Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-07-21

.
the Southern Historical Society papers,
for August, as related to him by
Col. Baldwin,
| He stated that after breakfasting an,
attending to his toilet at the house o
Captain Magruder, he went with Mr.. A
B. Magruder, in a carriage, with the glasse
carefully raised to Seward who took charge
of Mr.. Baldwin, and went direct with hin
to the White House, reaching it, he thought
not much after nine O'Clock A. M. At thu
door, the man who was acting as usher, OF
porter, was directed by Colonel Baldwinr
companion, to inform the President thai
that a gentleman wished to see him or
important business. The man replied, a.
Colonel Baldwin thought, with an air OIL
negligence, that he would report the ap-
plication of course, but that it would be
useless, because the President was already
engaged with very important personages.
Some card, Oh such missive, was given him,
and he took it in. He soon returned with
a surprised look, and said that the gentle
men were to be admitted instantly. Col
Baldwin accordingly followed him and
Mr.. Seward into what he presumed was
the Presidents ordinary business room,
where he found him in evidently anxious
consultation with three or four elderly
men, who appeared to wear Importance in
their aspect. Mr.. Seward whispered some
thing to the President, who at once arose
with eagerness, and without making any
movement to introduce Colonel Baldwin,
said bluntly, in substance: "Gentlemen,
excuse me, for I must talk with this man
at once. Come this way, STRIP Ito Colonel
Baldwin,. He then took him up stairs to
quite different part of the house, and
into what was evidently'a private sleeping
apartment. There was handsome bed,
with bureau and mirror, washstand, &C.,
and a chair or two. Lincoln closed the door
and locked it. He then said, s'Well, I sup
pose this is Colonel Baldwin, of Virginia?
| have heard of you good deal, and am glad
to see you. How d. we do. sir?" Colonel
Baldwin presented his note of credential
or introduction, which Lincoln read, sit
ting upon the edge of the bed, and splitting
from time to time on the carpet. He then,
looking inquiringly at Colonel Baldwin,
intimated that he understood he was au-
thorized to state for his friends in the Vir-
ginia Convention the real state of opinion
and purpose there. Upon Colonel Bald
wins portraying the sentiments which pre-
vailed among the majority there, Lincoln
said querulously: eyes! your Virginia
people are good Unionists, but it is always
with an If don't like that sort of Uniop-
ISM" Colonel Baldwin firmly and respect
fully explained, that in one sense no free
man could be more than a. conditional
Union man, for the value Of the Union was
in that equitable and beneficent Constitu-
ton on which itiwas founded, and if this
were lost, "Union,' might become but
another name for mischievous oppression.
He also gave Mr.. Lincoln assurances, that
state of opinion in Virginia, was In perfect
candor and fidelity, and that he might rest
assured the great body of Virginia, in and
out Of the Convention, would concur in
these views, viz: That although strongly
opposed to presidential election upon a
sectional, free-soil platform, which they
deplored as most dangerous and unwise,
Virginia did not approve Of making that,
evil as it was, a casus belli, or ground for
disrupting the Union. That much as
Virginia disapproved it, if Mr.. Lincoln
would only adhere faithfully to the Consti-
tuition and the laws, she would support him
just as faithfully as though he were the
man of her choice, and would WELD her
whole moral force to keep the border States
in the Union, and to bring back the seven
seeded States. But that while much diff
ference of opinion existed On the question,
whether the right of secession is a consti-
nous in believing that no right existed in
the Federal Government to coerce State
by force OF arms, because it was expressly
withheld by the Constitution; that the
State of Virginia was unanimously re-
solved not to acquiesce in the usurpation
OF that power, as had been declared by
unanimous joint resolution by her present
Legislature, and by the sovereign Con-
vention now sitting, according to the ira
dictionary principles Of the State; that if
Virginia remainedsin the Union, the other
border States wouli follow her example,
while, if she were driven out, they would
probably go with her, and the whole South
would be united in irreconcilable hostility
to his Government; and that the friends
of peace desired to have guarantee that
his policy towards the seven seeded States
would be pacific, and would regard their
rights as States; without which guarantee
the Convention could not keep the people
in the Union, even if they would.
Lincoln now showed very plainly that
this view was distasteful to him. He in
timated that the people of the South were
not in earnest in all this. He said that in
Washington he was assured that all the
resolutions and speeches and declarations
of this tenor from the South were but
'!game of brag," intended to intimidate
the administration party, the ordinary and
hollow expedient of politicians; that. in
short, when the Government showed it's
hand, there would ''be nothing in it but
talk" Colonel Baldwin assured him So,
lemnly that such advisors fatally misunder-
stood the South, and especially Virginia,
and that upon the REIMBURSEMENT or adop-
ton of the policy Of violent coercion, peace
or dreadful war would inevitably turn.
Lincoln's native good sense, with Colonel
Baldwin's evident sincerity, seemed now
to open his eyes to the truth. He slid off
the edge of the bed, and began to stalk in
his awkward manner across the chamber,
in great excitement and perplexity. He
clutched his shaggy hair, as though he
would jerk out handsful by the roots; he
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