Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1859-11-26
WHOLE NUMBER l73

I1SA6IuISs I10 Gucl IuSs AOG NOuSSS SSS0
but was defeated by FIVE votes, an6
was afterward appointed Register o.
the land Office in Springfield. Re
signing this, he was chosen to be Sec
lretary of State, and while he filed the
Office, was selected Judge Of the Su
preme court Of the State. His mex,
step was in to Congress, and in ls4e
or ~ he was elected to the Senate, in
which he will soon enter upon his
third term Of six years. Thus, in the
twelve or thirteen years that elapsed
from the time of his entering the
State trendlcss, pcnniless youth, he
had served his fellow-citizens in almost
every official capacity, and entered the
highest positions within their power to
confer. ..-....
No man, since the days of Andrew
Jackson, has gained stronger hold
upon the confidence and attachment
of his adherents than Judge Douglas.
Whether upon the stump, in the eau
cue, or the Senate, his power and sue
cess in debate are prodigious. His
instincts stand him in the stead of
imagination, and amount to genius.
Notwithstanding the busy and bois-
ferrous political life which he has led,
with all its engrossing cares and occu.
|pations, Mr.. Douglas has, nevertheless,
by his invincible perseverance, man.
aged to redeem much time for self.
improvement. For one in his situa-
tion, he has been a wide and studious
reader Of history and its kindred
branches. Contact with affairs has
enlarged his understanding and has
strengthened his judgment. Thus,
with his unerring sagacity, his ma
tured and deceive character, with a
courage which sometimes appears to
be audacity, but which is in reality
tempered by prudence, a will that
never submits to an obstacle, however
vast, and knowledge of the people,
together with power to lead them,
incompatible in his generation, he
may be accepted as practical states
man of the highest order.
It must be confessed that there was
formerly dash Of the rowdy in Mr.
Douglas, and that even now the blaze
of the old Berserker fire will show it
self at times. But it must be recol
lected that his is q vivid and electri,
nature, of redundant animal life AM
nervons energy; that he was bred
not in scholastic seclusion, nor amit
the conventional routine of a settlet
population, but that his character ha
taken shape and color from that Of tn
bold men OF the border, where plucl
: was the highest virtue, and "back
bone" to use phrase Of the country
compensated for many deficiency il
elegance. His organization is exbeu
rant, but not coarse. Like the prai
ries of his adopted State, which il
, their wilderness yield luxuriant boun
ty of long grass and countless flower.
but return to culture unmeasured hal
!, vests Of wheat and corn; so his yout
: may have known the flush and prid
> Of rude health, yet his manhood turn
! up, under the plowshsre of experience
loom fit to mature the glorious plant
3 OF wisdom, power, virtue and patrio
: ism.
:. In society, few men are more agree
q able, provided you are willing to max
i allowance (which most people in th
q country are bound to do) for the d.
!. fects Of early breeding, which ca
e never be entirely hidden. He is si1
gularly magnetic in conversation, fl
. Of humor, spirit and information, an
,f charms while he instructs.