had come as delega-
ton to President JohnsOn-was equally important
and interesting. They concur in opinion as to the
complete absence of any feeling looking to renewal
of the contest with the Government. The question
of secession they say, was settled by the sword and
the people are content to abide by the decision and
to live henceforth faithful citizens of the Republic
They represent the feeling of the people at large and
of themselves as unalterably opposed TO the idea oil
extending political rights to negroes, while as to
civil rights the Legislature were engaged in matu'
ring measures removing most, if not ALL of the OBJ
noXious discrimination in the laws between whites
and blacks. On the test question Of the course
which Virginia would take in case of war between
the United States and any foreign power which
might afford the South promise Of establishing
their independence, their testimony was decidedly
on the side of loyalty.
On the other hand the United States officers
Generals Terry and Turner, and Colonel Brown, and
most if not all OF the unqualified Union men, con-
cur in representing the sentiment of the people OF
Virginia in relation to the Government as unim-
proved, and as rather having become embttered
since Lees surrender. They say at that time the
people were humble sick of war, longing for peace
ON any terms and ready to accept gratefully, the
pardOn of the Government, and to submit to any
conditions that might be imposed; while now they
are arrogant eNacting, and intoleant. Most OF the
witnesses of that class express the decided opinion
that the withdrawal of the Federal troops and of
the Freedmen's Bureau would be followed by an
unreenting prescription of white Unionists, and
the persecution and remission TO slavery of the CO.
lored people. The change of feeling is very gene
rally ascribed by these witnesses to the Presidents
liberal policy.
In regard to the Federal debt, the people of Yr.
ginia are represented in favor of its reputation,
or at least combining with it the Confederate debt
The theses who have been connected with the
Confederacy, however, deny this and represent the
people as willing to pay their share of the Federal
debt by taxation. On this subject, General Lees
opinion is that they willing 10 pay BOTH and OPP
posed to a reputation of either.
Outside of these matters of general enquiry there
is one historical episode connected with the secession
of Virginia and the outbreak of the rebellion on
which the testimony of three witnesses was taken.
This was a conference sought for and held by Mr..
Lincoln with a member of the Virginia Secession
Convention, delegated by the Union members OF
that bOdy-Mr. John b. Baldwin-prior to the OPEN
ing of the rebel batteries on Fort Sumter The first
statement on the subject came from Mr.. John F..
Lewis, an incorporating Union man all through
the war, and who had been himself a member of the
Virginia Convention. He testified that on the eve
inc of April To- 1861 he visited John Minor Bolts in
Richmond, and learned from him that Mr. Lincoln
had informed him he had had an interview with
John Il. Baldwin, Judge Summers, for whom a
special messenger had been sent, not having been
able to 90 to Washington, and the Union members
having delegated Baldwin, and had made prOpO-
sition that, il the Virginia Convention would adj
iourn sine die without passing an ordinance of Sc
cesson, he chr. LincOln) would take the response
biitv of withdrawing the troops from Fort Sumter.
Colonel Baldwin declined to accede to the PROPOSE
ton and did not communicate it to the Convention
Next morning, after hearing this statement Lewis
prevailed on Baldwin TO accompany him to the
Of who raDpatp1 the statement made tn
him by Mr.. Lincoln, and asked him how, in the
name of God, he could take the responsibility of
Withholding the knowledge of such an interview
from the Convention; to which Baldwin, looking
at his watch replied that it was then near the hour
for the meeting Of the Convention-that he had to
be there. and that he would see him (Botts) again
The narrative of the same transaction given by
Mr. Baldwin is this: After relating the circumstances
Of a special messenger being sent to Richmond by
Mr. Seward with request that Judge Summers or
some other leading Union member should come to
Washington to have a conference with Mr.. Lincoln,
of his (Baldwin's) being selected, and accompanying
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 a
private bedroom that they might be the more free
from interruption, he gave narrative OF the con-
versation, which was opened by Mr. Lincoln re-
marking
"NIr. Baldwin, l am afraid you have come too
late"
TOO late for what?"
al am afraid you have come too late" said he
wish you could have been here three or four days
ago."
