Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-04-16

vote. Douglas secured the Senatorshjp. but
Lincoln gained the Presidency. The wonder
full endurance of these men, both of iron
constitutions, was strilingly manifest during
this contest But at It's close, Douglas could
not articulate clearly for some weeks, while
Lincoln's voice was clearer, stronger, and he
himself was in better health at the end than
he was at the beginning of the contest.
The friends of each of these great leaders
claimed the'Fictory. All must admit that
each met in his antagonist foeman worthy
OF his steel
The nomination of Mr. Lincoln to the
Presidency came to him unsought and unso-
licited. The great leaders of national parties
struggled by their powerful friends and or
CARNATIONS for the nomination at Chicago
Mr.. Lincoln remained quietly at his home in
Springfield, pursuing the usual course of his
quiet, simple life, and the Presidency sought
him, he did not go after or seek it. MANY
have seen in the manner in which he was
called to the Executive Mansion the finger of
Providence.
LINCOLN LEAVING HOME FOR WASHINGTON.
need not recall the dark and threatening
aspect of affairs in the winter of is60-'8i
Along planned, deep-laid conspiracy. about
to break upon the land, with ali the horrors
of civil war. Patriots saw the tornado COM
ing, saw the traitors plotting and planning
the destruction of the Government, disarm.
ing, plunderiDg it binding il, preparing it to
fall an easy victim into the hands of traitors,
and yet had no means to resist, because ali
its machinery was in the hands of traitors.
How impatiently and fearfully they waited
for the 4th of March all will remember The
President elect felt the oppressive weight of
responsibility resting upon him. There is not
a more simple, touching, and beautiful speech
in the English language than that which he
uttered to his neighbors from the platform of
the rail-car, on bidding goodbye to his home,
to enter upon the duties of the Presidency:
-" For more than twenty-five years have
lived among you, and during all that time
have received nothing but kindness at your
hands. Here the most cherished ties of earth
were assumed. Here my children were born.
and here one of them lies buried
|, To you, my friends, owe all that | have,
all that am. All the strange checkered past
seems to crowd now upon my mind. To-day
leave you. | go to assume a task more
difficult than that which devolved upon Gen.
Washington Unless the great God who as
sisted him shall be with and aid me, | cannot
prevail; but if the same 0mniscient mind
and the same Almighty arm that directed and
protected him shall guide and support me, [
shall not fail shall succeed. Let us pray
that the God of our fathers may not forsake
us now. To Him l commend you all. Per-
NIT me to ask that, with equal sincerity and
faith, you will all invoke His wisdom and
| guidance for me-"
The feeling of the people was impressively
exhibited by the notices on the banners
which they extended across the streets
through which he passed on his way to the
| Capitol. We will pray for you" was often
| the significant motto.
REMARKABLE PREDICTION OF DOUGLAS, IN JANU-
$50 Fr AIRY, 1861.
| Here will pause moment to state most
remarkable prediction made by Douglas, in
| January, 1861. The statement is furnished
| to me by General c. b. Stewart, of New
York, gentleman of the highest respeeta-
bility:
Douglas was asked by Colonel Stewart, (who
was making New Years call on Mr.. Doug
| las What will be the result of the effort of
jefferson Davis and his associates to divide
| the Union ?" Douglas replied: "The cotton
| States are making an effort to draw IN the
| border States to their schemes of secession,
| and am too fearful they will succeed. If
| they do succeed, then will be the most terri
| BILE civil war the world has ever seen, lasting
for years. Virginia will become charnel
house; but the end will be the triumph of the
Union cause. One of the first efforts viii be
to take this capital, to give them prestige
abroad but they will never succeed in TAX
| ing it. The north viii rise en- naGsse to defend
it but it will become a city of hospitals; ;
the churches will be used for the sick and
wounded; and even this house and the Min
| nesOta block (now the Douglas HospitaD may
be devoted to that purpose before the end
of the war" General Stewart inquired:
"What justification is there for all this y
Douglas replied: "There is no justification,
nor any pretence of any. If they will re-
main in the Union, l will 60 as far as the
Constitution will permit to maintain their just
rights, and do not doubt but majority of
Congress will do the same. But" said he,
rising on his feet and extending his arms, ''if
the Southern States attempt to seeede from
this Union without further cause, | am in
favor of their having just so many slaves and
juss so much slave territory, as they can hold
at the point of the bayonet, and no more"