Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-06-07
Death of Hon. stephen =. Douglas.

Death of Hon. Stephen 3. douglas.
10 surprise, we presume. was occasion {
ed by the announcement on Monday last
by telegraph, that Senator Douglas hads
breathed his last that morning The pub-s
lie mind was fully prepared for the news of
his death, it having been understood that
his physicians despaired of his recovery
some days prior to his decease, though
hoping. as it were against hope, that some.
unlocked for change for the better might.
take place and restore him to health and
usefulness.
The death of Judge Douglas at this:
time is greatly to be lamented, and will be-
mourned by the whole Nation rs al alll;c-ss
tive dispensation of Providence, for one of
her greatest and best men has fallen. III
could MOI have been otherwise regarded.
than as public calamity at any tine, but;
now, when the nation is embroled in a.
civil war and patriots and statesmen are.
needed to bring it out Of the difficulties,
surrounding it, such man as Stephen 4.
Douglas can lily be spared, and lis losss
falls with peculiarly crushing weight up-s
on the country. And by none will deep and:
heartfelt grief and regrets for his death.
be felt more sincerely than by those who.
have always been his political opponents.
Whatever differences Of opinion may have.
existed between him and them heretofore,
however bitter the annositics of party.
atrire-they were all buried in one common1
grave and forgotten and forgiven, when at:
the breaking out of the present troubles.
Senator Douglas came out on the side
of the Constitution and the Union, and an !
nounced his determination to stand by Mr.I
Lincoln, the regularly chosen Chief Magis1
trate Of the Nation in the enforcement of
the Laws and putting down of rebellion!
He was no longer the Politician, but the.
Patriot This last great and good deed of
his, to use the words of cotemporary
was hailed with joy and admiration by all
men throughout the country, who, like
him, were loyal and true in the hour Of
the nations greatest peril.
That nation to-day mourns the loss Of
enc of its greatest minds, truest friends,
noblest defenders. The last public act Of
his life, the excitement of which prostra-
ted him on his death bed, will always be
the greatest monument that could be rear
ed to his memory. It is a melancholy
thought that he has not been spared to see
the cause of the Republic, which he bad
10 nearly at heart, successfully and efioctu-
ally vindieated and established,
Judge Douglas was born in Brandon,
Vermont, on the sd of April, 1913, and
was therefore forty eight years Of age.
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John Bell Explanation of his Course
The New York Tribune says that a let
ter has been received in that city from one
of the most distinguished politicians in
Kentucky, himself strong Union man, in
which he expresses the most decided con-
victions of the loyalty of that State to the
Constitution and the Union, and states
that Mr.. Bell of Tennessee had written a
letter to his friends in Kentucky explain
ing the reason of his late extraordinary
speech, which was caused not by his con
victions or sympathies with the Secession
lists, but by his having been accidentally
thrown off bis guard from too generou:
indulgence in the cup which, unfortunately
does inebriato while it inspires with viciou.
ideas.