[Footnote 967: Diary of a Public Man, p. 493.]

[Footnote 968: _Ibid._, pp. 495-496.]

[Footnote 969: _Globe_, 36 Cong., Special Sess., p. 1452.]

[Footnote 970: Diary of a Public Man, pp. 495-496.]

[Footnote 971: _Globe_, 36 Cong., Special Sess., p 1461.]

[Footnote 972: _Ibid._, p. 1461.]

[Footnote 973: _Globe_, 36 Cong., Special Sess., p. 1465.]

[Footnote 974: _Ibid._, pp. 1460, 1501, 1504.]

[Footnote 975: _Ibid._, p. 1501.]

[Footnote 976: Diary of a Public Man, p. 494.]

[Footnote 977: _Ibid._, p. 494.]

[Footnote 978: _Globe_, 36 Cong., Special Sess., pp. 1505, 1511.]

CHAPTER XX

THE SUMMONS

The news of the capitulation of Fort Sumter reached Washington on
Sunday morning, April 14th. At a momentous cabinet meeting, President
Lincoln read the draft of a proclamation calling into service
seventy-five thousand men, to suppress combinations obstructing the
execution of the laws in the Southern States. The cabinet was now a
unit. Now that the crisis had come, the administration had a policy.
Would it approve itself to the anxious people of the North? Could it
count upon the support of those who had counselled peace, peace at any
cost?

Those who knew Senator Douglas well could not doubt his loyalty to the
Union in this crisis; yet his friends knew that Union-loving men in
the Democratic ranks would respond to the President's proclamation
with a thousandfold greater enthusiasm, could they know that their
leader stood by the administration. Moved by these considerations,
Hon. George Ashmun of Massachusetts ventured to call upon Douglas on
this Sunday evening, and to suggest the propriety of some public
statement to strengthen the President's hands. Would he not call upon
the President at once and give him the assurance of his support?
Douglas demurred: he was not sure that Mr. Lincoln wanted his advice
and aid. Mr. Ashmun assured him that the President would welcome any
advances, and he spoke advisedly as a friend to both men. The peril of
the country was grave; surely this was not a time when men should let
personal and partisan considerations stand between them and service to
their country. Mrs. Douglas added her entreaties, and Douglas finally
yielded. Though the hour was late, the two men set off for the White
House, and found there the hearty welcome which Ashmun had
promised.[979]

Of all the occurrences of this memorable day, this interview between
Lincoln and Douglas strikes