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

it,.

104

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

LIFE AND SPEECHES

OF

STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS.

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.

THE object of the author of this book is to present to the people of the United States a truthful delineation of the character and qualities of the greatest American statesman now living.

of

The public life of Mr. Douglas naturally divides itself into five periods. The first, from his entrance into Congress in 1843, to the close of the war against Mexico, in 1848. Second, from the close of the Mexican War to the passage the Compromise measures of 1850. Third, from the passage of the Compromise of 1850, to the passage of the Nebraska Bill in 1854. Fourth, from the passage of the Nebraska Bill, to the third election of Mr. Douglas to the Senate, in the fall of 1858. Fifth, from the commencement of his third Senato rial term, in March, 1859, to the meeting of the Charleston Convention in April, 1860.

During the first period, Mr. Douglas appears among the most active and influential friends of the re-annexation of

Texas to the United States, and causes to be run through Texas the Missouri Compromise line of 36° 30'; and when the war with Mexico breaks out, he is found among the ablest supporters of the administration, and one of the foremost of our statesmen in upholding the honor of our flag and in prosecuting the war with a vigor and prudence that led to an honorable and satisfactory peace. In this period, too, Mr. Douglas is seen endeavoring to carry out in good faith the principles of the Missouri Compromise, by extending the line of 36° 30′ westward through our acquisitions from Mexico to the Pacific Ocean; in which attempt he was frustrated by northern Freesoilers.

GREAT MEASURES OF MR. DOUGLAS.

The second period was one of the most important in the whole life of Mr. Douglas. He is seen at this time, shaping and molding for the territories of the United States, those institutions of government upon which his fame as a statesman rests, and upon which depend the happiness of millions of American citizens, and the prosperity of a dozen new States. In treating of this period of the life of Mr. Douglas, I have shown that he is the real author of the Compromise measures of 1850, so generally attributed to Henry Clay. In this period, too, we see Mr. Douglas coming home to his constituents, and in the presence of an infuriated mob, proclaiming the propriety and expediency of those measures with such matchless eloquence, that the voices of faction and fanaticism were hushed, and the citizens of Chicago passed resolutions declaring their adherence to those very measures which they had the day before denounced.

Toward the close of the third period, we see Mr. Dougias bringing forward the details of his great plan for the government of the territories, in the shape of the Kansas and