The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-09-15
A REMINIsCENCE OF DOUGLAS.

In the dark days of the Republic" at the
time when President LINCOLN had decided to
issue his proclamation calling for seventy
five thousand troops to sustain the authority
Of the Government that good man, although
firmly resolved to meet the issue, felt the
need of wise counsels, and of the strong
sympathy Of all patriotic citizens. In this
hour it happened that Hon. GEORGE ASH
NUN, of Springfield, (who presided over the
National Convention which nominated Mr..
LINCOLN for the Presidency called upon
The President to confer with him and offer
such assistance as he might be able to rem
der. Mr.. LINCOLN unfolded to him his plans
and expressed to him his earnest desire for
the support of the best men of the country.
Mr.. AsHMUN left The PRESIDENT, feeling
deeply impressed with the importance of
rallying to the aid Of the Government the
best and ablest men Of all parties who could
be moved in that direction.
After he had retired from the White House
it occurred to him that among Others and
first Of all, he would apply to Mr.. DOUGLAS.
and he went Immediately to the residence of
that great man, whose tomb has lately been
honored by ceremonials in which the highest
officers of the: nation participated. He rode
to Mr.. DorGLAss mansion, lit was in the
EVENING" and found him engaged with sew
eral gentlemen in social conversation. He
conveyed to Senator DOUGLAS an intimation
that he had something of importance to
and
consistent with the rules of hospitality and
etiquette, the company was allowed to de-
part, and Mr.. AsHMUN unfolded his mission.
He informed Mr.. DOUGLAS that he had lust
come from Mr.. LINCOLN who was in need of
the support of every man who could give
help to the Government against the rebel
lion, and Mr.. A. besought DOUGLAS to 90 at
once to The president and take him by the
hand and tender him all the aid he could
give.
Mr.. DOUGLAS was silent at first; he even
seemed to hesitate. Gould he have seen
prefgured the present condition of public
affairs when those who were hottest for the
war are most reluctant to yield to the coun-
try the fruition Of peace p He did hesitate
for time, and Mr.. AsHMUY, who felt inspired
by the occasion, poured into his ear n strong
and impassoned appeal, such as one patriotic
statesman might make to another in crisis
such as then existed. Mrs. DOUGLAS was
present; she became deeply interested in the
conversation, and, coming behind her hus-
bands chair, she placed her hand upon his
shoulder and said, "Do go with Mr.. ASH.
NUN" If Mr.. DOUGLAS had any particle of
hostile party feeling against his old political
rival, Mr.. LINCOLN, it melted away, and he
said, deliberately and decidedly, "l'll GO"
The two gentlemen entered Mr. AsHNuN's
carriage and they drove to The Presidents
House. Mr.. LINCOLN received DOUGLAS with
outstretched hands and with benignant
smile, which also spoke Of relief from some
part OF his great load as if light was break
ing in upon him. He sat down and gave to
Mr.. DOUGLAS his ideas Of the situation, and
presented briefly to him his plans, saving he
had written proclamation calling for sew
enty-five thousand men. Mr.. DOUGLAS had
become intensely interested, and after con.
templating the statements presented by Mr..
LINCOLN, he said: "Seventy-fve thousand
men is not sufficient You will need two
hundred thousand" and he indicated upon
the maps before them the points at which he
would place the forces.
The interview was, in short, eminently
satisfactory. LINCOLN and DOUGLAS thence
forth saw eye to eye. After they left The
President, Mr.. AsHsuS said; "Now, in order