New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-06-12
FROM WASHINGTON.
JUDGE DOUGLAS ION HORSEBACK"
Prem Oar Own Correspondent.

Prem Oar Own Correspondent
WASHINGTON, June 10, 1860.
The present condition of Mr.. Douglas as a can
adate for the Presidency and the pertinacity with
, which be demands nomination, without regard
70 IN consequences to himself or his party, recall
an incds,, .-rhch occurred at the dinner table Of
the lote secretarv s".-rcy, and had run among
the good things of that day. 1t was in 1856 AFTER
the return of Mr.. Buchanan fen London, ana De-
fore the Cincinnati Convention. ccC..etary marcy
gave what he humorously called "a dinner 70 tho
candidates" ALI whose names had been spoken Oh
in connection with the "glittering bauble" were
present. and prominent among them were Mr.
Douglas and Mr. Buchanan
Gov. Marcy at intervals in the conversation at
the table and in the vein Of quiet humor and
sional vailed satire which was one of the charms of
bis socisl intercourse, took up the candidates, or
those he chose to consider such seriatim and very
much to the entertainment of the party, except the
anxious individual sitting at the moment for bis
portrait, proceeded to discuss the chances of each
for q nomination He appeared TO have got through
the list, and the Little Giant" had not been
noticed. Our informant, who was one of the guests,
and who, having had the distinction to be classed
with the aspirants, was, of course, close observer
of the scene, shrewdly suspected that this omission
was wantOn and wicked on the part OF the Secreta-
ny, and was purposey made with the conviction
that Mr.. Douglas would feel that he had been
neglected" and by reminding the Governor of the
fact, would call the more marked attention of the
other candidates to what he had in reserve
And sure enough, the Little Giant" after wait
impatienty for some one else to notice the omission,
was finally compelled tosay "Wel, Governor, what
" do yOu think of my chances" 81 beg your par
" don, Mr.. Douglas, for the seeming, but certainly
90 uninteDtional, neglect, said the Governor, and
shall be obliged to tell story to illustrate your
4" chances. When / was boy, in my native town
" in Massachusetts,, standing one day by the road
" side talking with neighbour hOrseman, riding
" at the top of his speed his steed frothing at the
mouth, and with TANKS bloody with the rowe,
suddenly stopped in the road before u.s. and bur.
"riedly inquired the distance to the next town.
Z" Ten miles, said my companion. And how
long do You think it viii take me to get there
" demanded the excited horseman. Why, iook-r-
:" here, my good friend, if you ride any way
9" decent it will take you just about two hours;
:" but if you go like HI and d--n you nerer 'oM
8" get there"
OF course the pertinence Of the Governors story,
which had been provoked by the oyerweening
anxiety of the +" Little Giant to be noticed, set
the table in O roar, and soon obtained familiar
currency. .
A year ago, Mr.. Douglas stood very well South
as well as north. But he was uneasy, and mounted
the :" Harper hobby, and he has been riding it
ever since, at speed quite equal to that which was
the point Of Gov. Marcys story, four years ago.