A. Jonas, Quincy, April 11, says that letters have been
received from Chicago and Springfield implying that a
coalition is forming between a portion of the Republican party
on the one hand and Douglas and his followers on the other. He
protests strongly against any such coalition and declares it
can never be carried into effect. "To suppose that the
Republicans of this District can under any circumstances be
induced to support such a political demagogue and trickster as
Isaac N. Morris is to believe them capable of worshiping Satan
or submitting to the dictation of the slave oligarchy."
W. H. Herndon, Springfield, April 12, has just returned from
the East. He speaks of Greeley's "puffs" of Douglas, which he
regards as demoralizing to the Republicans of Illinois. "I
heard Greeley handled quite roughly by the candidate for
lieutenant-governor of Wisconsin, a very intelligent German. He
spoke to Greeley in my presence and said that Wisconsin stood
by Illinois and was not for sale."
E. Peck, Chicago, April 15: "Dr. Brainard has had a talk with
Dr. Ray, the substance of which was that we should consent to
run Douglas as our candidate for the House of Representatives
from this district. What does this mean? Can Brainard have any
authority to make such a proposition? Ray has been advising
with me, and we are both in the clouds. I requested permission
to write to you for your opinion before any opinions were
expressed here. Mr. Colfax may be able to tell you something of
the opinions of Douglas. I am shy in believing, and more shy in
confiding, ... yet Ray believes that Brainard was authorized by
Douglas to make the proposition."
N. B. Judd, Chicago, April 19, says that if the Lecompton Bill
is passed, Douglas is laid on the shelf. The Buchanan party in
Chicago is of no consequence, "great cry and little wool." We
shall have to fight the Democratic party as a unit. "How
Douglas is to be the Democratic party in Illinois and the ally
of the Republicans outside of the state is a problem which
those, who are arranging with him, ought to know how to work
out."
Overtures to the Republicans of Illinois did not come from Douglas only.
Here is one of a different hue:
George T. Brown, Alton, February 24, urges the appointment of
J. E. Starr (Buchanan Democrat) as postmaster at Alton.
"Slidell opened the way for you to talk to him and you can
easily do so. The Administration is very desirous that you
should not oppose their appointments, and will give you
anything."
The foregoing letter betokens a sudden change of mind in administration
circles at Washington, as is evidenced by the following communication
which Trumbull had received from one of his constituents a few weeks
earlier:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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