Daily national Democrat., 1861-06-18
The late stephen A. Douglas.

sive of the grief of that community over the
death OF our beloved leader, and the tried
friend Of Popular Rights in America
STErnEN A. DoUGLAs. The same dispatch
that brought us the sad news OF the death
Of Douglas, tells us that the loyal people oil
the whole nation were mourning over the ca
lamity. Wetake it for granted shat the co.
pie Of California will do honor to his memo
ry by assembling in their respective cities
towns and villages, and giving public ex
preston TO their admiration for. and graft
tude to, the man who was ever our friend in
the National Councils. To his untiring ell
forts were We indebted in great measure
for the admission of California in 1850 and
whenever the State male demand upon
Congress. for mail facilities or overland COM
munication, Senator Douglas was foremost
in pressing her claims. AS citizens OF the
great Republic also, we owe our gratitude
heard in advocacy Of impartial justice to all
sections, and had his councils been needed the
present crisis would never have been upon
our land. He has indelibly impressed his
mind upon the country, and while the popu-
lar will continues to rule in America. his en-
larged views with regard to Government
policy will form part of our institutions.
The people of all organized political commit
mites, whether Of States or Territories, within
the jurisdiction of the United States, will be
permitted to regulate. in the main, their own
municipal affairs. For this great right Doug
las has contended. like giant as he was, for
years and before the justice Of the policy,
even the successful Republican party have
been compelled to yield their main dogma.
The unparalleled contest successfully waged
by Douglas, within the Democratic organiza-
ton. against the enemies of popular rule in
the territories, which resulted in his nomina-
tion for the Presidency at Baltimore 10 June
1860 proved him the greatest party leader
of his times. The bold and defiant stand he
took against the infamous tyranny and pro-
scription which characterized the admin;s-
tration of James Buchanan, excited the ad-
miration of the whole world. Never did
mortal contend against such odds. Armed
with justice and brave heart, he appealed
to the masses of the Democratic party to sus-
tain him against the open enmity and
the concealed treachery of nearly all the
recognized leaders Of the party. The valiant
leader of the Southern ultraists--Jeff
Davis now the prince of all the rebels in
the land-made war upon him in the Senate,
and caused to be put forth to the country ae
the deliberate opinion of the American SEN
ate, resolutions embracing doctrines which
Douglas had proclaimed to be heresies. The
whole power Of all the aspirants for the Pres
idential chair, together with all the power
which Buchanan as Commander in-Chief of
an army of eighty thousand oflice-holding
politicians could by fair means and foul,
bring to bear, were enlisted for two years to
crush Douglas out of political existence The
National Assembly of the party. and the dis
grace aud discontinue Of his enemies. The
name of Douglas is now the synonym for
moral courage, iron will, nnconouerable te
nacity of purpose, and inhexible patriotism
while his chief tormenter, Buchanan, lives tc
be Jest and by word with both the friends
and the enemies of the nation. The petty
chieftains who led their clans against him al
| Charleston, are now engaged in an infamou:
effort to ruin the country they could no lon
ger rule. The greatest battle of Douglas
life was fought and won in the National
Democratic Convention The power of the
man was then exhibited, and acknowledged
by the country. His enemies in the party,
left it in mad rage, and the result was the
election of the present Chief Executive.
Douglas never was defeated. Small men
destroyed the national party which could
have elected him, but that was their defeat,
and not his. To the time of his death, he
held more sway over the destinies Of America
than any man in the country. His word was
law. His voice was listened for, by more
called his personal friends; and so steadfst
had he always been in support of the right
cause, and so overpowering were the rensone
which he always gave for every position he
took in public aff'irs, that his consent was
absolutely necessary for the success of Cow
ernment measures before the people. Thus
he was really and truly, through the devo-
ton of the people to. and their confidence in,
him, one of the chief rulers of the United
States. lie issued no decrees nor proclama-
tions. with official seals upon them but he
addressed the enlightened reason of the Ma
ton; and the great throb of his lion heart,
the straight forward, uuornamented utter
ances of his tongue, the irresistible power Of
his matchless logic, and the warm glow of his
mighty genius found responses everywhere,
where reason and patriotism still had home
What was mortal of him, suffered with dis
ease while yet he electrified the land with
appeals to the spirit Of '76, and the papers
told us some weeks ago that on one occasion
he was taken home in much pain, after the
delivery of one of his greatest efforts in main.
tenance of the measures resorted to hy the
Government for ,he crushing out of rebellion.
lie was our party leader His fame is rich
legacy to the whole country. He was poor
Vermont schoolmaster; then, a Senator from
Illinois; and then, the leading pro -ressv,
Statesman of America. While the history o
great men shall be preserved while intel.
lectual greatness shall be regarded with ad.