Evening journal., 1912-04-09
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Friend Who Won Doug
lass Support Of Lin
coins Administration
By Holland
BY Holland

III BY Holland.
The late Colonel George Bliss, who
served upon the statf of the war gov
ernor Of New York, Il. ID. Morgan, in
war days and who was afterward
United States District Attorney for the
southern district of New York. as well
as the author of one of the most inn
portant of the low books published in
recent years, was a native of Spring
field, Mass. In his early manhood he
was brought into close association
with George Ashmun. who for years
represented the Springfield district IN
the lower House of congress, and who
! gained a very high reputation as a
| parliamentarian as well as a dobater.
George Ashmun was selected by the
national committee in 1850 to preside
over the Republican convention which
was to be held al the Wigwam az Chi
cago At this convention Abraham
Lincoln was nominated for President
and MIR Ashmun made the formal an
nouncemont of the n0mipation. To MIR.
| Ashmun lincoln sent his letter Of ac-
ceptance and that letter has been in
the possession of the Ashmun family
ever since.
George Ashmun once told me" said
Colonel Bliss TO me, in 1894 how
/ Stephen A Douglas whe had been a
candidate for President against Lin
coin and who was a member OF the
United States Senate when Lincoln
was inaugurated. was persuaded to
/ trft a 10 ~ Ian
the administration of Lincoln a few
weeks after Lincoln was inaugurated.
1T seems that Mr.. Douglas and Mr.
Ashmun had been for years personal
friends Ashmun had a very high re-
gard for Douglas abilities and un-
bounded admiration for the qualities
\ which gave Douglas such great per-
sonal influence over every one with
whom he came in contact The rela-
tions between these two men We're
more than friendly; they were also
intimate, although they were moi OF
the same political faith.
After Lincoln was inaugurated.
Ashmun realized That in case there
came actual conflict, il was vital that
Lincoln Should be supported by the
great body of northern Democrats
who had given their support TO Ste
phen A Douglas at the polls in No
vember Of the preceding year Ashmun
therefore called upon Douglass and
found the Little Giant in a state Of
great anxiety He did not know exact
ly what course was the most expedi-
ent for him TO take.
Mr. Ashmun said TO Douglas that he
was the leader Of the great body Of
Democrats of the north and that, al
though he had been defeated at the
polls, nevertheless those Democrats
we're sure TO remain loyal in their
support. Then Douglas said that if the
issue became one of battle and arms
he was satisfied that there no longer
should be either Democrats or Repub.
Leans, but solid supporters of the
Union.
Mr.. Ashmun asked Douglas VIII
you go with me to President Lincoln
and tell him that? And Douglas re-
piled: If l thought Lincoln would be
willing and glad to hear me say that
and would not regard il as offcious-
ness on my part. l would so with you
to see him.
"Thereupon Mr. Ashmun made an
appointment with President Lincoln
for the next day At the appointed
time. he with Douglas, called upon
the President. They found Mr.. Lin
coin grieyously concerned and very
anxious that his administration so far
as IL was directed toward the suppress
sion of what Mr. Lincoln called un-
lawful resistance to federal author
ity. should receive the support OF all
lovers Of the Union whether they
Democrats.
Mr.. Ashmun said 20 the President
that he had already told Senator Doug
las that if he would announce that he
gave his unqualified support to the adj
ministration in this matter, that an
nouncement would have the effect Of
deciding hundreds Of Democrats who
at that time were i'm doubt as to what
course they should take The Presi-
dent looked at Douglas for an instant
kindly and earnestly and then Doug
las told him unQualiiedly that he
would give 10 the federal administra-
tion his support
1T was spread abroad that Ashmun
Douglas and Lincoln had been in con-
ference, and Mr.. Ashmun told me that
he took pains Immediately to have the
news spread WluecdSt lndt senator
Douglas had said to Lincoln that he
would give his UNQUALIFIED support to
the administration i'm suppressing any
unlawful resistance to federal author
ity That statement Douglas confirmed
And il was exactly as Ashmun said
would be the case. for the supporters
OF Stephen A Douglas az the polls be-
came conspicuous as the great body Of
war Democrats Of the north.9
Copyright. 1912 by L. j. Edwards.
All rights reserved ,