The Nevada Democrat., 1861-08-24
9erada 9etuufrat.
THE LATE SENATOR DOUGLAS.

VIC baho tuc iOhOWluB eALhCt ltOtn hu
oration, delivered July 9th. at CarroltOn,
ILL.,, by Rev. Justus Bulkley, on the "Life
and Character of the Hon. Stephen A Doug
los -
need not here refer 20 the late presiden-
tial campaign. The exciting scenes at
Charleston-the adjournment TO Baltimore
the final rupture in the party-the nomi-
nation Of Mr.. Breckinridge aud Mr.. Doug
las-the consequent defeat of both, and the
election of the present President, are of SO
recent date rs to be perfectly familiar to
| you ell. II is we'll known that after the
election of Mr.. Lincoln aud the secession of
several southern States, Mr.. Douglas and
Mr.. Crittenden, both merging the partisan
in the patriot, stepped forward with the
olive branch Of peace, aud at the risk of be-
ing considered inconsistent In their record,
used ell their energies to devise some means
of compromise acceptable TO both parties.
They utterly and bopelessly failed. The re-
suit is known. The country is plunged into
o civil war. Judge Douglas, true TO the in
siincts Of noble patriotism forgetting the
past eliminating no one rushee to the
support of the government begs bis friends
to rally under the stars and stripes, the flag
Of bis own dear land. and defend it from all
attacks of friends or foes. Whenever and
wherever assailed be would have the ranks
"closed up"-republica and democratic
and that flag defended. He has bat time
TO give his parting counsel, and that even
penned by an amanuensis /; and then, with
aruIOr on, be meets his foe. How much the
dark cloud Of war now lowering over our
| own land, may have hastened the death Of
Judge Douglas, cannot say.
can but regard the closing labors of
Judge Douglas as the nOblest of his life.
His persistent and determined efforts to
bring about compromise and save the gov
ernment, and when that failed. his hearty
support OF that government assaied by those
who had sworn TO support il, look upon
with feeling akin TO veneratiOn. To all
human appearance, the prOlongation Of his
life now would seem an absolute neces-
sitV. know of no man, il we except. per.
haps. Senator Crittenden, Of KenIucky-
who, like Mr.. Douglas, occupies a position
in the councils Of the nations-would ena-
/ bic him to stand up as the mediator between
the belligerent elements. And, even if a
compromise is absolutely impossible, il
would seem that we needed the pacific cOun.
sells and statesman like advice of Stephen
! A. Douglas. | can but regard his death at
this crisis as a great public calamity. But
Gods ways are not our ways, aud whether
we will or not, We must yield to the stern
decree Of greater Judge than he. Let me
advert TO two or three prominent traits in
the character OF Judge Douglas.
His was an iudOmituble will. He never
knew what it was to fail. He never suf-
fered himself TO suppose defeat was possi-
ble and even partial or temporary defeat
which would have completely discouraged
men Of different character, was always made
to contribute to his final success. No mat
ter how many, how insidiOus, or bow pow
erfu the combinations against him, his ver-
salility of talent. his uneXampled control Of
contingencies, aud his bOundess resources,
were adequate to every formidable emer-
/ Qency. Whether when lad leaving New
| England for the far West, or walking lone
| ly stranger from Jacksonville TO Winchester
/ with thirty.seven aud half cents in bis
pocket, or studying law at night while bOr-
rowing bis books from jacksonville, or
while defending his favOrite doctrine OF pop
ular sovereignty on the stump Of Illinois or
on the floors Of Congress, against all combl'
nations that could be brought 10 bear
against him by the federal administration
aud the republican party, the same iDdomi-
table will. the same pertiDacity and perse'
verance were everywhere exhibited. With
/ him. to resolve was to execute.
| He possessed great firmness and moral
courage. When Ju0ge Douglas, after a
careful survey Of the ground be Intended
to occupy, ha6 chosen his position, 1t was
! impossible to drive him from ii. No matter
how deadly the opposition /; no matter how
extensive and powerful tbe combinations,
religious or political, that were arrayed
against bim, verify believe be never quail
ed before the eye Of man. In illustration
/ of this element 10 the character Of Judge
Douglas, we have only 10 refer TO the bold
ness ard bitterness with which he resented
what he regarded as an impertnent inter
ference with the affairs Of the government,
/ on the part OF the three thousand New Eng
land cergymen. ] believe he erred 10 this
/ act. but it was none the less an exhibition
/ Of his moral courage. Few men in our gov
ernment could thus have encountered that
strong religious opposition without being
completely driven from place aud power
His opposition TO the LecOmpton coDstitu-
tion 10 the very teeth Of the most determln
ed hostility Of powerful administration
that administration, too, supported by all