New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-02
BIOGRAPHY or senator DOUGLAS.
From Tie Yep Aasriean Cyel1adia.


Stephen Arnold Douglas was born at Brandon, Rut-
hand County VT, April %, 1913. His father was q
native Of the State Of Now-York, and physician OF
considerable reputation. He died suddenly Of Gpopexy
when lis son Stephen Arnold was but little more than
two months old. The widow, with her infant and a
daughter only eighteen months older, retired TO farm
which she bad inherited conformity with an unmarried
brother. At the age of fifteen her son. who had
received good common school education, desired 20
prepare for college, but his family proving unable TO
bear the requisite expense, be left the farm Determined
90 earn his living, and engaged himself as an ap-
prentice TO the trade OF cabinet making at winch ne
worked year and half, partly at Middlebury and
partly at Brsrdon, when his health became
so impaired with the severity Of the labor that
he abandoned the occupation altogether. He has
often, since, said that the happiest days Of his life
were passed in the Worship. He now entered the
Academy at Brandon, as student, and renamed
there year. His mother about this time, was mar
ried 10 MIR. Granger, OF OntaI1o County, n. T., to
whose son her daughter had been married. Young
Douglas removed with bis mother to CansDdaigus,
and entered student the academy OF that place, In
which he continued I'LL 1893. He studied law in the
Office of the Messrs Hubbe, at the same time that be
pursued his acadeInical course having finally adopted
That a. his profession.
In the Spring Of 1893 be went 10 the West in search
Of an eligible location in which 10 establish himself
q lawyer. At Cleveland be was detained the whole
Summer by severe illness, after his recovery from
which, lie went to Cineinnnat, st. Louis, and Jack
sonyiIe Ill. At Jacksonville, he found his funds
duced to 37 cents and accordingly walked to Wiuches
ter little town 10 miles distant, where he hoped TO
get employment as q school teacher. lie found there
large crowd assembled 10 attend the auction sale OF
"a deceased trader. Tie auctiOneer was without
clerk 20 keep the account Of the sale, and percelying
that Mr.. Douglas, who stood among the spectators
looked like man who could write and keep accounts
requested hm TO serve ID that capacity. Mr. Dongas
consented and acted clerk during the three days Of
fbe sale, receiving for bis services 90.
With this capital in hand be promptly opened a
school and obaiued forty pupils whom be taught for
three months al 50 quarter devoting his earnings to
the Study of some law books which he had borrowed
IN Jacksonville and on Saturday afternoons Praclcng
in petty before the Justice of Peace Of the town.
In March, 1894 be opened an Office and began piac-
fice in the higher COurs for which, after examination,
he had obtained license from the Judges of the Supreme
Cont He was remarkably successful at the bar. as
may be inferred from the fact that within year from
his admission, while not yet ~ years OF age, be was
elected by the Legislature Attorney General Of the
State Tls Office he resigned in December, 1885, in
of having been elected TO the Legislature
BY the Democrats Of Morgan County. lie took his
seat in the House OF Representatives, the yOungest
member Of that body. In 1897 be was appointed by
President Van Buren Register OF the Land-Ofhce at
Springfield Ill, post which he resigned in 1889.
In November, 1887, Mr.. Douglas received the Dem
ocratc nomination for Congress although he was uD-
Ger twenty five years Of age, aud consequently ineh-
R1hle. he however attained the requisite age before
;he day Of election, which was the frft Monday in
august, 1898 his Congressional district was then
the Inost popnlous in TIE United States and the
N'4'@eS 90 coboncted WI n EXTRAORDINARY zeal ana
energy. Upward Of SO coo votes were east and the
wing candidate was declared TO be elected by ma
}ority oil I'VE only. number of ballots sufficient to
Fave cnaged the result were rejected by the Canva-
en- because the of Mr. Doucas was ;ncorrectly
spelled After TINS defest, which under the circuni-
stances was claimed by his friends as a victory, Mr.
Douglas devoted hmsef exclusively 10 bis profession
unlS40 when he entered into the famous presidential
campaign Of that year with much artor that he
trayegsed the State in ell directions for seven routhe
and addressed more than two hundred political gather.
in To bis excr;iOns was aIcIibel the adherence az
Illinois that election TO the Democratic party In
Dec 1870. Mr.. Douglas was appointed Secretary 0f
s'Aie Of Illinois. In Feb. 1871 he elected by the
legislature, Judge Of the Supreme Court, which
Once be resigned in 1913 70 accept the Democratic
DOMINATION FOR Congress, which was urged upon him
ssnn& be known wishes on the ground that be was
10 "ly Democrat who could be elected. After
~ ma trnssss Mr.. Douglas was chosen by upward
g. a. He was reelected in 1874 bya major
~, 49, and again In 1876 by nearly 1905 majority,
g. 10y hcseyer take IDS seat under the last cleo
"''Dss v The Rssn time. besa chosen 10 the