The Life of Stephen A. Douglas - James Washington Sheahan - Google Books

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CONTENTS.

Ancestry.-Death of his Father.-Life on a Farm.-Disappointment.-Ap-

prenticeship.-Enters School.-Removal to Western New York.-Studies

Law.-Taste for Politics.-Goes to the West.-Experience in Cleveland.

-Cincinnati. —Louisville.-Trip to St. Louis.-Hon. E. C. Bates.-Il-

linois at that time.—Internal Improvements.-Douglas reaches Jackson-

ville...........

Want of Money. Goes to Winchester. - Clerk of Auction. -Obtains a

School.-Murray M'Connel.-Admitted to the Bar.-Personal Appear-

ance.-Jackson's Bank Policy.-Douglas proposes Meeting to defend it.

-The Meeting.-Douglas's Triumph.-Meeting of Legislature.-Douglas

elected State's Attorney.-Early Friends.-Predictions of his Failure.—

His Tact and Ability.-His Success.-Institutes Convention System in

Morgan County.-Its Success.-Douglas put on Ticket.-Democrats carry

Douglas in the Legislature.—Internal Improvement System.-National Poli-

tics. Reports against Divorces.-Proposes Plan for Internal Improve-

ments. Is overruled.-System adopted.-Appointed Register of Land-

office.-Gloomy political Prospects.-Convention System resorted to.-

Origin of Democratic State Organization.-Nominated for Congress.-

Memorable Canvass.-Is defeated.-First State Convention.-Public Din-

ner at Quincy.—Rejoicings of the Whigs.-Several Speeches.-The Case

of M'Clernand and Field.-Douglas's Argument.-Supreme Court.-Cam-

paign of 1840.-Douglas's Canvass.-Debates in the Lobby.-Appointed

Secretary of State.-History of the "Alien Suffrage."-Douglas presents

a hostile Decision.-The Vote saved for Van Buren.-Supreme Court re-

organized.-Douglas elected to the Bench.-His Circuit.-The Mormons.

-Saves Joe Smith's Life.-Gratitude of Smith.-Douglas's Influence with

the Mormons.-His Popularity as a Judge.-Caucus for U. S. Senator.-

Is defeated by one Vote.-Second State Convention.-Nominated for Con-

gress. His Opponent.-Is elected.-Violent Illness.-Leaves for Wash-

ington.-Retrospect..

Early Support of Jackson.-Speech on Jackson's Fine.-Invited to Tennes-

see.- -Monster Convention.-Visit to the Hermitage.-Interview with

Jackson.—Interesting Account.—Jackson's Estimate of Douglas's Speech.

-Speech at Inauguration of Jackson's Statue........

........ Page 59

Annexation of Texas.-Proposes 36° 30'.-It is adopted.-Mexican War.

-Great Speech on American Title, and in Defense of the War.-Treaty

of Peace.-Votes against it...........

Foreign Policy.-Oregon Boundary.-Democratic Platform.-54° 40'.-

Monroe Doctrine.-Clayton-Bulwer Treaty.-Debates in Senate.-Speech

on Monroe Doctrine.-Extracts from Debates.-Cuba.

Territorial Expansion.—Central America.—Annexation of more Territory.

-Friendship of England.-Repelling foreign Aggressions.-Filibuster-

ism.-Acquisition of Cuba.........

Compromise of 1850.-The Questions at issue.-The Demands on both

sides. Henry Clay in the Senate.-President's Message.-Plans of Com-

promise by Houston, Benton, Foote, Bell, and Clay.-Abolition of Peti-

tions.-Protracted Debates.-Speeches by Clay, Calhoun, Webster, Doug-

las.-Bills reported for California, the Territories, and Texas Boundary.

-Committee of Thirteen appointed.-Why Clay reported Omnibus.—

Conversation between Clay and Douglas.-History of Omnibus Bill.—

Davis's Amendments.-Restrictions on Territorial Legislation.—Soule's

Amendment.-Douglas votes for Wilmot Proviso.-His Reasons.-Texas

Boundary.-California.-Death of President Taylor.-Power of Terri-

torial Legislatures.-Extracts from Debates.-Destruction of the Omnibus.

