The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-06-26

uduSViy WCtc puIoulHB tnCIT Joutucy w
ward the Capital. Vast crowds had every
where assembled to welcome and cougrnt.
nIalc him, and pledge to him thsir support
In the maintenance Of tho integrity OF the
Republic, ito Constitution aud laws. Al
Philatlelphia, Mr.. Pinkorton met The Presi-
dental party, and laid before Mr.. Judd, OF
Chicago, q confidential friend OF Mr.. Lin.
coin, in detail the facts In regard to the
conspiracy. Assassination was then
crime scarcely known in the United States,
and assassination for political reasons was
almost incredible. Il 10 sad commentary
on the wicketlness Of the rebellion that
plot to assassinate prominent public man
would to-day be credited upon Ear less evl.
dence than before tho war. Conscious Of
tho existence Of tho plot, knowing the trust.
worhiness of those from whom he derived
his information, knowing that tho train was
laid, that tho mine would be sprung rs sure.
ly a. Mr.. Lincoln should reach the city OF
Baltimore, that the assassins Of tho rcd bal.
lot were cvon now OH his trnck and waiting
the fatal moment, that the police Of Balti'
moro, under control OF Marshal Kane,
would act IN concert with tho conspirators,
That n vast mob, wild, savage, and blood.
ihIray, WINS organized and ready TO act
their part, the character Of which was not
long after fully disclosed by the attack upon
and murder Of the Massachusetts, soldiers
on their marchto Wnshington,-yet. know.
ing all this. Pinkerton feared he should have
difficulty in inducing Mr.. Lincoln to adopt
measures to secure his safety. The Presi-
dent elect was an unsusPecting man.
Afsr laying tho matter In all It's details
before Judd, and satisfying him Of the OF.
istence Of tho plot, and OF the extreme peril
Mr.. Lincoln would incur Ivy attempting to
pass through Baltimore according to tho
programme, Pinkerton and Judd had an In.
tcrview with tho President elect, and laid
the matter before him. On tho night OF
tho 2lst February, after tho interview, MIR.
Pinkcr,on made this entry in his journal: :
"whilo Mr.. Judd detailed the circum-
stances of the conspiracy, Mr. Lincoln lis.
icued very nttenlively. but did not say
word, nor did his cotntcnance, which
closely watched, show any enlution. tie
was thoughtful serious, hut decidedly frm.'
Pinkcrton, himself went over the ground,
detailing TO Mr.. Lincoln NIL tho facts conncc-
ted with Fcrnnndina, flill, and others, tho
condition of popular feeling, and tho plans
of tho nssassins also tho fact that Kane,
Chief of Police, lad declared that hc would
give him no "polico escort. lie told him
there wcro perhaps ten to fifteen despera-
does-will, enthusiastic young mcn--who
had been wrought up to pitch Of fanati-
cisln, in which they really believed they
would l,o patriots and nuriyrs IN tnking his
life, oven ut tho cost Of their own that they
had bound themselves by oatlis to assassin.
ato him; that vast, excited crow!l wouid
meet him Mt tho Northern Ccntrnl itnllroad,
a fight would 10 got up In tho crowd, un'i
this would he tho signal Tor the attack on
his person, and IN the melee dDzen des.
pcra,e men, armed with rcvolvcrs md dirks,
each sworn TO take his life, would he upon
his putll, and that no. Mr.. Pinkcrton, felt
inorul conviction that he could not pass from
the Calvert Street depot To The Washington
depot, o mile and l,alf IN nm open car
ringe, alive. Both Judd and Pinkerton
pressed these and other corrobatlng facts
.,,on him with all the power which they
pssessed He remained silent few mo.
iIiiien'l ,, and Il was suggested that ho should
change the programme, and take the night
train Tor Washington That very night. Dir.
Judd said 10 him: "Theso proofs cannot be
now made public, as tho publication OF tho
facts would involve tho lives Of several OF
Mr.. Pinkcrton's force and among others,
the life Of Webster, serving in n rebel com
pany under drill, at PcrryInnnsin in Mary.
iand." Some other conversation was held
between him and Mr. Judd, in regnnl 10 the
construction which would 10 plnced upon
his conduct ir ho changes, the programme
anil went directly TO Washington. MIR.
Judd then uskcd' "Will you, u.',n any state
,ncnt which can I've made. cons"m to leave
for Washington on TO nights trnl'if' MIR.
Lincoln promptly replied, "No, l can not
consent to do il,is. | shall hoist the flag
on Independence Hall to morrow morning
(WasIlington's birthday J and go 10 Harris
burg Tomorrow, aud meet the Legislature
of Pennsylvania /. then ! shall have fulfilled
all my engagements Afler this, il you
(Ju,l,i) )and you, Allan (Pinkcrton think
there is positive danger in my attempting
to 70 through Baltimore openly, according
to the published programme--if you can
arrange any way to carry out your purposes,
| will place mysclf In your hands" "Mr.
Lincoln" says Pinkcrton. "said this with
a tone and manner so decisive, we saw that
no more was TO be sud-"
II was finally arranged between Judd,
Pinkcrton, and tho officers oil tho Penn.
Railroad that a special truin should leave
Harrisburg ut G p. M. tho next evening, nnd
hiring Mr.. Lincoln to Philadelphia in time
TO take the IL o'clock train going through.
Baltimore To Washington. on tho night OF
tho q. This train was to he detained I'M
Ill Mr.. Lincoln arrived every contingency,
in regurd 10 the connection Of the trains and
possible delays, was most skilliilly planned.
80 us to secure connections and the certainty
Of going through OF time.
Meanwhile, to prevent this change being
tclcgraphed to Baltimore by a confederate,
or information of,his change Of route being
known. and leaking out in any way. the
Superintendent Of the Telegraph Com.
pany. at tho instance OF Mr.. Pinkcton, sent
practical telegraph climber to isolate liar.
risblrg from telegnphic communication
with all the world until MIR. Lincoln should
reach Washington. .........
On the morning Of the 22d February
Mr.. Lincoln visited old "lndependcnce
Hail." and with his own hand raissd over
il the flag. Ills speech on this occasion
was the most impressive md characteristic
Of any whicl, he Ind made OF his way TO
the Capital. He gave most eloquent cx.
preston to the emotions and associations
suggested by the day and place. iic dc.
clsred that oil his political sentiments were
drawn from lllose which had lcen exprssed
in that Hall. lie alluded most leelinyly to
the dangers, and tolls. and suiferings Of
those who had adopted and made good The
Declaration Of Independence; that dcclara.
tion which gnve promise that ain due time
the weight would lc lltedtrom the shoulders
OF all men," Conscious ofthe dangers which
threatened his country, and that those dan.
gers originated in opposition to the princi.
plcs Of tho Declaration Of Independence,
and knowing that his own life was even
now threatened for his devotion to liberty,
and that his why 10 tho National Capital
k....,s t,vu o~tv. L. .ls.t ,,cs hass.