White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1860-07-19

knowing tnat 10 tuis o.y
chain are visible upon his ankle
About this time, the tide Of emigration
had Get in the direction Of Illinois and
IS is the case with all nsw countries. the
offscourings Of the older States were wen
ding their way thither. Douglas seemed
prophetically to feel that his destiny lay
among them and be accordingly took
passage down the Ohio River, Is deck
hand on . stsambost. He landed IN St.
Louis, where Edward Bates employed
him to sweep out his Office and attend to
his stable. Bates kindly gave him access
to bis extensive library between times,
which privilege Douglas gladly availed
himself Of. and improved his time dill
gently. During the short period be re-
manned in St. Louis, be read Gulliver's
Travels, Robinson Crusoe. and Sindbad
the Sailor. The effects Of that seasons
study are still clearly perceptible in the
tone Of his speeches and the character OF
his public acts. Douglas favorite author
appears to be Gulliver; and he has sure
" outrivalled g certain philosopher met
BY the famous traveller among big and
little giants. whose great ambition seemed
TO be to discover q method to render pal
stable and nutritious certain substances
not generally regarded as toOthsome, nor
held high in popular favor as rare dishes.
Mr.. Bates was too much bigoted to
suit Douglas notioDs-he would not keep
drop of liquor in the houss-and Dou-
glas therefore set out for Illinois, the pro-
missed land of his dreams. He obtained
employment in . country cabinet shop,
but to his infinite disgust, they did not
stain nor varnish their furniture. He
therefore threw up his situation. and left
for other parts. One day he approached
. crowd Of persons. and ascertained that
there was to be public auction, but no
person present could write. and they could
not proceed without 9 clerk. Douglas
(who is supposed to have been at that
time the only man in the State who could
write) offered his services, and received
for his days work six bits, with whiskey
thrown in. He Immediately went to bed
and had his shirt washed. bought a new
pair Of socks and plug Of tobacco, and
came out in style.
This was the beginning Of Mr.. Doug
las fortune. The people were Astonished
to find 9 man among them who could
write, and they Immediately procured him
q school. There are number Of persons
yet residing in Illinois. whom Douglas
took to the "Single Rule of Three" But
while attending to the arduous duties Of
his school, Mr.. Douglas also took live
ly interest in the material prosperity and
development Of the resources Of the coun-
try; and through his exertions. number
Of branches of manufacture were estab-
lished-principal among which was q
large distillery.
About this time Douglas began to take
an active part in politics. He found that
the people were in the habit of taking up
and voting for such men as they preferred.
and had not yet adopted the Convention
system, by which tricksters cheat the
people. He agitated the adoption of this
system; and. although opposed BY the
most prominent men of bis party, he tri-
umphantly carried his point. It is said
that he has never ceased to admire the
workings of his favorits system, from that
day down to the adjournment of the Bal
timore Convention His party have ta-
ken such liking to it, that they bold
three or four Conventions to accomplish
a single object
Douglas was now nominsted for the
Legislature. in opposition to distinguish.
ed and influential Wing. In bis first
debate with his opponent, he advanced
the argument that be was the best man
who could drink the most whiskey; and
he forthwith gave an exhibition of his
manhood in that channel. which so de-
lighted the crowd. that they took him up
and carried him all over town on q rail,
and afterwards conveyed him home on a
wheelbarrowl The County had previ-
ou,ly been Wing BY some 200 majority,
but Douglas was elected BY about 100.
Il was remarked, - . curious circum-
stanes, that in strong Democratic Coun-
ty adjoining. the party ct the same time
fell short some 500 votes. The same
strange circumstance has been observed,
whenever Douglas has been . candidate
there has always been large increase
Of the Democratic vote in his County or
District, while there has been . CORES.
ponding falling OF in strong Democratic
Counties or Districts adjoining. But
such are Douglas popularity and elo-
quencs. that whenever he is candidate,
al >-kh--s.-- n