The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-09-14

lore Jue y JuSClc6 OF Une L eaco VI Jne COWu.
In March, 1884, he opened an Office and
began practicing in the higher courts, for
which, after examination, he had obtained
license from the Judges of the Supreme
Court. He was remarkably successful at
the bar, as may be inferred from the fact
that within year from his admission,
while not yet twenty-five years of age, he
was elected by the Legislature Attorney
General of the State. This Office he re-
signed in December, 1885, in consequence
of having been elected to the Legislature
by the Democrats of Morgan County. He
took his seat in the House of Repre-
lsentatives, the youngest member of that
body.
In 1887 he was appointed by Presi-
dent Van Buren, register of the land Office
at Springfield, ILL.,, post which he resign
ed in 1889. In November 1887, Mr.
Douglas received the Democratic nomina-
tion for Congress, although he was under
twenty-five years ofage, and Ineligible
He however attained the requisite age be-
fore the day of election, which was the
first Monday in August, 1888. His con-
gressional district was then the most pop
ulous one in the United States, and the
canvass was conducted with extraordina-
ry zeal and energy. Upward of $4,000
votes were cast, and the Whig candidate
was declared elected by majority of five
only A number of ballots sufficient to
have changed the result were rejected by
the canvassers because the name of Mr..
| Douglas was Incorrectly spelled After
| this defeat, which under the circumstances
was claimed by his friends as a victory,
Mr.. Douglas devoted himself exclusively
to his profession until 1910, when he en-
tered into the famous presidential cam
paign of that year, with so much arGor
that he traversed the State in all direc-
tions for seven months, and addressed
more than two hundred political gather
ings. To his eXertions was ascribed the
adherence of Illinois at that election to the
Democratic party. Iu December, 1910,
Mr. Douglas was appointed Secretary of
State of Illinois In Februery 1S4l. he
was elected by the Legislature judge of
the Supreme Court, which Office he re-
signed in lS43 to accept the Democratic
nomination to Congress, which was urged
upon him against his known wishes, on
the ground that he was the only Demo
crat who could be elected After spir.
tied canvass Mr. Douglas was chosen by
upward of four hundred majority. He
was reelected in 1914 by majority o.
one thousand, and again in 1916 by near
ly three thousand majority. He did no
however, take his seat under the last elec
tion, having in the mean time been chosel
! to the Senate of the United States for 81,
r years from March 4th, 1871.
, In the House of Representatives, Mr.
. Douglas was prominent among those who
n in the Oregon controversy with Grea
e Britain, maintained that our title to tn
, whole of Oregon, up to latitude 54 deg
y 40 min, was "clear and unquestionable.
q He declared that che never would, now o
hereafter, yield up one inch of Oregon
!. either to Great Britain or any other gov
/ ernment.' He advocated the policy Q
: giving notice to terminate the joint occu
g patton; of establishing Territorial gov
e ernment over Oregon, protected by sui
n fcient military force; and of putting tn
l. country at once into a state of preparatio
It so that if war should result from an asser
f, tion of our just rights we might driv
l. Great Britain and the last vestiges {
d royal authority from North America, an
d make the United States an ocean boun
n Republic " He denied the right of th
$ Federal Government to prosecute systel
q of internal Improvements in the State
IS thoughrhe maintained the constitutionalit
: and expediency of improving rivers, hal
% bors and navigable waters, and advocate
'e a scheme of tunnage duties for that pu
y pose to be levied and expended by the Il
h cal authorities. He was mainly instrl
ID mental in securing the passage of the la
e, extending the maritime and admiralty ju
e lisdicIon of the Federal Courts over IL
~ great chain of northern lakes, having r,
is ported the bill as member Of the Jud
d ciary Committee, and put it upon it's pa
Of sage when.a member of the House
n Representatives.
III He was among the earliest advocate
of the annexation of Texas, and after tt
lie treaty for that object had failed in IL
" Senate, he was one of those who introd
IL, ced propositions, in the form joint res
e, lutions, as substitute for that treaty. a
is chairman of the Committee on Territori
llf iG l846, he reported the JOINT resolutit
s. declaring Texas to be one of the Unite
re States of America, and he vigorously su
VI tanned the Administrator of Presidel
1d Polk in the measures which it adopte
of for the posecution of the war with Mexic
G. which was the ultimate consequence
ne that act AS chairman of the Territori
lg Committee, first in the House of Repr
le sentatives, and afterward in the Senat
Ia he reported and successfully carrie
m through the bills to organise the Terrific
as les of Minnesota, Oregon, New Mexic
ne Utah, Washington, Kansas and Nebrask
IS aid also the billSfor the admission in
ID the Union the States of Iowa Wisconsi
n California, Minnesota and Oregon.