The flight of Mr. Lincoln.
His Passage Through Baltimore — Marvellous Sensation Stories, &c.The flight of Mr. Lincoln from Harrisburg to Washington has been noticed. The Baltimore American has the following account of the trip:
‘ The Baltimore Committee, consisting of Messrs. Gunnison, Beale, Snethen, Gleason and others, being anxious to have an interview with Mr. Lincoln, applied at the door of his room on Saturday morning, at Harrisburg, and it, was then announced, for the first time, that, in consequence of dispatches received from Washington, he had left in a special train; but that Mrs. Lincoln and the suite left behind would proceed towards Washington at 9 o'clock, as originally arranged.
’ This announcement created much surprise. The Baltimore delegation were in particular very much mortified at the want of confidence displayed in thus avoiding a public reception in Baltimore. It is, however, stated that Mr. Lincoln was opposed to any change in the programme, but was overruled by other parties, and the influence of General Scott is supposed to have been paramount.
The starting from Harrisburg at 9 o'clock was witnessed by very few, and those present had no idea that Mr. Lincoln was not to go by the train, but had already disappeared.
On reaching York a large crowd was assembled, who with music and cheers greeted the appearance of the train. Their shouts for Lincoln induced Mr. Wood, who has had the superintendence of the traveling arrangements of the party, to make his appearance on the rear platform. He stated that Mr. Lincoln was not on the train, having been suddenly called to Washington by telegraphic dispatches, and was by that time already in the Capital. In order to appease the dissatisfaction which this announcement created, he introduced the son of the old man, who happened to be standing beside him, but who was entirely unprepared for such a public introduction.
At 11. 40 the train passed the State boundary. All along the route every village and farm-house turned out its occupants, and flags and handkerchiefs were waved in honor of the distinguished individual they supposed to be on board.
Scene at the depot.
The announcement on the bulletin that the President had reached Washington was of course known only to a small portion of the citizens, and did not prevent such an assemblage of the people at the Calvert Station as was probably never before witnessed in the city. At 1 o'clock it was utterly impossible to approach within a square of the depot from any direction, and the ascent of Franklin street was crowded with people up to Courtland street. Much amusement was created by a four-horse barouche passing through the crowd with a long-bearded man sitting alone on the back seat, who was pointed out and stared at as the veritable President elect.At 1 o'clock the regular train arrived, when there was a tremendous rush of people, and the doubters were satisfied that Mr. Lincoln was not on board. The party were placed in carriages and drove off to the Eutaw House to await the departure of the special train to carry them to Washington at 3 o'clock.
There was no indignity offered to Mrs. Lincoln or the friends who accompanied her at the Calvert Street Station, but there was an evident outbreak of indignation against the little squad of Baltimore office-seekers who had visited York, and desired to give prominence to their claims for official position.--They evidently courted notoriety, and were even willing to be made martyrs for the sake of the loaves and fishes.
On the arrival of the cars and the appearance on the platform of the Baltimore Republican Committee, they were received with groans and hootings. A rush was made at William E. Beale and Francis S. Corkran, but they were protected by the police, and neither of them were injured further than knocking their hats over their eyes. The following was the Committee: William G. Snethen, Chairman; Judge Wm. L. Marshall, L. Blumenberg, of Gay street; James E. Bishop, Wm. E. Gleeson, and Wm. E. Beale. Hon. Judge Palmer, of Frederick, was with the party.
Mrs. Lincoln and her three sons proceeded to the residence of Colonel John S. Gittings, President of the Northern Central Railway, at Mount Vernon Square, having accepted an invitation tendered to them on their way to this city, so as to relieve them from the crowd and the excitement. They left the cars, we learn, at the junction of Charles street, where Mr. Gittings' carriage was in waiting for them, and were in a few minutes enjoying the quiet of his spacious mansion, whilst crowds were gaping for a sight of them at the depot. At three o'clock, after dining, they were conveyed to the depot by Mr. Gittings, and passed through the crowd and took seats in the cars for Washington without being recognized.
One fellow in the crowd at Calvert Station, who was known as a violent Republican, had his hat knocked off a dozen times by the rowdies.
Departure for Washington.
At 3 o'clock an immense concourse of people assembled at the Camden Station to witness the departure of Mrs. Lincoln and family for Washington. Two cars for the Presidential party were standing on the side of the upper platform towards Camden street, and a force of police were present to keep off the crowd, Several carriages, containing the traveling companions of the family, drove up in front of the Station, and they passed through the hall on to the rear platform, but Mrs. L. was not with them, The crowd waited in suspense, momentarily expecting their arrival. The hour of departure having arrived, the conductor announced that Mrs. L. and her three sons had arrived a quarter of an hour previous, and had quietly taken their seats, wholly unobserved, among the passengers in the forward cars. The signal was then given, and the family left for Washington wholly incog. also, no one being able to identify them in the crowded cars.
The object of this hasty movement.
There are various conjectures afloat as to the cause of this hasty and secret movement of Mr. Lincoln. It was rumored at Harrisburg that he had received a dispatch from Washington requiring his presence in that city before 12 o'clock on Saturday, in order to use his influence with the Peace Congress in favor of conciliation and compromise.Another rumor is that his friends, in view of an article in one of the Baltimore afternoon papers of Friday, thought there was danger of a disturbance in this city on account of the persistent attempt of certain very objectionable parties insisting on accompanying him through the city — in short, that he passed through incog. in order to avoid the attentions of his political friends here, whose unpopularity with the great mass of the people is so notorious.
