Parentage, Birth, and early Life of Stephen A. Douglas-He Studies Law

-Goes to the West-Teaches School-Admitted to Practise Law-His

Success as a Lawyer, and the Causes of it-Becomes Attorney General

of Illinois-Elected to the State Legislature-Electioneers for Martin

Van Buren for President, in 1840-Makes 207 Speeches in that Year,

and carries Illinois for the Democracy-Becomes a Judge of the

Supreme Court-Is Elected to Congress in 1843,

16

CHAPTER III.

Mr. Douglas' First Session in Congress-His Speech upon the Improve-

ment by Congress of Western Rivers and Harbors-His Great Speech on

the Bill to Refund General Jackson's Fine-General Jackson's Opinion

of the Speech-Mr. Douglas Reëlected to Congress,

20

CHAPTER IV.

Speech in Favor of the Re-Annexation of Texas-Mr. Douglas reports Joint

Resolutions, declaring Texas to be one of the United States-Texas

Annexed,

25

CHAPTER V.

Speech in Vindication of the Administration-Mr. Douglas elected to Con.

gress a third time,

28

CHAPTER VI.

Mr. Douglas Elected to the United States Senate-He opposes the Wilmot

Proviso-Speech on the Ten Regiment Bill-Bill for the Establishment

of the Territory of Nebraska-Pass to Gen. Santa Anna-Exertions of

Mr. Douglas in procuring Grants of Land to the Illinois Central Railroad

-He endeavors to extend the Missouri Compromise Line to the Pacific

Ocean-The Design defeated by Northern Votes-Bill for the Admission

of California-Indian Titles in the North-west-Protection to Emi-

grants,

32

CHAPTER VII.

Mr. Douglas supports the Compromise Measures of Henry Clay-Great

Speech on the 13th and 14th of March-Speech in favor of the Omnibus

Bill, June 3-The Nicholson Letter of General Cass-Mr. Douglas re-

turns to Chicago-He is Denounced by the Local Authorities-He

beards the Lions in their Den-Speech to the Citizens of Chicago-Its

Effect,

39

CHAPTER VIII.

Speech in favor of making Gen. Winfield Scott a Lieutenant-General-

Speech on the Fugitive Slave Law-Speech on the Foreign Policy of the

United States-Retrospective View of the Course of Mr. Douglas in

Congress up to this Time (1852)—Mr. Douglas the real Author of the

Compromise Measures of 1850-Bill for the Organization of the Territo-

ries of Kansas and Nebraska-Mr. Douglas opposes the Oregon Treaty

with England-Opposes the Peace Treaty with Mexico-Speech on the

Clayton and Bulwer Treaty-Report on the Organization of Nebraska

and Kansas-The Nebraska Bill-Debate on it-The bill passed, . 47

CHAPTER IX.

Mr. Douglas at Chicago, 1854, .

66

CHAPTER X.

Report of Mr. Douglas on the Territorial Policy of the Government-

Speech in Reply to Trumbull, and in Support of the Bill authorizing the

People of Kansas to form a Constitution and State Government--Speech

in Reply to Mr. Collamer-The Bill passed by the Senate-Report of

Mr. Douglas on the House Bill, .

72

CHAPTER XI.

A Retrospect-Origin and Causes of Disagreement with the President-

Not Provoked by Mr. Douglas-Mr. Buchanan owes his Nomination at

Cincinnati to Mr. Douglas-Telegraphic Dispatches-His Efforts to Elect

Mr. Buchanan in 1856-Speech at Springfield in 1857, defending the

Administration-President's Instructions to Governor Walker-Consti-

tution to be Submitted-Executive Dictation-Differences of Opinion

tolerated on all Subjects except Lecompton-Mr. Douglas' Propositions

for Adjustment-Resolutions of Illinois Democracy-Controversy termi-

nated by the English Bill-War Renewed by the Administration-Coali-

tion between the Federal Officeholders and the Abolitionists-Mr. Dou-

glas' last Speech in the Senate preparatory to Illinois Canvass, . 80

CHAPTER XII.

New Aspect of Affairs at the Federal Capitol-Mr. Douglas calls on
the President for Information in regard to Affairs in Kansas-Great
Speech of Mr. Douglas against the Lecompton Constitution-Speech in
Favor of the Crittenden-Montgomery Amendment-Speech on the Eng-
lish Bill-Speech in favor of conferring on the President Power to pun-
ish British Outrages,

. 93

CHAPTER XIII.

Mr. Douglas returns to Chicago-Brilliant Reception-Makes his Speech

opening the Campaign-Lays down Principles on which he conducted

CHAPTER XIV.

Mr. Douglas leaves Chicago for New Orleans-Received at St. Louis and

Memphis Brilliant Reception at New Orleans.

142

CHAPTER XV.

Mr. Douglas again in Washington-Experiences a Change of Atmosphere—

Scene shifts-Removed from Post of Chairman of Territorial Commit-

tee-His Services as Chairman-Pretext of Removal-Freeport Speech-

Letter to California in reply to Dr. Gwin,

144

CHAPTER XVI.

Letters to Dorr and Peyton-Speeches in Ohio, and Cincinnati Platform-

Charleston Convention-Presidental Aspirants-The Harper Article-

Black's Reply-Appendix of Attorney General-Rejoinder of Senator

Douglas-The Chase and Trumbull Amendments-Consistency of Sena-

tor Douglas, .

168

CHAPTER XVII.

Great Speech of Mr. Douglas on the Harper's Ferry Invasion-Anxiety to

hear him-His Speeches in Reply to Senators Fessenden, Jeff. Davis,

and Seward-The Caucus of Senators-Their Utopian Platform, . 189

CHAPTER XVIII.

Conventions of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and

Michigan; also of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and

New York-Claims of the North-west-Conclusion,

205