The Life of Stephen A. Douglas | Page 4

He was on the
wrong side of many struggles preliminary to the War. He was not a
profound student of political economy, hence is not an authority for any
party in the perplexing questions of recent times. The result is that the
greatest political leader of the most momentous decade of our history is
less known to us than any second-rate hero of the Revolution.
It is not of much importance now to any one whether Douglas is loved
or hated, admired or despised. It is of some importance that he be
understood.
I have derived this narrative mainly from original sources. The
biography written during his life-time by his friend Sheahan, and that
published two years after his death by his admirer, Flint, are chiefly
drawn on for the brief account of his early life. The history of his career
in Congress has been gathered from the Congressional record; the
account of Conventions from contemporary reports, and the Debates
with Lincoln from the authorized publication.
I have not consciously taken any liberty with any text quoted, except to
omit superfluous words, which omissions are indicated by asterisks. I
have not attempted to pronounce judgement on Douglas or his
contemporaries, but to submit the evidence. Not those who write, but
those who read, pass final judgement on the heroes of biography.

Chapter I.
Youth.

Stephen Arnold Douglas was born at Brandon, Vermont, on the 23rd of
April, 1813. His father was a physician, descended from Scotch
ancestors, who had settled in Connecticut before the Revolution. his
mother was the daughter of a prosperous Vermont farmer. Before he
was three months old his father, whose only fortune was his practice,
suddenly died. A bachelor brother of the widow took the family to his
home near Brandon, where they lived for fifteen years. When not

needed at more important work Stephen attended the common school.
but the serious business of life was tilling his uncle's fields.
At fifteen he sought help to prepare for college. His uncle declined to
assume the burden of his education and advised him to shun the perils
of professional life and adopt the safe and honorable career of a farmer.
The advice was rejected and he obtained permission to earn his way
and shape his future. He walked to Middlebury, a distance of fourteen
miles, and apprenticed himself to a cabinet maker. He worked with
energy and enthusiasm, became a good mechanic and bade fair to win
success at his trade, but owning to delicate health he abandoned the
shop after less than two years' service, and entered the academy at
Brandon, where he pursued his studies for about a year, when his
mother married again and moved to Canandiagua, New York. He there
entered an academy and continued an industrious student for nearly
three years, devoting part of his time to law study. This ended his
preliminary training. He quit the schools and applied himself to the
work of practical life.
In June, 1833, he left home to push his fortune in the West. His health
was delicate, his stock of money scant. He went to Cleveland, Ohio,
where he became acquainted with a lawyer named Andrews, who,
pleased with the appearance of the youth, invited him to share his office
and use his library, with the promise of a partnership when admitted to
the bar. The offer was accepted and he began his duties as law clerk. A
week later he was taken seriously sick, and at the end of his long illness
the doctors advised him to return home. He rejected the advice and in
October took passage on a canal boat for Portsmouth, on the Ohio river,
and went thence to Cincinnati. For a week he sought employment.
Unable to find it he went to Louisville, where another week was spent
in vain quest of work. He continued his journey to St. Louis, where he
landed in the late autumn. An eminent lawyer offered him free use of
his library, but an empty purse compelled him to decline the offer and
seek immediate work. He went to Jacksonville, Illinois, arriving late in
November, and addressed himself to the pressing problem of
self-support. The remnant of his cash amount to thirty-seven cents.

Chapter II.

Apprenticeship.

In those days Illinois was a frontier State with about 200,000
population, chiefly settled in its southern half. A large part of the
people were from the South and, in defiance of the law, owned many
negro slaves. The Capital was at Vandalia, although Jacksonville and
Springfield were the towns of highest promise and brightest prospects.
Chicago contained a few score of people to whom the Indians were still
uncomfortably close neighbors. Railroads and canals were beginning to
be built, with promise of closer relations between the