The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-06-06
Sses.HenA. Douglas.

which sad event took place at o'clock
in the morning of that day, in the city OF
Chicago The announcement was not un-
expected, however it may elicit the pro-
found regret of the nation, as Judge
Douglas had been seriously i'll for several
DAYS, and in that time the fact Was tele-
graphed that his life was despaired OF by
his family and his friends, At the time
of his death he was 46 years old, having
been born in Brandon, Rutland county,
VT, April %, 1913.
The Harrisburg Telegraph says: The
biography of Stephen A. Douglas, when
it is fairly written, will be interesting and
instructive. He commenced his career in
a cabinet-maker's shop, from which he
entered several academies of learning, and
having removed to the state of Illinois
when very young, where, year or two
after, he was admitted to the bar, when
not yet twenty-five years of age, he was
elected by the Legislature attorney general
of that state. In December, 1885, he was
elected member of the Legislature of
Illinois, where he commenced that career
Us parliamentarian and debater for which
he since became so eminently distinguish
cd. In 1887 he received the nomination
for Congress, at time when he was not
yet twenty five years old, but attained the
requisite age before the day of election
and was defeated by the whig candidate
by majority of only fire votes. In
1910, Mr.. Douglas was appointed Secreta-
ry of State of Illinois, as recognition Of
the services he rendered his party during
the political struggles of that year. In
1S41 the legislature elected him Supreme
Judge Of that State, which position he
resigned in 1S48 to accept second NOM
ination for Congress, and was elected after
a spirited contest by small majority In
1914 he was reelected, but did not take
his seat, having been in the meantime
chosen a United States Senator by the
legislature of his State In the House of
Representatives, Mr.. Douglas gained great
policy of the Polk administration-his
vote and speeches in favor Of the annexa-
ton of Texas, and other decided measures
of the Democratic administration then in
power He was chairman of the Commit
tee on Territories which reported the joint
resolution for the admission of Texas, and
after this admission, supported James K.
Polk during the war with Mexico, with
all his peculiar zeal and mental might and
power. As chairman of the Committee
on Territories in the House of Rcpresen-
tatives, and afterwards in the Senate, he
reported bills for the admission of the
territories of Minnesota, Oregon, New
Mexico, Utah, Washington, Kansas and
Nebraska, and also the bills for the admis-
sion into the Union of the states of Iowa,
Wisconsin, California, Minnesota and Or
egon. On the question Of slavery, he OPP
posed the interference of Congress, in the
OFSllllLdiiOu VI tcIIitOIICS w dtti4liSSlOu OE
states, in taking one side or the other-a
doctrine out OF which grew the agitation
in which Mr. Douglas bore such conspic-
nous part, and which has since divided
the Democratic party, aud which led to
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise
Whatever may be said now Of the policy
of this repeal, it is a fact chat Mr Douglas
remained faithful to it throughout his
life, defending it whenever it was assailed
or violated.
1t is not our purpose to allude to the
political trouble and contentious into
which Dir. Douglas was forced since 1856,
sny further than to declare that lie bore
himself bravely and uobly in all his en-
counters lie may have committed wrongs
but they sprang more from his zeal than
from any purpose to injure bis country, o.
impair the principles Of good government.
He was partlzan OF uncompron,ising
temper in the commencement OF his ca
reer, but lived to modify his feelings Ia
This respect, and gilhiii The last year wen