Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-07-17

his death. gave him her confidence, let his re-
mains repose so long as tree government shall
last and the Constitution he loved shall endure
What higher tribute could be paid to the great
worth and lofty patriotism of the deceased states
man. Below will lie found the address Of Judge
Law, of our own State, upon the occasion, the
only one that our limited space will allow Us TO
publish to-day
Mr.. Speaker, since the last meeting Of Con-
gress. another great and good man, patriot and
statesman, has been gathered TO his fathers. Year
after year. as time rolls on. the country has been
called on 20 mourn the loss of her most eminent
men. In little more than decade, the Con-
gress OF the United States have paid funeral
hOnors to Adams, to Clay, and to Webster-shn-
ing and bright lights in our political armament;
and now we are called to pay the last tribute TO
another scarcely, if any less distinguished than
those who have gone before him.
Stephen A. Douglas, Senator from Illinois, de-
parted this life at Chicago, the Sd of June last.
Born in Vermont, he emigrated to Illinois IN
1888, before he reached the age of manhood
Emigrating, as did, number Of years before him.
to the State of Indiana, locating on its western
borders. at Vincennes, and practicing in NY pro-
fesson lawyer, in the border counties of Hi
nois, soon made his acquaintance / have known
him long. and known him well for quarter Of q
century; and during the whole of that period We
have sustained towards each other the most init
mate and friendly relations. Connected with him
personally and politically for many years, think
have u knowledge of the man which enables
me to speak of him 'the words of truth and sober
ness"
In the great and exciting political canvass OF
1910 we we're together, and | think his friends
from Illinois who have q recollection of that can
vass will confirm me in saving that the zeal with
which Mr.. Douglas entered into it, and the spirit
and energy with which he carried il on, give the
vote of Illinois-and the only given in all the
North western Ssates-to the Democratic sandi.
date.
1t is unnecessary for me to follow his career
from that time up to his death; il forms a part,
and q large part, Of the history of the country.
Suffice it to say that the poor and penniless lad
who made his way, and for the most part on foot.
from the workshop in Brandon, Vermont, to the
small village OF Winchester, in Illinois, where he
kept school for a living, and read law in the in
teryals of teaching. up to the period OF his de-
cease has had and enjoyed popularity with the
masses of the people, not only in his own State,
but throughout the Union, that man, perhaps.
with one exception, ever possessed in this coun-
try.
Stephen A. Douglas was emphatically the
tribune of the people" Elected to the Leg sla-
ture in 1885. Presidential Elsctor in ls40, Ju Ice
of the Supreme Court OF Illinois in lo4l. mem
Der of Congress in lo43. Senator in lS47. re
elected in 1853, and again in 1859, no man in
this country any other, without wealth OF pa.
tronsge, ever ran such a career of honor OF pre-
fefment. What an example to tbs rising genera.
ton Of young menf What stimulus should il
offer to the poor but talented and ambitious lad,
in Government like ours, that the path of fame
and honor is open to him as to his more fortu-
nat m niOn ha all the ad hich
wealth and position can bestOwl
Sir, can not conclude what little | have to
say on this occasion. this national loss, without
expressing my deep regret that the province OF
God has called him from the midst of us at this
most eventful period of our national history Nv
firm belief and opinion is, that distracted and di-
vided as We are, broken into separate confeCs
eraces, our Union endangered, engaged in a fra
trcidsl war, citizen against citizen brother against
brother, that in the South well in the n ORTIZ
in the slave States rs well as the free, in every
community where he was known-and where
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Bay OF
Fundy to the Gulf of Mexico. was he not known
and lovedf-the desth Of Stephen A. Dougla. is
mourned and regretted. Why, sir, the very men
who are now tile leaders in this unhappy contest
waging against Us; here, sir. in this very Hail. az
well in the other end of the Capitol, so long II
they remained true to the Constitution and the
Union, so long as they remained true and faithful
to the obligations they took ~ Senators and Rep
resentatves of the United States, acknowledged
the purity Of the man, the geniality of his temper
the goodness of his hesrt his high sense Of honor
his talents. his eoqueunce, his freedom from Sec
tionality, his patriotism, his love OF country Do
you believe, sir. does any man believe that trea-
son and rebellion have so scared their hearts, SO
perverted their understanding and destroyed their
feelings of gratitude. that they even now amid
the clash of arms and the clang of battle, can
forget the who hazsried ALL fame, fortune, DO.
litical distinction, elevation to the first Office in
the gift of the Republic, loss Of POLITICAL friends
power, popularity. in boldly and manfully and
nobly standing up for all the rights which the
South could claim consttutionally or legallyf
Sir, ne hazarded all, he suffered all, because he
believed he was right; and that he was right, all
experience has proven. His doctrine of mon
Intervention by Congress with slave ry in the Ter
ritorics" was the only safe solution of that excit
ing question; and rejoice to know that he lived
long enough to see the doctrine practically carried
out by a Republican Congress. in the territorial
admission of Nevada. Colorado, and Dacotah, nj
the last session of Congress, without any restrc
tive clause upon the subject of slavery in the act
which admitted them. Sir. like the great patriot
and statesman who preceded him, and with whom
he might be more justly compared than with any
other public man on this continent, Stephen A.
Douglas would "rather be right than be Presi-
dent"
Connected with the Democratic party of the
North Vest from his very entrance into public life
he was the embodiment of that party, its very
type and model. Some of his political friends
there who had been alarmed with the bold, strik.
ing. and original doctrines which he promulra
ted. abandoned him. Nothing daunted, never
alarmed, trusting to his robust strength, his
native intellectual vigor, his fearessness, his orig
inality, he battered down the strongholds of his
opponents, either subdung them with the strong
power of his logic, or overcoming them with the
force OF his argument. Discounted and power
less, they left him master of the field One of the
strongest illustrations Of his power on such an
occasion was his memorable speech at Chicago
on his return there from Washington, after the
passage of the compromise" bill of 1880
But. sir. above snd beyond all his other grea,
qualities, his patriotism, his love of country, his
devotion to the Constitution, to the Union. to the
glorious flag which is its emblem were the most
prominent traits of Senator Douglas character
In life-ay. even in death-this sentiment. this
feeling. was uppermost in his mind; th, idea
the most prominent even when death claimed him
ms his OWL The last letter he intended for pub
LEGATION was the letter published about two weeks
before his death in the National Infeliiqenccr, nd
dressed to the " Chairman of the Democratic Com
mittee" of Illinois. j will road two short OK
tracts, to show you what. at that short period
before his death. he thought was the duty OF
every loyal American citizen in the present
crisis. After stating the circumstances which
led to the present dsporabe state of public affairs,
he says:
"In view of this state Of facts, there is but one
path oil duty left to all patriotic men, Ii is not a
party question. nor question involving partisan
policy; it is question of Government or no Gov
eminent; country or no country: and hence IL be-
comes the duty of every Union man, every friend
OF constitutional liberty, to rally to the support OF
our common country, its Government and its fla u,
As the only means of preserving the Union Of the
States"
Again, he SAYS:
81 know OF no mode BY which loyal citizen
may so well demonstrate his devotion to his
country as by sustaining the flag. the Consttu-
ton and the Union under all circumstances and
under every Administration. Regardless OF party
politics.) against all assailants at home and
abroad"
Fellow Democrats Of the House of Represent
ativesl friends of Douglas. these are the words
IF - 4