Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-11-09
THE DAILY PRESS.
why Douglas was called the "LIttle
GfaufV

GiRutO
When Stephen A. Douglas first landed at
Naples, Scott County, Illinois, he was not
quite twenty-one years old, and had head
that seemed too large for his body, and only
couple Of shirts tied up in q red cotton
handkerchief, and less than fifty cents in
his pocket After recruiting his finances
by clerking 1t at the action sale, he taught
school in Winchester for few months but
not paying expenses he departed, leaving
"due bilp' with the landlord for his board.
and pledging his honor to return and
redeem it. During his residence in Win
chester he heard Lamborn, the great
Wing orator, denounce Jackson, who was
then President, in speech in the court.
house, and was so stirred up by its illogical
conclusions, that he resolved, live or die, TO
confront Lamborn whenever he again spoke
in public. Lamborn having given out his
appointment to speak in jacksonville dur
ing the following week, Douglas set out to
meet him the day before the appointed time,
travelling twelve miles of the distance on
foot 1t was in vain that few of Douglas
friends attempted to dissuade him, saying
he was too young and inexperienced to con-
front the greatest orator in Illinois, as Lam
born was then considered both by Wings and
Democrats. But Douglas, nothing daunted,
said that he was Lying on General Jack
son" and he was resolved to defend the old
hero, as he had the documents and could
do it.
At the appointed hour the courthouse was
crowded to its utmost capacity. The Gov
ernor, and nearly all the wealthy and in-
fuential men of the county were pres
ent, and Mr.. Lamborn delivered his charges
against Jackson in the most approved style,
and Wing documents and newspapers were
triumphantly produced to prove that the
old patriot was the enemy of his country.
Every body seemed convinced, and the
meeting was about to disperse.
Just then Douglas, who sat on the left
hand ofthe speaker, among the crowd, stood
upon the bench upon which he had been sit
ting, and said he was there for the purpose
of answering Lamborn and defending jack
son. restless disposition TO be gone, and
not very respectful glances from the people,
followed this statement, but the young
Douglas proceeded; and having made an as
sertion, backed it up with "the dement's
in q style peculiarly his own. From point to
point he went over the great speech of his
predecessor, disproving the wrath of the
Wing leaders and the growing admiration Of
the people, who were ignorant of his name,
and who, as he went on, would say one to the
other, clark p "Hark YEP Hearken
to the little fellow p and as the bursts of
eloquence and logic followed faster and
faster, the exclamatiOns were, "The Little
Giantp "Hearken to the Little Giant"
and at the close great shout of Hurrah
for the Little GiantW went up, and the peo-
pie carried him in triumph around the
room ond court- -house ward
At this meeting Douglas first asserted his
powers and acquired mastery over the
popular heart and soubriquet that never left
him. The chiefs of Whiggery were dumb
foundered and the Democracy were crazy
with joy for the unloOked-for victory.