Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-01-24
LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS
AS LAWYERS.

T
manners, and in appearance, than they.
Lincoln was a very tall, spare man,
six feet four inches in height, and would
be instantly recognized as belonging to
that type of tall. large-boned men, pro-
duced in the northern part of the Mis-
sissippi Valley. and exhibiting its Pc
culiar characteristics in the most mark
ed 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
accent, indicate that he was of the
Northwest ~
In manner. he was always cordial
and frank, and, although not without
dignity, he made every person feel quite
at his ease. | think the first impression
stranger would get of him, whether In
conversation, or by hearing him speak,
was that this is kind, frank, sincere,
genuine man of transparent truthful
ness and integrity; and before Lincoln
had uttered many words, he would be
impressed with his clear good sense, his
remarkably simple, homely, but ex-
pressive 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, so 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 strong, broad chest and
strongly marked features his manners,
also, were cordial, frank and hearty.
The poorest and humblest found him
friendly. He was. in his earlier years,
Observation-Disclosures with the rudest
and poorest man in the courtroom.
Those of you who practiced law with
him, or tried causes before him, when
on the bench, will remember that it
was not unusual to see him come off the
bench, or leave his chair at the bar, and
take a seat on the knee of friend, and
with one arm thrown familiarly around
his friends neck, have a friendly talk
or legal or political consultation. Such
familiarity would have shocked our Eng
lish cousins and disguised our Boston
brothers, and it has, l think, disap
peared. In contrast with this famil
iarity of Douglas, remember an anec
dote illustrating Colonel Benton's ideas
of his own personal dignity. A die
tinguished member of Congress, who
was great admirer of Benton. one day
approached and slapped him, familiarly
and rudely. on the shoulder. The Sen
ator haughtily drew himself up ant
said: THAT is a familiarity, sir, new
er permit my friends, much less com
parative stranger. Sir, it must not b.
repeated.
Lincoln and Douglas were, as W
know. both self-educated. and each tn
builder of his own torture. Each be
came very early the recognized leader o
the political party to which he belong
ed. Douglas was bold, unfinching, i'm
petuous, denunciatory and determined
He possessed, in an eminent degree, tn,
: qualities which create personal popu
/ larity, and he was the idol of his friends
Both Lincoln and Douglas were stroni
} jury-lawyers. Lincoln, on the whole
: was the strongest jury-lawyer we eve
} had in Illinois Both were distinguish
ed for their ability in seizing and bring
ing out, distinctly and clearly, the rea
points in case. Both were very hap
py in the examination of witnesses
\ think Lincoln the stronger of the two il
cross examination. He could compel
, witness to tell the truth when he mean
, to lie. He could make a jury lang
and. generally. weep, at his pleasure
. Lincoln on the right side, and espec
| tally when injustice or fraud were to b
/ exposed, was the strongest advocate
On the wrong side, or on the defencs
, where the accused was really guilty
, the client, with Douglas for his advc
cate, would be more fortunate than wit
Lincoln.
Lincoln studied his cases thorough
: and exhaustively. Douglass had
:, wonderful faculty of extracting from hi
associates, from experts and others, b
conversation, all they knew of subje'
# he was to discuss, and then making
s so thoroughly his, that all seemed
e have originated with himself. He {
perfectly assimilated the ideas an
knowledge of others. that all seemed
' be his own. and all that went into
mind came out improved.
His ablest speech in the House W;
made on the 9TH Of January, 1874, on
W bill to refund to General Jackson Il
s fine imposed upon him by Judge Hal
IS during the defence of New-Orleans.
this mastery argument, he took Il
IL 4