The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-07-05
"l'll get off my baggage at Baltimore
SAID |, 'and return to Washington to-.

"Ill get off my baggage at Baltimore,
SAID l, 'and return to Washington to.
night
"And with that the trains steamed
contrary ways.
81 found out the matter, at Washing
ton that same evening. The conspira-
tors had arranged to force an insult upon
Douglas, and then, if he chalen ged, he
would lose the vote of the North. II
he refused, nobody in the South would
touch him, The creature of the conspi-
trators to insult Douglas, was G. N.
Fitch, of Indiana-still alive, l believe
and he had done it in executive session
the day before / reached the city. Dou-
Eglas had demanded o retraction or a
fight, and Tom Hawkins had been sent
for
II found the Douglas household all
warm tor the duel. Mrs. Douglas and
the Cuttscs aud everybody were bound
to see Stephen out. His wife said he
might lose the Presidency or anything
before he should be beaten by Jesse
Bright and old Bucks myrmidons. Bill
let doux. had been passing all day be.
tween the Buchanan headquarters, in the
Vice Presidents room of the Capitol.
and one of the committee-rooms where
the Douglas men sat in council. The
messenger for Douglas was Roger A.
Pryor, and for Fitch, Judah p. Denja-
min.
"The Fitch gang were Slidell, who was
the arch conspirator, and blood thirsty
as q bat; Bright, who was jealous of
Douglas, and despised him; Cobb, etc.
When Judah p. Benjamin, the second
day, came into the committee room with
another letter, and, among Richardson,
of Illinois, Pugh, Pryor, Brown and the
rest, saw Tom Hawkins glancing at him,
they say he shrahk back and TURNED
|pale. Then he put out his hand in syc-
ophantic way and said:
"'Why, Mr.. Hawkins, I'm very glad
to see you
"We all met that night, and Tom went
in place of Pryor. to arrange the par
tiGdlars, and force d fight Or peace. We
knew by His look that the thing was Sc
rious. They knew that it was coming to
be blood by Toms big eyes. And they
wrote retraction. He had it in ten
minutes.
"We arranged to try Douglas courage
by telling him that the duel was to come
off next morning. Tom,who was sim.
ple.hearted fellow, raised objections to
this, and refused to have anything to do
with it. We entered Douglas library,
and there he stood, with as pleasant a
smile as ever saw, waiting 70 hear the
result.
"'Mr. Douglas said I, 'how do you
feel p.
"'Very we'll What is the news?'
".You are to go 70 the field tomorrow
morning at 5 o'clock, and fight will
shotguns.'
ave all looked at him piercingly to
see how he stood it.
8 VERY WE'LL he said; make all the
arrangements
1--WE watched him again, and lie was
as quiet as l ever saw him-almost
cheerful. Tom Hawkins could stand il
no more. He said:
"'Mr. Douglas, they have retracted! !!
douglas drew a sigh, whether of re-
lief or regret 1 do not know. He was q
splendid shot with a fowling-piece, and
he would have fought his weight in wild
cats rather than be crowded out of the
path of his ambition. He was the great.
est leader any party ever had, to my
mind. Do you want to be introduced
to Tom. Hawkins ?"
MO-" said l, without thinking abou
it; 'if it isn't offensive, l prefer not te
know Tom Hawkinsr'