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

exhioiting IN every position IN which be was placed,
abilities OF the highest order, and most striking
qualities. he Possessed. in an eminent degree,
the qualities Of decision and frmness; but, above
all, lie was blessed with AN indomita6le ciL-an
iron aerUe-an unbending integrity, which ad-
yersIty could not move, nor misfortune conquer
His public life is full OF instances of courage
Gus action and fearless Independence Having
investigated subject, and formed his opinion be
had the will to carry it out, in steady defiance of
all opposition. Arraigned by an Administration
coming into power in the fcll tide OF prosperity
charged with want of feslty to his party-sur-
rounded by host Of hostile ofliceholders, ex-
claiming g He has gone over to the Republicans;
he is raitorl Burr an Arnold !"-deserted
by false men whom he had nursed into political
distinction and high public stations-assailed by
the Parthian arrows of a host of enemies-de-
prived Of the confidence and sympathy of the
powerful political party with whom. upon sin
gle question only, he agreed -daily receiving the
anathemas of subsidized and corrupt press
yet, threatened, maligned, deserted, betrayed,
alone, he "spurned Executive smiles, when those
smiles were invitations to crime; and with giant
arm he struck to the dust the slaves who sought
TO bind him with chains of Executive despotism.
Standing almost alone in the Senate House, be
met the storm, and sustained the shock unmoyed;
and never laid down his arms until the foul mon
stes, Lecompton, lay dead and PROSTATE beneath
his feet"
A characteristic compliment was paid to him,
about the time of the contest for the Office of
Speaker on the opening of Congress, in Deem
Der, 1859. 1t seems that a well known editor
had commented, with some severity, on the
course of distinguished member of Congress,
and charged him with making speeches, (some
of which were to defend himself from the accu-
sation of circulating the Helper Book, instead
of proceeding with the business of electing q
Speaker. The NJ c. retorted upon the editor,
and, among other things, intimated that he had
connived at the election of Judge Douglas to
the Senate, from Illinois, in 1855 To this
charge, the editor replied, in substance -
never agreed with Mr.. Douglas upon any one
subject but Lecompton- But, he has one thing
about him, which wish you, and MANY more of
the Republican party, had. i call it Pluck. If
he had said that Tom Paine's Age of Reason
was purer and better document than the Ser
mon of the Saviour on the Mount, he would
never have risen in his place to apologize for it,
but said-malse the most of it.
Public opinion has condemned the practice of
candidates for the first Office in the Union en-
gazing in political discussions. But this prac-
tice is certainly as commendable as the custom
of writing letters to various portions of the
country, or as q refusal to answer new and i'm
portant questions touching the national integrity
and stability. Who does not admire the indie
pendence and frmness of the man who, when he
was asked under Virginia sun, on the eve of
the contest of 1850, what his course would be, if
Mr.. Lincoln was elected, and Southern State
should secedel promptly replied-'.I go for the
enforcement of the laws of the Union. Who
ever is President is bound by his oath to carry
the laws into faithful execution; and it is the
duty of every law-abiding mani care not what
may be his politics-to aid in the execution of
the laws" Noble and patriotic sentlmentsl For
tunate it would have been for the country, if an
other aspirant could have been prevailed upon to
give the same response to a similar inquiry.
The most remarkable features in his public adj
dresses appear in the practical views, the statis-
| teal facts and the historical information which
they embody. If you heard him address the
thousands of Farmers, at the State Fair at
Rochester, New York, or the young men of the
country, at the Lyceum, or the masses of his fell
low-citizens at the hastings the once dignified
Scnate-be the subject what it might-practical
views and not theories, formed the leading points
in his discourse. He was not man of theories.
1t gave him pleasure to deal with facts. His pub
lie addresses will make, at least, fifteen volumes.
The future student of our history and times, will
consult them with the same ayidity as the poll
tician of his day; and he will find the subject
was exhausted in the hands of this master.
In his private intercourse urbanify and kind
ness marked all his actions; and much of his
success is attributable to his pleasant manners
and address. Amidst the heat and ardor of de-
bate, assaulted by the most reckless and unscrupu-
lous men of the day, led on sometimes by pow
erful and united opposition, at others by the full
weight of an Administration just placed in pow
err and distributing its favors lavishly with the
view of crushing him down-yet, how seldom
was he led to the utterance of unkind PERSONAL
ties. Those of us who have enjoyed much OF
| col 10 ind
courtesy when speaking of those who made him,
almost constantly, the object of their personal
attacks. As YOU travel over the lovely plains
and prairies of his own Illinois, and hear the
warm expressions of friendship and attachment,
which greet YOU on every side, at the mention of
his name, you are irresistibly impressed with the
conviction that he was truly beloved by those
who knew him best.
No sketch of the character of Judge Douglas is
complete, which omits to refer to his watchful,
Jealous and efficient services in preserving the
Constitution from the construction contended for
BY many, IN relation to preference given in the
protection of one class of property over another.
1t is true, Executives of States, and others in
high official pos tions, labored, some of them in
scores OF columns, to prove that, by some unde-
| fined, mysterious, unaccountable means, not per-
ceivabe to the ordinary intellect, our fathers did
give special protection and preference to pc
culiar kind of property. Hei was who rescued
the memory of the trainers of our national Con-
stitution from such charges, by maintaining and
establishing this great truth: The Constitution
does not fix property relations. They are the
subjects Of local law. All the property owned
by citizens of the United States. under State
laws, must legally stand in the same attitude be-
fore the Constitution. The power to say what
shallor shall not be property, rests with the PEG
pie, in their State and Territorial organizations,
and not in Congress. Upon this principle, we
can alone maintain the peace and security of our
diversified and various interests. 1t is the corner
stone upon which the security and perpetuity of
this Union must rest.
1t has been said that Mr.. douglas was ambi-
tious-that his efforts were made for his own ag-
grandisement." What act of his life sustains
these assertions? His history is before the ma
ton. Let the faithful student go and search his
records. Examine his conduct upon the compro
mise measures of 1850. Hear his language, in
reply to Mr. Clay, who had intimated that 1t
would be unjust TO take the bills, reported by Mr..
Douglas, from the Committee on Territories, as
he was their author and entitled to all the honor
of preparing them. Mr.. Douglas then said l
respectfully ask you. Mr.. Clay, what right have
you to whom the country looks for SO much, and
as an eminent statesman having charge of great
measure for the pacifcation of distracted coun-
try, to sacrifice to any extent the chances of sue
cess on mere punctilio as to whom the credit
may belong of having first written the bills? i,
sir, waive all claim and personal consideration in
this matter, and insist that the committee shall
pursue that course which they may deem best
calculated to accomplish the great end we all
have in view, without regard to any interest
merely personal to me"
The great statesman of Ashland then arose and
extending his hand to Mr.. Douglas, said-''Y gu
are the most generous man living. Twill unite
the bills and report them; but justice shall never
theless q. done to you as the real author of the
measure Most faithful to bis promise, Mr..
| Clay always awarded to him the highest praise
for his devotion to the country, throughout that