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-

........... Page 1

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

............

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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.....

27

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...

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

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

of Peacc.-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.-Soulé'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......

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-

trinės 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

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.........

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.-I8 - 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 eans, 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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