National Republican., 1881-02-05
THE ILLINOIS GIANTS.
ABE LINCOLN AND S. A. DOUGLAS.
Both Hen as Lawyers-The Pecaliaritles of Each,
Physical and OtherHise-The Great Speech
of the Little Giant for Jackson
Interesting Anecdotes.

of the Little Giant for Jackson
Interesting Anecdotes.
No two men could be found more unlike, physic
ally and intellectually, in manners and in appear
ance, than they
Lincoln was a very tall, spare man, six feet four
inches IN height, and would be instantly recog-
ni2ed as belonging to that type of tall large-boned
men produced in the northern part of the Missis-
Sippi Valley and exhibiting lis peculiar charac-
teristics in the most marked degree in Tennessee
Kentucky and Illinois
In any courtroom in the United States he would
have been instantly picked out as Western man.
His stature, figure, dress, manner voice. and ac-
cent indicate that he was of the Northwest
In manner he was always cordial and frank, and
although not without dignity he made every per-
son feel quite at his think the first impress
sion stranger would get of him, whether in con-
versation or by hearing him speak was that he was
KIND, frank, sincere, genuine man, of transpar-
ent truthfulnesS and integrity and before Lincoln
had uttered many words he would be impressed
with his clear good sense, his remarkably simple
homely, but expressive Saxon language, and next
by his wonderful wit and humor. Lincoln was
more familiar with the Bible than any other book
in the language, and this was apparent both from
his style and illustrations often taken from that
book. He verified the maxim that it is better to
know thoroughly a few good books than to read
many
Douglas was little more than FIVE feet high, with
q strong, broad chest and strongly marked feat
ures; his manners also were cordial frank, and
! hearty. The poorest and humbleSt found him
friendly. He was, in his earlier years hale-fel-
| low-well-met with the rudeSt and poorest man in
| the courtroom.
Those of you who prectsed law with him, or
! hpfnr i'm Who
remember that it was not unSuai 10 see him come
| OF the bench, Or leave his chair at the bar and
| take seat on the knee of friend and with one
! arm thrown familiarly around his friends neck
have friendly talk or legal OF political consul
tation. Such familiarity would have shocked our
English cousins and disguised our Boston brothers.
| ana 1t has, think, disappeared In contrast with
this familiarity of Douglas, remember an anec-
doe illustrating Colonel Bcntons ideas of his own
personal dignity. distinguished member OF
! Congress. who was great admirer of Benton, one
day approached and slapped him, famiiagly and
rudely, on the shoulder. The Senator haughtily,
| drew himself up and said: THAT is a familiarity
! SIR never permit my friends. much less a com
parative stranger. Sir, it must moi be repeated"
Lincoln and Douglas were, as we know both
selfeducated and each the builder of his own for
| tune. Each became very early the recognized
leader of the political party to which he belonged
| catory, and determined. He possessed in an emil
nent degree the qualities which create personal
popularity and he was the idol OF his friends Both
Lincoln and Douglas were strong jury lawyers.
Lincoln, on the whole, the strongest jury law
| yer we ever had i'll Illinois. Both were distin-
guished for their ability in seizing and bringing
out distinctly and clearly the real points i'll case
Both were very happy i'll the examination of wit
nesseS; think Lincoln the stronger of the two i'll
tell the truth when ne meant to lie. He could
make a jury laugh, and, generally, weep at his
pleasure Lincoln the right side, and especially
when injustice or fraud were to be exposed was
the strongest advocate; on the wrong side, or on
the defense, where the accused really guilty,
the client with Douglas for his advocate, would
be more fortunate than with Lincoln.
! Lincoln studied his cases thoroughly and ex-
haustiyely. Douglas had wonderful faculty of
extracting from his associates, from experts and
others, by conversation all they knew OF subject
he was to discuss, and then making it so
thoroughly his that all seemed to have originated
with himself. He so perfectly assimulated the
ideas and knowledge Of others that all seemed to
| be his own, and all that went into his mind came
| out improved.
His ablest speech in the House was made on the
7th of January, 1874 bill to refund to General
Jackson the fine imposed upon him by Judge Hall
| during the defense of New Orleans. In his mas
terly argument he took the then bold and novel
| ground that the fine imposed in violation of
law. It is curious fact that in his speech Doug
| las claimed for General Jackson many of the war
| powers exercised by President Lincoln and his
| Generals during the rebellion, and for which the
! President was so bitterly denounced by his poiti-
! cal opponents. This speech gave him national
reputation. After the death of the hero of New
Orleans pamphlet copy of the speech was found
! among his papers, with an Endorsement in Jack
| sons handwriting. and signed by him, i'll these
| words: This speech constitutes my defense
| lay it aside inheritance for my grand
| children"
| Mr.. Lincoln remained in active practice at the
| bar until his nomination for the Presidency in
! 1860. His reputation a lawyer and advocate
was rising higher and higher He had a large
practice Oh the circuit all the central part of
| this State, and he employed in most of the i'm
/ portant eases in the Federal and Supreme Courts.
He went on special retanerS all over Illinois, and
occasionally to St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Indiana
| His law arguments addressed to the judges were
always clear, vigorous and logical; seeking to
| convince rather by the application of principle
than by the citation of authorities and cases. On
the whole always thought him relatively stronger
before jury than with the court. He was quick
and accurate reader of character, and understood.
almost ntuitively, the jury witnesses, parties. and
judges and how best to address, convince, and in
| fuence them. He had a power of conciliating and
! impresSing every one in his favor. A stranger
coming into court, not knowing him, or anything
about his case, listening to Lincoln few moments
would find himself inyoluntarily on his side and
| wishing him success His manner was 50 candid,
! SO direct, the spectator was impressed that ne
seeking only truth and justice. He excelled all
I ever heard in the statement of his case However
complicated, he would dsentangle it. and present
the turning point in way simple and clear that
/ all could understand. Indeed his statement often
rendered argument unnecessary. and often the
court would stop him and say, "Ifthat is the case
we will hear the other side" He had in the
highest possible degree, the art of persuasion and
| the power of conviction. His illustrations were
! often quaint and homeiy, but always clear and
apt and generally conclusive. He never mis-
stated evidence but stated clearly and met fairly
and squarcly his opponents case. His wit and
| humor and inexhaustible stores OF anccdote, al
ways to the point, added immensely to his power
as jury advocate.-Hoa. l. n. 1iHold before the
! Illinois Bar association
| NEW PUBLICATIONS.
| BELLIES AND RINGERS A Novelette,. By
| HAwLEY SMART, author of "Breezie Langton,
| "CourtShip in Two Centuries Play or Pay
| &c Philadelphia J. B. LiPpincott d. Co. Wash