The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-06-06
Death of senator Douglas.

II
for several days, has fallen, and Stephen
A. Douglas, one of the most conspicu-
Gus of our public men, and one OF the
ablest of American statesmen, is dead.
i He died at Chicago, on Monday morn
ing, at 10 minutes past 9 o'clock. His
death at this time will be esteemed a
4 National calamity. In the late radi-
anee of his ardent and indomitable pat
riotism, all former political feeling had
melted away, and we had all come to
regard him as great man, striving
with his large abilities to avert the dis
asters that have overtaken the country.
1t was the universal wish that his life
might be spared but an Inscrutable
Providence willed otherwise.
Stephen Arnold Douglas was born,
as we learn from the Detroit Tribune,
at Brandon, Rutland county, Vermont,
April 23d, 1918. His father died while
he was yet an infant, and his mother
being poor, at fifteen he left home to
earn his own support, and apPrenticed
himself to cabinet maker, with whom
he worked year and a half. when i'll
health compelled him to abandon the
! the trade. AT this time he had fair
common shool education, and after
another year, which he spent in study
at Brandon, his mother married a
second time and removed to Ontario
county, New York where she now lives.
Mr.. Douglas removed to New York
with her and studied law in the office
| Of Messrs. Hubbell, in Canadagua, pur-
suing general studies at the same time.
In 1888 he came West, and after many
|discouragements from sickness and
poverty, opened school at Jackson
vile, ILL.,, practicing at the same time
lin minor law cases. In 1884 he formal
Fly entered upon his profession, practic-
ling in the higher courts, and was
highly successful. He rose rapidly.
AT twenty-five he was elected to be At
|torney-General of the State, by the
Legislature. In 1885 he was elected in
the Legislature from Morgan Co. In
1887, he was made Register of the
Land Office at Springfield, ILL.,, by Pres
ident Van Buren,. In the same year,
although not yet 25 years of age he re-
|ceived the Democratic nomination for
Congress, but was defeated. From
this until 1910 Mr.. Douglas diligently
|practiced his profession. In the latter
year he was appointed Secretary of
State of Illinois. In 1s41 he was
elected Jadge of the State Supreme
Court. In 1913 he was elected to Con-
|gress, and was reelected in 1914 and
|1s46. In 1s47 he was elected to the
Senate, of which body he continued al
member until the time of his death.
In the public Councils of the Union|
Mr.. Douglas has been very active
and prominent man. Of great quick
ness of intellect, indomitable energy,
genuine self-relient fearlessness, andl
distinguished as ready debater, ALL
important public questions for the past|
fifteen years have been subject to his|
examination and comment. He wasl
in the Oregon debates,
and the annexation of Texas but the
most important events of his life lie
within the past eight years, since the
exciting debates upon the territorial
question.
Mr.. Douglas was twice married.
Two children by first wife, are resi-
dents of the South, and amply provid- !
ed for. He leaves widow and onek
child in slim pecuniary circumstances,k
we apprehend. Mr.. Douglas stands
prominent among our politicians, as s
self-made, self-reliant, courageous
American statesman, who was true to
his friends, as but few political men
ever were.
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