The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-07-02
THE BALTIMORE PLOT OF 1851.
NEW DEVELOPMENT. = THE PLOT TO AS
SASSINATE PRESIDENT LINCOLN.

In the June number of Harper's Month
ly, among the other interesting articles
is one in regard to the Baltimore plot t
assassinate Mr.. Lincoln, of which so littl
has been definitely known. The accoun
given is, at all events, strai ght-forwarC
and consistent, and as such deserves con
sideration. 1t seems from this that i
was Mr.. Allen Pinkerton, a noted detec
tive from Chicago, to whom mainly Mr.
Lincoln was indebted for his safety.
Employed professionally at Baltimore
he learned that there was a conspiracy to
take Mr.. Lincoln's life, while he was or
his way to Washington. He at once pro
posed to checkmate the plans of the con
spirators. The writer in Harper says:
His plan was with his detectives tc
enter Baltimore as residents of Charles
ton aud New Orleans, and by assuming
to be secessionists of the most extreme
violence, to secure entrauce into their Sc
cret societies and military organizations,
and thus possess themselves of their Sc
cret plans. In looking over his corps he
found two men admirably adapted to the
object he had in view = both young, and
both able to assume and successfully carry
out the character of a ot-blooded, fiery
secessionist. One of these, whom shall
call Howard, was of French descent. He
had been carefully educated for Jesuit
priest; and added to his collegiate stud
les were the advantages of extensive for
eign travel and the ability to speak with
great facility, several modern languages /;
and knowledge of the South, its locali-
ties, prejudices, customs, and leading
men, derived from several years residence
in New Orleans and other southern ci-
ties. With these qualifications he pos
sessed fine personal appearance, insinu-
ating manners, and that power of adapta-
tion to the persons whom they wish tie
influence, popularity attributed to the Jo-
suits. Howard was instructed to assume
the character Of an extreme secessionist,
60 to first class hotel, register his name,
and his residence as New Orleans, visit
places of amusement, seek the acquain-
tance and secure the confidence of the
young aristocracy of that city; enter
their clubs, penetrate their secrets, and
learn the wild projcctsit was known they
"CiC tuCu liz W do dIcO iuoli uSASN
to make daily reports to his chief, then
under an assumed name, occupying an
Office and nominally carrying on a regular
business in Baltimore Those reports,
now lying before me, are curious and
interesting. They show that Howard
was eminently successful, that he soon
became a welcome guest among many of
the first families in that old and refined
city, that he was fayorite with both
sexes among the ardent and mercurial
young aristocracy, which furnished to the
rebellion Harry Gilmore, the French
Lady, Stuart, and many other partisans,
and in whose circles Dixie and My
Maryland are still mournfully sung over
the lost cause Many Baltimore bellies
are now living who might innocently
blush at the disclosures of the daily re-
ports of one whom, in February, 1861,
they called the fascinating Howard Of
New Orleans.
He continues:
"By the 18th of February Pinkerton's s
machinery was fairly in running order;
his agents IN full communion with the
clubs and secret societies of Baltimore,
so that an interview was planned and
brought about between Towards chief
and a Captain Fernandlna, one of the
most active of the conspirators. Fernan-
dina was an Italian or of Italian descent.
He had lived in the South for many
years, and was thoroughly possessed OF
the idea of southern wrongs, and that
the South had been outraged by the elec-
ton of Lincoln; and, educated with ltal-
ian ideas, he justified the use of the sti-
letto and assassination as means of pre-
venting the President elect from taking
his seat in the Executive chair. He was
an enthusiast and fanatic. In the in
terview with Fernandina, which took
place at - saloon, in the presence of
some of the military company which he
commanded his lieutenant and others
in their confidence in the course Of the
conversation Fernandina, believing he
was addressing a thorough secessionist,
said: Lincoln shall never, never be
President. My life,' said he, is of nc
consequence. | am willing to give it for
his. L will sell my life for that of that
abolitionist. AS Orsini gave his life fol
Italy, 1 am ready to die for the rights ol
the South
"Some one present remarked: Are
there no means of saving the South ex
cept by assassination No. said he
you might as well try to blow down the
! Washington monument with your breadth
as to change our purpose = die he mus
and shall; and be added, turning tc
Captain r, co conspirator, we viii
if necessary, all die together. Every
captain will in that day prove himself ;
hero. The first shot fired, the head trai
tor Lincoln dead, and all Maryland viii
be with US and the South freed. Mr.
H, said he, turning to Pinkerton, { i
[ alone must do it, ] shall not hesitate
Lincoln shall die in this city,
"The next day Pinkerton met the
same Captain T, one OF Fernandina''
.s,o.;o.oz r,bo oollad DinRarton aside