The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-06-29

| home. Reaching Illinois at about the
age OF twenty after seeking employment
| in several cities on his iourneyings, we
lind him reaching Winchester in the
midst of winter, penniless and unknown.
w no can appreciate, who, but he who has
known the feeling Of Independence and
of gratitude with which he was filled, as
he labored Cor and received his first wages
in the State of his adoption In this dark
and trying hour of his destiny his manly
courage and selfreliant energy not only
sustained him but rallied roand him
troops OF friends, whose strong arms aud
stout hearts full often supported aud en-
conrgsd him when opposed to sdvsrsaries
every way his superiors in age, experience,
aad knowledge. From this time dates
his entry into political life. Hisparty was
largely In the minority in his immediate
district. He did not court the popular
| breeze. but boldly espousing the Cause oi
| General jackson who was then approach
ing the close of his second term, he dc
fia:s<ly flung out his flag to the breeze and
! euterea the lists wita no friend but his
t.icfs., and no fortune but his genius, and
opposition melted before him like snow
bsresth q MONDAY sun. II was here and
and at this commencement OF his wonder
fnl career that his bographor informs US
..e delivered the most remarkable speech
| oi bis life. Alone and single handed, sur
| rounded by his most experienced and
wtsest oppouents he met argument with
! argument logic with logic, wit with wit
| Invectiye with Iuyectivs and sarcasm with
sarcasm, so that those who thea heard
| him and who have heard him since in the
| Senate, in Court and on the stump declare
| that lie has never eoualled tina; speech
| Those hopes OF years, those longing aspi
ratiens for greatness suddenly burst upon
| him with meridian splenaCr, and - he
4 poursd forth tha: torrent OF elo1uence
! which swept all opposition before II. his
! spirit scared in realms Of living light and
| Tie brilliancy of the hitherto saadowsd
/ future burst upon his own as well rs the
/ worlds estonishej vision. We are told
| that7the euthusism OF his friends knew
ma bounds. so doubtful, SO despoIding
were fhey that the unexpected and over-
| wheiniiug oratory crushing al opposition
and pros;ratin. his opponents bewildsred
| al pbo heard him. and chained 20 his
| trlunp phsl car tue heart. OF these who
we're unil: then strangers to E.tE- linen
| aroie IN all its purity and all IT. br!.liSncy
| the star Of his dcs..Hy The excitement
became intense he had so swayed the
hearts vi the people that there wss danger
OF personal vioiGnce l. is antagonist AID
! yet he who had raised the whirlvind was
| bat STRIPPING ana = stranger il was then
AID there that those rough handed but
I Kind heated soma OF to.l raised hirl On
/ their shoulders and bore Ai,l alo.l in
! triumph 1t was on this Ee'i TIA. hs re-
/ ceivc~i and these heretofore stYa -e1- ls
I slowed upon him the tile OF Little
F.. Giant a title sinca nobiy sustained IL
many 2 ycIliCusaI eacount=c II - -t.sE,
; li,li in which he has go living .l~', ih5t
( Of pOptiar orator. He fsme - s-ts,-
( iished and spread ike the morning light
1 lie was soon elected prosecuting attoi ney
over the gallant and accomplished and
+ now alike lameEted Ilarjin. i succes
I office, Seer taTy Of State, Judge Of the 81.
! pserae Coust, ana al the age Of thirty =
,ncmbsF OF til. popular branch q. Congress
I IL ter years 10 had l.xea by the pGEsr o.
] lis - isis sDa lie rcateIl.-s olo-
/ quenoe to the highest IesfsIsJ.v5 gTIss IN
tine hands Of the people Ins.d no. say
/ 10 you that through all these pfogressis G
steps be kept untsfHished ;lie eScutChsoI
Z of his honor. uEsoiied tie robe of his IN
te-rity- un5luly e.sted by M luccass- hs
p.uIned his wings for rot.r~ Fights, and
boy though ne was in si4s, a. In year:
m.glliaks nc must have felt more than
nan, ss he bore to hi- mother AID si,.s
the brilliant record OF this ten years Di,
you ever return to tine scene. OF yoJir IA
| tiv!ty, grasp again the warm hauds ui len
separated friends, share tie hospitality Q
III, yesrs OF your infancy, call scain L
mind the k;ndresses Of boyhood. ana no
feel the tear drop uubidden steal down
/, 4 81 Ls,a
audibly? Did ycu ever revisit the scene
of your first success. ana nOt feel yeueT5
tioa for the ground on which Won trod
II you have you can appreciate the fse
ings Of Mr.. Douglas when he returue'
l'after, many years to the lit!le village Q
Manchester, the scene. Of his first IndC
pendent success IN life. Although hi
, residence there was short, he had so in.al
woven the hearts Of the people with hi
j own, that they loved him as their ow
id, and their devotion ends only wit
sS ggare Since then lie has been uni.
terrup.edly representative or ssnatc
: in Congress-the peer of the ableSt {
; them all-he stood s.ds by side with T.!
gallant Clay. and the inprecnable Wei
ster and with them fought the tattle f,
Union when in 1850 the fears of impenl
! ing dissolution hung darkiy over the land
when flnaticism reared It's hydra head
the the fair form of the republic, h
clarion voice awakened the the slumbc
: ing energy of the people and the storI
went down at his bidding. The power {
his eloquence. the force of his logic, ia
clearness Of his reasoning, the truth OF IA
! deductions, the magnitude Of his compr
+, hensien, were perhaps never more app
7, rent than at almost his first appearance
= the House of Representatives, upon th
: debate for refunding the fine imposed upo
: General jackson thirty years before :
: New Orleans inexperienced in parli
mentary debates, almost unknown to IL
! ! members, mere stripping, (ior we a;
. told that he then weighed but about ]
. lbs), heastounded the House bY his speculi'
= and remarkable oratory, aad so deep
! Impressed the mind Of that eiainei
; patriot with the truth Of the position IL!
I he had ever believed he was occupyin
!. although filed with doubt by the actio
q Of his countrymen, that he drew from hii
= the following remarkable confession "
: desire" said this great statesman as We
i as chieTtan, " to return you my thanks il
= that speech. You are the first man th;
has ever relieved my mind on suhjc
!, that has rested upon it for thirty year
. Ny enemies have charged me with viola
:, ing the constitution of. my country by q
: caring martial law at New Orleans, al
!. my friends have always admitted theIyi
:, laton, but have contsnded that cIrcul
/. stances justified me in that violation,
:, never could understand how it was III
" the performance Of q solemn duty TO n
;. country-a duty which, if had nesleete
;, would have made me traitorIin the slsl
a of God and man, could properly be pr
:. fnounced violation OF the constitution.
: felt convinced in my mind that was n
. guilty of such heinous offence but
could never make out legal jus
: ficatien of my course, nor has i ever bee
y done since, until you, on the floors Of CO