The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1861-06-20
An Appeal to the People.


quarters, will commend itself to the sympathy Of
every citizen. 1t should not be said that the
mourning of nation has spent itself in words
Let there be response which will stand on record
monument of the deep earnestness of the
American people.
STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS is dead. He has fallen
at the meridian of life. For twenty five years he
has served the public huLorably and without per-
sonal profit. For nearly twenty years he devoted
his time his abilities and his labors to his State
and to his country. He served both State and
country from love of both, and not from hope
of pecuniary profit. For the last four years he
gave up his time and all other interests to his
country, and, to the utter exclusion of all bu nes
pursuits devoted everything and, at last, his liie
to the salvation of the Republic. and the integrity
of the Union. and the maintenance of the Consti-
tuition In the contest for these sacred and patri-
otc objects he has fallen in the very prime of life;
but not until he had rendered incacullblo benefits
to the American people.
Fellow countrymen: While thus laboring for
yoIr interests and the interests Of your posterty,
his own means were lost. He died not only poor,
but has left to his wife and children legacy of
debt. The only unencumbered piece of land-a
small tract, less than three aeres-Of which he
was ever possessed was, when he died, the proper
tv of his widow. At the request of the people Of
Illinois, coming up to her even in the hour of her
sorrow. she surrend cred his remains TO the State
and with them this piece Of land for his mterment,
asking of the people only that she ight be allow
ed to reside near the grave in which he reposes.
She has thus given the people of Illinois all that
was left of Douglas. This lot in which now rest
known as his long chosen and favOrite home The
surrounding portion of the tract is covered with
mortgages. His children. his widow and his coun
trymen, to approach his grave, must do SO by per-
mission of the sheriff, his creditors and strangers.
Will the nation he has served forget Douglas in
the tomb? Will the Republic prove ungrateful? {?
Will the American people. whom he has served so
long and faithfully, suffer his widow and his
phans to be turned from the home he loved, the
soil he defended, to seek elsewhere, and from
strangers, a shelter and a support? Shall they be
shut out from the sight of his tomb, and denied
the mclancholy satisfaction of being near his
gravel Shall the wife and children of Douglas
90 forth homeless, houselcss wanderers from the
State of Illnoisl
We propose to the American people. and partic-
uary to the people Of Illinois, to raise by volun-
tary contributions, a fund, to be administered by
William A. Richardson, William B. Ogden, John
II. Stuart, Zadee Casey, David Davis, Thorn 5
Drummond and John D. Cation, for the redemption
OF so much Of the property as will furnish his
widow with suitable home at Cottage Grove; or
if such selection should, by such trustees, hereaf
ter be deemed inadvisable, to the purchase of a
suitable home for them in the State of Illinois /;
and also to be invested for the support of the wild
ow and the education of the children of STEPHEN
A. Douglas.
The Hon John d. Caton Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court of Illinois, will act "a receiver of
the fund, whom all subscriptions, from States,
counties, corporations, societies committees and
individuals will be remtted. His address is at
Ottowa, Illinois.
The Hon. Thomas Drummond, Judge Of the
United States Court for the Northern District of
Illinois, viii. act as Treasurer.
We commend the proposition, fellow country
men, to your earnest and immediate considera-
ton.
RICHARD YATES, SAM'LK. CASEY,
W. A. RICHARDSON j. Y. SCAMMON,
VIM. b. OGDEN, D.A.GAGE,
ROBERT SMI1H II, SAML :. MARSHAL.
j. H. WOODWORTH,O %. B. FICKLIN,
T. III. CAMPBELL, JESSE X DUBOIS,
J. d. CATION, LEWIS d. ERWIN,
r. f. GOODEL.