Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-06-13
Petition or The Frisuds 81 senator novel,r

Petition Of the Frisnds 81 ssnator neurl.~
for n Homestead for Hls Family.
The Chicago papers contain The following
address, signed by a number Of Senator
Douglass warm personal friends.
TO fhe People Of he Unittd Sfefds, and more
particularly % che People Of HliSoiss
Stephen A. Douglas is deadl He has fallen
at the meridian Of life. For twenty Eve
years he has seryedthe public honorably aud
without personal profit. For nearly twenty
years he devoted his time, his abilities and
his labors TO his State and his country. He
served both State and country from a love OF
both, and not from q hope of ~pecuniary profit.
For the ~lastfour years he gave mp hfs time
and all other interests TO bis country, and. to
the utter exclusion Of all business pursuits,
devoted every thing, and, at last, his life. 10
the salvation of the Republic, the integrity
Of the Union, and the maintenance OF tho
Constitution. In the contest for these sacred
and patriotic objects, he has fallen In the
very primo Of life; bat not until he had
rendered incalculable benefits TO the Ameri-
can people.
Fellow-countrymen; While thus labOring
for your interests and the interests Of your
posterity, his own means were lost. Hedied
not only poor, but has left 10 his wife and
children a legacy Of debt. The only uuen-
numbered piece of land-a small tract, less
than three acres-of which he was ever Dos
sessed, was, when he died, the property of
his widow. At the request Of the people Of
Illinois, coming up to her even in the hour
of her sorrow, she surrendered his remains
to the State, and with them gave that niece
Of land for his interment, asking Of the peo-
pie only that she might be allowed to reside
near the grave in which he reposes. She
has thus given to the people Of Illinois ali
that was left of Douglas. This lot ia which
now rests his ashes, is in the center OF that
beautiful grove known as his long chosen
and fsvorite home.
The surrounding portion of the tract Is
covered with mortgages. His children, his
widow and his countrymen, to approach his
grave, must do so by permission Of the
sheriff, his creditors, and strangers. viii
the nation he has served forget Douglas in
the tomb2 VIII the Republic prove uu-
grateful Will the American people, whom
he served so long and so faithfully, suffer his
widow and his orphans 10 be turned from
the home he loved, the soil he defended, 10
seek elsewhere, and from strangers, a shelter
and support Shall they be shut out from
the sight Of his tomb, and denied the melan-
choly satisfaction Of being near his grave 2
Shall the wife and children of Douglas 90
forth homeless, houseless wanderers from the
State of Illinois2
We propose to the American people, and
particularly 10 the people OF Illinois, to raise
by voluntary subscriptions a fund, to be adj
ministered by William A. Richardson, Will
liam B. Ogden, John 7. Stuart, Zadee Casey,
David Davis, Thomas Drummond, and John
D. Cation, for the redemption of 50 much of
the property as will furnish his widow with
a suitable home at Cottage Grove; or if
such selection should, by such trustees, here
after be deemed inadvisable, to the purchase
Of a suitable home for them in the State of
Illinois; and also to be invested for the sup
port of the widow and the education of the
children of Stephen A. Douglas.
The Hon. John d. Cation, Chief Justice Of
the Supreme Court of Illinois, will act as re-
ceiVer of this fund, to whom all subscrip-
tions, from States, counties, corporations,
societies, committees, and individuals will
be RENTED. His address is at Ottawa, IHi-
nois.
The Hon. Thomas Drummond, Judge Of
the United States Court for the Northern
District of Illinois, will act as treasurer.