The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-06-12
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Biographical Sketch of Stephcr
A. Douglas.


IRutlard Coun,y. Vermont. and was born
ION the 23d of April, 1918 His father.
lwho was u physician, died when STEPHEN
was an infant of but two months old. Atl
1.-The age of fifteen, having received q goods
education. and not having
Ithe means to go to College, which he earn
testify desired, STEPHEN became ian ap-s
sprentice to the trade of cabinet.making.l I
land worked at that business for about ss
wear and half. at Middlebury aud ats
Brandon. His health failed him, and heJ
/ was obliged to seek other employment
He entered the academy at Brandon, s,ud.1
lied there a year, and then removed toi
EOn,s,io County. New York. where his;
smother resided, she having married q.
second husband. Mr.. GRANGER Hei
Sstudied law with Mr.. HUBBELL of Canaan
Edaigua, New York, and was admitted by
sthe Courts Of the State to practice law
Fin 1888 In the spring of that year be
GEM grated to the West He was detain
Eel Il Cleveland the whole of that summer;
Hoy severe illness Upon his recovery;
Che went to Cincinnati, ST. Louis shdl
aJacksonvile, Illinois, ut which latter place
khis funds had got reduced to the low ehh
sof thir y-seven and If eeats. He
ytravelpd on foot to Winchester, O town
3sixteen m les distant Here his 6rst em
Enjoyment was as clerk to trauscient
Bsuetieneer for three days, for which he
: was paid the sum Of six dollars He
Ethen opened e.ecI school ia Winchester,
&studyiug law in ih- interval of mornings
Hand ey, nings ard Saturday afternoons
EIu March 1884. he opened o law office in
HWinchester, and abandoned his school
ESQ successful was he aud so high bir rep
su,a:ion for ability, that in 1888. when he
was not twenty two years old, he was
elected by the Legislature Attorney
fGe.eral of the State. He resigned it for
8a seat In the Legislature, to which bods
Ahe was chosen bv the Democrats of Mo-
Egan County;n 1886. He was The Young
Hast member OF that body at that time.
IN 1887 President MARTIN VAN RueEN
Nappointed him Register. OF shc Laud- otfice
8st sprinFgele, Illinois. The same year
!he was nominated by the Democrats for
ECongress, and at the election in August,
S38. he received a majority of the votes.
Ebut as some ballots cast for him were i'm
Nperfect and we're rejected, the Wing can
3aidate. JOHN 7 STUART. received the ger.
Stficate of election and got the seat.
kThere was sbea but three Congressional
HDstrjcts in the State, and ,he one in whicf
Mr. DOUGLAS resided embraced NIL III
Northern part OF it. but now sends FIVE ~
SIX me nters.s Iu 1910 he was the prom
ineut cauvasser in Illinois for Mr.. VAN
BuRBN and addr, ed over two hund I'd
maeiags in his behalf Owing 10 his ex
nertions. more than any osher mans. Hi
nois vctsd for VAN buren, and agains
81 II HARRIsoN and TYLER who carried every
other Northern aud Western State, save
New Hampshire In December, 1910
1HMr DeUGEAs was appo med Secretary
J Sof State of Illinois by the, Legislature
,kIn lS4l the same body chose him a!
GJudge of the Supreme Court of the State
'kin lS43 he was nominated and elected tt
lhs House of Representatives of the Uni
,ed States by 400 majority, In 1874;
he was reelected by 1000 majority. l,
846 he was again re-stected by nesrl,
b, ,0O6 majority. In lS47 he was elected
\ 10y the Legislature Of IiIineis to the Sen
{ ate of the United States. In lS48 h
hefur the off % of President of the Uaiiec
Estates In 1852 be was promineB
candidate for President to succeed Mr.
EFILLMoRE, aud in the Baltimore Conven
Hiion he received. on several ballots, abou
ElOO votes. In 1858 he was again eec'
oEed nv the Legislature of inois TO LII
4 EUnised States sSsna,e. In 1856 he wa
iYagain pressed by his friends for Presi
fEd.nt. and IN the Cincinnati Convention o
ElS56 obtained % votes against Mr.
j EBnchauan's l5S la 1853 sfter an ex
kciin9 canvass. Re was npain reselc ed t.
he Senate frum Illinois, beating Abraham
kLincoiu, now President ol the Unitet
Estates Mr. Lincoln received 4s vote
Eiu the Legislature to Mr.. DoUGLAs 81
lkIa 1850 Mr. DOUGLAS was nominated fl
d kPresident by the Democratic Convention
! sEin Baltimore, and although he received ,
eBStuHl SitCtOIoi Sotc, uC ICCcifcu uiotO WIZ
d 8from The people than any man ever re
n sceived. excspt Mr.. Lincoln, his successful
kcempetitor, Eoa-s.t.
Mr. DOUGLAS has, therefore, served
xnine'esn years in the Congress of tn
"a Uni ed Statss-fonrteen in the Senas
eEand Eve in the House.. His course in tha
4 skbodyis too well known to need reeapitn
klation here. lie was either the author o
= Zone Of the most prominent supporters o
pEevery measure which he's passed Congres
rksince lS43 lie was twice married - firs
Fin lS47, to. Miss MARTIN. daughter o
EColoael MARTIN. of Rockingham Coun
Hty, North Carolina, by whom he had thre
.'echiliren, two Of whom are now living
Flu Jasnary. 1853, she died On tn
.E20th of November, 1856. he was agai
married to Miss ADA CUTTs. Of Wash
bington City, niece of Mrs. jams MAD
kIsoN. who. es we'll as his veuerable mother