Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-06-07
THE DEATH o. Dou141,AS

There we're certain errors 10 the political career
sof Stephen A. Douglass sa, tbe Philadelphia Rul
letin, that we have criticised repeatedlr But n,
cannot Iefer to them now, at the moment when ",
are TO communicate 10 so many leaders, that he il
no more. lie expired oa Monday morning, al th,
sTrement House in C5icage. whore he las been IL
sing III for week Or two.
We cannot at this moment, think OF any Ameri
foam statesman, outside Of ths AGminist ration, whose
spostfoa is ful of mportance ami interest as wa
shat Of the Senator from Illin2is, whose ,eath v,
snow announce. His sudden departure, at th;
moment Of his country's greatest trial. is a rea
Seal mity, which We derlore, in common with mil
lions who have had their heats set upon him as on,
sot the strong supporters of the Union and th,
Constitution.
Ir Douglas was born at Brandon, Rutland Co.
vt. April 28d, 1913, so that his age was only
little than forty EIGHT years. His father hyfrf
1 when ha was only two months old his mother bae
bit limited means Of Prosiljrg for her son, and .
daughter eighteen months older. He received ,
common school edueation, and at the age Of fifteen
was apprenticed to a cabinet maker AT this trad.
1 be worked, at Middebury and Brandon for a veal
sand hall, when failing health obliged him to give
sit up.
HIS mother marrying again, he was enabled to
sbegn the study OF law in the Office Of Messrg,
Hubbel, at Canandiagua, N. X In 1884. bavino
finished his studies, he went westward, with scarcely
5any money in his pocket. After series Of trial,
.and adventures, and after teaching school for .
living at Jacksonville Illinois, for some time b.
sopened law Office there in March, 1884.
ffp 4fafa alV, =
land within year was chosen by the Legislature Of
Illinois Attorney -Gene;al of the State. After.
wards be was elected to the Legislature ana served
with distinction. In 1887 President Van Rnran
.appointed him Register of the Land Office At
Springfield, Ill.,, and in the same year the Demo-
.crats OF Illinois nominated hila for Governor hrt
being under twenty-five years of age, he was de-
leiAred ineligible. Nevertheless, as he attained
the desired age before the election dav. he was
voted for, and was defeated by only 5 votes where
over 81 600 were cast.
In l840 Mr. Douglas entered heartily into tba
Presidential campaign, and to him manly was il
due that Illinois remained then faithful to the DEM
ocratic party, In December Of that year he was
appointed Secretary Of State OF Illinois. In 1s4l
he WAS elected Judge Of the Supreme Conrt or
that State. In 1888 be was elected to Congress-
and reelected in 1914 and 1916. In le47 be- was
chosen United States Senator, and he continued ri
be member of that body to the time of his death
having been last chosen in the autumn Of 1883
when Abraham Lincoia, now President ef the III
States, was his competitor.
In 1850 the loyal portion OF the Democratic mart
made Mr.. Douglas their candidate for The Prasi
deneyi and if their bad not been treason and CON
spIraey against the Union among the South ra
leaders Of the party, be would have had the nomi.s
nation Of the Charleston Convention, and wouLlE
probably have be en- elected.
The political career of Mr. Douglas cannot bes
referred to infinitely in this limited notice. ButE
we Fjoice to be able to say that be has noblv sus
tanned tho present Administration in its contest
With rebelion and his supporters in the contest for
the Presidency have been encouraged by him tos
rally for the defence of the Union.
Mr.. Douglas was twice married first in 1917 ~
Miss Martin. Of North Carolina, who died Ia 1858
leaving two children; and secondly in 1856 to Mss
Quits, Of Washington, who survives him, with onef
living child The sflictsd widow has the sympathy
Of the nation in her bereavement