The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-06-04
q = r = y a r r.

Death or Stephen Arnold Douglas.
The hon. Stephen A. Douglas, United States Senator
from the State Of Illinois, sd as MAE O'Clock yesterday
morning. in the city Of Chicago after IN illness Of several
days.
No other public In this country has ausd 80 arge
page OF It's history or stood prominently before the peo
pe's gaze for the last ten years did Mr. Douglas Al
United States 6enAtor the acknowledged leader o.
the democratic party before s scssion into factions a.
prominent candidate before Natonsl Conventions for
the Office OF Chief Magistrate Of the republic,
as nominee Of the Baltimore Convention In 1850
FOR that office, and the ablest and most
unyieding opponent Of the measures Of the Las.
administration, he attracted the largest share Of public
attentions and while some denounced and others applaud
cd the positions which he assumed and sustained none
were Indifferent to them. His abilities and influence for
bade such thing ~ indifference to bis course. And
even now, when the toga has yielded to the sword and
when the debates Of the Senate have been transferred to
another arena, even in these times looked with
terest and curiosity to what to be tho Of
tor Douglas That was clearly enough indicated
When rebellion raised liz crest, and whom the national
hsg was lowered from Fort Sumter, he frank
ly and periodically recognized that there was
but one course left open TO tho administration,
and that was to crush out the rebellion the lannon's
mouth and at the baycnets point 70 that policy he
gave his hearty support, and would have lent his nu
ence, his wealth. and his necessary The osr to
him Of major generals commission was even spoken Of
but the memorable fates had ruled otherwse-perhaps
in Kindness to hi-for who knows whether his achieve
ments In the field would have done honor TO the aurels
he bad won In the Senator
For the last fourteen years ever snce 1857 Nr Douess
has occupied seat the United States and
from his prompttude illness in debate his foroble
manner his thorough knowledge Of parliamentary rules
and his practical familiarity with the questions that pre-
sented themselves he had come to be recognized the
leader Of the democratic party in that body OF
its ablest members.
Mr.. Douslas-more Familiarity known as the 4" Little
Giant Of the West" the dmiuutve having reference to
his and the gigantic to his iuteec-was born u the
town OF Brandon In the State Of Vermont the 23 o,
APRIL 1913, and therefore, at the time of his death
only in the forty ninth year of his age His father,
whose given name he bore, a native Of Rensselaer,
county, in this State, had removed in early life YER
mont, and educated at Mddobury College. He was
physician Of some eminence, but he died young leav
ing two children, Of whom-the late Senator-was
then but two months old For the first fourteen years OF
his life he lived with his mother bachelor uncle in
the Green Mountain State; but the uncle having then
taken to himself wife, became necessary for young
Stephen 10 look out for himself his mother and sister
but eighteen months bis sepor-and 80 he approutced
himself to learn the trade Of cabnetmaker, in Middle
bury At this TRADE he remained for couple years.
though not with the employer, until finally he
weared Of II, and thought rather OF procuring good
education. His mother and sister hasang meanwhile
married and moved to Ontario county, New York, he
joined the Canandaigua Academy and entered upon
course Of classical Studies and at the time studied
law with the Messrs. Hubbeu in that village While
there be seems to have evnced fondnes for politics.
In 1888 he moved to Illinois, and for time taught
school in the village Of Winchester in that State Il
said that when he arrived there he had but thirty
and half cents in his pocket While earning living by
teaching school he continued his legal studies and was
finally admitted to the bar In the spring OF 1884 the
following year, when he but twenty two years old
the Legislature elected him States Attorney which ONCE
he resigned In 1885 TO take his seat in the legislature
He the youngest member Of the House. but soon dis
tnguished himself by his industry and ability. The first
position Of importance which he took in legislation
was in opposing the extension Of the wild cat
banking system But the majority was the opposi-
ton side-the extension measure was carried and IN
year afterwards all the banks suspended specie pay
ment thus proving the wisdom OF his course. He was
also prominent advocate of railroad measures and OF
putting the railroads completely in the power Of tho
State he subsequently held short time the post Of
Receiver of the Land Oaoe at Springfield, Illinois. He
became prominent politician for Congress in 1885,
was beaten by i've votes stumped the State for Van
Buren, against Harrison and made the scquaiI or
the whole people. In December, 1910, he elected
Secretary Of State for Illinois, and in the following Feb
ruary-whle he was but twenty eight years of agehe
elected by joint vote of the Legislature Judge Of
the Supreme Court Hence his familiar title Of "Judge"
He was twice elected to the House of Represen-
tatiyes at Washington, but he only sat there
one Congress; for before the next Congress
opened and after his election he chosen to the United
States Senate and from that time-lS47-he been
IF thu do nu1scn Cd NJ
While he was member OF the lower house, Mr.. Doug.
las took strong ground the question of Oregon
boundary he belonged t. The City four forty fight"
| party.
Like all the Western men, Mr.. Douglas always favored
the granting Of money BY Congress for internal improve
ments always voted for River and arbor bills voted for
the Independent Treasury BILL and always repudated
the power Of Congress the question citizenship
in the States He supported the Mexican war; opposed
the Wmot proviso and expressed himself in favor Of
the extension Of the Missouri Compromise line to the
Pacific he has also been friend to a Homestead bin
| During Mr.. Pierces administration the Kansas
Nebraska agitation came up. Mr.. Douglas Chairman
Of the Senate Committee Territories, and in that Ca
pacy reported and engineered the final passage Of that
measure, which repealed the Missouri Compromise line
reopened the whole slavery agitation produced civil war
kaneas, brought out such men Titus and Pate and
Sheriff Jones and Ossawatomie Brown and other such
dsturbers of the public peace, rise to tho Harpes
fact, the Nebraska BILL with It's monstrosity OF squat
ter has proved to be the political Pandoras
In the Thirtyfth Congress Mr. Douglas arrayed him.
self against the administration of Mr. Buchanan the
matter Of the admission Of Kansas under the LecOmpon
constitution, and led schm in both houses OF sufficient
strength to defeat the measure originally pre-
sented, and to have the whole matter referred
back TO the people Of the Territory-under the
| bill known as the English Compromise bill
for their vote on entering into the Union under the
Lecompton constitution The question went before
people OF Kansas and by wheming vote they re-
jected the Iecompton constitution preferring remain
in territorial condition rather than enter State
under that instrument.
AS consequence the personal and political relations of
Mr. Douglas TO the last administration were most bitterly
hostile The ensuing State elections 10 Illinois furnished
opportunity for the manifestation Of that spirit The
Legislature to be elected would have the choice Of Senator
70 ii the place OF M douglas. whose term was then
his chance Of election gone He therefore stump
ed every county In the state having to make head only
against the administration but against the republicans
whose choice for Senator Abraham Lincoln, now
President Of the United States Douglas party sue
term.