New-York tribune., 1880-06-27
1NcoLNs LAST VISIT TO RICHMOND.

From the late General Sheplevs Paper tn The Atlantic
While the officers OF the Navy who had accom-,
panied the President were 1plOrng Richmond, and
he was cOnferrng with General WeltZel, Judge
Campbell, who had left tho bench of the supreme
Court of the United States at the breaking out OF
the rebellion. and had been member OF the rebel
Cabinet, aud was now in Richmond undergoing the
process of recOnstructlon, came to me as an OLD
friend and solicited the favor OF an interview with
the Presdent. | communicated his desire to Lin
coln who expressed o readiness TO see hlin' Inc
interview took place. Judge Campbell endeavored
to satisfy the President that as Richmond was evac-
uated by the Contederacy aud IN possession Oh the
Union Army the Virginia troops, who had gone into
the contest upon the ground that they owed their
first allegiance to their State would no longer care
to fight He urged that If the Legislature Of Vir-
ginia could be convened, ~ would now recall the
Virginia troops from the Held, and declare, so 1ar
as Virginia was concerned. the rebellion ended
In the conference, Judge Campbell. appealing to
the kind generous and torgiving nature OF Lincoln,
who was only too ready TO cOncede everytnilng 10
bIty of this project, and that IL would save the
efiuslOn of much blood. The President then Or
dered General Weltzel to grant passes ana permls:
sion. to the members OF the rebel Legislature OF
Virginia to assemble in Richmond.
General Wetzel had no opportunity to commnni-
cate this result to before the President mad left
Richmond, although the President told me that he
had acceded to judge CampbelPs request
When General Weitzel informed me OF the order
/ asked for O copy.
He said, " / have no written order"
replied, 4" You are not safe without one"
"Why do you say SO ~ be asked
voked as soon as the Presdent reaches Wnshin gtop
and confers with his Cabinet; more, the Calumet
will deny that any such order ever was Issued"
"Why so ~ said he.
"Becanse this ia madness By this shrewd move
of Judge Campbell the rebel Legislature. assembled
uuder the new Constitution recognizing the COnfed-
eracy will covertly gam recognition as legal and
valid Legislature, and creep into the Union with All
it's rebel legislation u force thus preserving a.!
and they will get, as the price ol deteat al they
hoped to achieve the fruits OF victory The thing
is monstrOue. The Cabinet will swear that you have
misunderstood tho verbal order, or wlfully msln-
terpreted it. l wish. for your sake. you had the
II am a SOLDIER said he. " and do as am or
hight General,n said. tissue to me the order
for the safe conducts, and Will obey It," 80 ne
issued the order to me.
When these orders were printed, showed them
to Wetzel, and said, The passes are ready for the
members OF the Legislature notice has been pub
lcly given that they can have them. have obeyed
orders 40 have yOu am afrald, General, as most
| of the gentlemen for whom these papers are in-
tended are scattered Virginia. and between us
| and them the lines OF two contendinR armies,
not many OF the passes will be delivered before this
order is revoked from Washington. and before Gen.
eral Grant has solved the question for them At the
rate he is now progressing, he VIII soon Withdraw
the Virginia troops from tue field without the help
IL turned out as had expected As soon as the
President arrived III Washington, having reflected
upOn the effect OF recognizing rebel Legislature,
and conferred with his Cabinet he revoked, by tel
epraph his order TO Weitzel The Cabinet officers
denied the fact that such an order was issued aud
the blame was thrown on WeitZel; and newspaper
reporters circulated charge that the movement
originated with Weitgel, aud 10 was attributed to
his sympathy for the rebels. Not so President Lin
coin AS soon as he was on board the Wabash, going
down the river, he sent General WeilEel written
order Ia the same terms as the Verbal one he had
previously given. This shows the Blindness and
sense of Justice of Abraham Liucon. The written
order was sent purely for WelEePs protection, that
the responsibility for the net might rest on the
Presidents own shoulders, and no one else might
auffar fhprafnra Affpr n.
colo high Government official allowed 1t 10 be
aaid without contradiction, No one than he LIN
conl moro bitterly oOndemned the acts of General
Weitzel aud his officers in Richmond IN attempting
to assemble the rebel Legislature OF Virginia" he