, 1861-06-14

At q meeting Of the bar Of this city, con-
vened on the nnnoun cement OF the death OF
the 1amented patriot and 'ktatesmans Stephen
Arnold Douglas, who was = distinguished
member Of the profession. : ! bad the honor
to be t. tS.
with the request that they .be entered on the
records, In token Of respect for: the memory
Of tho decea8ed. - ..
While the very air Is fragrant With the CRATE.
ful offerings which BETRAYED nation Is layiup
at the tomb Of the illustrious dead, should
repress the impulse Of my heart did not
avail me- Of the license accorded by usage to
place my humble tribute, al unworthy as I
am conscious It will be, at that sacred shrine,
The prophecies Of the occaslon. however. I'D.
menleh me that It is not time for extended
eulcgy.. = ~. :,
made Mr. Douglas SO preamine. tly the fore:
most nnn Of bis day In this country, # not II
any country, will demand for their faithful
porhaiture the hand Of master. Perhaps no
living man will do him critical ard exact JUS
Ace. The tack Of reviewing his life and pub.
Lie services may be reserved for other times
md another generation His was one Of those
posittve characters which command warmest
ft1endships aud rome intensest animossttes.
No public man Of our country had more dayo-
ted friends, more determined enemies. No
public man ever experienced such sudden and
fitfnl yic1esitudes Of fortune. Yesterday the
idol Of the populace, the recipient OF oyations
Of almost Roman magnifcence. To.day visi-
ted By the Wrathful Indignation and tbs fierce
execIations Of the chaIgeful Worshippers Of
vor shines In unclouded splendor. Then, ths
whole heavens we're dark aud lowering. But
In prosperity or ad7ereity, in sunshine or ia
Etorm, he was ever the same constant, patient
and heroic character.
The moral elevation Of Douglas under the
most cruel rGTesses Of fortune has exlo1Sea
most invetcrate foes, and we nay salely cnal-
lenge the record Of ancient OF modern heroes
for one who presented more undaunted front
nntlcr circnmstances which would app1 the
etouteet heart
brensttnr the waves Of adverse fortune was
salt 10 command the admiration Of tho Gods.
That spectacle WIS almost the rule Of his life.
But the uses of adVereity aresWee-ft Was the
alembic in which his great soul Was chastened
and purified
the hearts Of his friends, 1tinspired them with
the conviction thst defeat under such leader
WAS impossible, end enabled them to pluck
victory 1rcm the very jaws Of impending dis
aster.
In energy Of character he was unsurpassed,
If equaled BY any man Of the generation.
When his discaIsive Intellect had explored
with The, 1spIdity OF intuition the undiseover.
ed domain Of new md momentus questions,
when the path Of duty was thus -msde to
open before him, inviting his advance, his In
trepld soul t1od that path with no step back
ward, albeit t1mfd friends who halted BY the
way, OF more faithlees ones who turned md
fed, left him to tread it alone. And in the
moments Of delirium when his great intel
1ect, like planet whiIled from It's orbit, was
1Nur .ha of ell $rr3-
events, he exclal1os with impetuosfty, !" Why
do We stand sti]ls Let us puM on Let the
His enlarged understanding was equal to
the complete mastery Of every subject which
the public interests brought under examin,
ntion.
In Its comprehensive grasp 1t could take in
the varied and delicate relations Of the Ma.
tional Government with all foreign govern
ments, and with the individual States of the
Republic, as well as the minutest details ol
local and domestic csncern.
The fe1icitous Illustration given by the
great British eeeayist Of the quality Of Bacon's
understanding may be fit1y applied to that o.
Douglas. -
" Il resembled the tent which the fairy ir
the Eastern tale gave the Prince. Fold 1t, aud
It seemed toy for the hand Of lady; spread
it aud the armies of powerful Sultans NIGH
reFose beneath Its shade"
His life, from earliest manhood, was almost
exclusively devoted to the public service, ani
he leaves behind in the records Of the coun
tsy's history an impe1iehable monument O.
hls genius and his industry.
