Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-06-17

Of the contest was made even moro manifest
than IL had been before by the circumstances
OF President Llncoln's journey from SPRING
field to Washington to enter upon The dis
charge OF his duties. President Lincoln
lIourneyed by why OF Harrisburg, arriving
there on Friday, February %, and Il was
then that Governor Curtin met him for the
nrst time. He addressed tho state Lcgisla-
turo in the afternoon and later htld public
reception. "Aftor tho reception" says
Governor Curtin. "a private conference was
held in the parlor OF tho hotcl at which tho
presidential party was stopping. There were
present beside the President, N. j. Judd,
Ward II. Lamon, Judge David Davis. Colonel
L. v. Sumner and one or two more OF those
who were travelling with the President. n.
Il. Judd told us that from two different
sources-Allon O.. Pinkofton In tho first and
party Of New York detectives III the second
instnnco--informatlon had boon received OF a
plot TO assassinhte tho President during his
passage through Baltimore, and % guard
against danger IL had been arranged that the
President should return on special train 10
Philadelphia that evening. and take tho
night express on tho Philadelphia, Whining
ton and Baltimore Railroad, thus throwing
tho conspirators, who expected him to 80 TO
Washington over tho Northern Central Rail-
road, OF tho scent.
Encouraged by the Presidents cool aud
collected bearing at fret discouraged the
idea OF secret journey. advising tho Presi-
don't -olect TO travel by daylight, volunteering
TO go with him in person. But whom full and
convincing proof OF tho plot was laid before
us by Mr.. Judd. knowing that the assassina-
ton Of tho head OF the Government would
bring national ruin. instantly changed my
mind and joinod In doyislng means TO secure
his safety. In tho evening public dinner
was gyon the President, and at its close 1
invited him TO 40 and spend tho night at my
house. He accepted the invitation, and to
allhy suspicious, all mofdbers OF his party but
Colonel Lainon were loft behind at the hotel.
We were at once driven In a closed carriage
to the outskirts OF tho city, whore n special
train. consisting OF an engine, tondcr and
passenger car, was Standing, / stood on the
street crossing until saw them entor tho chr
and then went home. Tho wires botwcon
Harrisburg and Washington, and between tho
former city and Philadelphia. had already
been cut to prevent any news OF his move
ihNiAs' hNNhhb h'AhhNf anu WAN hNililtl
Lamon as his only companion. no started on
the journey to Washington. Early tho next
morning we received word that tho trip had
been made In safety and that President
Lincoln was In Washington
Governor Curtin carly became one Of Presl.
dent Llncoln's trusted advisors. THOR meet
ings we're frequent and each soon came to
appreciate the others worth at It's full value.
president Lincoln" says tho Governor,
"when first mot him did not Impress mo
NJ being great man. His greatness was
then In measure still dormant. Tho war do
yeloped and brought out tho latent qualities
OF leadership within him that would mover
have become manifest save under such trying
conditions. AS a judge Of men and as a
gauger VI public opinion and sentiment no
was almost infalhblc. His glfts In this re-
spect were truly marvellous md have mover
TO my knowledge been oqualed. Every time
that mot him. and for four yoars was with
him almost weekly. was moro and more
impressed with the grandeur Of his character,
brought into strong rclloi as It was by the
lights and shadows Of the war"
Governor Curtin stamps as erroneous tho
popular impression that tho president In Is
suing his emancipation proclamation was not
Influenced by tho meeting OF tho loyal gov
ornors ut Altoona to protest against the
further existence OF slavery.
"As a matter OF iact" says tho Governor,
"thoro was full and complete agreement
between the President and tho gentlemen
who took part in tho Altoona conference
That conference had It's inception In u dis
patch sent TO Governor Andrew, OF Massa-
chusetts, early in September, 1862, telling
him that in my opinion the time had come to
give tho war a definite aim aud end. and that
It socmod to me that the governors Of tho
loyal States should take prompt, united and
decided action In the mattor. Governor
Andrew roplIod that he shared tho same
yiows, and yolumlnous correspondence