The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-06-18
Douglas.

From Greely's "Recollcctions OF a
Busy Life," in the New York Ledger,
we take tho following account Of
Stephen A. Douglas opposition to
the Lecompton bill, and his lastinter-
view with Buchananprior to his open
rupture with that 'public Junction.
ary:" s59
senator Douglas, on the other
hand, at first seemed inclined to. the
side Of the Missourians, whose cause
he had upheld with signal ability and
energy in the preceding Congress; but
he soon demonstrated in favor Of
genuine popular Sovereignty in
Kansas, which was his more natural
and consistent position. Reports of
this change had preceded his appear
ance in Washington as a member of
the XXXVth Congress so that, on
his calling to pay his respects to the
President, an animated and spicy
colloquy on the ruling topic was at
once commenced by his host. "Mr.
Douglas" said the President, show
are we to allay the contention and
trouble created by this strife over the
Lecompton Constitution ?" "Why,
Mr.. President" replied his guest, II
do not see how you should have any
trouble in the premises. The Consti-
tuition says, Congress shall make all
needful rules and regulations respect
ing the Territories, ETC., but I cannot
recall any clause which requires the
President to make any" Thus the
conversation ran on, until the Presi-
dent, waxing warm, saw fit to warn
his visitor that his present course
would, ifpersisted in, soon carry him
out Of the Democratic party. sMr.
Senator" he inquired, "do you clearly
apprehend the goal to which you are
now tending p "Yes sir" promptly
responded the Little Giant; II have
taken o through ticket, and checked
all my baggage" Further discussion
being obviously useless, Mr.. Douglas
soon left the White House, and be-
lieve he did not visit it again during
Mr.. Buchanan's administration"
The following from the same source,
is candid and complimentary recog-
milton ofthe ability, andpatriotismo Of
the 'Little Giant" that is particular
" noteworthy and honorable, coming
as it does from life long political OPP
ponent:
Mr.. Douglas was the readiest man
l ever knew. He was not hard
student; if he had been, it would have
been difficult to set limits to his pow
er. have seen him rise in the Sen,
ate quite at fault with regard to es-
sential facts in controversy, and thus
to make damaging blunders in debate;
but he readily caught at and profited
by any suggestion thrown out BY
friend or foe; and no American ever
excelled him in off.hand discussion ::
SO that, even if worsted in its first
stages, he was apt to regain his lost
ground as he went on. Once, as I sat
with the senior Francis P Blair and
one or two others outside the bar of
the Senate in 1856, he made us the
text of an amusing dissertation on
the piebald, ring,streaked and speck-
led manerials whereof the new Re.
publican party was composed; and,
passing us soon afterward. he hailed
me Familiarity with the interrogation,
"Didn't ] give you q good turn just
now~ Az later day, when the Lee
compton struggle vas in progress, q
mutual friend, remembering that my
structures on him in former years had
been ola very caustic sort, inquired
Of him::whether he had any objections,
on their account, to meeting me on q
friendly footing. Certainly not" was
his instant response: II always paw
that sort of debts as I go along.n-
Our country has often been called to
mourn severe, untimely losses yet / |
deem the death of Stephen A. Doug
las, just at the outbreak of our great |
Civil War, and when he had thrown |
his whole soulinto the cause of the |
country, one ofthe most grievous and
|rreparable.