The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-29
JUDGE DOUGLAS AND THE REPUBLICAN,
CARDS or ISAAC H. STURGEON AND LET
TER or r. p. BLAIR, yR.
MR. STURGEON 10 THE PUBLIC.

| lExtractsl
have known Judge Douglas personally from my bow
mood have felt tar more anxiety 10 find him rigbt
than wrong. was amazed aud shocked when lealn,J
from Mr. T. J, Corwin editor Of the Jefferson Examiner
that friend of his had seen and read letter wtlen
from Washington by the Hon. T. r. Blair ir Ia N
draiz Brown, esd editor Of the ST. Louis Democrat du
ring the session of the last Congress stating that he hal
been invited to an interview with Judge Douglas and IN
substance sustaining all the charges made by the Exam
liner. This information 10 Mr. Corwin under cir
| cumstances forbidding his making Il public He com
municated IL 10 me. / communicated il TO friend AZ
Judge Douglas and myself at Springfield H. Up To tb
time ! had felt willing TO pass by his in the
United States Senate the admission Kansas into liz
Union under the Lcempton constitution feeling that n
had been adopted 10 save himself and the party In
Illinois, and with the purpose Of bencftng instead
OF injuring, the party Although did not approve IT.
did not desire To see him ostracsed this
{.
would remark that still felt unwilling 10 surrender
Judge Douglas, and To satisfy my mind better
made trip in July TO Springfield Illinois, for the spe
cia purpose OF hearing him speak, and having an inter
view with him, Through the kindness OF a mutual
friend obtained an interview with him alone On the
evening previous TO this interview intlmated Judge
Douglas that Mr. Blair had written such letter as has
been stated when ho replied that he thought il could
not be SO. When met him according 10 appointment
stated to him positively that Blair had written such let
ter and requested him to state me whether he had
eyer had any conversation with Mr. Blair to Justify il
Judge Douglas said that he did not remember ever 10
have had any conversation with MIR. Blair that would
have justified him In writing any such letter that he
might at some time when dealing badinagc with Mr.
Blair, have made some loose expression, but that he
never had any conversation with him 10 Justify
the writing Of such letter. i further asked Judge
Douglas whether he intended to support the nom.
inees OF the Charleston convention and abide by Ia
action He stated to that he had received many let
tiers ON this subject TO of which he had replied In
writing but that in meeting with his friends he had IN
vanaoiy answered that question in this way That he
had always been democrat and expected to remain one
ana that he expected to support the nominees of the
Charleston convention unless that convention made a
platform that he could stand onthat he intended 10
follow the great principle of popular sovereignty to
wherever its logical deductions and conclusions might
lead him He said that if the convention made plat
form which he could not stand there would be moth.
ing lett for him but to walk out Of and take his own
course, have tried to give the substance Of Ills replies
so that the reader may get it Just from Judge
Douglas His answers were not rs clear as l would
have liked them; yet, after hearing his speech and
having had this conversations made up my mind be
content SO stated to the friend who arranged the in
teryew for me, and remained until learned from
source with such particularly to circumstance and
time that no doubt was left my mind Of its truth
that Judge Douglas had sent message Ia Mr. Blair by
Mr. Colfax, OF indiana in substance as follows A'lcil
Mr. Blair 70 come and see me- wish TO give him James
> Green place in the United States Senate Mr. Col
lax delivered this message to Mr.. Blair; and in compli
ance with this request, Mr. Blair did 20 to see Julo
Douglas when Judge Douglas presented to Mr. Blair the
feasibility Of their being able to defeat james Green
for the United States Senate in Missouri by uniting their
influence Tho matter argued between them and il
It was thought attainabo. Judge Douglas willing to
aid in it.
Judge Douglas LEARN further stated at this interview
that his Kansas Nebraska policy designed and would
have he effect OF surrounding the slave with free States
anu thus crush out slavery that he hoped the move
ment Tor emancipation in Missouri would be successful
ana expressed his warm sympathy with all movements
against slavery that could legitimatcly be made.
Much more occurred which it il unnecessary to
state MS having been told to The first was sufficient
for me- for felt that if Judge Douglas was willing to
give 70 the leader OF emancipation in State and
prominent candidate for the vice presidency Of the repub
lean party the seat Of such democrat as James s. Green
IN the United States Senate tpovcd all that charged
upon him. Mr.. Blair being emancipationst and en-
dorsng the doctrines of the republican party Judge
Douglas could not be willing to aid in giving him tho
seat OF faithful able and reliable democrat without
dorsinis his position
With all the knowledge in my breast of his acts know.
ing that Mr. Blair would make good all that have stated
were Judge Douglas to permit him to speak, land he is
ready to speak If the Judge consents y hocyng Also
that George T. Brown editor of the Alton Courier Sena
tors Wilson OF Massachusetts,, King Of New York Tlw.
pn OF Illinois, and Representatives Washbune of lii
nols, Kellogg, Farsworth, Loveoy, and Others could
tale unfold that would corroborate and 70 to sustain the
worst suspicious in reference to Judge Douglas would
have despised myself the meaest Of hypocrtcs to
have protested longer faith in his democracy Why does
he not call upon those gentlemen to exonerate him from
these charges if nnocent Why ask them TO tell oil
they know all that did pass viii Judge Douglas
state, or Call on the gentleman herein named to state
whether no did not counsel with them lur the formation
OF great opposition party to the naiio, administration
After learned that Mi Blair had written Mr. Brown
observed there denunciations ia the Dem
ocrat for Judge Douglas. lie was lauded. The New
York Tribune went far to advise the republicans of
Illinois TO make opposition to his return to the
ate All these things made fear and yet hoped.
until information pressed upon la such shape that
was no longer left room 10 doubt and then came his
Freepor speech.