Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-03-14

obliged 10 turn their attention to other quar-
ters-to diplomatic or administrative posi-
lions, clerksbips, paymasterships, or the
more safe and lucrative favors that come in
the form of contracts. This is the way the
thing looks to us, and has looked from the
beginning. The factthat each of our neigh.
bors is opposed to the other. must almost of
necessity settle the question sgainst both
and the Government will have to light its
candle and look in some other direction for
a man of letters.
MIR. Douglas ImplOriua Mr.. Lincoln to
Save the Union.
II seems from all accounts as If MIR. Doug
las had predetermined to get himself up
handsomely before the people in the charac.
ter of friend and benefactor of the new
President; nor can it be denied that, with
fhe assistance of sensational newspapers and
" Washington correspondents, he did succeed
in making a pretty fair show in that direc-
ton. Several Republican organs, among
which was the Commercial went into an
unusual expenditure of adjectives on the
occasion, and found the man to whose mis-
chievous agency more, by a thousand fold,
than to any other cause, we owe the present
condition of the country, entitled to the
profound respect Of the American people,
in consideration of the patronage which he
had extended 10 Mr.. Lincoln. As If the
President and his family had been a body of
poor white folks from the uplands of North
Carolina, the Commercial published articles
wherein were set forth in glowing terms,
the ccndescension of Mr.. and Mrs. Douglas
in calling upon the Lincolns, and treating
them with the familiarity of friends and
equals.
The most active collaborators in the BUSH
ness appears, however, to have been Forney's
Press, and its Washington correspondent.
The latter is probably the author of the
greater share Of the original literature of the
movement; aHd the following from his pen,
how that the thing has cooled off q little and
no catastrophe to speak of has occurred,
will be found worth reading as a good ex-
emplihcatiou of the impudence OF the Senator
of Illinois, if it is true, and as q foe specimen
Of newspaperial sublimity, if romantic:
"Mr. Douglass called upon Mr.. Lincoln on
Wednesday night at Wizards Hotel, and
tod him that ne sought an interview at the
risk of being misunderstood, but that the
critical condition Of the country required
every friend of the Union to lay aside parti-
san feeling and personal delicacy. He had
Just learned that there was imminent Ian
GER that the Peace Conference would dis
solve without agreeing upon any basis OF
adjustment. In that event, he apprehended
that the Border States might resolve
promptly to secede from the Union, before
suy plan could be matured for referring the
matters in dispute TO the people of the sew
eral States. A fearful responsibility would
rest upon the President elect if the Uuion
were dissolved under his Administration
unless he did every thing in his power to
save the country from such a catastrophe.
That Mr.. Lincoln alone could now save it.
He implured him to speak to his friends in
the conference, and save the country. Mr.,
Douglas did not desire Mr.. Lincoln to eX-
plain his view then to him, but to speak
promptly and unequivocally to his own
friends, Twenty-fnur hours more aud il
might be too late He reminded Mr.. Lincoln
that he had children as well as Mr.. Douglas,
ard implored him, Sin Gods name, 10 act the
patriot, and to save to our children a coun-
Try TO live iu.' Mr.. Douglas said to Mr..
Lincoln that he was now, as heretofore, his
political opponent, and expected TO oppose
The political measures Of his Administration
but assured him that no partisan advantage
should be taken, or political capital manu-
factuTed, out of an act of patriotism which
would preserve the Union of these States.
Mr.. Douglas added that he had now per-
formed his duty, and asked Mr.. Lincoln to
perform his
Imagine the scene as it is drawn, and not
without considerable graphic power: Mr..
Douglas, late at night, discovered that the
country is in an awfully critical condition /;
that unless something is done, and instantly,
it will be lost-ruined beyond the hope of
redemption. He resolves to throw aside all
minor considerations, aud imm1late himself
upon its altar. Under cover Of The darkness,
he rushes to the Hotel de Willard, aud, "at
the risk Of being misunderstood" seeks the
bedside of the unconscious Lincoln, who is
buried in ~slumber, totally Obvious of the
volcano that is bubbling and seetbing be-
meath bin. He wskens him tells him of
the fearful res ponsibility that Womb rest
upon him in case the Union were dissolved
under his Administration, and implores him
to save the country. lie talks of his off,
spring, calls the attention of the President to
his own, and prays him to save them a coun-
try to live in.
When is taken into the account that the
fears of Mr.. Douglas grew out of the fact
that be had heard there was danger that the
Old Woman's conference, then in session,
would dissolve, without agreeing to any basis
of adjustment; and that the measure pro-
posed by which the country might be saved
was for Mr.. Lincoln TO use his influence with
the members to bring them to an agreement,
the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the performance can
be easily discerned.