National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-12-18

of the conspirators had been in the
principal Northern citiesl watching
the movements of the Presidential
party ready to telegraph to Balti-
more any change of route. y cipher
was agreed upon, so that the con
spirators could communicate with
each other without the facts leaking
ont throughout the offices. Mean.
while the idea Of assassination
preyed upon the mind of Hill; he
grew sad and melancholy. and
plunged still deeper into dissipa.
tion. Howard is his constant com
! panion and confidential friend, lis
shadow IN the Language Of The pro
fcssion at times he is thoughtful,
and then he breaks out into rhap
sodies. lie talks TO Howard OF
dreams and death. Il am destined
to die said Hill, 'shroudcd with
glory. II a man had the nerve he
could immortalize himself by plung.
ing knife into Lincoln's heart
Let us said he have another BFu,
tus. / swear said he, Il will kill
I Lincoln before he reaches the Wash.
ington depot, not that love Lincoln
less. but my country more. | am
ready to do the deed, and then
will proudly announce my Rame and
say; .Gcntlemen, arrest me, | am
! the man;' and then | will be called
one that gave his country liberty
When our company draws lots, if
the red ballot falls to NE / will do it
! Willingly. Perhaps said he, Lin.
coin may conclude to come by way
of lIayrc de Grace if so. the ferry
beat across the Susquehanna will
be the best place to do the deed. /
will go ont there and Kill him if it
is so ordered notwithstanding
his contemplated crime he had some
! good traits: he was warmly attach
ed to his mother, spoke tcnderly of
her, and talked to Howard of pecu-
MARY provision being made for her
/ if he Should sacrifice his life in the
enterprise.
Webster had gone to Perryman.
vile. and, securing the confidence
! Of the scccssionists there, had join
cd a military company which was
drilling with view of destroying
the railroads, burning the bridges,
and the ferry boat on the Susque.
hanna.
The time for Mr.. Lincoln's pass
age through Baltimore was rapidly
approaching, but the exact plan OF
operation by the conspirators had
not been agreed upon. The popular
feeling against him had, through
the press, and by harangues, and
all the m sans by which the public
mind is operated upon been intian,
ed and eXasperated to the highest
pitch. Thousands Of the ignorant
have been wrought upon by the in
telligent until they weie ready for
any act Of violence and atrocity.--
The leaders finally fully determined
that the assassination should take
place at the Calvert st. depot. A
vast crowd Of scceSSionistS was tC
assemble there and wait the arrival
Of the train with Mr.. Lincoln. They
were to go early and till the narrow
streets and passages immediately
surrounding it. 1t was know
among them that George p. Kane
tho Marshal OF Police, subsequently
arrested 10y Gen. Banks and after
ward an officer in the rebel army
= would detail bat small police fore,
to attend the arrival and nominallN
i clcar"and protect Il passage for Mr
, Lincoln and his suite, and that small
force would be sympathizerS witt
! the sereSsionists. When the tIail
should enter the depot, and MI
, Lincoln should attempt to pass
: through the narrow passage leadnt
! to the street, some roughS were Il
raise q row on the outside, and al
! the police were TO rnsh away to quel
: the disturbance. At this moment
t the police being withdrawn, Mr.
4 Lincoln would find himself IN
. dense. excited, and hostile crowd
| hustled and .jammed, and then th
, fatal blow was to be struck. 4
. swift s. Gamer was to be stationed
in Chesapeake Bay, with Il boa
i concealed, ready TO take the assa>
: sin on board as soon rs the dec
l. was done, and convey him to
:, Southern port, where he would hay
/. been received with acGlamatlons an
:. honored as n hero. But who slloul
i. do the bloody deed! 1t was ieare
s. by some that Hill lacked the nerN
& and cooucss. TO determine th'
II question u meeting OF the consplr'
Il tors was held on the night OF til
e. 18th of February. Some twent
<, persons were collected, each
II whom had taken an oath OF secrcc,
i, and also sworn, if designated, tn;
i. he would take the life ct the Pres
d dent elect. 1t was arranged th'
" ballots should be prepared an
Of placed in hat, and that the perso
Ic who drew the red ballot was to
@. the assassin. The drawing WI
i, made in darkcncd room so thi
Dc no one would know who drew Il
at fatal ballot except he who had
and no one was to disclose To u
&. others the color of the ballot ]
st drew. And now the leaders,
10 make success more certain, place
n. eight red ballots in the hat, al
IN eight red ballots were drawn, ca'
h. man drawing one believing that u