The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-07-04

necessities, and IN one week SCHOOL OF
forty scholars, at three dollars each per n
quarter, was made up, and Mr.. Douglas en- q
tered upon the Office of schoolmaster. t
In short speech at Winchester, during
the Doug las. Lincoln contest, he thus slludes {
to his entry there
Twenty. FIVE years ago entered this town ,
on foot, with my coat upon my arm, Uithoat
an acquaintance in thousand miles, and
,Oithout kno,oin9 tohere I could get money to
pay soeek's board. Here l made the first
six dollars I ever earned 10 my life, and OBJ.
tanned the first regular occupation that
ever pursued. For the FIRST time In my life
I then felt that the responsibilities OF man.
hood were upon me, although | was under
age, for had none to advise with and knew
no one upon whom I had right to call for
assistance or for friendship. Here | found
the then settlers of the country my friends
my first start in lite was taken here, not
only as a private citizen, but my first cleo |
ton to public Office by the people was con.
ferred upon me by those whom l am now
addressing and by their fathers. A quarter
of century has passed, and that pennless
boy stands before you with his heart full and
gushing with the sentiments which such as.
sociations and recollections necessarily il.
spire."
In March, 1894, still lacking one month
of being twenty one years old, he was ad.
mittcd to the bar by the Supreme Court
and with tho proceeds OF his school, and
such small fees as he had earned in the
meantime by attending cases before the
Justices Court, he purchased some law
books aud moved up to Jacksonville, the
county seat OF Morgan county, then one Of
the largest counties in the State.
= tIe opened law ofi.e in Jacksonville,
and soon was known as an ardent Democrat.
. General Jackson's bank policy was then the
; leading public topic, and upon it Democrats
y were divided, and the Wings were fast gain.
', ing strength. The county, owing to the
u influence of the bank and its branches, haa
" become decidedly Wing in politics. Doug
II las end some friends called q mass meeting
e 10 defend Gen. Jackson's bank policy, and
! tho movement was considered most daring
y one. When the day arrived he alone had
~ the courage to olf5r the resolutions. He
= did 50, and advocated their adoption. He
10 was replied to by Mr. Lamborn, one Of the
~ ublest lawyers of the county, in speech o
30 much severity. 1t was atrying moment 70
Douglas. He met the issue. He rejoine
a' in O speech which has become historical il
Illinois. In very short time his words Q
IA burning eloqnence drove Lamborn from tn
~ Court House, and then for an hour he bel
T. the meeting bound in admiring astonishmeu
~ by his powerful defeuse of the President
We When he had concluded his resolutions wer
'o adopted and he was taken upon the shoulder
'ao of several large men and carried through tt
'e' town in triumph. Henceforth Dougla wi
" recoonized as the leader OF the Democrat
in that county.
At the meeting Of the next Legislature
~. was elected States Attorney for the fiji
- iudcial circuit, over the heroic John J. hi
'ue din, and for over a year and half perfor
'"O ed its duties with great success. In IL
'to' he proposed the Convention system for
'o' nomination of candidates for county office
"'s and, though opposed, carried it into succe
VI tuI operation. A Democratic ticket "
i''' nominated, but such was the war made up
'0' the Convention system that some OF
''" candidates withdrew, and Douglas was
:, ced to take a place on the ticket for
'ne LEGISLATURE, He canvassed the county tn
w u"o' oughly, and the result was that the en-
"se' Democratic ticket, with one exception
=" elected. General Hardin was elected.
- ~ Mr.. Douglas took his seat in the Legi
a. ture in the winter of 1867, and was on
,ha tive and Iuborious member. In April II
t.,o he was appointed Register OF the Land
orod fee at Springfield. In the fall OF the
49,. he took an active part in establishing
o;hIo Convention system for the nomlnatio
candidates for State Offices, and saw IL
INV ~ into successful operation. ....
~. In November, 1887, he was nominated
Democratic Convention for Congress
~. ~ ~ the immense district extending from J
I sonvlle TO the northern limit OF the 81
;. the election took place in August, 1898,
non, during that time Mr.. Douglas and his o
.u;,,' nsut, Mr.. Stuart, canvassed 1t as far
= fnd was practicable. The district had
Harrison over 1900 majority; but the
,e.ol cial canvass accorded Stuart only fue
, ul,i. iori,y in an aggregate vote of nearly 81
\ ,h., Douglas was defrauded Of several huE
Han votes by tricks and unjust practices.
= po campaign was regarded, however, as
lencv. sonal triumph. ..a . r...
,f HI. Mr.. Douglas during the next two
.,,o, devoted himself 10 Q successful practl
4 am. the law, taking prominent part in 81
roo. great cases before the Supreme Court.
7 I.oui. undertook the great case which result
vh.re having the " "alien vote" allowed
i. ~. which secured the Stste for Van Bur
n fnd. 1910. .. ... .a. a.. ..-.
n foot In ls4o ne cahVasseu 'ne 0'a'' ~
m;lss Buren; and to bis efforts has always
anita in attributed the uceeUsful issue OF that
10 Get ton In Illinois, one of the two No
,red a States where the Democratic tag wa
d been defeated. -
II rorro,v leAl. he was appointed