Year: 1860

Possessing snowy figure andIa constitu.
tion of iron, Mr.. Fowler bore up under the
terrors which must have been harassing him
with fortitude having all the characteris-
tics of callousness. No doubt during the
past two or three years his mind must have
grown accustomed to the idea of his posi-
tion but, aided by an excellent disposition,
great strength and composure of nerves, and
that fatal facility for forgetting whatsoever
might be unpleasant, he played his part on
the public and social stage to the bitter
end Though aware last Saturday that his
ruin could not long be postponed, he accept
ed an invitation to dinner on that day, and
was, to all appearance, in his usual high
spirits and flow of language until o'clock
10 the evening. He then went back to his
hotel, and probably found there awaiting
him telegram from Messrs. Butterworth
and Hall, stating that their efforts for de
lay were fruitless, and that be must fly or
be prisoner.


AS to those political expenses " which
have been spoken of as likely to have drain
ed Mr.. FOwler's resources, we can only say,
on pretty good authority, that such ex-
penses, if incurred at all, must have been
incurred outside the City of New York.
An assessment on the Post Office for Fall
election could scarcely yield less than $4,000.
Blu. of this, MIR. Fowler never expended on
the organization in the city more than
$2,500; and the balance, must, therefore,
have gone to assist friends in other districts
of the State. 1t is very certain that as
much money was collected in Mr.. Fowler's
name, for the purpose of organizing CAM
paigns, as was ever expended by him for
political uses in this city.


Probably under the whip of this deficit
MIR. Fowler was compelled by the Admins
tration to take more than commonly bit
ter part against Judge Douglas at Charles.
ton. His own undoubted choice, however,
was for Vice President Breckenridge, with
whom he has long been on terms of the
most confidential intimacy and next after
Breckenridge he was in favor, and his vote
showed, of his old friend in the Pierce Ca
binet, ex-Secretary Guthrie. These things
are only mentioned at this time in order to
contradict the false and malicious rumor
that Mr.. Fowler, at Charleston, did not
oppose the vote of the New York delegation
in favor of Judge Douglas with all his
strength. In company with Messrs. But.
terworth, Reynolds, Cochrane and Barlow
he did all be could to carry out the wishes
of Mr.. Buchanan and possibly for this
reason be may have expected official protec>
tion until after the 18th of June. Mr..
Fowler had maLy active friends in the
Senate of the United States, and his politi-
cal action has of late seemed to be entirely
controlled by the views of Messrs. Gwin
Shields and Bigler, acting on behalf of the
President.


1t is but just to say, in conclusion, that
while the friends of Mr.. Fowler have
nothing to say in defence of his conduct in
this particular matter, there would appear
to be felt for the man himself the sincerest
and most fervent compassion. All speak of
him as of noble nature wrecked and ruined
by imprudence as man capable of the
finest and most generous feelings, gradually
warped into oblique and sinister course by
events over which his intellect gave him no
control. Always to any story of misery or
misfortune his eyes filled with tears, and bis
hand opened, letting fall whatever sum might
chance to have been the moment before in
his pocket. In this way he was often griev.
ously imposed upon and the result is that
his benevOlence must be rated higher than
his sense of justice.


Socially, Prince of Good Fellows in
whatever circle be moved, he was not SO
much witty himself as the cause of wit, or
at least cheerfuness, in others. He had a
most affable and courtier-like manner, a
winning smile, spirit joyous in spite Of its
secret burdens, and syampathy acutely sen.
sitive to all variations of temper or afliction
in those with whom he was thrown in COM
tact. Never suited by nature to be the lead
er of a party, be was stillmore united for such
post by the false position in which he stood
with regard to money. He allowed personal
obligations-perhaps was compelled to allow
them-to unduly sway his political conduct
and from his weakness in never being able
to say" No" to clamorous or fearful ap-
plicant, he was betrayed into making prom
ises which he could have no reasonable hope
of fulfilling. This cause produced him many
bitter enmities, while the other side of bis
character made compensation in as many
friends.


Over the ruin of his prospects and lift
there are many in all circles who will sim
cerely mourn. He stood on an eminenct
from which the descent is fearful; and there
are many hundred homes in the city where
his fall has produced almost as much grie
as if cherished member of the family hat
suddenly been mangled and cut to piece.
under the wheels of a locomotive. On th'
sacred sorrow of his own family circle il
would be cruel to intrude word. He wa.
the idol of mother and sisters, the pride o
brothers as honest, able, and intelligent a.
ever man was blessed with.