The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-06-07
Death of Senator Douglas,

ueau thousands OF ndmiring followers
Will tcel the loss of their great loader, aud
noHe Will road the announcement of the sad
ev SRI with indifference. His death WAS
Eccasioned By an attack Of typhoid fover,
and was not unexpected to those who had
been aware of his condition for many days.
A biographical sketch OF Stephen Arnold
Douglas may be found in tho N'ep Ameri
can Cyciopedid. Ho was born in Brandon,
Rutland Co., W., April 23d, 1913. Being
loft fatherless when an infant, he lived with
his mother, and sister eighteen months
older than himsef until fifteen years Of
age, whom, as ho had not the means to OBJ
tair collegiate education, ho served an
eighteen months apprenticeship at cabinet
rnaking, in Mddletown and Brandon after
which be studied year in tho academy Of
the latter place. About this timo, his
mother was married to Mr.. Granger, of
Ontario Co.. N. ", to whose son hor
daughter had been married. Young Doug
las removed with bis mother to Canhndai-
qua, where no entered an academy, aud also
commenced tho study of law in the Office Of
the Mcssrs Hubboll. The subsequent events
of his life arc thus detailed by tho Glove
land Herald:
'In 1888. Mr.. Douglas came West,
stopping in Cleveland, where he entered
the law office ofSherlock J. Andrews. In
Cleveland lie fell seriously i'll and re-
mained so for the summer. On his re.
covery Mr.. D. determined 10 push further
West, and accordingly made his arrange.
ments. We hear it from a gentleman still
residing in this city, and who was fellow
boarder with Mr.. Douglas on Water street,
that all the worldly effects Of Mr.. d. when
he left, save what he wore, were in a small
bundle under his arm, as the two walked
down Superior Lane hill towards the
canal boat Mr. Douglas was to take for
Portsmouth. When the friend, Of whom
we have spoken, on parting with Doug
las, asked him to write back when located
the reply was, "You shall hear from me"
This remark the friend supposed to be
merely the reply to the request 10 write
but no letter came, and subsequent: events
proved that his "You shall hear from
me" signified more than mere con sent to
write letter.
Mr.. Douglas proceeded further West.
and arrived at Jackson, ILL.,, with only
thirty seven and a.half cents in his pocket;
walked to Winchester, sixteen miles, to
get a school, and arriving during an auc.
tion sale, got the position Of clerk TO the
auctioneer, where, for three days services,
he received six dollars. He then opened
a school, and afterwards, in 1884, com
menced the practice of law, and within a
year he was elected Attorney General
In SO he was sent to the Legislature +; il
'37 he was appointed by President Var
Buren, Register Of the Land Office ; il
'5s was run for Congress. only reaching
the requisite age of twenty-five n few
days before the election. In a poll o
thirty-six thousand votes he was beaten
by his Wing competitor five votes.
In 1910 Mr. D. was made Secretary ol
State of Illinois in al elected MS Judge
of the Supreme Court, which Office he
resigned on being elected to Congress in
'43. lie was twice reelected, but in '41
was chosen United States Senator, where
he has remained ever since.
Mr.. Douglas was one who advocated
our claim in the boundary controversy
" of wy ~ UcHcNiHS tllhL Clulll
''clear and unquestoGable :" he was il
favor Of the admission Of Texas he op
posed the Wilmot Proviso; he was il
favor of extending the Missouri Compro
mise line to the Pacific he supported tn
Compromise measures OF 80 he was tn
author of the Kansas Nebraska bill, il
which he advanced his favorite docrin
of popular Sovereignty"-the leayin!
the question Of slavery 10 the people
The debate between Mr.. Douglas and Nh
Lincoln, through Illinois in 1858, ha
passed into history.
Mr.. Douglas was candidate for Presi
dent before the Democratic Convention
at Baltimore in 1852. lie was agair
candidate at Cincinnati iE 1856, and wat
nominated for President by the wing o
the Democratic National Convention as
Bembled at Baltimore in 1860.
Mr.. Douglas married Miss Martin, c
North Carolina, in l847. She died i
1853, and he married in 1856, Miss Cult.
OF Washington.
Mr.. Douglas when first elected to III
Senate resided at Quincy, but Of la
years has been a resident of Chicago
Mr.. Douglas has often visited ClevelanC
the guest OF Mr.. d. =. Rhodes, lhei
being family connection existing be:wee
the two. and this ripened into a stron
personal attachment"
Having repeatedly condemned tho polit
cal course of Senator Douglas, wo shu
make no ins;noore professions of admiratiC
becauEo he is doad. Would that, in this hou
We could forgot whatever wrong ho IN,
have done, and remember only that
died q firm friend of tho Union Senat
Douglas had talents. energy, courage, SUI
as few men possess, aud hosts of enthusiast
admirers. Whatever might DO the eau
no espouscd, he gave tho full forco of
strong nature to its service. Tho abili
and courage with which tho "Littlo Clan
defended his favorito doctrine of "Popul
Sovereignty" against nearly all his Dom
cratic colleagues in tho Senate, challeng,
tho admiration oven OF his onomies. ri
vast amount Of labor which he perform,
during the late Presidential campaign, VIII,
he traversed tho whole Union, and pr