Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-12

view they had had with Mr.. Lincoln during my
absence. They called to thank Mr.. Lincoln for
tne non nor ne had conferred upon Them They
found him In a pleasant humor, and he addressed
them as follows: Mr.. Bowen / appointed you
to please my friend Montgomery Blair. Post
master General] Mr.. Brown, appointed you
to please my friend Gale Smith. [Caleb B. Smith.
Secretary OF the Interior,] Mr.. Addison, APP
pointed you to please my friend -. Mr..
Tenny, appointed you to please my friend
-. But, gentlemen, / wish you to under
stand that I appointed Mr.. Robbins to please
myself This l give merely for the purpose OF
showing the position that l then held in Mr..
Lincoin's esteem. At the meeting of the Board
Of Police Commissioners when the particulars
of the above stated interview with the President
were narrated to me, one of the commissioners
said to me: Mr.. Robbins. If / possessed Mr.
Lincoln's friendship and confidence to the ex-
tent that yon do, It would be worth to me mill
lions OF dollars. With q feeling of some indig-
nation replied that my ideas Of patriotism and
propriety would not permit me to make any
such use Of AA. Lincoln's friendship and conf
dence in me-"
HOW A PLOT TO CAPTURE WASHINGTON WAS
FRUSTRATED.
Sometime in the month Of June, 1861. -
Mr.. Robbins continued: "befOre our armies
took possession Of Alexandria and Airing
ton Heights, the chaplain of New York reg
iment, then stationed at the Long bridge,
called upon me early one morning for the pur-
pose OF procuring my assistance In obtaining an
immediate interview with Mr.. Lincoln. Finding
that his business was very important, pro-
ceeded with him at once to the White House,
and promptly obtained an interview with the
President After had introduced the chaplain
and vOuched for his reliability he stated to Mr.
Lincoln that the night before, whilst in istent,
Immediately contiguous to the tent occupied by
the colonel Of the regiment, he overheard con-
hafvx-n kt,..
he supposed. were rebel emissaries. The sub
1ect of their conversation was a plan of opera
lions by which the rebels should be permitted
to pass over the Long bridge into Washington
the next night, for the purpose of cap
turing Mr.. Lincoln and DESTROYING the
city. All the arrangements to accomplish this
plan were entered into and agreed upon. This
colonel was to make such q disposition of his
regiment that the rebels would meet with no
obstruction in passing into Washington. When
the chaplain had got through with his state
ment Mr.. Lincoln remarked to him that he need
not give himself any more unhappiness, for the
matter would be promptly attended to, and the
safety OF Washington assured. Marching orders
were Immediately given to the suspected regi-
ment, and reliable troops were sent to take it's
place. plot was thus frustrated which might
otherwise have placed the rebels In possession
OF the Capital, and given them a great tempo
rary advantage. If they had succeeded then In
getting possession of the National Capital and
capturing President Lincoln, probably the con-
federaey would at once have been recognized in
Europe"
''Why," asked the reporter, ''were not some
measures taken to bring the unfaithful colonel
to punishment for treason2"
For the same reason" said Mr. Robbins.
that no notice was taken Of an
ATTEMPT r0sHoOr Mr. LINCOLN
at about the same time. Because it might have
suggested treachery to some other disloyal Of
fcer. It was deemed best not to make any
public exhibition of the attempted treason /
presume the general or corps commander knew
of the matter and made such disposition of the
regiment that 1t could do no harm. There
were in those days many cases where It was
deemed best not to expose crime. Mr.. Lin
coin, In his prudence, thought it best not to
make any trouble at that critical time. That
was the most critical period of the war, and the
President was overwhelmed with vast cares and
responsibilities. That was no time for holding
cOurts-martial."
1.-THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOT REsPoS-
SIBLE."
''The autumn after the Inauguration of Mr..
Lincoln" said Mr.. Robbins, ''Mr Lewis Gle
plane, Rev. John Pierpont. myself and perhaps
dozen other abolitiOnists met in consultation
and resolved that it was high time for free
speech to be established in Washington. and
we then and there formed the Washington Lee
ture Association of which Rev. John Pierpont
was elected president and was elected treas
urer. The only good lecture room then in Wash
ington was the lecture room in the Smithsonian
Institution. We applied for and received from
the regents permission to have course Of lee
lures delivered there, and we gave them strong
meat. Among our lecturers were Wendell Phil
lips. Horace Greeley. Orestes A. BrOwnson
Daniel Dickinson, Bayard Taylor Dr. Holland,
and Rev. John PierpOnt.
On the evening of our first lecture, just be-
fore our president was to introduce the lecturer
OF the evening. Prof. Henry surprised us by
walking on to the platform and requesting the
crowded audience to particularly understand
that the Smithsonian Institution must not be
held responsible for the sentiments that would
be uttered In that course of lectures. At all the
succeeding lectures of the course our president,
desiring to relieve the Smithsonian Institution
Of all responsibility for the sentiments uttered
by our lecturers. invariably opened the proceed
ings of the evening by giving, in the most SON.
erOus and emphatic manner, the following
notice: Ladies' and gentlemen: l wish you ali
to particularly understand that the Smithsonian
Institution is not responsible for sentiments
uttered in this course of lectures"
LINCOLN AND GREELEY.
''The evening that Greeley lectured, as / en-
tered the door Of the institution, the janitor
came to me and said there were.two gentlemen
In his room who had requested to see me as
soon as / arrived. l went into the room and
there found Mr.. Lincoln and his private secre-
tary, NicOlay. Mr.. Lincoln said 4 heard that
my friend, Greeley, was going to lecture to-
night. and l thought / would come down to
hear him l should say. parenthetically. that
Greeley during the war was angry with Mr. Lin
coin about half the time because. he wouldn't
run the war to suit him. and he was in a huff
with Mr.. Lincoln at this very time. He had
been here for several days without calling upon
Mr. Lincoln, but Mr.. Lincoln nevertheless came
down to hear him lecture. Well, took Mr.
Lincoln up on the platform; and sat beside him
%ost resuks to thy courses wss
was pursuing at that time. The subject OF the
lecture was the war, ana ~ aimed s5me
pretty sharp criticisms on the Nov progress that
was being made. 1t savUred strongly of the
'On to Richmond policy that was then advbca-
ted in the Tribune. After Greeley got through,
Mr.. Lincoln said that it was an admirable lee
ture, and he would like to have copy of 1t TO
look over at his leisure. When this request as
made known to Greeley he at once said, HE
shall have copy, and one written in a plain
hand, too"
PIERPoNT, BRONSON AND DICKINSON.
'Our president, Rev. John Pierpont, was q
very witty man. One Of our lecturers, l have
stated, was Orcstes A. BrOwnsOn. He hal been
a member and clergyman Of nearly every sect