The weekly sun. (New York [N.Y.]) 1851-1869, 1861-10-12

When Stephen A. Douglas firt landed at
Naples, Scott Co Illinois, lac was not quito II
years old and had head that seemed too
large for his BODY and only couple of shirts t ID
10 In red cotton handkerchief, and less than
fifty c,uts in his packet. Aner recruiting bis
finances hy cerking II al the auction sale,
he taught school IN Winchester for a few
months; but not paving expenses no depart
ed, leaving "duc bll'' with tho landlord
for his board, and pledging his honor to return
and redeem IT,. During hts residence in Win
chester he heard l.ambOrn the great whiR ora
tor, denouIce Jackson, who was then President,
in speech in the court-hou-c, aud was 10 stirred
up by It's Illogical cOnclu-On-, t1at ho resolved,
live or die to confront Lambon whenever he
again spoke in public. l.ambOrn having given out
an appointment to spcIk in jacksonville during
the following week, Douglas SGT out to meet
him the day before the appointed time, travel
ling II miles Of the distance ON foot. II was in
vain that few Of Douglass friends attempted
10 dissuade him. saving he was too young and
inc Nperienced tu confront the greatest orator in
Illinois, as LqmbOn was then considered both
by Wings and Democrats But Douglas, moth
ing dauntod sad that LImhOtn had been 'ly-
ing on General tCkSOn, and he was resolved TO
defend the old hero, as he had ''tho documents
and could do It,.
At tho appointed hour the court house was
crowded 10 its utmost capacity. The Governor,
aud nearly all the wealthy and influential men
Oithe county were present, and Mr.. IlmbOrn do.
liyered his charges against Jackson in the most
approved stvlc, and Wing documents and news
papers weie tr umphantly produced TO prov e
that the Old patHJt was TIE enomy Of his cOun.
tTv. FvorybOdy seemed convinced, and the
n, til q was ali lut TO disper'e.
Just then Douglas who sat on the left hand
~ he speqFer among TIE crowd, stood upon
the bench on which he had been sitting, aud
said he was there for tho purpose Of answering
Lamborn and defending General Jackson. A
restless disposition Ia DO gone, and not very
respectful ~ inces from the people followed, this
stat ,ment bat the young Douglas proceeded;
and having made an assertion backed it up
with ",he nDcunents' in style peculiarly
his own. From point TO point no went over
the great spe" Il Of hi- predecessor, dEprovinR,
arguiug r.i cS terminating as he went along, to
| the wrath Of the Wing leaders and the grow
| ing admiration Of the people, who were Ignorant
| Of his name, ard who, A. 10 went on, would say
| one to the other, "Huk," clark ye!' Heukon
| to the little fellow aud as the bursts Of elo'
| uucnce and logic followed faster and fnster the
| oxclamations were, "The Little & ant !' "llel
| ken TO the Little Giant and at this close d
| great shout Of "IurIah for the Lite & tut
| wlAt up and the people carried him in triumph
| around the room and cOurt-housa yard.
At this meeting Douglas first asserted hi
powers, and acquired mastery over tue popu
Var heart ard soubriquet that never left him
The chiefs of Whiggery were dumb-'oundered
and the Demo cracv were crazy with Joy Tor
the unlocked for victory.