-New Mexico put out.-Texas put out.-California put out.-Utah left

alone.-36° 30′ repudiated by the Abolitionists.-Passage of the Bill. 124

California Bill passed.-Texas Boundary Bill passed.-New Mexico Bill

passed.-Fugitive Slave Law passed.-Exclusion of free Negroes from

States.-Douglas's Speech.-Extracts from Debates on final Passage of

Compromise Acts.-Douglas returns to Chicago.-The Abolition Mob.-

Defends the Fugitive Slave Law.-Effects of the Speech.-The Compro-

mise in Congress.-His Speech in 1851.-Why his Vote not recorded for

Fugitive Slave Law.-Why he voted for Wilmot Proviso.-The Chicago

Speech.-Defense of Fugitive Slave Law........

The Nebraska-Kansas Bill.-Its Purpose.-The Freedom of the People.-

Douglas reports the Bill.-The Missouri Compromise.-Dixon Amend-

ment.-Sumner Amendment.-Bill taken up.-Chase asks Postponement.

—Meantime Chase issues his Address.—Douglas's Exposure of the Trick.

-Chase's Apology.-Protest of New England Clergy.-Of the Chicago

Clergy. 14th Section.-The Chase Amendment.-Its Design.—Why it

was voted down.-Extracts from Speeches of Wells, Toucey, Hunter, Cass,

Atchison.-The Badger Amendment.-Clayton Amendment.-Bill passed.

-History of Bill in the House.-Returned to Senate.-Passed.-Douglas's

Speech of March 3.-President Pierce and the Nebraska Bill.... Page 187

Anti-Nebraskaism. - Know-nothingism. - Douglas denounces Know-noth-

ingism at Philadelphia.-His Speech on that occasion.-Chicago Mob in

1854.-Description of Scene.-Reason for refusing him a Hearing.-Vio-

lence at other points.-The Election of 1854.-Fusion Legislature.-Elec-

tion of Trumbull.-Douglas offered a public Dinner at Chicago.-His

Speech on that occasion.-Visits New Orleans.-Denounces Know-noth-

ings at Richmond, Va..........

Relief of Supreme Court of U. States.-Douglas's Plan.-His Speech explain-

ing it.—Plan rejected.—Bill fails.-His Defense of Supreme Court... 277

Kansas in 1856.-President's Message.-Topeka Constitution.-Douglas's

celebrated Report, March 12th.-Reports a Bill enabling Kansas to form

a State Government.-Extracts from Report.-His Speech on same sub-

ject.-His Reply to Collamer.-Various Bills introduced.-Toombs's Bill.

-Bill passed.-House passes Bill admitting Kansas.-Senate amends it.

-Dunn's Bill passes House.-Douglas's Report upon it.-Laid on Table.

-House introduces Legislation for Kansas into Army Bill.-Disagree-

ment of Houses.-Congress adjourns.-Army Bill lost.-Congress con-

vened, and Bill passed........
284

The Lecompton Controversy.-Governors for Kansas.-Governor Walker.—

Conditions of Acceptance.-His Instructions and Inaugural.-Constitu-

tion to be submitted.-Meeting of Congress.-President's Message.-

Douglas's Speech of 9th December.......

-

Internal Improvements. - River and Harbor Bills.-Tonnage Duties.-
Douglas's Proposition.-Letter to Governor Matteson.-Illinois Central