''WhyT replied Baldwin. "Allow me to say,
Mr. President that do not understand your re-
mark. You sent special messenger to Richmond
who arrived there yesterday. returned with him by
the shortest and most expeditions mode OF travel
known"
why do you not all adjourn the Virginia Conven-
ton q said Mr.. Lincoln.
Adjourn it Howl Do you mean sine die /"
Yes sine die. 1t is q standing menace to me,
which embarrasses me very much
:" am very much surprised" said Baldwin, ITO
hear you express that opinion. The Virginia Con-
ventiOn is in the hands of Union men. We have in
il a clear and controlling majority. We are con-
trolling it for conservative results We can do it
with 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 inability
to meet the occasion. The result would be that
another convention would be called, which would
be under the exclusive control Of secessonsts and
ordinance Of secession would be passed in less than
six weeks. Our true policy is to hold the position
that have, and for you TO uphold our hands by a
conservative, cOnciliatOry national course, The
Union men of Virginia would not be willing to ad.
jOurn that convention until we either effect some
settlement of this matter ascertain that it cannot
be DONE"
Mr.. Baldwin then went on to sketch out plan of
policy which he thought the President should pur-
sue, embracing a conciliatOry ana assuring procla-
nation, call for great national convention, and
the withdrawal of the forces from Sumter aud Pick
ems.
This was about the substance of the interview,
Mr. Lincoln giving to Mr.. Baldwin no pledge and no
promise, and making no offer of any sort. Mr.
Baldwin visited Mr.. Seward the same afternoon and
found him extremely earnest in the desire to settle
the matter, and apparently shrinking from the idea
of n clash of arms Mr.. Baldwin went on to Richmond
and reported to the gentlemen who had sent him.
Further on in his testimony he added, that he
understood that Mr., Lincoln had given a somewhat
different version of the interview, representing that
he had offered, if the convention would adjourn sine
die TO withdraw the troops from Sumter and Pickens
" am as clear" said Baldwin, " in my recollection
as il is possible TO be- that he made no such sug-
geston, as | understood it, and said nothing from
which could infer it,"
Mr. John Minor Bolts gave his version of the inter
view, rs it was related to him by Mr.. Lincoln. He
says that on Sunday afternoon, April T. 1861, being
then in Washington, he received a note from Mr.
Lincoln, saying that he would be glad 10 see him
during the evening; and that he went the same
evening TO the White House and remained in con-
versatOn with Mr.. Lincoln from seven o'clock until
eleven o'clock, during which time Mr.. Lincoln re-
lated the particulars of the visit of Mr. Baldwin
substantially as follows
'Ah, Mr.. Baldwin," said Mr.. Lincoln, "why did
YOU not come here sooner | have been waiting and
expecting some of you gentlemen of the Conven-
ton TO come TO me for more than a week past |
had most important proposition to make TO YOU
and am afraid you have come too late. However,
| will make proposition now. We have in Fort
Sumter, with Major Anderson, about eighty men,
and learn from Major Anderson that his provisions
are nearly exhausted. have not only written to
Governor Pickens, but have sent special messen-
ger to him TO say that, if he will allow Major An
derson to obtain his marketing at the Charleston
market, or will have it sent to him, will make
effort to provision the fort; but that if he does not
do that will not permit these people TO starve and
shall send vessel loaded with bread and that if he
fires on that vessel he will fire upon an unarmed YES
col. but shall at the same time send feet along
with her with instructions not to enter tie harbor of
Cs,Ieston unless that vessel is fired into and if she
il then the fleet is to enter the harbOr aud protect
her. Now. Br. Baldwin, that fleet is lying in the
barbor of New York, and will be ready to sail this
afternoon at five o'clock, and although fear it is
almost too late, yet l will submit the proposition
which intended when l sent for Mr.. Summers
Your Convention in Richmond has been sitting
nearly two months and all they have done has been
10 shake the rod over my head. You nave recently
taken vote in the Virginia Convention on the