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

going on, Mr.. Lincoln and his
friends, unconscious of danger, were
pursuing their journey toward the
Capitol. Vast crowds had every
where assembled TO welcome and
congratulate him, and pledge to him
their support i'll the maintenance of
The integrity of the Republic, its
Constitution and laws. At Phila-
delphia Mr.. Pinkerton met the Pres,
idential party, and laid before Mr..
Judd, of Chicago, II confidential
personal friend Of Mr. Lincoln, in
detail, the facts in regard to the
conspiracy. Assassination was then
IL crime scarcely kaown in the Unit
ed States and assassination for po-
litlcal reasons was almost incredible.
1t is sad commentary Oh the wick.
cdness of the rebellion that a plot
to assassinatc a prominent public
man would today he credited on
far less evidence than before the
war Conscious of the existence of
the plot knowing the trustw orthi
ness of those from whom he derived
his information; knowing that the
train was laid, that the mine would
be sprung as surely as Mr.. Lincoln
should reach the city Of Baltimore;
that the aSsassins Of the red ballot
were even now on his track and
waiting the fatal moment; that the
police of Baltimore. under control
Marshal Kane. would act in concert
with the conspirators that a vast
mob, wild, savage, and blood thirs-
ty, was organized and ready to act
their part, the character of which
was Lot long after fully disclosed
by the attack up8n and murder Of
the Massachusetts soldiers on their
march 10 Washington: yet, know
ing all this, Pinkcrten feared he
should have difficulty in inducing
Mr.. Lincoln to adept measures to
secure his safety. The President
elect was an unSuspecting man.
After LAYING the matter in all its
details before Judd, and satisfying
him Of the existence of the plot,
and of the extreme peril Mr. Lin.
coln would incur by attempting to
pass through Baltimore according to
the programme, Pinkcrton and judd
had an interview with the President
elect, and laid the matter before
him. On the hi ght Of the DIST OF
FEBRUARY, after the intervicw, Mr..
Pinkcrtoll made this entry in nis
journal
while Mr.. Judd detailed the cir.
cumstances of the conspiracy, Mr..
Lincoln listened very attentivcly,
but did not say word, nor did his
countenancc which closely watch.
ed, show any emotion. He WAS
thoughtful, serious, but decidedly
firm
linkcrton, himself, went over the
ground, detailing to Mr.. Lincoln all
the facts connected with Fernando
ma, Hill, and others. the condition
Of popular feeling, and the plans OF
the assassins; also the fact that
Kane, Chief Of Police, had declared!
that he would give him no police
escort He told him there were
| perhaps ten or fifteen deSperadOes-
wild, enthusiastic young men--who
had been wrought mp to Il pitch OF
ianaticism, in which they really be
Iicved ihcy would he patriots and
martyrs III taking his life, even at
| the cost of their own; that they
1 had bound themselves by oaths II
aSSasSinatc him that II vast. OK.
cited crowd would meet him at *thc
depot Of the Northern Central Rail
road, ii fight would be got up in the
crowd, and this would be the signul
for the attack on his person, and in
the melee u dozen desperate men
armed with rcyolvcrs aud dnks
each swoin to take his life, would
be upon his path, and that he, Mr.
/ PinkcrtOn, felt II moral conviction
that he would not pass from the
Calvert Street depot to the Wash
ington depot, mile and half, il
an open carriage, alive. Both JUDD
and Pinkerton pressed these and
other corroborating facts upon hin
with all the power they possessed
He remained silent u few moments
and it was suggested that they
should change the programme, ant
take the night train - Washington
that very night. Nj Judd said e
him: These proofs ,annOl now b,
made public, us the p, blication o
the facts would involve 'nc lives o
several of Mr.. pinkcitm's force
and, among others, the life of Web
, ster, serving in a rebel company un
der drill, ut Perry mau's, III Mary
laud.' Some other conversation
were held between him and MI
Judd, in regard to the construction
l which would be placed upon hi
9 conduct if he changed the pre-
$ grammc and went directly to Wash
ington. Mr.. Judd then asked,-
Fl win you, Oh any statement whic
:, can be made, consent to leave tc
9 Washington on the night train r.
e Mr.. Lincoln promptly replied, M
D ! cannot consent to this. | sha
! hoist the flag on Independence Ha
l tomorrow morning Washington
A birthday and go to Harrisburg tt
!. morrow, and meet the Legislator
| of Pennsylvania then ] shall hav
y fulfilled my engagements. Ate
!. this, Il you, (Judd) and you, Allen
! (Pinkcrion) think there is positiv