The feeling in Baltimore.
The prevailing feeling excited by Mr. Lincoln's quiet passage through Baltimore, was one of relief, and of gratification, though expressions of disappointed curiosity were frequently heard. The injudicious determination of certain political friends of the President elect, in this city, to mark his arrival with a public demonstration, had excited a spirit of stern opposition, which, it was feared, would manifest itself in acts which, though designed directly to rebuke the ill-advised zeal of the parties referred to, might yet have been misconstrued into a personal affront to the President elect, and so have reflected discreditably upon the good repute of Baltimore. The action, therefore, of Mr. Lincoln, in disappointing alike the purposes of his political friends and the public curiosity, was a simple and practical avoidance of what might have been an occasion of disorder and of mortification to all interested in the preservation of the good name of our city.Ample precautions were adopted to guard against any violation of the public peace. A large police force was detailed for duty at the depot, and to protect the President and his suite on their passage through the streets, against the turbulent pressure of the crowds which he experienced in other cities on his route hither, and these measures of Marshal Kane, even if they had failed to restrain any expressions of disapprobation, would certainly have secured Mr. Lincoln from insult, had such been intended.
The route of the President elect to Washington.
It appears that Mr. Lincoln did not reach this city by the Northern Central Railroad, but came through by way of Philadelphia.--The Harrisburg Telegraph, of Saturday afternoon, says:‘ After the strongest solicitation from prominent gentlemen and military men at Washington, Mr. Lincoln was finally induced last Friday evening to leave this city by a special train for Philadelphia, and from thence direct for Baltimore and Washington. He reached Philadelphia just in time to enter a sleeping car on the Baltimore road, and he passed over it without attracting attention.--Many may suppose that he ought not to have taken the advice of friends; but if they were acquainted with such facts as have been presented to us, they would think otherwise, and we are glad at his safe arrival at Washington. The travel has been very fatiguing to Mr. Lincoln and his suite.
’ At Harrisburg, Mr. Lincoln was welcomed to the Capitol by speeches from the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House. (From the Washington Star, of Saturday afternoon.)
His arrival in Washington.
This morning, shortly before o'clock, Mr. Seward winded his way down to Wil- lard's where he remained almost solitary and alone in the hall in front of the office, to the wonder of the few persons about at that hour, evidently looking for some one to arrive by the train momentarily expected. When the train's passengers for the house did arrive, the mystery of Mr. Seward's so early appearance at the hotel was instantly cleared up; for the tall figure of Abraham Lincoln was seen conspicuous among them! He was accompanied by two friends only, Mr. E. J. Allen, of New York, and Mr. Lammon. Accompanied by Mr. Seward, he immediately retired to parlor No. 6 of the house, which, with the magnificent suite of apartments attached to it, had been quietly engaged for him yesterday, and prepared for his reception this morning.His earlier arrival here than was generally expected was, we have every reason to believe, the result of advices sent him yesterday by telegraph, urging his presence in Washington at the earliest possible moment, as being absolutely necessary for the success of his administration in restoring peace and harmony to the country, as unmistakably demonstrated by the proceedings in the Peace Congress on that day and the day before.
He is physically much weakened by the constant labor and excitement of the popular ovations forced upon him since leaving Spring field, and was, therefore, probably glad thus to have an opportunity to escape those prepared for him in Baltimore and this city, which bade fair to have been immense and protracted ones.
So quietly did he travel between Harrisburg and this city as that none of the railroad officials knew he was on either train. Thus, at 11 A. M. to-day, they were actively preparing to send the contemplated extra train over to Baltimore to bring him over to this city this afternoon, and were astounded on learning that he was certainly here.
At half-past 9 Mr. Lincoln breakfasted in his sitting room.
Mr. Seward again joined him shortly before 11 A. M., and taking a carriage, they proceeded to the Executive mansion to call, quietly, on President Buchanan, who was then in Cabinet Council--the Cabinet having been called to meet to-day at half-past 9. Mr. Buchanan is said to have been greatly surprised on having Mr. Lincoln's card so unexpectedly sent up to him. He received him and Mr. Seward immediately, in his private parlor, where they had a social and agreeable interview of fifteen minutes duration; at the termination of which Mr. Buchanan, conducting his so unexpected guests up stairs to his office room, introduced Mr. Lincoln to his constitutional advisers, by all of whom he was gracefully and cordially greeted. On retiring from that chamber, they met Messrs. Bigler and John Cochrane in the house, and Mr. Seward presented those gentlemen to the President elect.
From the President's house the twain drove to see Gen. Scott, with whom they remained for perhaps fifteen minutes in social intercourse.
They returned to the hotel shortly before 12 M., and Mr. Lincoln immediately retired to his chamber to rest, giving directions that he was not then prepared to receive any of the numerous crowd of intensely interested friends who had been kicking their shins in the hotel hall for some hours in the hope of getting earliest interviews with him. Taking the hint the latter soon made themselves scarce, and a quarter of an hour after his return to the hotel its main lounging hall was actually emptier than we had seen it before during the current session of Congress.
It is not to be disguised that the Republicans ‘"around,"’ of the anti- compromise school, carried their noses this forenoon (about Willard's) as if they ‘ "smelled"’ a very decided ‘"mice"’ in Mr. Lincoln's sudden appearance here.
