The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-06-26

II will be remembered that MI. Magru-
der introduced me to Mr.. Seward on
Thursday. the 4th Of April, 1861, about ~
o'clock, and that the interview WIN VI,
President began about ii O'Clock On VIM
day-it was certainly concluded oy i'ai'-
past II O'Clock at the Presidents mouse III
Washington. The Journal OF the virginia
Convention, already referred to, SHOWS
npaCc 2D that on Thursday, April 4, 1861,
"Mr. Wise, at twenty minutes past IL
o'clock. NJ. moved that the committee
rise" The motion failed, and the COM
mittcc proceeded with business, inc report
of which occupies ten pages OF the journal
including the record of six different votes
by yeas and nays; after r"ch liar'Ic ,
resolution was offered, conSldereu' anu
voted upon, it being the last business u "n
unusually protractcd sitting. ,.
1t is As clear then as any fact can De tla'
nv interview with the President ~ ndM-
iuqtop lraS ore,' at least tlr0 or hr'e ho"fS
before the rote on Hdrric'S resolution IRA"
t0Lca at Richmond.
1t is. of course, impossible then that Mr.
Lincoln could have made to me the STATE
mcnt which Mr.. Bolts reports. " neither
he told Mr.. Bolts he had done so Is an IN.
quiry which may be educ to history ana
due to the memory of Mr.. Lincoln, put
with which have no personal CONCERN II
would seem. however, that if Mr.. Bolts de-
sircs. in this connection, "to elevate Mr..
Lincoln in the eyes of all good men," he
will find il necessary to lower somewhat
his own claims to infalliblc memory.
Until Mr.. Bolts finds out The name OF the
gentleman who spoke to him at Willard
last winter, and untanglcs HIM from TO
vernon Picrpont and Fortress Monroe, II
would perhaps be premature, il not lntru-
sive, to offer any comment upon tne re-
mark Of Mr.. Bolts that "Mr. Lincoln has
made the same statement to others, whose
names will give you before conclude.
1t must, however, be taken AS rather d
striking fact, bearing upon the reliance 10
be placed upon the memory OF Mr.. Bolts,
that he should have allowed himself to fall
into such middle in regard TO disclosures
so recent about Il matter which he mas
deemed Of sufficient importance for chap
ter in his "worll" as the following
81 want to mention further, that there
was some other gentleman whom | met
here during the winter, whose name ]
blame myself very much for forgetting
names and figures ! never can rec0llect:
but circumstances and conversations that
come under my observation, if they leave
an impression upon my mind at all, are
very distinct, and are as fresh III my me
morv. | believe, for forty years past, a.
they would have been had they occurred
Yesterday. and who told me that Mr.. Lin
colin had mentioned the same thing 10 him
Within the last four weeks, in converse.
tion with Governor Pcirpoint on this sub.
icct. expressing my surprise at having II
animated that Mr.. Baldwin denied II, Go
vernon Pcirpoint remarked to me that Mr.
/ Lincoln made the same statement to nm
NAV have COMPOUNDED the conversation oI
/ Governor Peirpoint with that of the gentle.
man who spoke 10 ne at Wizards: but II
vas one or the other of them, and | think
Governor Pcirpoint, who said that Mr.
Lincoln communicated the same facts tC
him, with this addition, that Mr.. Baldwin
also demanded the surrender of Fortress
Monroe 10 which | replied, Mr. Lincoln
made no such communication as tina tc
me-
What passed between Mr.. Lincoln and
myself At the interview in question must
AT last be determined by the testimony OF
two person, only. If Mr.. Lincoln were
living, | should anticipate no difficulty in
agreeing with him in all substantial particu-
lars a> to what occurred. | should expect
to find my recollection of the conversation
more full and accurate than his. The i'll
tcryicw was To me of primary Importance
the only business for which ! went Il
Wa,hington-whict to him it was hut one
of the many important matters which, at
that cvcnttul time, pressed upon his con
,dcration. 1t was my duty and my pur-
pose 10 observe and 10 remember every
word that passed in order 10 make Il tar
report on my return 10 the friends who had
sent me, and il appears that did make a
very full and minute report which served
10 fix the whole interview in my memory
and in that of those friends. Mr.. Lincoln
had no such report to make and it appears
from Mr.. BottS'S interview with Mr.. Chase
that Mr.. Lincoln had not regarded the mat
ter Of sufficient Importance to he com
municatcd to his Cabinet. | doubt very
VI
trouble to make 10 any one detailed
statement OF our conversation, with view
TO have it clearly understood and distinctly
remembered.
However that may be, have given my
statement with all the care and deEbera-
ton due to the subject, and upon all the
responsibilities that belong TO ME. When il
shall appear that Mr.. Lincoln has done the
same, II any conflict shall be found in our
statements, | shall be prepared 10 deal
with il as may be proper, but | will not
anticipate it.
A striking illustration Of the uncertainty
attending all conclusions founded upon
partial statements or incomplete converse
tionS is furnished by the accounts given by
MeSSrS. Bolts and Lewis OF what occurred al
the house Of Mr.. Bolts on the morning of
the 18th April, 1861. remember the visit,
and all the circumstances attending II, as
well as | do any matter which happened
five years ago, to which / attributed no
special importance at the time, and 10
which have had no occasion since 10 re-
cur. 1t was the only time | was ever at
the house of Mr.. Bolts, with whom had
very slight acquaintance, and between
whom and myself there had never beon
much sympathy. went al the request Of
Mr.. Lewis, who procured hack for the
purpose, and under the impression that
Mr.. Bolts had expressed desire to see me.
do not remember that | was told why
Mr.. Bolts wished to sec me, though pro-
baby was informed that il was on tie sub
icct of my recent visit to Washington. !
well remember being under the impress
sion that it was regarded as of importance
that | should see Mr.. Bolts before the as
n1nLlinn nf tho Convention that day and