The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-11-04
SPRINGFIrID Mass oot * 1915.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass, Oct. Is, 1864.
On Sunday, April 14th. 1851 Wasbington
city was agitated by the spread of the informa-
ton of the fall of Fort Sumter, the news of
| which had arrived the night before Snch an
event could not but produce profound feel
ing at the seat OF government and discussions
largely displaced oil the ordinary SunSav "ars,
| monies.
| The course which the new administration
would take was then quite unknown, and gave
ground for much anxiety. For myself. I felt
! that the occasion was one demanding promnt
action, and the cordial support of the whole
| people of the North and that this would be
| greatly insured by a public declaration from
Mr.. Douglas. The friendly personal relations
which had long existed between US, justified
an effort on my part in that direction, and late
| in the afternoon l decided to make it. On
| driving to his house l found him surrounded
by quite number of political friends whom
| he, however, soon dismissed, with an easy
| grace, on suggestion of the errand which
| had brought me there
Our interview lasted an hour or more and
| in the course OF it the whole nature of his re.
! lations to Mr.. Lincolns Administration, and
| his duty to the country were fully discussed
His first impulse was decidedly against my
purposes. desired him to 90 with me at once
| to the President, and make declaration of his
| determination to sustain him in the needful
measures which the EFFICIENCY of the hour de-
manded, to put down the rebellion which had
! thus fercely famed out in Charleston Harbor.
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"
NV answer was that Mr.. l.. had probably fol-
lowed Democratic precedents in making re-
movals; but that the question now presented
rose to higher dignity than could belong to
any possible party question; and that it was
n RI
service to his country as would not only give
him title to its lasting gratitude, but would
at the same time show that in the hour of his
country's need he could trample all partisan
considerations and resentments under foot.
l. The discussion in this vein continued for some
time, and resulted in his emphatic declaration
that he would 20 with me to the President and
offer cordial and earnest support.
But shall never forget that before it was
concluded his beautiful and noble wife came
into the room and gave the whole weight of
her atfectionate influence towards the result
which was reached. NY carriage was waiting
at the door, and it was almost dark when we
started for the Presidents house. We fortu-
nately found Mr.. Lincoln alone, and upon nv
stating the Grand upon which we had come.
he was most cordial in bis welcome, and i'm
mediately prepared the way for the converse
ton which 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.
As soon as the reading ended. Mr. Douglas
rose from his chair and said Mr.. President,
l cordially concur in every word of that docu-
ment, except that, instead of a call for IS, 200
men, would make it 100000. You do not
know the dishonest purposes of these men
(the rebels as we'll as do, and he 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 out the strategic points
which should be at once strengthened for the
coming contest. Among the most prominent
were Fortress Monroe, Washington, Harpers
Ferry and Cairo.
He enlarged at length upon the firm. war
like footing which ought to be pursued and
found in Mr.. Lincoln an earnest and gratifed
listener. 1t would be impossible to give in
detail all the points presented by him and dis
cussed by the President; but venture to saw
that no two men in the United States parted
that night with more cordial feeling ola
united, friendly and patriotic purpose than Mr..
Lincoln and Mr.. Douglas.
After leaving and while on our way home
ward, 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 60 by telegraph all over the
country in the morning, and the account O
this interview must go with it.
shall send it, either in my own language or
own version" He at once said: g Drive
to your room at Wizards, and | will give it
shape" We did so, and he wrote the follow
ing, the original of which now lies before
me, in his own handwriting. 1 copied it, and
gave an exact copy to the agent of the Associ-
ated Press, and on the next morning it was
read all over the North in company with the
Presidents Proclamation to the great gratiti-
cation of his friends and the friends of the
Government. The original is still preserved,
as cherished evidence of the highest character,
that whatever may have fallen by the wayside,
10 the hour of our country's peril from false
bretheren," Mr.. Douglas was not of them.
DISPATCH To THE PRESS BY MIR. DOUGLAS, SUN
DAY EVENING, APRIL IA, 1861.
Mr.. Douglas called on the President this
evening and had an interesting conversation on
the present condition of the country. The
substance of the conversation was that while
Mr.. D. was unalterably opposed to the Admin
istratiOn on all its political issues, be was pre-
pared to sustain the President in the exercise
of all his constitutional functions to preserve
the Union, and maintain the Government and
defend the Federal capitol. A firm policy and
prompt action was necessary.
1.-THE, capitol OF our country was III Danger
and must be defended at all hazards, and at any
expense of men or money. He spoke OF the
present and future without reference TO the
past"
All honor, then, to the memory OF the man
who thus threw party consloefauon to the
winds, and gave himself w10liy and unreserv-
eddy to his country! 0EO. ASHMUN.
RETURNED. Captain Davis and his
party of Surveyors, who have been engaged
the past season in surveying lines for the Gov
eminent On the Sioux Reservation, returned to
this city Friday, intending to complete the
work next summer. There was report at
one time that this party had been attacked by
Indians, but none OF them have lost their scalps
or even seen any Indians bent on possessing
their hair.
ST.. CRoIx (WIs.) SOLDIERS
from Capt. Browns company, which was raised
in the st. Croix Valley in Wisconsin, state that
they were in Nashville, where they had re-
ceived new clothes and old guns, and had had
their first dress parade. days warm enough
IN on oil nd