The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-09-19
Laying Of the Corner Stone Of the Douglas


ment in memory of Stephen A. Douglas. The presi-
dent and party this morning escorted to Fair
View, or Douglas Place, about three miles from Chi
cago. The procession was imposing. 1t included the
Masonic fraternity together with force Of police, the
chief marshal and aids who preceded the president of
tile United States, and Gen. Dix, the orator Of the
day.
Then came mayor Rice Seward cabinet ana other
distinguished guests, L. S. army officers Gen Grant,
Gen Rawlins, Neade's staff, Steadman Rousseau, Gus
tar and other prominent officers Z. S. navy officers
admiral Farragut, admiral Radford Lieut.. Mckinley
the trustees of The Douglas monument association,
members Of the grand lodge 4. K and A. NJ. of Hi
nos citizens, committee Of arrangements, the com
mon council OF Chicago the mayor and council of sis
ter cities Esd and 18th regiments of Illinois volun-
teers Ibernan benevolent society, French benevolent
society united of Erin, Union national society of
Italians father Mathews temperance society," traders
union OF Chicago, Boheman's Scavonic society Scla
vonc brotherhood, protestant Wesleyan societies. To-
cal Turner's sacety, singers society," sharp-shaoters
union singing association, German urycrein butch
ers association and citizens generally Arrived on
che ground the procession formed in the vicinity of
the base OF the monument The grave was beautiful
y decorated. The scene Of the ceremony was on the
shore of lake Michigan within ten feet of the water
Stands completely surrounded the tomb. The au-
dience massed in solid ranks. The entire spccta-
Gle formed an amphitheatre, of which the inclined
formed the sides, the open lake the background
Tie entry Of the presidents procession was the first of
the impressive points of the proceedings band Of
music preceded the cortege The battalion of knights
templars succeeded. the representatives Of the Ma
sonic fraternity followed. The hitter assembled stand
erected Immediately around the base of the monu-
ment, where they were prepared to perform the ap-
pointed rites At this point, and Just before the ap-
pearante Of the president, crowd broke the
rope placed around the reserved grounds and rushed
to nearly all parts Of the field. Order was fully re-
stored by the exerton Of the tempars and the ELS
worth zouaves. 4 light shower also fell but finished
soon enough to avoid any marring scene. The presi-
dent and party, with their heads uncovered entered
the ground. Seward had the presidents arm WelIes
and Randall walked together. Grant accompanied
Romero. The first il the e. &c Of proceedings was
brief and appropriate address by mayor Rice
The Masonic grand master Of Illinois, J. r Goran.
appeared in front Of the stand and delivered short
touching and eloquent address in which he paid glow
ing tribute to the memory Of the lustrous deceased
both friend and a Mason. lie referred TO the
fact that the statue will be placed monument Wis
ibe TO the voyagef OF this inland sea. The grand
chaplain then invoked the Divine blessing on the GER
emory, when the ceremony Of laying the cornerstone
took place According to the Masonic ritual after
blessing itwith bread, wine ana OIL the stone was
lowered into its place. while minute guns were fired
and the band played dirge. The grand master con
graduated those present the fact that there was
present less parsonage than the president of the
United States with the distinguished heads of the de-
partmens who he heard and believed was a member of
the Masonic fraternity This remark was applauded
by the capping Of hands. prayer was then deliv
cred by the Rev. Mr.. Mburn, of the protestant eps
copal church, when Gen. Dix addressed the assem-
beGe. The orator repeatedly interrupted by
applause, and when he concluded, the president was
called for. lie appeared in front of the platform and
delivered the following address;
FclIog CitjzeaS-I have Travelled over thousand
miles, after having been invited to attend the ceremo
ny Of laying the cornerstone of tie monument to be
erected. will say to my friends, personally and po
ticay that in accepting the invitation to be present
this occasion, it for the purpose of bearing
testimony of my high respect for who persisted
in the public service and whom respected and loved
Cheers have no eulogy to pronounce that has not
been done better than l could do it. and it will be
handed down and placed in possession of all who take
interest in the history and character of the dstin-
guiShed individual who is now no more Some men
may wear the wreath which the nation wrcathes for
those who serve their country in lofter positions or
they may be maced with laurel prepared for those
who defend her IN the hour Of peril and their names
may be engraved on the imperiShabe record Of ma
tona glory. This column is reared in memory Of the
working legislator and the representative man and his
reward will be the inscription of his name high on the
cenotaph erected by grateful nation to commemorate
the services OF those who lived and oed for the peo
pie and the Union of the States. Immense applause
Feliow-ctizens believe in my heart that if We could
communicate with the dead and cause them to know
what was transporting earth--were it possible for
Stephen A. Douglas to be disturbed from his sumber
lie would rise from his grave, shake off the habil-
Of the tomb and proclaim the constitution and
the Unon-thpy must be preserved. He was APP
Plauded retiring. Secretary Seward then came for
ward, in response to repeated calls. lie said like the
president, am not to make speech. Less than on
aRy other occasion could consent to speak without
consideration it would be disrepute to the grave
dead to offer the hurried and needless tribute to the
greatness and fame Of Stephen A. Douglas. Cheers
You have Just heard, as the world knows that s, A.
Douglas concerned many years in the great affairs
OF the nation at the capitol. You are not ignorant
that have been concerned with him in the same way
for the last ctveR years of his fe-that was his as
sO:ate in the senate for the last six months of that
period. was a fellow-laborcr on the same side in
supporting the same great cause. Need | say that
cause was the Union against the rebellion All the
previous portion of that time were in party sense
adVersarics 1t is among the proudet of my personal
reColleCtionS that although were enemies as the
world understands it, politically arrayed against each
other by partisan combinations for years and were
political friends and associates fer only six months
yet notwithstanding the widows, the children, the
kindred, the friends and the party of S. A. Douglas
paid the extraordinary compliment Of asking me to be
the orator on the occasion of which we have now as
sembled, it proved this, namely; That Stephen A.
Douglas was great and generous man. Had he not
BEEN he could not have gone through the years of op
position to me without leaving in my heart pang or
word; it proved what knew all the while that he
when they borne down by grief at his loss struck
down he the ramparts of his country's de-
fence came to me, and begged to commit to me the
Of his great fame and memory. I was unable to
accept the precious trust. | am glad now | declined
it, because rejoice that the task of his euogist has
been performed by one who throughout the whole of
life united to him in bonds of political and per-
sonai friendship: and who therefore could more Justly
appreciate his great merit, and who having sympa-
thised with him deeply and so long knew how his
fame ought to he presented for the emulation of lis
countrymen. the Grafton gust delivered
will live in history and the affections Of mankind long
after you and shall have passed away and even after
this cornerstone shall have crumbed into dust And
what, fellow citizens, made a whole nation admire him
during the eventul years of his life what was it that
has made US unanimous in the homage paid to his
memory? 1t was because in the most eventfu crisis
that overlooked his country he rushed forward to
the countrys defence and hazarded his life in the
effort to maintain and the Union Applause and
through it preserve for postery the blessings which
BY the will of Providence it designed to confer
1t shows one great and important truth, from which
men in every age should take encouragement. 1t is
mistake believe that the greatest merit on earth is
to found an empire a State. There is great merit
in founding great empire free State, but great
empire or a free State is always easily produced when
exigences and suitable convenicnces of things have
arrived-the springs Of exigences which cannot be