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An Anecdote Of Douglas

An Anecdote Of Douglas image
Parent Issue
Day
27
Month
July
Year
1860
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

An incident is recorded in Dougla&' life, which 60 well illustrates the peculiar genius of the man, that we cannot refhtin from repeating it, it not only speaks volumes for Douglas as a far seeing and sagacious statesman, but it reveáis the reinarkable ascendency of Brigham Young over his associates even at that early dsy. In 1846 the excitement against the Mormons at Nanvoo reaehed its height. The peop'e of the surrounding country deterrnined to drive them away; the Suints resolved to delend tbemselves. A civil war seemed imminent. Goveraor Ford despatched a regiment to put down both belligerents. This regiment consisting of 450 men, wih under the command of Colonel John J. Hardin, the old political opponnnt, but warm personal friend of Mr. Douglas, who held the post of Major. As this little body of troops approachod Nauvoo they sawtheMoimons, 5,000 strong, drawn up to oppose their advance. Every man was known to be armed with a ''seven-shooter" and a brace of Colt's 'revolvers" - twentyone shots to a man, besides a bowieknife, Hardin halted his troops just out of rifle-range and addressed them : ''There are the Mormons, ten to one against us. I intend to aUack them. If thero is a coward here who wishes to go home, he may o so now. Let any one who wishes to go etep to the front." Not a man carne forward. "There were, I dare say," says Mr. Douglas, "just 451 oí us, iñcluding our Colonel, who would have been glad to have retired ; but not one had the courage to own that he was a coward." " Major Douglas," said the Colonel, " will take 100 men, vvili preeeed to ïiauvoo, arrest the Twolve Apostles, and bring them all here !" " Colonel Hardin," asked the Major quietly, so that no one else heard, " is that a peromptory order?" " It is." " Then I shall make the attempt to exeoute it. But I give you warmng that not a man of us will ever return.'' " The Apostles must be taken, Major Douglas," replied the Colonel' " Very well, Qolone!. It you will send me alaJWAa uül be ruuch more likely to get th'eiflfjölfe "But you wilïifeiif'ymirlife." " I will take tfcyresponsibility. If you send me alonéfl Vll pledge myself to reach the city. As to bringing in the Twelve, or gettiitg back myself, that is quito another question." " Do you assume the rcsponsibility?" " I do." " Major Douglas," said the Colonel, after reflecting a few moment?, "will proeeed to Nauvoo, taking such escort as he sees fit." The order was hardly given when the little Major - for he was not (hen a " Little Giant"- dashed off at full speed. As he approached the Mormon Legión, General Wells came forward to meet him; and after a brief converRation e=corted him through the hollow squt.re of troops into the city. Ile was not long in fincüng Brigham and the Twelve. All of them were old acquaintanees of his. Most of them had, in fucf, been before him for trial, as Judge, upon some charge or othor. The Judge ia famous fnr his tnking mannerp ; and in a very brief time he succeeded in inducing Brigham and his associates to accompany him. 'l'hey all packed themselves into the "Apostolic Coach," drawn by u'ght horseF, : and prcM'Mtod thomselvas in the oatnp. Tho fight was postponed, and negotiations for tho romovul of the Mortnons were entcr.:d uprn, Judge DougIfw boing chief negotiator on one sido Brigham himself siiid butlittle; and nt length suid he would go out lor n while, diroeting his nssocjates t.o settla the torras. These wtre saon infoi'mally agröed to by tho Twelvc, and they were corarnitted to paper. Brigham returned nfid asked how mattors had succeeded. Ho was told that everythiog had buen settied " Let "me look at the tonus," said Bngliam (juotly. He read tharn ovor hastily. ': TH bever a'gree to thom ; nover !" he exclaimed. The voto was fonnally put, and tho whole Twelve, without a dissenting voieo daolared Bgainst them, though they had ua unanitnously accopted them uot lïvo minutes before. The negotiations were then renowed betvreen Brigha:n and Douglas. Now terms were Bettfed and when Ihe vote was taken the Twelve agreed to them at onco. The U;eaty was dnly signed and th Slormons psepared to loave tha Stat). '