Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-06-06
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DEATH OF SENATOR DOUGLAS.

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Aud Frecdons banner streaming o'cr us.
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DEATH Oh SEN ATOR DOUGLAS.
From the Pittsburgh Gazette, Of Tuesday mornngl
The telegraph yesterday morning brought
the intelligence Of the death of the Hon.
Stephen A. Douglas, who expired at about
nine O'clOck yesterday morning, at his resi-
dence at Chicago. The event, although ex-
pected for several days past, caused deep
impression upon the public mind. iorfew men
have filed a larger place in the stirring his
tory Of the times for the past ten years
Many admired him greatly, many blamed
him-none were Indifferent. This fact alone,
whatever may have been his virtues,
whatever his errors, stamps him great man.
Mr.. Douglas was born in Rutland county,
Vermont, April %, 1913, about the darkest
period of the war of 1872 His father, u
man in humble life, died while he was quite
young. Stephen learned the trade of a
cabinet maker, at which he worked while
young man. Subsequently he commenced
the study of law, supporting himself at times
by that almost universal resort of Yankee
genius under difficulties, school teaching.
For n while he served as an auctioneer's s
clerk i'll jacksonville, Illinois, where he was
admitted to the bar. At the age of % he
held the office OF Attorney General OF Hi
nOis, afterwards member of the Assembly,
Register of the Land Office, Judge of the
Supreme (State) Court member of Congress
for two terms from 1913, and United States
Senator from lS47 to the present time. So
rapid and continuous rise in Office, from
boyhood to the meridian of life, is rare in
deed. No marvel that visions of the Pres-
dental chair arose before mind so active,
bold and aspiring. To attain this object of
his ambition he bent all tho energies of his
etr ,,,,I 1, Ill Il.
But Douglas was more distinguished for
daring courage than for sagacity. He
thought to carry the country by coup de
main, and to this end brought forward his
Kansas Nebraska bill in 1854, which result,
ed in national agitation that has culninated
in the terrible conflict now going on.
1t would be unfair to lay to his charge the
atrocities which resulted from the unfor-
tunate measure, in Kansas, in the Cabinet,
and in Congress. In fact the stern and
manly opposition which he made to the Le-
compton bill proves that, whatever may be
said of the recklessness of the original meas
ure, he scorned to avail himself politically
of a fraud and lie. Unscrupulous and un-
grateful Southern men, whose champion he
had been, and without whose powerful aid
could have done nothing to advance the in
terests of their pet institution, now set upon
him with the determination to run him down.
To meet them he brought forward his far
famed principle of Popular Sovereignty
but there again they headed him with the
bred Scott decision, which struck at the
very root of his principle. 1t fell, under
the votes OF 1860, never to rise again, and
now the country is at war, dm Dougt1s is
dedd The brain reels when it looks back
and considers, under the awe which such a
death inspires, the mutations of single
year.
People delighted to call Mr. Douglas ''the
Little Giant" and the term was not mis-
applied. Small in stature, he was an intel
lectual giant. His talents were native, and
few men owed less to education. IIo was
more remarkable for strength than skill, he
was more vigorous than wise, more daring
than sagacious.
His latest record is good. Forgetful of
the past, he stood firmly by the side of his
greatest aud noblest rival, in defense ofther
common country against treason aud armed
rebellion and though soon afterwards pros
trated by disease, aud now no more, his in
finencc will live on, and inspire the hearts
OF his innumerable friends with u spirit OF
unity aud party sacrificing patriotism.
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The Public Works of Ohio have finally
been leased for ten years. to a responsible
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what has been q source Of constant trouble
and expense. They have long been regard
cd as great party engine in tho State, and
have been perverted by each party when in
power, and made use of as a means of re.
warding partisan friends, and as an instru.
ment for controlling the political and legis.
lative action Of this State.
The past Legislature, whatever may have
been its iailings, has certainly done itself
great credit in passing the bill authorizing
the lease.
In a apecunary sense it will save the State
about $l60,075 per year, the deficit last year
being $40, 200, and the works have been
leased at yearly rent of $2O,O75.
The legislature also passed laws reducing
the fees Of County Auditors and Treasurers,
which will save TO the Taxpayers of this
county about eleven hundred dollars per
year, making in the State saving in the
fees Of these two Offices Of about $50, 900, a
total saving by the lease and rctrenchment
laws Of about $240,075.
The Government have decided to retain
Mr. j. j. Cisco, Assistant Treasurer at
the port of New York. He has fulfilled his
duties admirably, and the Administration