Daily national Democrat., 1861-07-03
aallp Natlonaln Democrat.
7Io,oe,tead for Senator Douglas Family.

~ tbs Peog2le of the United States, and more
~ UnarticuldrIy to the People Of the State Of
Illinois,
SrErEN A. DoUGLAsis dead! He has fallen
- the meridian of life. For twenty-five
rears he has served the public honorably and
Jri,bout personal profit. For nearly twenty
re.rs he devoted his time, his abilities and
i,hors to this State and his country. He
served both State and country from a love of
both. and not from hope of pecuniary profit.
For the last four years he gave up his time
and all other interests to his country, and, to
tbe utter exclusion of all business pursuits,
devoted everything and, at last, his life, to
the salvation of the Republic, the integrity
of the Union, and the maintenance of the
Constitution. In the contest for these sacred
and patriotic objects he has fallen, in the
verv prime of life; but not until he had
rendered incalculable benefits to the Ameri-
can people
Fellow countrymen: While thus laboring
for your interests and the interests of your
posterity, his own means were lost. lie died
not only poor, but has left TO his wife and
children a legacy of debt. The only unen-
numbered piece of land-a small tract, less
than three acres-of which he was ever
possessed, was, when he died, the property
Of his widow. At the request of the people
of Illinois, coming up to her even in the
hour Of her sorrow, she surrendered his re-
mains TO the State, and with them gave that
piece of land for his interment, asking of the
people only that she might be allowed to re-
side near the grave in when he reposes. She
has thus given to the people of Illinois all
that was left of Douglas This lot in which
now rests his ashes, is in the center of that
beautiful grove known as his long chosen and
fUvorte home. The surrounding portion of
the tract is covered with mortgages. His
children, his widow, and his countrymen to
approach his grave, must do so by permission
of the Seriff, his creditors and strangers.
VIII the nation he has served forget Douglas
in his tomb? VIII the Republic prove un-
grateful? viii the American people, whom
Ne served so long and so faithfully suffer his
widow and his orphans to be turned from the
home he loved, the soil he defended, to seek
elsewhere, and from strangers, shelter and
support? Shall they be shut out from the
sight of his tomb, and denied the melancholy
satisfaction of being near his grave? Shall
the wife and children of Douglas 90 forth
homeless, houseess wanderers from the State
of Illinois?
We propose to the American people, and
particularly to the people If Illinois, to raise,
by voluntary contribution, fund.- to be ad-
miuistered by William A Richardson, Will
liam b. Ogden, John II. Stuart, Zadee Casey
David Davis, Thomas Drummond and John
d. Cation for the redemption of SO much of
his property as will furnish his widow with
a suitable home at Cottage Grove; or, if
such selection should, by such Trustees, here
after be deemed inadvisabe. to the purchase
of a suitable home for them in the State of
Illinois; and also, to be Invested for the sup
port of the widow and the education of che
children of Stephen A. Douglas.
John ID. Cation, Chief Justice of the Su-
preme Court of Illinois, will act as receiver
of this fund, to whom all subscriptions from
States counties, corporations, societies, com
mittees and individuals, will be remitted
His address is Ottawa. Illinois.
Thomas Drummond, Judge of the United
States Court for the Northern District of
Illinois, will act as Treasurer.
We commend the proposition fellow
countrymen, to your earnest and immediate
consideration.
RICHARD YATES, D. y. SCAMMow,
W. a. EiCUARDsoN, ID. a. GAGE,
WILLIAM b. OGDEN, SAMUEL :. MARSHAL,
ROBERT SMITH, Q. b. FICKLIN,
JAS H. WooDwoRTH, JESSIE X. DUBoIs,
IaoMAs Q. CAMBELL, LEWIS ID. ERWIN,
j. d. CATION, SAMUEL X. CASEY,
r. f. GooDELL.