The Nevada Democrat. [volume] (Nevada, Calif.) 1854-1863, 1857-06-03
stenl,en A. Douglos,

There are few tnen, says correspondent of
the Charleston Cb0gier, In the Senate Chamber
whose bodily and mental lineaments make so
distinct and definite an impression upon the
public mind as Judge Douglas. His figure short,
thick and stout, would have been fatal to the
divinity of the Apollo Belvidere, but is precisely
such as BELTS the man of the people--for the
physical classes ever look with double conf
dence and affection upon a leader who repre-
sents in his own person the qualities upon which
to rely. His physiognomy, too, is rather stern
and heavy and if you ever had any hint that
there was vein of acrimony in his character,
you can see no indication of it, unless you fall
to imagining what expression that keen eye,
and that heavy eyebrow and that firmly set
mouth, when belaboring the Republican party
assumed.
But when he rises to speak, you soon feel how
trivial are externals in comparison with genuine
ability. You listen but few moments before
you forgeS every thing except that man Of abil-
ity before YOU. He is bold, independent
speaker, and has the power of thrilling his hear,
ers through and through-indeed, rapldity and
boldness of thought are his inseparable attri
butes. He strikes on all the hard. strong points
of his subject till they ring again. His language
is the organ of the mind-always sharp and
clear. and knotty; and never soft-seldom beau
tiful. In scenes of strife and danger-where
courage is proved-this gentleman would speak
and move the leader and superior.
1t is the natural fate of such men to be mis-
understood and maligued. There has been for
the last two years raised against him storm
of rebuke and Misrepresentation. Public meet
ings have denounced his ambition, northern
speakers have held him up to scorn, as the very
embodiment of national evil-armed with ablll-
ties only to delude, and successful only to ruin
Northern journals have poured an lncessan'
hail of accusation against him. But with til,
whole storm of unpopuarity against him h.
sternly pursues his course, breastlng the storm
combating the surge, and fnging to his assail
ants his calm contempt, stern wrath, or stlnglnt
ridicule.
A portion of our country foresees in him ;
future President, with the "White House II
irrespective, as much his future as the "Tuil
ieries" that of the Imperial Infant, or "Windsol
Castle" that of the Prince of Wales. Yet there
are those who very much doubt the realization
of this future.
This gentleman is one of the self-made mel
of our country, whose elevation it is in itself i
proof of the admirable nature of our Constlt
ton, which allow the lowliest to rise to its dis
tinctions, while it compels the loftiest to labor
and compete for those which are the most covct-
ed, because they are derived from the trust oi
their countrymen and achieved by the dutlts
which the sense of the responsibility entails. III
is II glorious fact with which are embalmed the
spring of our national greatness that here there
arc no barriers of caste, no terms OF descent,
no depths so low that enterprise cannot rise out
of them no heights SO exalted that genius can
not attain them The Judges bench, the Sen
ator's seat, and the Presidents chair, are at
tainable for the poorest and humblest child III
the land. No hereditary gallery leads to them
only the broad road of the people. No piled
up wealth, no social station reaches as high as
that spiritual plan upon which every human
being stands by virtue of his intellect. This
illustrates the noblest privileges and proudes
supremacy on the face of the globe.
After many struggle, Judge Douglas has
reached table land, from whence he can loOt
down calmly on the path before him. The poor
boy. self-taught, sclfaided, has risen to the Sc
curity of intellectual power.