The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-05-23
THE BALTIMORE PLOT
To issassinate Abraham Lincoln.
,rrom Harper,s Monthly for June.I

1ictad from the evidence disclosing the plot to
assaesinate Abraham Lincoln on his contem-
n sted passage through Baltimore, on the
Dad of February, 1861. Considerations Affect
inc tbe personal safety Of those by whom
the conspiracy was detected prevented dis
closure at the time. The subsequent assas-
ination of Mr.. Lincoln, and the disclosures
connected with the trial and conviction OF
Booths associates, removed any doubt in re-
gard to the real existence OF the plot.
The truth may now be disclosed, and the
public desire 10 know the exact facts upon
which Mr. Lincoln acted may now be graft
fled. The circumstances detailed in this ar
ticle are taken from the records of Allen
Pinkerton, the CHIEF Detective, and are Sc
lected from the reports written out daily at
the time, by those engaged in the investiga-
ton, and they are believed by the writer of
this article to be true.
The election of Abraham Lincoln to the
Presidency was Immediately seized upon by
the reckless conspirators, who had long been
plotting the overthrow OF the Union, as a
pretext upon which to consummate their de-
signs. They at once employed all the ma
chnery of popular agitation t. create a pub.
lie opinion, and lire the public heart" so
that it would sanction the deeds of violence
and outrage which they contemplated.
Especial efforts were made to render Mr..
No falsehood was too gross, no lie too inta-
nous, no statement too exaggerated to be
used for this purpose. These. means were re-
sorted 10 with sy. tematic concert, until the
mass of the people in the slave States were
made to believe that this pure, patient, hui
name, Christian statesmen was a monster,
whose vices and passions made him odious,
whose habits made him an object Of just abb
florence.
Maryland, a border State. occupied a posi-
ton OF peculiar importance, and great efforts
were made to bring her within the control OIL
secession. Emissaries were sent to her from
South Carolina and elsewhere, and nothing
left undone to secure her cooperation in
their revolutionary movements. These efforts
were too successful; still there Were man,
bold spirits who gathered around that in.
trepid leader, Henry Winter Davis. resolved
to stand by the Union at all hazards. But ;
majority or the Weather classes, and those
in Office, with few exceptions were in sympa
thy with the rebellion, and the spirit of trea
eon fer time swept like tornado over the
State.
On the 18th of February Mr. Lincoln, with
a lew personal friends, left his quiet, modest
home to enter upon that tempestuous politi
cal career which carried him to a mar yrs
grave. With a dim, mysterious foreshadow.
ing of the future, he uttered to his friends
and neighbors his sad farewell. He seemed
to be conscious that he might see the place
which had been his home for quarter of q
century, where "hIs children were born" and
where enc OF them lies buried, no more
Conscious of the great duties which deyolyed
upon him, greater than those devolving upon
any President since Washington he humbly
expressed his reliance upon Divine Prov
dence, and asked his friends TO pray that he
might receive the assistance of Almigbt,
Cod" sa
As he iourneyed toward the Capital. re-
ceived everywhere with The earnest sympa-
thies OF the people, his spirits rose, and when
he pronounced good by to the Prairie State
at the State line, he said, Behind the cloud
the sun is shining STILL" And on he sped.
through the great free States of Indiana.
Ohio, Pennsylvania, and. New York, to fulfil
his great mission.
There was living at this time in Chicago a
man by the name of Allan Pinkerton, one OF
the boldest, most shrewd and skiltui detec-
tives OF any country. He had always been a
thorough anti slavery man, superintendent
OF the underground rairoado friend and
companion OF Lovejoy and the 'oId guard''
OF early abolitionists in Illinois, With his
anti-slavery character well known, such was
his reputation as a detective that Mr.. Guth-
RE, when Secretary OF the Treasury. had. not
detective. In 1S6061 he was in the employ
OF the railroad companies of the Northwest.
