Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-13

dfnnapofis. Fndianns on the SIN OF
january, 1867
Fellow CIrIzESs: II has been said that no
mans life should be written during ms stay upon
earth The reasons for this opinion need not De
stated. They apply to another proposition, vari-
ousIy entertained whether the biography of a man
should be written during the generation IN which
he lives II thus written we have all the passions
and preiudices of enemies to misjHdge his deeds,
and the love and warmth Of affection TO palliate
and excuse them.
Biographies and histories are only valuable as
they are true and truth, it is claimed, will be
suppressed when either friendship or luminosity
guides the pen. Another reason for waiting Is,
that the practical results of the principles avow-
ed by the subject, can only be developed by time;
and yet an answer this is found in the fact that,
if the results are favorable, praise foliows-if un
favorable condemnation. SO prone is this world
to judge of an act by its results. On the other
hand, if history is written cotemporaneous with
those making il, there is no time TO see the de-
velopnents Of the principles enunciated, and TO
Judge them by their practical workings The
principles may work well or Ill, for a time, and
will be approved or condemned accordingly;
whereas time, the great arbiter, only can demon
strate, ultimately, their correctness or incorrect
ness.
The people of every nation naturally desire to
study the character of their public men, and to
form an intimate acquaintance with the history,
acts and the deeds of al persons who have risen
to distinction in any of the walks of life This
desire manilests itself more strongly among US,
as a people. than among the people of any other
nation; and it is one of the Legitimate fruits of
our free institutions The individuality principle
may Justly be called the distinguishing character
istics OF the age and, of all the histories OF m
diyiduals, those are the most interesting and in
MA. u
through society. from the humblest walks of life
10 the highest points of distinctlon-tnose which
make us acquainted with the lives of men who.
by persey erance, zeal, energy and industry. have
made themselves known and felt in their day and
generation The world is always improved by
every triumph of the human intellect, and es-
pecially, by the examples of men who, by self
culture, moral worth, spd energy, have overcome
the greatest misunderstanding through all the
barriers OF wealth and hereditary honors in their
path-and forcing their way up to positions OF
eminence and usefulness. The history of the
lives of such men excites the young and ardent
mind to the Improvement of its highest and most
valuable faculties and gives society confidence in
human resources and progress. Noble examples
like these are the ordered nstrumentalities 10y
which the character of the world is improy ed
The career of no man affords more appropriate
and beautiful illustration of the fostering tenden
cy of our democratic Institutions, than is to be
found in the life and character of him whose
memory we have, this evening, met to honor.
'He has solved, in his own history, the problem
of sef-government"
For several years, the great principles Of popu
lar sovereignty, as applied &c the Territories in
connection with the repeal of what was called the
Missouri compromise, engrossed the earnest and
faithful attention of Senator Douglas. His la
bors in maintaining and expeunding these princi-
pies may be regarded as among the marked events
of his laborious life; and time. the great arbiter
has already settled these principles upon an en-
during basis, which will perpetuate the memory
of the wisdom and the patriotism of their eminent
expOunder.
The public mind is most wisely undergoing q
great change upon these subjects. 1t is now man
ifest that the removal of the restriction abso
lutely necessary for the free exercise of Terrific
rial legislation subjects of domestic policy, in
Guiding African slavery. Men are now fully com
pretending and realizing the truths proclaimed by
Judge Douglas in his unanswerable and prophet
ic speech of March 3, 1854. Subsequent events
have tended to demonstrate that the compromise
assures of 1885, in their just Interpretation, re
peaed, in spirit and substance, the Missouri COM
promise line. The almost luminous vote of the
South for the extension of this line, in iS4S and
1880 to the Pacific with the violent opposition il
met with in the North, bringing about its defeat
in connection with the Misrepresentation and vic.
fence with which these subjects were discussed
produced a condition OF popular feeling which
eliminated in the election of lS6O-bringing in
to the national Congress a large majority oil
Northern sectional men. Yet the prompt prac
teal application even by this Congress, of the
doctrines which Mr.. Douglas proclaimed, war
rants us in saying that he lived to see the great
principles which he had so long advocated finally
adopted by his country. His speech of 1854 was
prophetic-proying the truth of the sentiment
Great men are, in a certain sense, prophets
They precede their age to illume its path
TWAS nv fortune to enter upon terms of personal
acquaintance with Stephen A. Douglas at the com.
mencement of the frs; session of the 26th Con
gress, and to enjoy his friendship from that time
until his death Well do | remember his first eff
fort in the House of Representatives on the sub
iect of refunding to General jackson the fine as
sesscd against him, by Judge Hall, at New Or.
leans. That venerable man, John Quincy Ad-
ans, sat in his seat, his looks and motions al
WAYS Indicative of the events of the passing
hour. In the midst of the address, the old mar
eloquent was seen to raise his eyes with steady
and fixed misunderstanding every action, and
listening to every word of the young western or
ator and exclaimlng, as Mr. Douglas took his
seat. "That young man will be felt in this ma
ton"
1t will be remembered that this, his first speech
in Congress. was found among the papers of
General jackson. with Endorsement, in his
own handwriting, in these memorable words:
This speech constitutes my defense. | lay il
ABIDE as an inheritance for my grand children"
The great strength of Mr.. Douglas consisted
in his keen, nice and mtuitive perception of the
leading cardinal principles underlying our whole
system of government. No man was more ia
miliar with our colonial history. His intimate
and thorough knowledge of the history and
structure of the first organization of our fathers
up to the adoption of our Constitution, enabled
him to trace clearly our whole Territorial policy
Deriving his principles from this source, and
casting aside all adventitious circumstances and
specializing schemes. he took into his very being
the essential elements governing our institutions
| With him, true patriotism, or love of country
was the result of intelligent conviction of the
ability and capacity Of the Government to con
tribute the most certainly and efficiently to the
well-being and security of its citizens-iollowina
and connecting with this keen, full, and enthu.
siastic appreciation Of the beauty OF its institu
tons, and their adaptedness to the more perfect
development of mans mental, moral and politi-
cal nature.
A mere love of country, which is the result
alone of a Judgment convinced that il is vel
conceived and we'll suited to meet the wants Of
its citizens, may be safe enough, but is never eff
fectiye: and, while resting on this basis alone. j:
not apt to develop itself by positive acts anc
measures. If, however, yeu add to this warn
and effective zeal for the welfare of the country
founded upon the spirit of those who laid it:
foundations--a jealous and passionate fondnes'
for its fame. its growth its institutions, its laws
the Constitution, and the permancy of the Union
you have patriotism which is warm and mo-
| off and ir,dif
not desponding; and ready at all times to defend
the country from foes within and without. +.
How striking are the contrasts which are forced
upon our minds in the presence of different men
Often we find some in the highest POSITIONS al
times like the present. when the whole elements
are conrulsed. and society is upheaving. and az
you enter their presence, mingle in their CONVEX