The Van Buren press., 1860-07-20
The National Dem mocratiC Wola.
nee for PYes!1snt

We publish. ii grlcl tp refresh TN,
minds Of our readers, the following hriei
biographical sketch Of Stephen \. Dousla4.
taken from the New York Heral
SrErI;EE i. DoUGLAs, OF ILLIHoI>.-Thc
subject cf this paragraph was born in the
town Of Brandon III the STATE of Vermont,
on the 23l Of April, 1913, AMI is now in
the forty seventh year oF his age His
father, whose name he bears, was 4 native
Of RENSSELAER, County, in theState OF New
York, where he was a practising physician.
He died, leaving tWo children, one of them
the subject of this notice who was but two
months old at that time. Stephen y. Dong
las, at the age OF fourteen years apprentice
ed himself to learn the trade Of cabinet ma
ker, at Milbury. At this trade he wrought
for two years, and getting wcaricl of it he
sought the means Of procuring an elucation.
He was admitted rs pupil in the Canada
qua Academy, and at the same tipc studied
law with an attorney of that village. ani
while there cvinced a fondncss for politics.
In 1888 he moved to Illinois. and for some
time taught school in the village of Win
chester in that State. While engaged in
teaching school, he still continued his la-
-
1884. In the following year, at the age of
twenty-five years he was appointed State
attorney by the Legislature, which Office he
signed in 1886 to take his seat in the leg
islature. He was the youngest member OF
the House, but was soon remarked for his
industry in Legislative industry.
The first position Of importance which
he took in legislation was in opposition to
the wild cat" banking system but the
majority was opposed to his views, and the
extension measure was carried. lie was in
favor OF measure putting the railroads
completely in the power Of the State. H.
subsequently held for a short time, the post
of receiver for the land office, at Springfield
Ill. BY this time he became n prominent
politician, and ran for Congress IN 1898.
and was beaten by five votes. He stump
cd his State for Van Buren, for the Presi
dcncy in 1910. In December, 1910 he
was elected Secretary Of State, and in the
following February was elected as mem
Der Of Congress, but only served one term.
when he was elected to the United States
Senate in 1S47. While Il member of the
lower House, he took Strons measures on
the question OF our Oregon bonn larry, AMI
belonged at that time to the 5i:io party.
He has always been tlI5 advocate of in
ternal improvements favored the Mexican
war, voted for the independent treasury bill
and has always repuiiatea the power OF
Congress on the question Of citizenship in
the States oppose! to tic Wilmot provi-
so, and expressed himself in favor of the
cxtensionNof the Missouri line to the Pacif
ic. He has always been o friend T. til,
Homestead bill. During Piorcs's aln.inis-
tration tllo Kansas Nebraska bill came mp.
Mr.. Douglas was chairman OF th1 Senate
committee un Ter which the bill came AMI
| finally cnsineercl the passage Of that mca-
sure. This doctrine p popular sover-
! eignty," with other things linked together
arc questions Of thy lay well known to our
readers.
In 1886, IL stumPel the STATE Of Hi
nois for Mr. Buchanan, AMI to his indcia,i
gable cxertious the Democracy are indebted
/ ior their success in that campaign. In re-
turn for this kindness Nj. Buchanan $
friends used every axGr'i5n in their power