One of the most noted statesman of the day was the subject of this
narrative. Short, thickset, and muscular in person, and strong in
intellect Stephen A. Douglass came to be known as 'The Little Giant.'
For many years he held a very conspicuous place in the political history
of the republic. He was a native of the 'Green Mountain State,' being
born at Brandon, April 23d, 1813. When he was about two months old his
father, who was a physician, died, and his mother removed to a small
farm, where Stephen remained until he was about fifteen years old.
Having received a common school education he was very anxious to take a
college course, but this being impossible, he determined thereafter to
earn his own living. He accordingly apprenticed himself to a
cabinet-maker, but his health would not allow the pursuit of this
business, and he was compelled to abandon the undertaking.
When he was possibly able he removed to Illinois. Upon his arrival in
Jacksonville his entire wealth consisted of the sum of thirty-seven
cents. He determined to start a school at a place called Winchester,
some fifteen miles from Jacksonville, and as he had little money, walked
the entire distance. Arriving in Winchester the first sight that met his
eyes was a crowd assembled at an auction, and he secured employment for
the time being as clerk for the auctioneer. For this service, which
lasted three days, he received $6, and with this sum he started a
school, which occupied his attention during the day.
For two years previous he had studied law during his SPARE MOMENTS; much
of his time nights was now devoted to the completion of his legal
studies. Being admitted to the bar during the following year, 1834, he
opened an office and began practicing in the higher courts where he was
eminently successful, acquiring a lucrative practice, and HE WAS ELECTED
ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE STATE BEFORE HE WAS TWENTY-TWO.
He soon became a member of the legislature, taking his seat as the
youngest member in that body. He was the Democratic nominee for
Congress before he had acquired the required age, however, his
twenty-fifth birthday occurred before election, thus this obstacle was
removed. In his district a most spirited canvass took place, and out of
over thirty-five thousand votes cast, his opponent was declared elected
by only five. He was appointed register of the land office at
Springfield, but resigned this position in 1889. He became Secretary of
State the following year, and in 1841 was elected a judge of the Supreme
Court at the age of twenty-eight. This position he also resigned two
years after to represent his district in congress where he was returned
by successive elections until 1848.
He was recognized as one of the able members while in the national
legislature, and his speeches on the Oregon question are models. He next
became a Senator from his State, and supported President Polk in the
Mexican war. As is well-known he was the father of the Kansas-Nebraska
act, popularly known as 'Squatter Sovereignty,' carrying the measure
through in spite of great opposition.
He was a strong candidate for the Democratic nomination for the
presidency in 1852, and his strength was still more developed four years
later when he was the favorite candidate save one, James Buchanan, who
finally received the honor. At the end of the next four years he was
nominated by the convention meeting at Charleston, and was the unanimous
choice of the northern wing of the Democracy, but bitterly opposed by
the Southern faction, who nominated Mr. Breckinridge at a separate
convention. This caused a split in the Democratic vote, and Mr. Lincoln
was elected on a minority of the total vote cast.
Stephen A. Douglass however, like Webster and Clay, needed not the
honor of occupying the presidential chair to make his name illustrious.
He was remarkably successful in the promotion of his State's interest in
Congress. To him is due the credit of securing the splendid grant of
land which brought about the successful operation of the Illinois
Central railroad which contributed so much toward the weakened resources
of the State. As previously stated, Mr. Douglass was defeated by Mr.
Lincoln, yet at the outbreak of the civil war his voice was heard in
earnest pleas for the Union, declaring that if this system of resistance
by the sword, when defeated at the ballot-box was persisted in, then
"The history of the United States is already written in the history of
Mexico."
He most strongly denounced secession as a crime and characterized it as
madness. His dying words were in defence of the Union. To say that Mr.
Douglass was a wonderful man is the least that can be said, while more
could be added in his praise with propriety. As an orator he was
graceful, and possessed natural qualities which carried an audience by
storm. He died June 3rd, 1861, at the outbreak of the civil war. Had he
lived no one would have rendered more valuable assistance in the
suppression of that gigantic rebellion than would Stephen A. Douglass.
But it was in the great political debate between himself and Abraham
Lincoln that Mr. Douglass gained his greatest notoriety as well as
Lincoln himself. The details of this debate will be seen in our sketch
of Mr. Lincoln.