Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-12
The Public and Private Character OF
Judge Douglas.

The editor of the Chicago Post, JAMES W
SHEAHAN, Esq, the devoted friend and biOgrapheI
of the late Judge DcJeLAs, thus eulogizes his
public and private character and social qualities
When nearly twenty years ago John Quincy
Adams declared that if Douglas lived and con-
tinued ten years more in public life, he unques-
tionably would be the most popular orator the
country ever knew, he but anticipated history
which has been written by universal consent
Shall we speak of his cOurageY That, too, is a
part of his history which is so familiar. There
never was n crisis in which Douglas hinched
There never was an hour when ire hesitated OF
doubted. There never was a moment when
Douglas "did not know what to do" and never
never, did he fail to do what his mind directed
should be done. Once assured of what ought to
be DONE he never asked who opposed or who fol
lowed him, he met the issue boldly, and to his
honor and his renown let it be said, he neuer
failed, if failure did come, it was not through
him. We might mention incidents wherein his
peculiar courage shone forth most lustrously, but
over his coffin is not the place to speak of the
conflicts in which others sustained an ignomin-
ious defeat.
But there is one point in his history and char
acter of which the occasion will permit Us to speak
without reserve, and that is his private history.
Mr.. Douglas was eminently social. He had rare
social qualities. His conversational powers were
truly extraordinary. Hewas generous i'm the ex-
treme. He was free from selfishness. He was
benevolent in the true sense of the term. He
never sought to make money for moneys sake
With what he had he was bountiful to ALL He
was ambitious, but who is notl He was ambi-
tious, but honorably so. When a boy, working
in the cabinet workshop, in the little Vermont
village, his ambition was to become the best
workman i'm the State. When at school, he was
ambitious to be at the head of his class, and to
pass all rivals When reading law, he was am
bilious to be in the first rank of his profession
When teacher, he was ambitions of leaving a
memory of usefulness to the pupils under his
charge When he entered the legal profession
his ambition was to overtake those who hat
tie start of him; as a prosecutor he was am
bilious to be known as a man fit for the Office
As legislator he was ambitious of the credi
of opposing evils that he foresaw, and o.
adopting policy that would result in good to hi.
State. As judge he ambitious of nam'
unstained with the suspicion of turpitude, anC
honorable from the distinction he gave to tn,
Office. AS a representative he was ambitious o
being identified with his country's glory. As
Senator he was ambitious of that excellenc,
which would justify him in exclaiming with fer
vor equal to that of the Syracusan-"I am
Senator in the Senate House."
His ambition never led him to depart from fxet
principles. We know personally that the Presi
dency had no extravagant charms in his eyes
His official ambition was satisfied with seat il
the Senate senate in which he without
peer. The Presidency he knew and has oftel
assured us in the privacy of confidential inter
course would not add line to his renown as
statesman. Ii he allowed his name to be use
for that office, it was for the qualification o
friends to whom he was so devotedly attaches
and not from any personal desire. His was an am
btion to be useful to his country, to become par
of its history, to live hereafter in the records
her glory, her distinction and her renown.
But to appreciate the excellence of Mr. Doug
las, it was necessary to see him when the Sena
tor the Statesman, the public servant, were for
| gotten, and he stood before you at his own fire
side in the character of husband, father, neigh
Dor and friend. Then the true excellence of th
man shone forth in all its purity then he wa
neither orator or statesman, but the whole soule
| genial friend the incompatible companion, til
confdng host the generous man, the affection
ate parent. No one who has ever been admitte
to that inner circle of his life, ever departed with
out confessing that Stephen A. Douglas, tn
Statesman, Orator and Senator, was but poe
rival compared with Stephen A. Douglas, tl
friend, companion, father and husband.
And now, on this Sd day of June, We are Gale
upon to make the sad announcement that oh
man whose deeds have filled the pages of h
country history, is no more.
In death he has conquered his enemies. In I'll
| general woe, in the universal lamentation, tbei
is no word of unkindness. The bitter conflic
of the past, the horrid imprecations, the fierce il
vectives, the scandalous libels which have a
tended his progress through life, are heard n
more. They are forgotten, and we trust wi
never be recalled. In the grave let all enmiti,
be buried, and over his tomb let there be nothn
but evergreens, and flowers of the most fragral
odors. Let it be remembered that at the tomb
Douglas there will be no more sincere mourne
no one more stricken with grief than his old riv
and competitor-Abraham Lincolnl