The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-07-02

i tie says further:
!. The time for Mr. Lincoln's passage
o through Baltimore was rapidly approach
e ing, but the exact plan of operation by
t the conspirators had not been agreed up.
! on. The popular feeling against him had,
through the press, and by harangues and
t all the means by which the public mind
is operated upon, been inAamed and ex-
asperated to the highest pitch. Thou
sands of the more ignorant had been
wrought upon by the intelligent until
, they were ready for any act of violence
|, end atrocity. The leaders finally fully
determined that the assassination should
take place at the Calvert Street depot
A vast crowd of secessionists was to as
, semble at that place aud await the ar
rival of the train with Mr.. Lincoln.
!, They were to go early and fill the narrow
street and passages Immediately surroun-
ding it. 1t was known among the leaders
that George p. Kane, the Marshal of po-
lice, subsequently arrested by General
Banks, and afterward an officer in the
rebel army, would detail but small po-
lice force to attend the arrival and NOM
inally clear and protect passage for Mr..
Lincoln and his suite, and that that small
force would be sympathizers with the Sc
cessionists. When the train should enter
the the depot, and Mr.. Lincoln should
attempt to pass through the narrow pas
sage leading to the street, some roughs
were to raise row on the outside, and
all the police were to rush away to quell
the disturbance. At this moment, the
police being withdrawn, Mr.. Lincoln
would find himself In dense, excited,
and hostile crowd, hustled and jammed,
and then the fatal blow was to be struck
\ swift steamer was to be stationed in
Chesapeake Bay, with boat concealed,
ready to take the assassin On board as
soon as the deed was done, and convey
him to southern port, where he would
have been received with acclamations
and honored as hero. But who should
do the bloody deed? 1t was feared by
some that Hill lacked the nerve and cool
ness. To determine the question a meet
ing of the conspirators was held on the
night of the 18th of February. Some
twenty persons were collected, each of
whom had taken an oath of secrecy, and
also sworn, if designated, that he would
was arranged that ballots should be pre-
pared and placed in a hat, and that the
person who drew red ballot should be
the assassin"
Mr.. Pinkerton found it hard to per-
suade Mr.. Lincoln of the existence of the
conspiracy. The writer says:
"While Mr.. Judd detailed the circum-
stance of the conspiracy, Mr.. Lincoln lis
tened very attentively, but did not say
word, nor did his countenance, which 1
closely watched, show any emotion. He
was thoughtful, serious, but decidedly
! firm.
Pinkertou then, himself, went over
the ground, detailing to Mr.. Lincoln all
the facts connected with Fernandina,
Hill, and others, the condition of popular
| feeling, and the plans of the assassins;
also the fact that Kane, Chief of Police,
declared that he would give him no d" po-
lice escort" lie told him there were
perhaps ten or fifteen desperadoes-wild,
enthusiastic young men = who had been
wrought up to pitch of fanaticism, in
which they really believed they would be
patriots and martyrs in taking his life,
even at the cost of their own; that they
had bound themselves by oaths to assas-
sinate him; that a vast, excited crowd
would meet him at the depot of the Nor
thern Central Railroad, fight would be
got up in the crowd, and this would be
the signal for the attack on his person,
and in the melee a dozen desperate men,
armed with revolvers and dirks, each
sworn to take his life, would be upon his
path, and that he, Mr.. Pinkerton, felt a
moral conviction that he could not pass
from the Calvert street depot to the
Washington depot, mile and half, in
an open carriage, alive. Both Judd and
/ Pinkerton pressed these and other cor
roboratiDg facts upon him with all the
power which they possessed. He re-
NAMED silent few moments, and it was
suggested that he should change the pro-
gramme, and take the night train for
} Washington that very night. Mr.. Judd
said to him: These proofs cannot be now
made public, as the publication of the
: facts would involve the lives Of several of
t Mr.. Pinkerton's force, and among others,
the life of Webster, serving in rebel
, company under drill at Perryman's, in
Maryland Some other conversation
was held between him and Mr.. Judd, in
, regard to the construction which would
! be placed upon his conduct if he changed
the programme and went directly to
, Washington. Mr.. Judd then asked,
viii you, upon any statement made, con-
! sent to leave for Washington on to nights
! train?' Mr.. Lincoln promptly replied:
: No, l cannot consent to do this. l shall
hoist the fag on Independence Hall to-
morrow morning (Washington's birth
day., and go to Harrisburg tomorrow,
and meet the Legislature of Pennsylva-
MIA; and then / shall have fulfilled all my
, engagements. After this, if you (Judd),
) and you, Allen (Pinkcrton), think there
is positiye danger In my attempting to