CHAPTER XVII

MRS. STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS

[MR. HORACE WHITE in Herndon's Life of Lincoln, by permission of D. Appleton & Co.]

At Havana I saw Mrs. Douglas (nee Cutts) standing with a group of ladies a short distance from the platform on which her husband was speaking, and I thought I had never seen a more queenly face and figure. I saw her frequently afterward in this campaign, but never personally met her until many years later, when she had become the wife of General Williams of the regular army, and the mother of children who promised to be as beautiful as herself. There is no doubt in my mind that this attractive presence was very helpful to Judge Douglas in the campaign. It is certain that the Republicans considered her a dangerous element.

[Missouri Democrat, St. Louis, September 9, 1858]

MRS. JUDGE DOUGLAS.-The wife of Judge Douglas was a visitor at the Fair Grounds yesterday, and received a good deal of attention. She is a lady of handsome personal appearance and possessed of a graceful carriage and easy manners. We understand that Judge Douglas is in town and will visit the Fair Grounds today, previous to speaking at Belleville.

[Springfield, Ill., correspondence Missouri Democrat, St. Louis, September 30, 1858]

His [Douglas] distinguished lady, who is such a potent auxiliary of his in this canvass, comes on a mission to Jacksonville in the course of a few days. She will stay there for some time and will, doubtless, win him scores of votes.

CHAPTER XVIII

TRIBUTES TO DOUGLAS

[Boston (Mass.) Courier, November 6, 1858]

The Buffalo Register and Times, now a supporter of the National administration but until recently in the Fillmore Whig interest, placed at the head of its columns in its issue of Thursday the following: For President in 1860,

STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS
Of Illinois

[The Press, Philadelphia, November 6, 1858]

A NATIONAL SALUTE OF Two HUNDRED GUNS

Will be fired this (Saturday) morning, at 12 o'clock, in honor of the recent victory of the principle of Popular Sovereignty, and especially in honor of the brilliant triumph of STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS, of Illinois, over an Administration of the General Government which has basely deserted the principles upon which it was elevated to power.

[Chicago Times, November 7, 1858]

DOUGLAS FOR PRESIDENT

The Buffalo Republic and Times, a very able and extensively circulated paper rejoices over the success of the Illinois Democracy, and raises to its column-head the name of Stephen A. Douglas declaring for an incomparable statesman for the Presidency in 1860.

[Daily Chicago Times, November 9, 1858]

DEMOCRATIC

GRAND DEMONSTRATION

There will be a grand celebration of the recent Democratic victory

by the

DEMOCRACY OF CHICAGO

on Wednesday evening, Nov. 17, including a grand

TORCH LIGHT PROCESSION

Democratics in the adjoining counties are cordially invited to be present and take part. The different railroads leading to the city will issue half-fare tickets for the occasion.

Exchanges through the State will please copy.

[The Press, Philadelphia, November 4, 1858]

THE LATEST BUT NOT THE LAST LESSON

Our latest despatches assure us that STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS has triumphed in Illinois. Never since the beginning of this Government has any political contest excited so much the public expectation and solicitude as that which was decided in Illinois on Tuesday last; and this not merely because of the principles involved, but because of the characters immediately interested. The spectacle of the entire Administration of the Federal Government with its vast patronage of a hundred millions of dollars, with its army of mercenaries and expectants, organized and rallied against one individual, standing by the principles of the Constitution and the principles and pledges of the Democratic party, was well calculated to arouse the profoundest feelings of men of all parties and in all sections of the Union. . . . . It has fallen to his [Douglas's] lot to take part in more exciting canvasses than any public man of our day. He it was who fought for the Democratic party in 1838 and in '40; in '44, when the annexation of Texas was in issue; in '46, when the Mexican war loomed upon the horizon; in 1848, when General Cass was the Democratic candidate; in 1850, when the Compromise measures became the olive branch of peace to the whole Union, and yet no message of peace to him, (for he was compelled to return to his own home and contend for those measures in the face of an infuriated multitude); in 1852, as the advocate of President Pierce; in 1854, when he applied the doctrine of Popular Sovereignty, asserted in the Compromise measures; and finally in 1856, as the heroic defender of this same glorious doctrine. And now, after all these struggles, with a career of unbroken consistency, without a blot upon his political record, even when his adversaries are compelled to stand forward and pay tribute to his courage and to his character, he has made an appeal to his own people at his own home, and he has been sustained.

[New York Herald, November 5, 1858]

THE ILLINOIS ELECTION

Triumph of Douglas

This is by far the most remarkable incident of the political canvass, -and is one of the most wonderful personal victories ever achieved by a public man. Mr. Douglas went home from Washington a proscribed