Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1861-06-07
FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 1861
VOLUME VII, NUMBER NX.
Senator DOUGLAS.

This distinguished politician and civilian
died at Chicago the Sd inst. at about 9
. cl ock in the morning, according to the
telegraph news of that day. The disease
which was the immediate cause of his death
is not stated, but it will be rccollcctcd that
within the year Mr.. Douglas has been pros
trated two or three times by disease of
some kind, which seemed to threaten his life
for the time. He probably, was endowed
with great physical visor, as well as mental
activity, which wardcd off for a season the
terrible enemy which has at last conquered.
Mr.. Douglas was born at Brandon Vermont,
Apill 23l, 1913, making him a little more
than Is years of ase at his death.
We copy the following outline Of his bis
tory from the Way:
His father was physician, but he died
while Mr.. Douglas was an infant. His
mother being III very moderate circumstan-
ces. Stephen WAS apprenticed to the trade OF
cabinet making, but left it after year and
a half IN consequence OF i'll health produced
by hard labor He then went through an
academical course, and studied for the law :,
being often very much reduced in funds, and
resortng to school teaching to replenish
them, as so many other students are obliged
to do. In 1884 he opened a law Office at
jacksonville, Illinois, and So quickly became
a rising man that the next year, at the age
of %, he was elected Attorney General by
the legislature. In two years more. 1857
-, ,.,J ,,.,,,i,ofi,p t,,ri L..
was ineligible at the time, being under p
years of age, but he attiincd that age before
the day Of election. The Wing candidate
was elected over him by only five majority.
In $50, he was appointed Secretary OF State
of Illinois, and in 1871 WAS elected by the
Legislature, Judge of the Supreme Court.
lie resigned his position on the bench, two
years afterwards, in order TO accept a nomI-
mutton for Congress. He was elected-and
served two terms-was reelected for a third
but WAS chosen |. ). Senator before it's cou.
menccm mt, March 1, .Si1. IL remained 4
member of the Senate from that time till
the day OF his death. Mr.. Douslls WAS
twice marrel-first in 49,, u Miss Martha
D. daughter of Col. Robert Martin of Rock
ingAam county, y. c. She died in 1888.
and in lSj6 he was agaip married to Miss
Adele, daughter Of James Madison Cults, OF
Washington, Second Comptroller of the
Treasury.
Mr., Douglas was a person of the most &C.
tcrnincd purpose, which, united with great
talents and great industry, made him always
conspicuous. The part which lie played
upon TIE political stage has been always a
leading one. And while disagrceins with
him in his positions, and from sense Of duty
compelled u combat them, sometimes veAe-
lnently, all were willing to admire his boll-
ness and respect his talents.
We think that impartial history will as
sign to his name position among the most
active, the most determined, and the most
talented of distinguished leading politicians
Of this country, rather than among the ablest
of her statesmen. It was never safe for an
opponent, or for the party against which he
was arrayed to sleep on their posts. lie was
always ready 10 strike blow for his side, no
mltter who slept or was Indifferent. We
see him in the Extra S.ssion of the Senate,
ready to push his opponents TO the wall, and
if poss bic, to contound them. But the
events Of the past few months, have clearly
shown to the country and his bltterest foes,
that back of all this apparent zeal for ia
vorite theory and a fayorite party, there was
deep and abiding love of country, the con-
stituton and the Union. 1t needed some
great and controlling danger to these to
call forth this latent love, and TO show him
forth to the world as ratriot,and as an enc
my Of all domestic treason.
In the common contests Of political plr-
ties, he was pre-eminently politician, In
the hour Of his country's peril he arose
above all this, ana was patriot and a true
man.