In the winter OF 1861 General Scott. see
ing the gathering storm, called to Washing
ton a few nat onal troops. The passage of
these over the North Central and Philadel-
pha, Wilmington and Baltimore railroads
greatly exasperated the conspirators in Balti-
more and elsewhere, and threats were openly
made, and organizations effected, to DESTROY
Al
the great steam terry-boat by which the Sus-
quehanna was crossed at Havre de Grace
In February Pinkerton was employed by
the officers OF the Philadelphia. Wilmington
and Baltimore road to investigate and ascer-
tain the lacts in regard to these matters with
a view OF protecting their road For this
purpose he removed to Baltimore, taking
with him such of his detective force as he
thought best suited to his purpose.
While thus engaged an officer of the road
learned that young gentleman of high Off
cial position under the State and national
governments, had declared that he was one
of band who had sworn to take the life of
Lincoln on his way to Washington. The
officer communicated this fact to Pinkerton.
and he Immediately asked and obtained per-
mission to investigate this conspiracy. 1t
was now to be plot aud counterpart.
A warm admirer of the President elect.
whom he had known in Illinois, Pinkerton
determined that, if GOODNESS, courage and
skill could save the life of Mr.. Lincoln and
prevent .the revolution which would follow
his violent death, he would accomplish it.
His plan was with his detectives to enter
Baltimore as residents of Charleston and
New Orleans, and by assuming to be seces-
sionists of the most extreme violence, to Sc
cure entrance into their secret societies and
military organizations, and thus possess them
selves OF their secret plans. In looking over
his corps he found two men admirably adapt
ed to the object he had in view, both Young
and both able to assume and successfully
carry cut the chara cter of a hot-blooded
fiery secessionist. One of these, whom |
shall call Howard, was of French descent
He had been carefully educated Tor Jesuit
priest, and added to his collegiate studies
were the advantages of extensive foreign
travel and the ability to speak with great ia
cility several foreign languages; and knowl-
edge Of the South, its localities prejudces,
customs, and leading men, derived from sew
eral years residence in New Orleans and
other Southern cities. With these qualifca.
tons he possessed a fine personal appear
ance. insinuating manners, and that power of
adaptation to the persons whom they wish
to influence, popularity attributed to the Jes-
uits. Howard was instructed to assume the
Nudi dttct VI dii CAtlCuDc StC0oSlOuISl, 20 10 a
frst-class hotel eeister his name, and his
residence as New Orleans, visiting places of
amusement, seek the acquaintance and secure
the confidence of the young aristocracy of
that city; enter their clubs penetrate their
secrets and learn the wild projects it was
known they Were then forming He was al
so instructed to make daily reports to his
chief, then under an assumed name, occupy
ing an office and nominally carrying ON a reg
ala hue, ia
now lying before me, are curious and inter-
esting. They show that Howard was emf
nently successful that he soon became well
come guest among many of the first families
in thatsold and refined city
Another OF Pinketton's agents was of
sraver character, one whose devotion to his
country in the most per;lous and thankless
character of a spy, led to his ignominious
death at Richmond. / may, therefore, call
him by his real name, Timothy Webster He
was adapted TO operate en- the middle and
lower classes of society; of great physical
strength and endurance. skilled in all athletic
sports, good shot. and with a strong will
and bordering on rasbness; man whose ex-
plots as the Union spy would in daring and
romance equal, II not surpass, those of the
Harvey Ri oh of Cooper*.
There were other agents, and among them
a Mrs. Warn, lady whom the chivalry of
Ihe monumental CITY would then have pro-
nounced as Fascinating" as some of their fair
friends did Howard.
BY the l4th OF February Pinkerton's ma
chinery was fairly in running order; his
agents in full communion with the clubs and
secret societies of Baltimore, so that an in
tervlew was planned and brought about be-
tween Towards chief and Captain Fer
nandina, one Of the most active of the con-
spirators. Fernandina was an Italian, or of
Italian descent. He had lived in the South
Tor MANY Years and was thnrnnohlu nnssessed