Virginia,
or retreating into Maryland and passing along on byways with him to
where he could have been securely kept until a chance was afforded for
conveying him to some more secure place. So far as putting him out of
the way was concerned, there would not be the slightest difficulty in
doing that, but he thought the other the best, taking all things into
consideration. The one would be considered a clean trick, and perfectly
legitimate warfare, while the other would not, and would arouse the
Northern people to more energetic measures. He said that he did not
think there would be very great difficulty in capturing Silent; that he
had made inquiry about him, and found that he seldom had anything
more than a few men as escort, and kept but a small company as his
headquarters guard; that 100 good, picked men could capture him almost
any night. If they even failed, it would only make those who attempted
it prisoners of war, so that they would be exchanged. This, if
accomplished, in case of either Lincoln or Silent, would secure the
Confederacy. With Lincoln captured, the Vice-President would only be
too glad to have an excuse for the recognition of the Confederacy.
With Silent captured, Gen. Laws would again be master of the situation.
Silent was the only match for him in the United States. So far as the
Vice-President was concerned, he was in a bad humor with the whole
administration. He (Walters) had seen him and conversed with him since
the time mentioned at which Mr. Carey had his interview. Walters had
been at Nashua, and remained for several days unmolested, and had
talked freely with quite a number of persons who were intimate with
the Vice-President, and who were conversant with his views and knew
his feelings. He said that the Vice-President suggested to him to get
through the lines and go to Richmond, and say to the authorities there
that if he were President he would recognize the Southern Confederacy;
but he (Walters) did not then have full confidence in what he was
saying, as he was rather in his cups at the time. But since he had heard
what Mr. Carey had learned in his interview with him he had no further
reason to doubt his sincerity.

"Mr. Wilkes here interposed and asked whether the whole question of
recognition by the Vice-President did not entirely depend upon the
capture and successful spiriting away of Lincoln.

"Mr. Walters answered in the affirmative.

"Wilkes then said: 'Suppose this scheme shoul