New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-09-07
Laying of the Cornerstone OF the Monument
to Stephen A. Douglas.
GRAFTON BY GENERAL DIX
Speeches by the President and Mr.. Seward

again shine upon so many assembled together This
rather an exaggerated view OF the matter but the General
was INDUCING In rhetoric.
THE PROCESSION.
The procession which was composed principally Of
reached Cottage Grove about 1t the intention TO
perform the ceremony OF laying the corner stone at high noon
but the long route traversed delayed it.
The President and suite received very alering ovation
along the route although there occasionally display OF
bitter feeling such flag flying Union down.
The Springfield Lodge No. of Springfield. Illinois Of
which Douglas member appeared in the procession A
number civil societies beside the in the line
aud the Ellsworth ZouaVss acted as guard Of honor to the
President
DOUGLASS GRAVE.
Tho grave Of Douglas with flowers and canoped
with American Aags and many old friend called hither
by ceremony paid the Of the departed statesman
the tribute Of q sad aud silent visit.
THE NUMBER PRESENT.
said that no occasion has before called many
people to Chicago from the different sections of the State
COTTAGE GROVE.
When the procession reached the beautiful grove on the
borders of Lake Michigan the Presidential party aghed
aud entered foot marching by the grave and so on around
the monument which being erected distance from It,
The Knights Tempas drawn up line aud saued the
President as he passed.
The President and Secretary Seward walked together and
Gen Grant and Senior Romero the MEXICAN Minister. fol-
lowed side by side suggesting the uflment OF Douglass
vorte propbecythat the Republic of the United States will
one day be with the American Continent
The first section already raised
and platform erected Of it, to which the Pres
Dental party and the orator Of the day were conducted
LAYING OF TIE coRNER SION.
The corner stone which really the stone OF the
shaft and not Of the monument then laid with all the
masonic ceremonies conducted by the Master Of the Grand
Lodge Of Illinois As descended into its place the
fGI uhf
obored out in the Lake fired minute guns
Tao ceremony was very impressive and watched with
grea, deal Of interest by the people Gen. Dix then delV
cred his Grafton which listened to with great attention
considering that rain fell at intervals
GRAFTON OF GES. DIX.
FELLOW CITIZENS: The scene in which actors to-
DAY. with al its surrounding circumstances and accompanying
recoectons has parallel in this or any other aye We
are assembled within the confines OF city numbering
200 OO inhabitants distant 900 miles from tie ocean. where
thirty years ago nothing seen but On un6roken eK
panse OF prairie side End the Ousread waters OF
Lake Michigan the otheboth extending far beyond the
compass OF the sight nothing heard but the voice Of the great
inland sea sands which its we're breaking
or the more unwecome voices OF the tribes who roamed
ovs these plains Where within half the span OF an
ordinary life there vast solitude all is full OF activity
and progress the Of polished civilization. In
dustry the display their stores with bouneousness
which might well be mistaken for the accumulated SURPRISES
Of centurle3 science teaching Tue tus hhe ue Oeen
developed by the researches Of the and eparging the
boundaries human knowledge BY discoveries education
Il universally dued and above AL the temples which re-
igion has reared TO the service OF Cod from every
precnc, and almost every stct OF the city point their
spires TO Heaven. it in acknowledgment Of the
erou protection under which las triumphed over all the
obstacles TO It's growth aud become sroug and sereant and
prosperous Feow.citzcns in other country OF the
present in no age past could such miracle Of cvlSa
hava heap this city and the
great West Of which Is by comparison but ncOnsider
able part poured the Of thousands who send
around extended that no human voice could
reach your ranks You have here to render the
homage OF your respect 10 the memory OF one who rose among
you the highest emhence for talent and Tor succrssu labor
service And the Chief Magistrate OF the Union who
10 the council chambers Of the stood side By de with
him In the darkest hour Of its peril and espoused with equal
zeal and eloqueuce the cause OF t1er common eOus.N
less constant quailed before the impending storm
has 10 join with you IN this act Of p0sthumons
honor courageous and patriotic statesman cut
off in the uess of his strength his usefulness and his fame
Where when has such concurcuce OF ccumsences ex
listed inspire with great thoughts and yet to make him
By their very greatness despair OF giving them appropriate
utteance No need look out OF mis- own breast Tor tie I'M
pulse which has gathered vast multitude toge nea null
tude which other shall ever relsembled IL Is
the strongest feelings OF nature to desire 10 perpe
uae the II those who from ties OF blood familiar as
ocaon valuable services have become dear to and
by the will Of God have been separated IRON us forever
There thousands within the reach OF my voice who have
been painfully conscious Of this by the bereavemens
which the unhappy domestic conflict ended has visited upon
the first pulse Of prolong the remembrance
grave into the solid which shall endure when have
PSms Of those We have loved ard lost Kindred to these
tributes OF affection Is tho debt Of gratitude which whole
community represented here In countless numbers has as
sembed discharge by the erection Of monument suited In
its proportions to the great qualities OF him whom 1t Is 10 COM
memorate-tolay the foundation OF The structure which 10
be piled up stone from the earth beneath our eet
the sky above and thus TO symbolic the emnenee to
which by his genius aud his ranScendant public
vices above the plane Of elevation wberethe great mass Of his
cotempoane stood and oed and srngged IN me hard rat
fla oil n
founded crowd OF people were at Winchester IN
property. when il about to commence clerk
was wnnted 10 keep the accounts AID no one could
be found wi was willing undertake the service.
Al tais moment youth. slender in person. and
feeble health who bad foot from Deighboring
town Joined the assembled crowd. He singled
ont by the salesman competent the and at
his urgent solicitation and tempted doubt by the offer of 81
three lay, ana before il was ended he had won all hearts by
bis his prompude his fankness and his urban
iy w the general Judgment that young man Of so much
promise should not permitted TO leave The neighborhood
school provided for him. and thus as clerk and teach
stranger without friends and without means not q years
Of sge relying the nlen,s God had given him. on an indus
Try which weared and courage which ayered
SisSHGR in the %e l. eHnS S douSed Ss song
people battling with the hardships OF new country
ance bad made confirmed BY knowledge OF
the difficulties be bad overcome In preparing himself Tor seve
life There was no romance IN his early years hls youth
Was the history Of hard work and Of perpetual struggle TO
cultivate the talents Of which be must rave become conscious
April 1918 On the LIST of July ensuing bis father died sud
denly while holding his infant son In he arms The nrst hf
teen wears OF hs life passed on farm with such adyant
ages Of instruction the district school afforded Having
other means education he apprentieed himself 10
ter and worked at his trade bu compelled to
abandon wantOf physical strength DE returned 10 his
native town entered academy ard devoted bimse 20
classical studies for year He then removed 10 Cananda
qua 10 New York and remained there three years. connu
ing his classical studies and for portion Of the tme study
ing tbs law all these phases OF his youth be syiueed
ths same intelligence and the energy which dstin
guished HE later years As apprentice carpenter
Re Ispsysd remarkable Genius for and had
nature marked him ont for emnence anOth sphere Of
ton be nigh, become ofthe Ell architects
OF the country 10 his classical ana legal studies be exhibited
the safe capsry distinction and while engaged
study Of the law he completed the his bog
rnher nearly the entire COLLEGIATE 10 Of The