Weekly Trinity journal., 1868-07-18

In the June number of Harpers Magazine is
article in regard to the Baltimore plot to as
sassnate Mr.. Lincoln, of which so little has
been definitely known. The account given is, at
all events, Straightforward and consistent, and as
such deserves consideration. 1t seems from this
that it was Mr. Allan Pinkerton, a noted detec
tive from Chicago, to whom mainly Mr. Lincoln
was indebted for his safety. Employed profess
sionally at Baltimore, he learned that there was
conspiracy to take Mr.. Lincoln's life, while he
was on his way to Washington. He at once pro-
posed to checkmate the plans of the conspirators.
The writer in Harper says;
His plan was, with bis detectives to enter Bal
timore as residents of Charleston and New Or
lears. and by assuming to be secessonists of the
most extreme violence, to secure entrance into
their secret societies and military organizations,
and thus possess themselves of their secret pians
In looking his corps he found two men ad-
mrablv ada pied to the object he had in view
beth Young, and both able to assume and carry
ont the character of hot-blooded, fiery seces-
sionist One Of these whom | shall call How
ard, was of French descent He had been care
fully educated for Jesuit priest and added TO
his collegiate studies were the advantages of ex-
tensive foreign travel and ability to speak, with
great facility, several modern languages and
dices, customs and leading men, derived from
several years residence in New Orleans and
other Southern cities. With these qualifications
he possessed fine personal appearance, insinu-
atng manners, and that power of adaptation to
the persons whom they wish to influence, popu-
larly attributed to the Jesuts. Howard was in
structed TO assume the character Of an extreme
secessionis, go to 6rst-ciass hotel, register his
name and his residence New Orleans, visit
places of amusement, seek the acquaintance and
secure the confidence of the young aristocray Of
that city; enter their clubs, penetrate their Sc
crets, and learn the wild projects il was known
they then forming. He was also instructed
to make daily reports 10 his chief, then under an
assumed name occupying Office and nomin-
ally carrying on a regular business in Baltimore.
These reports, now lying before me, are curious
and interesting. They show that Howard was
eminently successful that he soon became
welcome guest among many of the first families
in that old and refined city, that he was favor
ite with both sexes among the ardent and mer-
cural young aristocracy, which furnished to the
rebellion Harry Gilmore, the ''French Lady"
Stuart, and many other partisans, and in whose
circles Dixie and '' Nv Maryland" " still
mournfully sung the lost cause" Many
Baltimore bellies are living who might innocently
blush at the disclosures of the daily reports of
one whom, in February. 1861, they called ''the
fascinating Howard, of New Orleans"
chinery was fairly in running order; his agents
in full communion with the clubs and secret So
cictes of Baltimore, so that interview was
planned and brought about between Howard S
chief and Captain Fernandna one of the most
active of the conspirators. Fernandina 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 Italian
ideas he justified the use of the stiletto and as
sassination as the means of preventing the Pres
ident elect from taking his seat in the executive
chair. He was an enthusiast and a fanatic. In
the interview 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 conhdence-in
the course of the conversation, Fernandina, be-
! lieving he was addressing thorough secession
/ list, said Lincoln shall never, never be Presl-
dent Ny life," said he, 90 is of no consequence.
| am willing to give it for his. l will sell my
! life for that of that abotionist. AS Orsini gave
his hfe for Italy, am ready to die for the rights
! of the South" Some one present remarked
stAre there no means of saying the South ex-
! ccpt by assassination p NO said he s'you
might as we'll try to blow down the Washington
monument with breath MS to change our pur-
pose-die he must and shall and, " be added,
turning to Captain T, co-conspirator, q we
will, if necessary, all die together. Every Cap
tain will in that day prove hero. The first
shot fired, the head traitor Lincoln dead, and
all Maryland will be with >us and the South
freed Mr. H" said be, turning to Pinker,
ton, s' if alone must do it, shall not hesitaie
Lincoln shall die in this city ]"
The next day Pinkerton met the same Cap.aln ,,
T., one of Fernandnas s associates wno ea!i- ~
ed Pinkerton aside and whispered " IL is oe-
termined that the Cd d-n Lincoln shaii new.
.ass thro,ob here alive The d-n aboI''ionlst
Shall never set foot on Southern soil bu' 10 Il find
crave" He added ~ have seen Colonel Kane
Chief of Police, and he is all Tgni ana IN % Que
week from to-day the Nortn sum s ""' - ""o'Ne'
The time for Mr.. Lincolns passage through
pa1t;more WAS rapidly approaching, but the ex-
act plan of operation by the conspirators had not
/ been agreed upon. TIE popular feeling against
him had through the press, and by harungues
and all the means by which the pubic mind is