The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-05-25


matter what trouble, he could lie down on
the first lounge or sofa, close his eyes, and
be sound alseep in three minutes. ala I,
Possessing q snowy figure andla constitu.
ton of iron, Mr.. Fowler bore up under the
terrors which must have been harassing him
with fortitude having all the characteris>
tics of callousness. No doubt during the
past two or three years his mind must have
grown accustomed to the idea of his posi-
ton but, aided by an excellent disposition
great strength and composure Of nerves, and
that fatal facility for forgetting whatsoever
might be unpleasant, he played his part on
the public and social stage to the bitter
end. Though aware last Saturday that his
ruin could not long be postponed, he accept.
ed an invitation to dinner on that day, and
was, to all appearance, in his usual high
spirits and flow of language until 9 O'Clock
10 the evening. He then went back to bis
hotel, and probably found there awaiting
him telegram from Messrs. Butterworth
and Hall, stating that their efforts for de
lay were fruitless, and that he must fly or
be a prisoner. t..t. .........
As to those political expenses which
have been spoken of as likely to have drain
ed Mr.. FOwler's resources, we can only say,
on pretty good authority, that such ex.
penses, if incurred at all, must have been
incurred outside the City of New York.
An assessment on the Post Office for Fall
election could scarcely yield less than $4,000.
Blu. of this, Mr.. Fowler never expended on
the organization in the city more than
$4,000; and the balance, must, therefore,
have gone to assist friends in other districts
of the State. 1t is very certain that as
much money was collected in Mr.. Fowler's
name, for the purpose of organizing cam.
paigns, as was ever expended by him for
political uses in this city. % .-.ig's .1
Probably under the whip of this deficit
Mr.. Fowler was compelled by the Admins.
tration to take more than commonly bit
ter part against Judge Douglas at Charles.
ton. His own undoubted choice, however
was for Vice President Breckenridge, with
whom he has long been on terms of the
most confidential intimacy and next after
Breckenridge he was in favor, and his vote
showed, of his old friend in the Pierce Ca
binet, ex-Secretary Guthrie. These things
contradict the false and malicious rumor
that Mr.. Fowler, at Charleston, did not
oppose the vote of the New Y ork delegation
in favor of Judge Douglas with all his
strength. In company with Messrs. But
terworth, Reynolds, Cochrane and Barlow,
be did all he could to carry out the wishes
of Mr.. Buchanan /; and possibly for this
reason be may have expected official protec>
ton until after the 18th of June. Mr..
Fowler had mary active friends in the
Senate of the United States, and his politi-
cal action has of late seemed to be entirely
controlled by the views of Messrs. Gwin,
Shields and Bigler, acting on behalf of the
President.
1t is but just to say, in conclusion, that
while the friends of Mr.. Fowler have
nothing to say in defence of his conduct in
this particular matter, there would appear
to be felt for the man himself the sincerest
and most fervent compassion. Ali speak of
him as of noble nature wrecked and ruined
by imprudence as a man capable of the
finest and most generous feelings, gradually
warped into oblique and sinister course by
events over which his intellect gave him no
control. Always to any story of misery or
misfortune his eyes filled with tears, and his
hand opened, letting fall whatever sum might
chance to have been the moment before in
his pocket. In this way he was often griev.
ously imposed upon and the result is that
his benevolence must be rated higher than
his sense of justice.
Socially, Prince of Good Fellows in
whatever circle he moved, he was not so
much witty himself as the cause of wit, or
at least cheerfulness, ia others. He had a
most affable and courtier-like manner, a
winning smile, spirit joyous in spite of its
secret burdens, and sympathy acutely SEN
sitive to all variations of temper or affection
in those with whom he was thrown in con>
tact. Never suited by nature to be the lead
er ola party, he was stillmore united for such
post by the false position in which he stood
with regard to money. He allowed personal
obligations-perhaps was compelled to allow
them-to unduly sway his political conduct;
and from his weakness in never being able
to say mo" to clam0rous or fearful ap-
plicant, be was betrayed into making prom
ises which he could have no reasonable hope
of fulfilling. This cause produced him many
bitter enmities, while the other side of his
character made compensation in as many
friends.
Over the ruin Of his prospects and life
there are many in all circles who will sim
cerely mourn. He stood on an eminence
from which the descent is fearful; and there
are many hundred homes in the city where
his fall has produced almost as much griei
as if cherished member. Of the family had
suddenly been mangled and cut to pieces
under the wheels of locomotive. On the
sacred sorrow of his own family circle il
would lbe cruel to intrude q word, He
the idol of mother and sisters, the pride Of
brothers as honest, able, and intelligent OF
ever man was blessed with. b.sa ais,1 div