Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-11-02

The following letter from George a =
nun, of Springfield, Mass, to Isaac n.
Arnold, member of Congress from the
Chicago district, gives an event in the life
of Mr.. Douglas: -as- -sr
SPRnGPIHLD, Mass, Oct Is, 1854.
On Sunday, April IA, 1851, Washington
city was agitated by the spread of the in
formation of the fall of Fort Sumter, the
news (which had arrived the night before.
Such an event could not but produce
profound feeling at the seat ofgovern-
ment, and discussions of the event largely
displaced all the ordinary Sunday cere-
monies. The course which the new ad-
ministrstion would take was then quite IN
known, and gave ground for much snIie-
ty. For myself, felt that the occasion
was one which demanded prompt action,
and the cordial support of the whole peo-
pie of the North; and that this would be
greatly ensured by public declaration
from Mr.. Douglas The friendly personal
relations which had loug existed between
US justifes an effort in that direction on
my part; and late in the afternoon I de-
cided to make it.
VII O1lNlIk W uie uDus6s l. 4O0uu U1L1l SUR
rounded by quite a number of political
friends, whom he, however, soon dismissed
with an easy grace, on s suggestion of tho
errsnd which had brought me there. Our
interview lasted an hour or more, and in
the course of it the whole nature of his
relations to Mr.. Lineoln's administration,
and his duty to the country were fully dis
cussed. His first impulse was decidedly
against my purposes. desired him to 60
at once with meto the President and make
declaration of his determination to sus-
tain him in the needful measures which
the exigency of the hour demanded, TO put
down the rebellion which had thus fercely
famed out in Charleston hsrbor well
remember his first reply! "Mr. Lincoln
has dealt hardly with me in removing some
of my friends from Office, and don't know
as he wants my advice or aid" My
answer was that Mr.. Lincoln had
probably followed Democratic prece-
dents in making removals; but that
the question now presented rose to a
higher dignity than could belong to
any possible party question; that it was
now in his Mr.. Douglass power to render
such service to his country as would not
only give him title to the lasting graft
tude, but would at the same time show that
In the hour of his country's need he could
trample all partisan considerations and re-
sentiments under foot. The discussion in
this vein continued for some time, and re-
suited in his emphatic declaration that he
would go with me to the President and
offer a cordial and earnest support. But
l shall never forget, that before it was con-
cluded his beautiful and noble wife came
into the room and gave the whole weight
OF her affectionate influence towards the
result which was reached. My carriage
waiting at the door, and it was slmsst dark
when we started for the Presidents house.
We fortunately found Mr.. Lincoln alone,
and upon my stating the errsnd on which
we had come, he was most cordial in his
welcome, and Immediately prepared the
way for the conversation whicn followed,
by taking from his drawer and reading to
US the draft of the proclamation which he
had decided to issue, and which was given
to the country the next morning.
Gas soon as the reading was ended, Mr.
Douglas rose from his chair and said .Mr.
President, l cordially concur In every word
of that document, except that instead Ofa
call for seVenty-fve thousand men would
make it two hundred thousand. You do
not know the dishonest purposes Of those
men (the rebels) as well as do, and be
then asked us to look with him at the map
which hung at one end of the Presidents
room, where in much detail he pointed ont
the principal strategic points which should
be at once strengthened for the coming con-
test. Among the most prominent were
Fortress Monroe Washington, Harpers
Ferry and Cairo. He enlarged at length
upon the firm, warlike footing, which ought
to be pursued, and found in Mr.. Lincoln
an earnest and gratifed listener. It
would be impossible to give in detail all
the points presented by him and discussed
with the president: but venture to say
that no two men in the United States
parted with a more cosdial feeling Of a
united, friendly md patriotic purpose
than Mr.. Lincoln and Mr.. douglas.
After Leaving, and while on our way
homeward, l said to Mr.. Douglas, " You
have done justice to your own reputation
and TO the President, and the country must
know it. The proclamation will 90 by
all over the country in the morn
ing, and the account of this interview must
90 with it. 1 shall send it either in nv
own language or yours. prefer that You
should give your own version. He at once
said, % Drive to your room at Wizards !
and l will give it shape" We did SO, and !
he wrote the following, the original of ,
which now lies before me, in his own hand !
writing. l copied it, and gave an exact /
copy 70 the Agent of the Associated Press, 7
and on the next morning it was read ali I
over the North, in company with the /
Presidents proclamation, to the great /
qualification of his friends and the friends
Of the government. The original is still /
preserved, as cherished evidence of the
highest character, that whoever else NAV /
have fallen by the wayside, in the hour of /
our cOuntry's peril from false brethren" I
Mr.. Douglas was not one of them:
DISPATCH TO THE PRESS By Mr. DOUGLAS
SUNDAY EVENING, APRIL Il, 1861.
Mr.. Douglas called on the President this
evening and had an interesting CONVEX
'stion on the present condition of the
country. The substance Of the converse
ion was, that Mr. Douglas was unalterably
opposed to the administration on all its
political issues, he was prepared to sustain
he President in the exercise ofall his con-
titutiOnsl functions to preserve the Union
md maintain the Government and defend
he Federal capital. A firm policy and
prompt action was necessary. The capital
vas in danger and must be defended at
IL hazards, and at any expense of men or
money. He spoke Of the present and the
uture without reference to the past.
"All honor then to the memory of the
nan who thus threw party considerations
0 the winds and gave himself wholly and
nreservedly to his country"
GEO. AsHIrUNl