The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-31
A BOLD REBEL PLOT.
Walker Taylor's Scheme fer the Alb.
duction of President
Lincoln.

Mr.. William Preston Johnston, who served
on Jefferson Davis staff and is son of the
late Gen. Albert i,ney Johnston ina recent
interview with Cath" remarked: II was
present at a breakfast at President Davis
mansion when Il proposition was made to him
to abduct Abraham Lincoln cut of Washing
ton City and bring him prisoner to Rich
mond."
"Who was the manr' said |.
at was Walker Taylor, a nephew Of old
President Zachary Taylor. At tho beginning
Of the war l went into the First Kentucky
regiment, commanded by Tom Taylor, who
is now the chief Of police in Louisville.
never knew Taylor who was not personally
brave Walker Taylor was one Of the
bravest Of the brave. At Fort Donelson he
was captured and taken to Louisville. He
was badly wounded at the time 1t was in
the month Of February, think, while he
was standing in the line Of prisoners, a friend
close at hand slipped an overCoat upon him
and he stepped out of the lines into the crowd
and could not DO found Wounded as he was
he was concealed from house to house, and
searched for, and afte.' he got better he re-
solved to go to the south again. So he came
east to Washington City and went south
probably by the same route that Booth after
ward took, across the lower Potomac
1.-The Kentuckians were not like the Mis-
sourians in the war, and always protected
each other though on different sides Those
Taylors he two brothers on one side and
two on the other. Walker Taylor had
members of his family in high government
positions-some in the navy, some in the
army, some in the civil service. They were
astonished to SEQ him around there unparoled,
going at large. Still they did not give him
up: they entreated him either to take the
oath or leave. Among other places he went
to the White House to call on Abraham Lin
coin. He got some body to introduce him.
Mr.. Lincoln treated him with courtesy, and,
seeing that he lmped, said to him: Il see
that you have been wounded, my friend.
Where did you get your woundH AT Fort
Donelson, Mr. president said Taylor. Tho
president paid him compliment, little sup
posing that at his wrist was one of the most
deadly men in the world.
When Taylor left Washington and came to
Richmond he came to see me, knowing that |
was President Davis aide de camp, and no
said: Johnston, | can capture Abe Lincoln
and bring him to Richmond, and all | want
is the permission of President Davis to do it.
Can't you get ME interview with DavisF
Said |, Yes and l arranged with the presi
dent that he should come to breakfast the
next day. At the breakfast table. or after
the breakfast, | said to the president: Mr..
Taylor has an important proposition to make
to YOU, Mr.. Davis Well, Walker said
Davis atfably. what is it, Mr.. Davis, l
want to bring Abe Lincoln a prisoner to you
in this city oh, pshawr said Davis, how
can such thing as that be doneF Just as
easy, said Taylor, 'as walking out of this
town. l came across the Potomac at no
great distance from Washington City, and
while was in Washington | watched Lin
coins habits closely an1 knew his outgoing
and incoming | tell you, sir, that ! can
bring him across that river just rs easily as
can walk over your doorstep How would
you do it' said Mr.. Davis.
"Lincoln,' replied Walker Taylor, does
not leave the White House till evening. OF
near twilight, and then, with only driver,
he takes lonely ride into the country, to a
place called the Soldiers home which is his
summer residence. My point Is to collect
several of these kentuckians whom l SEQ
about here doing nothing, and who are brave
enough for such a thing rs that, and we will
throttle or kill the driver and gag Lincoln,
over Just where l crossed, and next day We
will have him here, Mr.. Davis Davis shook
his head Said he: Z cannot give my
authority, Walker In the first place, sup
pose that Lincoln is a man of some courage.
He has been in Indian war, and is western
man. He would undoubtedly resist
being captured In that case you would kill
him. could not stand the imputiton of
having consented to let Mr. Lincoln be assas-
sinated. Our cause could not stand II. Be-
sides, what value would hs be 10 us as a
prisoner The moment he WAS removed q
far worse man, Andrew johnson, would take
his place, a man highly incense1 against us
all Lincoln is not the government of the
Federal power. He is merely the political in
striment there. II he were brought TO Rich
mond, what could do with him. He would
have to be treated like the magistrate of tho
north, and we have neither the time nor the
provision No, sir l will not give my author
ity TO abduct Lincoln
"Do YOU think that Walker could have
been successful Col Johnston
yes Booth chose theatre to kill the
president in, aud got across the river without
much trouble TAYLOR was one of the best
men in .ae world for an adventure like that"