The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1875-12-29

Ordinarily, we understand that a great diplo-
matte mission comes to an end with the fall
ure Of its object and we usually look for the
departure thcreupon from the scene Of the
treaty OF those at all concern6d in the nero-
tiations It was not 81 here There WAS still
an apparent expectation 81 Something III the
greatest importance vet to come manifsstad
BY the crowd Of Confcde,5tes ana thor SYM ii
pathizeis in and about the Clifton. / saw
that my own mission had but just begun.
Soon there came arrivals from the American
side, Dozens of iiicH came and were cioscted
with Commissioners . and interviews with
out number were held in their private apart
ment Some Of these mon were unknown to
me- some | recognized as the most bitter
Copperheads Of Buffalo aid neighboring cities,
others, to my SURPRISE learned to be patrio-
tic and influential War Democrats. While
continued to watch closely all that took place
within my observation, one of the " Commits
sioners" one morning recognized me as a
friend OF former years and an old party as
sociate. Several days before had recognized
him, but regard for the success Of my mis-
sion restrained me from making uyselfknown.
But &hoh this man took me by the hand and
cordially greeted me saw that lie knew moth
ing of my official position and suspected moth
ing. After few CASUAL remarks, he said:
So, you used to be L DehdcIat be-
fore the War;
Yes, and am one now,' respoiidcd.
"That's right, " he said, rubbing his hands,
Come with me have something to tell
you We are telling it to everybody to
a few to begin with-whom we can trust
We walked apart, and he deliberately gave
me the main features Or the infamous consniA
racy that he was assistlhg to organize. Its
object was no less than the assassination of
President Lincoln It's details were to DO ar
ranged with an eye to results which he thought
certain to insure tho recognition Of the Con.
federacy and the end of TIE War. The plot
was to be communicated to the leading Deiho-
Gratis Of the North, and they were to assist III
making the organization perfect. The plans
were to be secretly and quietly matured, and
the fatal blow was to be struck on the night
before election. This, 1t was anticipated,
would frodace the utmost CONSERVATION
throughout the North. The news of the
Presidents assassination reaching the people
on the morning of election, thousands Of Re-
publicans would fail or refuse to vote their
electoral ticket, not knowing who the choice
possible. under these circumstances, that the
Republican electoral ticket would be chosen,
The party would be utterly tiehioralizea
without time or opportunity to consult, and
bcwiidercd by their novel and distressing posi-
ton, the result would certainly be 30 great
falling off Of their votes as to give all the
"close States to the Democrats. The cleo
ton of Democratic President would thus be
made certain, with consequent cessation of
hostilites and a treaty of pbacb betHoeh tile
North and South, which would eventually In
sure the Independence of the latter.x He
finished his revelation by asking me what /
thought OF the plot Supprcssing my indig-
nation, told him that It appeared impracti-
cable that leading Democrats could not be
induced I'd join in 1t, and that secrecy was al
most Impossible. He differed with me, as
surfing ME that the conspiracy met with great
favor from many (whom he did not name), and
added that /, Of course, would not mention It
on "the other side.n And, of course, u.s.
sufed him that would not He ehded by
saying that lie would like 10 talk With me fur
ther on the subject, but about that hour he
and his colleagues wSfe I'd meet a very dis
tinguishcd New York Democrat. l asked
his name, and he readily answered Dean Rich
mond
That interview took place the same day,
and learned of 1t as soon as it was over. Mr.
Richmond came from Buffalo at the request
Of one or moro Of thb three, unadvised Of
what they wished to Communicate. He heard
the Infamous plot that had been whispered to
me, and promptly declined to hear anything
further, Or to be in any manner concerned III
It, He fifther told those high-fiinded
Southcrners that tho loyal Democracy of the
North would neither engage in nor oounten-
ance any scheme Of murder; and for himself,
lie told them, in the most emphatic language,
that If the conspiracy was not Immediately
stopped, and all negotiations With people on
the other side Of Tho riyef discontinued, he
would publish the whole plot in the Buffalo
papers the next morning
That, of course, ended the matter. Whether
this conspiracy had any direct relation to that
other one with the same object, which unhap-
PLY succeeded in April, 1865, l cannot say.
| hastcned back to New York, and reported
All had learned to Con. Dix, and he Went
personally to Washington with the intelli-
gence. And here the inquiry will occur to
everybody, why was not this plot published to
the country, and popular indignation aroused?
1t was in fact, made the subject Of cabinet
conference, and this view was urged by the
majority. They argued that the revelation
would be powerful stimulus to the war feel
ing, and would streng hen the national cause.
The cooler Judgment of the President him
self, decided against it, and am inclined to
think he was right. 1t was perhaps, the
gloomiest period of the war; Grant was APP
parently bafied before Richmond, Sherman
was still outside of Atlanta, and the rebels
were raiding through Maryland and Southern
Pennsylvania, and threatening the Capital
itself. To publish at such time the news of