, 1861-07-15
REMARKS OF SENATORS TRUM-
BULL AND .,f20WNlNG
on TIE DEATH OF JUDGE DOUGLAS.

1ast Gay Ii tnc Mo1ta OF may, 1851, on Ell
to this place, I was Informed By friend who
met me at the depot, That my colleague in this
body, Hon. Stephen 4. Douglas, was dying,
and would not probably survive IN hour. Il
! approached the fremont House In which he
Icy, found the sidewalks and the veshbule
nqane hf hess aer 1ogEsa Bs h Rsos o sdGp s dn
man. The next morning it WAS some relief
to know that he was etlll alive, though it WIS
eaid with little hope Of 8 recovery. He con
tlnued In this condition the whole Of that
d2y and the next, when the public began to
entertain expectations Of his restoration to
diate attendants, friends, and relatives, who
watched over him during those awful hours
Of suspense, and till nine o'clock on the
morning Of the Sd day Of June, when he ex-
pred, I have no disposition, had the power,
10 portray. The solemn duty Of announcing
my late colleagues decease imposes upon me
no such obligation; and God grant that the
wounds then inflicted may not be opened
afIesh.
Mr. Douglas was born at Brandon, Yer
mort, April %, 1873, being but IS years Of
eeended from Puritan ancestors by both his
Parents. OF one-his father-he was bereft
ir infarcy. His mother still lives. After &C.
4uirfng such an education Us could be obtain.
ed at the common school and the academy,
not having the means to perfect it by col
leglate course, at the early age of twenty be
taught school for short time, and, In ~1834,
was admitted to the bar to practice law. IN
| 1885, be was made States attorney; and from
that day till the day Of his death wal almost
constantly engaged in the public service OF
either the State or the nation He held the
| efEces Of States attorney, representative In
| the Legislature, Secretary. Of State, and Jus
| tice Of the Supreme Court in the State OF Hi
| pois, and also that OF the Register Of the Land
! Office at Springfield, in that State, BY sppoint-
| ment from Mr. Van Bnren, before be entered
| the councils Of the nation, as Representa-.
| tive in the other branch Of Congress In 1913.
He was three times elected by the people to
| the House of Representatives, and thrice by
! the Legislature OF his State to seat in this
| body, and was continuously member of one
1913, till his death, four years OF his last
renstorial term still remaining une1pited.
| From this brief history, 1t appears that Judge
I Douglas devoted mere than half bis hte, and 5la
| service; and 30 prominent was the part he
| took in public affairs, so intimate the connec-
| tion between his own rise and fame, and the
! progress and renown OF his State and the na-
| tion that the history of the one would be in
| complete without that Of the other. No great
| public movement has taken place since he
| entered public life which has not felt the in
| f1ueuce Of his win and his intellect; perhaps
! no one man, since the Government began,
ever exercised greater influence over the
masses Of the: people than he. No one ever
| gathered around him more devoted followers
or more enthusiastic admirers, who we're
| willing to do more and dare more for another
| tEan were bis friends for him.
What this charm was which go linked the
| popular heart to him that 1t never faltered
even under eircunstan apparently the most
discouraging, seem almost mysterious. This
feeling Of attachment followed him to the
| grave, and WAS never more manifest than aite1
Bis decease, when he had become alike in,
different to the adulation Of friends OR the
censnre Of enemies, and when his power haG
forever departed either to reward the one Of
puuish the other. It was then, if ever, IS his
the true feeling Of . people would manifes
itself; and 1t did manifest itself, not only Their
but throughout the nation, to aa extent
scarcely. il ever, Witnessed since the death
the Father Of his Country. The badges 0
mourning were ean displayed not only from
rich, but the cottages Of the poor, the cart
; Of the workmen and the Implements of the 10
borer were everywhere to be seen draped witt
The habiliments of woe, all the more touchiu
as they we're simple and plain. The people
'ayoIite in Life, he was followed BY their ID
But Judge Douglas possessed not only til
| power OF fascinating masses; he was naarkc
man wherever he went and with whomsovs
he associated. No matter whether as laV
yer at the bar; as q Judge on the bench; at Q
agricultural society, where the skilled
| mechanic and industrial pursuits were Assem-
, bled; at some college commencement, Mhe1
the learned we're convened; in the other Hors
Of Congress, in the midst Of the tumult an
| commotion Of its most excited debates;
this more deliberative body, or before thepop'
= lar assembly Of the people; wherever be a
| hh otrvovE Ehrna rcnan}a11pua He
one Of the few men who proved themGelv'
equal to every emergency in which they haA
:, ! been called upon to act. I remember we
: when he was transferred from the House
= Repres sentatives to the Senate, his enemies pr
- dicted and his friends feared that his ta1en
be unable to sustain the reputation he had 9
!, quired in the more popular branch. !