Railroad.-History of the Measure before Congress.-Its Passage.-Its

Benefits to Illinois and the West.-Pacific Railroad.-Speech on sub-

Campaign of 1858.—The Lecompton Constitution.-John Calhoun.-Dem-

ocratic Protests.-Unanimity in Illinois.-President sustained.-Change

of Policy by Administration.-Disappointment in Illinois.-Strange Doc-

trines of Washington Union.-Panic of Republicans.-Their Hopes re-

vived.-President's Message.-Meeting in Chicago.-Speeches.-Bigler

and Fitch denounced.-Proscription commenced.-Danitism instituted.—

Democratic Convention.-New Delegations.-How got up.-Unanimity

of Democrats.-Meeting of the Convention.-Its Proceedings.—Its Reso-

lutions. Danite Convention.-Proscription continued.-Second Danite

Convention.-Republican Convention.-Democratic Papers in Illinois.-

Douglas returns to Chicago.-His Reception.-The Proceedings.-Lin-

coln's Speech, 17th June.-Douglas's Speech in Chicago............... 380

Lincoln addresses Meeting at Chicago.-Republican Aid to Danites.-Ger-

man Democrats of Chicago.-Douglas leaves for Springfield.-His Route.

-Douglas makes and announces his Appointments for Meetings.—The

List.-Returns to Chicago.-Lincoln's Challenge.-Its Cause.-Douglas's

Reply.-Joint Discussions agreed upon.-Trumbull speaks at Chicago.-

Proscription continued.-How a Democrat saved his Head.-Douglas's

Visit and Speech at Winchester.-Freeport Treason.-Popular Sovereign-

ty Doctrines of Orr, Douglas, Buchanan.-Joint Discussion at Ottawa.—

Its Result.-The Freeport Questions.-Douglas's Answers.-Is denounced

and read out of Party.-Douglas's Speech in '59 on same subject.-Joint

Debates. — Trumbull's Policy. — Imported Orators to "kill Douglas.”—

Danite Proceedings.-Washington Union.-Letters from Breckenridge,

Wise, and Clay.-Hon. A. H. Stephens. Labors of the Campaign.-

Douglas's last Speeches.-Returns to Chicago. -Election Day.-The Re-

sult.-Danite Vote.-Why it was small.-Efforts to Defeat Douglas con-

tinued.-Senator Coffee.........
416

Married in 1847.-Death of Mrs. Douglas in 1853.-His Children.-Mar-

ried in 1856.-Plantation and Slaves Story.-True Statement.-Remarks

in Senate upon it.-Slaveholders' Stories in 1858.-Mr. Slidell refutes

them.-Malignity of federal Officers.-Property in Chicago.-Donation

to University.-Aid in 1856 to carry Pennsylvania........

Douglas visits Europe.-Not presented to Queen Victoria.-Court Costume.
-Goes to St. Petersburg.-Interview with Nesselrode.-Costume Question
again. Is presented to the Emperor.-Sebastopol.-Douglas and the

Presidency.-Convention of 1848.-Supports Cass.-Convention of 1852.

-Convention of 1856.-Two-third Rule.-Buchanan obtains Majority.-

Douglas withdrawn.-His Letter.-Effect on Convention.-Illinois State

Convention in 1860.-Resolutions.-Conventions in other States.-Demo-

cratic Organization in Illinois.-History from 1837 to 1860...... Page 443

Utah.-The Mormons.-Prohibition of Polygamy.-Power and Expediency

of Congressional Legislation.-Mormon Government.-Their Want of

Loyalty.-Aliens to the Laws of the United States.-The Remedy for ex-

isting Evils.-Douglas's Views.-His Plan.-His Speech in 1857.-Min-

nesota.-Oregon.-Douglas and Organization of new States and Terri-

tories.-Naturalization Question.—African Slave-trade.............

Cincinnati Platform.-Anxiety for Endorsement of Nebraska Act.-His

Defense of that Platform.-His Interest in it.-Popular Sovereignty.-

Harper's Magazine Article.—Attorney General Black.-The Pamphlets.

-Gwin's Speech.-Douglas's Reply.-Cobb's unfriendly Legislation.--

An unchanged Platform.......

Harper's Ferry Affair.-Debates in Congress.-Douglas's Remedy.-His

Reply to Fessenden.-His Reply to Seward.......

Popular Demonstrations.-St. Louis, Memphis, New Orleans, New York,

Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington.-Service on Committees in House.

-On Senate Committees.-Public Lands.-Liberal Policy.-Homestead

Bill. Friendship for Agriculturists.-Opposition to Monopolies. -Con-

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