The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-06-19
Douglas Commemoraifon Meet
ing.

lDOuSEUs NOmmcmOr4ltOn Meet
ing.
| Pursuant to call, meeting of citizens
Wapello county, met at the Court House II
!, Ottumwa, Saturday, June 9th, 1861. in com
memoration Of Hon. Stephen A. Douglas
decd. The meeting was organized by call
ling G. w. KIrrREDGE to the Chair, and sp
lpointipg DR.. j. c. HINsEY and Gro. d. TEN
rLE Vice Presidents, apd T. G. woopwAnr
Secretary.
The President upon taking the chair said
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
! An orator, statesman, patriot is dead
A man reverenced by nation and who foI
a quarter of century has been illustrious
in the councils of our country, in the provi
dence of God has suddenly been struck down
We, in common with our countrymen. mourn
the great calamity that has befallen us. LIE,
US pray God that another statesman may an
pear IN this hour Of our country's peril
equally true and loyal to take the place oil
the iliustrious departed, Stephen Arnold
Douglas.
After an impressive prayer by Rev. J. NJ.
McElroy, Of the Presbyterian church, II. B.
Hendershott, Esq, chairman of the commit
tee on rcsolations, rising to report, gave ex.
preston to his feelings and sentiments, IN
an appropriate and carefully written eulogy,
upon the character Of the deceased statesman,
and reported the following resolutions, which
were unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, Divine Providence has seen
tit to take from the country. by the hand of
Death, the eminent Statesman and true Pa.
triot Stephen A. Douglas, while yet in the
prime and vigor Of manhood and
WHEREAS, We citizens Of the County of
Wapello, deem it due to ourselves, upon this
great and irreparable public calamity, to ex.
press our sorrow, therefore
Rssolrsd, That we deeply feel and deplore
this the country's loss of an intellect so great.
patriotism SO pure and comprehensive. and
heart ever faithful and devoted to the well.
being, prosperity and happiness of common
country.
Resolced, That in the death of Stephen A.
Douglas, the people have lost true champi-
on-the Constitution an able expounder-
the Union and flag of our country, most
ardent and unflinching defender.
Resotped, That as citizen, LAWYER. Jud re
and Statesman, he was honest, able, upright
and profound, and, as browning the whole,
noble and incorruptible Patriot.
Resolued, That while we mourn our coun.
try's loss, we sincerely sympathise with the
family and relatives of the deceased, in this
their deep affiictioi,
Resolred, That in token of our respect for
the deceased, we direct the committee of ar
rangements to place the Flag of the Union
suitably draped, on the dome of the Court
House, our common building, for thirty days,
and that these resolutions be presented to
the District Court Of this county at its next
Term. with the request that they be entered
on the permanent Records OF said Court
Resoloed, That copy of these resolutions
be forwarded to the family of the deceased.
at Chicago, by the President and Secretary
Of this meeting.
The following are II. b. Hendershott's s
remarks on introducing the Resolutions:
Mn. PRESIDENT
One by ono, the Planets
Of the North American constellation are
leaving their spheres. ...
Again the voice Of Hum who rules, controls
and governs the universe, has called from
that constellation Planet of the first magni.
tude, and set it I trust and believe in a high.
cr sphere. Yet while the body of that Great
Orb has gone, its light has been poured in
upon the minds and hearts Of the American
people so brilliantly and impressively, for the
last quarter of a century, that it still shines
and will continue to shine so long as there
shall be patriot in the country to reflect it.
Stephen A. Douglas is dead. He died on
the Sd inst. at 9 o'clock and 10 minutes, in
the morning, at his home in Chicago, Ills.
1t was my good fortune to have made the
personal acquaintance Of Mr.. Douglas at an
early period in his history. knew him at
Jacksonville Ills, in 1885, as youth, With
out money and without public reputation
yet with head and heart Of the best quality,
and an ambition pure and patriotic.
That he was great man, in the most com
prehensive sense Of that term, no one denies;
that he was good man and true patriot, the
actings and doings ofhis whole public life,
fully attest As such he has past away and
these act;ngs and doings "remain az green
wreath encircling his brow, and scnd him
crowned, to history"
He was not what we term finished, class.
ical scholar, yet he learned principles from
the word Of God and the Constitution of his
country political virtue from the character
of Washington-method from Benton-locic
from Madison-pathos and power from Web
stcr--a lofty, pure patriotism from Clay, and
with clear head and honest heart, be was
truly great and practical Statesman.
Mr.. Douglas throughout his public career,
was influenced by the loftiest patriotism.
Confident in the truth ofhis own convictions
and the purity Of his purposes he was ardent,
untiring, yiglent, sometimes impetuous in
his efforts t, advance the general welfare
Obstacles which stood in his way and be-
tween him and the public good, he cast aside
whether Presidents, Cabinets or Parties,
without fear and without ceremony.
His great mind grasped all the subjects Of
jurisprudence and politics with facility, and
his purity Of motive and true patriotism. en-.
abied him to shape them for the good Of the
nation. 1t made no difference to him wheth
er subject related 10 domeStic nr fnro;u,,