n entered here when the great men whose talen
Il and learning and eloqueuce have shed an u
:. dying laster on the American senate-whs
: Clay, Webster, Benton and Calhoun, in Il
:. vigor OF manhood, full Of wisdom and expe|
L ence, were still here, and proved himself !
o. mean compeer Of either. His speech Of 18s
wherein he met and refnted the positions
= the great Carolinfsn, upon the very poln
, which have been made the pretexts OF t
!, southern rebellion, was perhaps the create
. effort Of his life.
= The Distinguishing characteristics Of Jud
81 Douglas, which enabled him to cope succe'
y fully with the greatest inteueets Of the a!
y were fea11eseneas, guickuess Of apprehensfe
If knew no such word as fail. He had full COZ
= dence in himself, and Of his ability to acco
r. p1ish whatever he undertook. In controvel
n be vas unsurpassed, and without .pretenBi
70 either to accomplished scholarship or
+ quence, there was fullness in bis voice,
- earne6tueBs in his manner, q direetness in
". argument, aud determination in his ev'
ha look and action, which never failed to co
fe mand attention; and, often elcetrnying
nd multitude, would elicit nnbounded applau
nd Of the delight with which the multitude hr
m upon his words.
on on OF the political course Of Judge Dong
" w and its effect ou the country, it does not
de come me to speak; but I may be permitted
ca ssJ that, when portion Of the opposition
tie | the Administration assumed the position
nd armed resistance to its authority, and attem
N. I'd by force to diemember the Republic, h
M occe took sides with his country. His cou
nre had much to do in producing that unanin
66n in support Of the Government which is n
AZ. A. seen throughout the loyal States. The subj
-a;. one man in yindication Of constitutional
me city and free government, when assi
A. By misguidcd rebels and plotting traitors
iii to a considerable extent, due to his etfo
ri His maguanimous and patriotic course in
r.? tryh c, ht Ut Of big eoantry'a destiny was
Ae' devoted raltiEan Of the Democratle faith,
mr. did not hesitate, when his country was in p
his chiefly frC M those who had formerly been
re1] political a6E ccsntte, to i've his powerful
m port aid the aid Of his great influence to
mt Government, though controlled By polit
~ a5yerfaries. If, in thus discharging bis d
,eIr Judge Dorglas manifested q dis1uteres
IA. ness, magL Lanimity, and patriotism, wi
fhe eEtitle him to credit, It is but Just to
that be was met by his political opponst
compliment ever paid him, and one VIII
,e;r few statesmen have ever received,
IA n that extended to him by the Legislal
nnt. Of Illinois, On his return to the 8
has after the close Of the last session Of the
fne, ste. That body, controlled In both its bral
mel es hy his political adyersaries. unanimo
,ng OF the country; and uobly did he respond
n The invitation. His address delivered on
beir | occasion, which, by order OF the Legislat
eg;. was extensively circulated through the 81
F.. will ever remain an enduring monument
tha his fame, md an example worthy Of all it
mi ton Of the sacrifice Of pride to principle
,ts' self to country, and Of party to patriotisl
his attractive, Open, frank, and generous all
to fault, he never failed to exercise
nm. influence over all with whom he came in
rorI tact and few men have ever had more
,t1a mcrous or more devoted personal friends
"a n Such we're some Of the characteristics d
.twn departed brother. 1nheriting neither "
fnr nor position from an il1ustnous ancestr
COZ. o. acquired both BY the active, energetic,
,. bv rious, and never ceasing use Of those I
AK faculties with which he was endowed b,
- If Great Author Of all; and It the wealth
aerna ore time possessed does not remain to
,Ted who were dependent on him, 1t Is becaus
fraT- energies Of bis great mind were devoted +