Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-06-07
Death Of Senator Douglas.

las, which took place at Chicago ON Mon
day forenoon, June 3, will make pro
found impression on the public mind
Perhaps the loss of no public man, out
side of the small list upon whom tn
chief military and civil responsibilities O
the present crisis concentrate, would b,
felt SO widely, or would leave such voiC
in oar political world. The suddenness
also, of the stroke, falling, as it does up
on the prime of active manhood ant
quenching energies in the very hight o
their development, aggravates the severi
ty of the inhiction, and imparts mourn
full interest TO the reviews of the life thus
closed.
Stephen Arnold Douglas was born at
Brandon, Rutland county, Vermont, on
the 23d of April, 18l3-and he was,
therefore, at his death little over forty
eight years of age. His father, a physi-
clan of some prominence, died when the
son was but two months old, leaving his
mother with two children to seek her fa-
Tiers farm, held by her brother. There
Stephen led the usual life Of New
England country lad, doing such work as
belonged to lis years, and attending the
district school in the winter. AT the age
of fifteen be was disappointed in his new
ly formed hopes Of entering upon col
legiate education, and so, with the self
reliance and energy which subsequently
distinguished him, he entered cabinet
makers shop and worked diligently for
two years. The renowned Senator was
wont to recur to the happiness of this
period of his life, as Bonaparte, in the
midst of his imperial grandeurs, sighed
over the days when he was an obscure
lieutenant.
Blu; The physical robustness of Mr..
Douglas in his manly years does not
seem to have marked his boyhood, and
his health failed, when, according to a
strange New England custom, he left bis
workshop and went to the academy. AZ
ter studying a year, he removed with his /.
mother, who had married second time, /
to Ontario county, New York, where he .
bis studies, and subsequently /
entered law office. In 1888 he joined .
the tide of Western emigration, in pur-
suit of an Opening" No place exactly
satisfied him, but as lis funds went down
TO thirty-seven and half cents al Jack
sonyille, Illinois, he made virtue of ne
ressily, halted, and soon opened a school
ID that vicinity, continuing his law stud
es at the same time. In 1884, though
lacking few weeks Of being twenty-one
years old, Mr.. Douglas was admitted to
he bar Thenceforward his progress L
vas rapid, and must be rapidly sketched.
1t is a sufficient indication, if not OF ,
his attainments, certainly OF the impress q
ion which he had made upon the people /
# Illinois, that within a year from his
Omission TO the bar, while not yet TWEEN |
y two years old, and not over eighteen c
months resident of the State, the Leg {
stature elected him Attorney General OF i
illinois. In 1885 he resigned his office, y
aving been chosen to the Legislature. :
n 1887 he was appointed Register of the +
and Office at Springfield, by President 1
IAN Buren,, and held the Office two years. 4
n 1883 he was the Democratic candi-
ate for Congress, and lost the election
y five woes. In 1910 he began that
ystem Of extended stumping, of which \
c was such master, and to which, there
J reason TO believe, he was virtually
lartyr. In December of the same year
e was appointed Secretary Of State of
illinois and in the February following,
hen but twenty-eight years old, he was y
hosen by the Legislature Judge of the "
upreme Court-thus receiving a title .
hich popularity chung to him through
fe. In lS43 he resigned his seat on the y
ench, to become candidate for Con- n
ress. He was chosen by 400 majority c
as reelected in 1874 by 1900 majority,
nd in 1876 by nearly 5000 majority
efore taking his seat under the last cleo hi
On, he was chosen a member of the tn
nited States Senate for six years from OF
Larch 4, 1847; to which position he was tn
-elected in 1858, and again, after the W
emorable canvass, in 1859. This is a IL
ere outline Of Mr.. Douglass official ca ir'
err. III
To adequately fill it up, and TO inter- =.
cave with it the appropriate personal -
tails, would far surpass the limits at ~,
If command. In one sense it is not
,ligatory, for no public man has of late
,ars lived more constantly and conspic-
'usly before the American people than
r. Douulaa There was nothino fari-