The powers which shone In after life will
such SURPRISING 1ustre, in the Senate Of tht
United States, "that great theatre Of his grea'
deeds, !" as well rs upon the hustfugs, Whers
he stood without . rival, were first cultivated
and qufckened in his early efforts In our owl
hi 3rF, Tp|,on
men are engaged in academic pursuits; corr
PEELED to grapple in forensic encounter will
The practiced and experienced minds Of tht
profession, be at once discovered the fertile
1esources Of his great ingenuity, and acquired
the perfect selEreliance which Was the markct
These early intellectual Wreetlfngs were o
couree followed with varied success, but til,
unanimous verdict Of all contemporaries is tha
| he always acquitted himself with credit, some
times with pre-eminent ability. The Legiala
| tu1e Of his adopted State and the profession &C
k1owledged him worthy, at the age Of twenty
one years, to tll the important othce Of publ
hut twenty. ty.seEeu to wear the ermine Of th
Supreme Judge, rs the peer Of Wilson, smitl
| AMI Lockwood, who we're among the brightes
stars In ou1 judicial tzmament But his quail
ties Of head were, If possible, surpassed b.
1hnse of the heart
|
| magnetic power which at once sttracted MAJ
| to his person and forever held them there tn
! willing subjects Of his friendly sway.
In the heat Of party strife It has been sal,
that Mr.. Douglas deserted his old friends to
| new ones Whenever the e1igencies Of his owl
personal ambition required the sacrifice,
charge which every old friend will fndlgnantl
brand Is gratuttous and wicked ca!umny.
It Tas my fortune to be born and reared o,
the soil Of that Stats NOW rendered foreTc
f1lustrious by the reflection Of bis great nam
and as the repository Of his sacrad ashes, an,
the ear1iest feeollecuons Of my boyhood ar
inseparably interviewer with his memory.
I w1s reared In the same village In which b
resided whena young man, and had peculia
opportunities for knowing him we'll, comm
In almost daily contact wfth him md meetin
him under the roof Of my father, whom
did the honor to call his intimate and devote
friend. Perhaps my unvasying attachment t
his person aud fortunes in every vieissitudews
sealed By the sacred: memories which clnst<
around home md childhood But speak nc
the words Of fundiscriminnting Partially whe
Isay that Mr. Douglas has won more unive
cal, . more enthusiastic love from the youn
among whom he moved, than any man
either public or private Life. whom It has bee
my fortune to know
There YVES singular freshness In his fee
irgg Nhough even then man, among mel
which invited confidence and repealed IL
Suspicion TINT art or atIectatsoa lurked b
meath. :.
Those who have been admitted to a socI
nearness With MI. Doue1as, and their numb
which wss all his OWL He could unber
without the loss Of dignity, and his famlllari'
Was not OF that quality which breeds CO.
, ttmpt, but the object OF hts friendly regar
while permitted to view the interior lie
the great man, saw nothing there to dtmints
: love and respect
Entire abstinence from partIcipation
public affairs since nv brief residence her
| and bis absence at Washington, have, In
great measure denied me the friendly int
course OF former years but the sill oceaslo
: al opportunities Of seeing him socially, b!
served to assure me that public position, vii
it's accustomed 1ctlnue OF cares and perple1
ties, and it's new and varied relations Al
claims, brought no change In him.
We would expect that one possessed ofsut
genial social qualities would render home Il
eeat Of genuine hospitality and tbs sauctua
OF the domestic affections.
. The c1ushed and broken heart Of her, vi
, with him dispensed that hospitality With SUI
: graceful elegance, the loved and hpnored vii
now bowed In deepest affliction, answers vi
FamoEe touching and elegant language tn
any poor words Of mine. =
The nation mourEB the loss Of Its gre
statesman, one Of the chiefest OF whose It'll
to it, love and vanerahon WIS the genl
, warmth a1ds gloW Of his social nature. VII
can be the measure of her grief in whose pc
| son centered those warm affections In the te
derest and dearest relation Of life -
HThe people Of Illinois, air, are genero1
and grateful people. They arc zot i
sa .s9tibs s.:on 4 ~hat th,; sacrifice S:1. Of s,
: the remains Of their loved son and OF Il
prompt and generous ap1rit with which til
9 sacrifice was made and they will honor ii