按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
A few days after his arrival the opportunity came to distinguish himself in the field of his future achievements。 A mass meeting was called at the court house for the purpose of endorsing the policy of the President in removing the deposits of public money from the United States bank and vetoing the bill for its recharter。 The opposition was bitter。 In the state of public temper it was a delicate task to present the resolutions。 The man who had undertaken it lost courage at the sight of the multitude and handed them to Douglas； and the crowd looked with amused surprise when the young stranger； who was only five feet tall； appeared on the platform。 He read the resolutions of endorsement and supported them in a brief speech。
When he sat down； Josiah Lamborn； an old and distinguished lawyer and politician； attacked him and the resolutions in a speech of caustic severity。 Douglas rose to reply。 The people cheered the plucky youngster。 The attack had sharpened the faculties and awakened his fighting courage。 He had unexpectedly found the field of action in which he was destined to become an incomparable master。 For an hour he poured out an impassioned harangue； without embarrassment or hesitation。 Astonishment at what seemed a quaint freak soon gave way to respect and admiration； and at the close of this remarkable address the hall and courtyard rang with loud applause。 The excited crowed seized the little orator； lifted him on their shoulders and bore him in triumph around the square。
The young adventurer in the fields of law and politics was thenceforth a man of marka man to be reckoned with in Illinois。 There were scores of better lawyers and more eminent politicians in the State； but a real leader； a genuine master of men had appeared。
In January； 1835； the legislature met at Vandalia。 Early in the session it elected Douglas State's Attorney of the First Judicial Districtan extraordinary tribute to the professional or political ability of the young lawyer of less than a year's standing。 He held the office a little more than a year and resigned to enter the legislature。
This was a really memorable body。 Among its members were James Shields； afterwards United States Senator； John Calhoun of Lecompton fame； W。 A。 Richardson； afterwards Democratic leader in the House of Representatives； John A。 McClernand； destined also to distinguish service in Congress and still more distinguished service as a major general and rival in arms of Grant and Sherman； Abraham Lincoln； an awkward young lawyer； from Springfield； and Douglas； whose fate it was to give Lincoln his first national prominence and then sink eclipsed by the rising glory of his great rival。 The only memorable work of the session was the removal of the Capital from Vandalia to Springfield； and the authorization of twelve millions of debt； to be contracted for government improvements。
Douglas； who had opposed these extravagant appropriations； having distinguished himself as a debater； an organizer and a leader； was； a few days after the adjournment； appointed Register of the United States Land Office at Springfield； to which place he at once removed。
In the following November he was nominated for Congress。 The district； which included the entire northern part of the State； was large enough for an empire； with sparse population and wretched means of communication。 The campaign lasted nine months； during which； having resigned the office of the Register； he devoted himself to the task of riding over the prairies； interviewing the voters and speaking in school houses and village halls。 The monotony was relieved by the society of the rival candidate； John T。 Stuart； who as Lincoln's law partner。 Stuart was declared elected by a doubtful majority of five； and Douglas； after soothing his wounded feelings by apparently well founded charges of an unfair count and threats of a contest； abandoned it in disgust and returned to his law office。 He announced his determination to quit politics forever。
But in December； 1838； the legislature began a session at the old Capital。 The Governor declared the office of Secretary of State vacant and appointed John A。 McClernand to fill it。 Field； the incumbent； questioned the power of the Governor to remove him and declined to surrender the office。 Quo warranto proceedings were instituted by McClernand； with Douglas and others as counsel。 The Supreme Court denied the Governor's power of removal。 The Court became involved in the partisan battle which raged with genuine Western fervor for two years。
In the early weeks of 1841； a bill was passed； reorganizing the Judiciary； providing for the election by the legislature of five additional Supreme Judges； and imposing the duties of trial Judges upon the members of the Court。 Meanwhile； Field had grown weary of the struggle with a hostile Governor and legislature； and； being threatened with a sweeping change of the Court； resigned in January； 1841。 The Governor appointed Douglas his successor。 Five weeks later the legislature chose him Justice of the Supreme Court and presiding Judge of the Fifth District。 He resigned the office of Secretary and began his judicial career； establishing his residence at Quincy。
This appointment to the bench was one of the most fortunate incidents in his busy and feverish life。 He was not twenty…eight years old。 Adroit； nimble…witted and irrepressibly energetic as he was； he had not yet developed much solid strength。 His stock of knowledge was scanty and superficial。 From force of circumstances he had devoted little time to calm thought or serious study。 Early convinced that all truth lay on the surface； patent to him who had eyes to see； he had plunged into the storm of life and； by his aggressive and overmastering energy； had conquered a place for himself in the world。 He was an experienced politician； a famous campaign orator； and a Justice of the Supreme Court at a period when most boys are awkwardly finding their way into the activities of the world。 The younger Pitt was Chancellor of the Exchequer at twenty…three； but he was the son of Chatham； nurtured in statesmanship from the cradle。 the younger Adams was Minister to the Hague at twenty…five； but he was already a ripe scholar and heir to his father's great fame。 Douglas was a penniless adventurer； a novus homo； with none of those accidents of fortune which sometimes give early success to gifted men。
The opportunity afforded the young Judge to extend his knowledge and mingle on terms of equality with the masters of his profession was such as rarely falls to the lot of a half…educated man of twenty…eight。 He did not become an eminent Judge； yet he left the bench； after three years' service； with marked improvement in the solidity and dignity of his character。
Chapter III。 Member of Congress。
The legislature met in December； 1842； to chose a Senator。 Douglas still lacked six months of the thirty years required； but came within five votes of the election。
In the following spring he received the Democratic nomination for Congress and resigned his judgeship to enter the campaign。 The District included eleven large counties in the western part of the State。 O。 H。 Browning of Quincy； a lawyer of ability； destined to a distinguished political career and to succeed to Douglas' vacant seat in the Senate twenty years later； was the Whig candidate。 They held a long series of joint discussions； addressed scores of audiences and so exhausted themselves that both were prostrated with serious sickness after the campaign。 The questions discussed are as completely obsolete as the political issues of the ante…diluvians。 Douglas was elected by a small majority。
He was in Washington at the opening of Congress and entered upon his eventful and brilliant career on that elevated theatre； though he was as yet only the crude material out of which a statesman might be evolved。 He was a vigorous； pushing Western politician； with half developed faculties and vague； unlimited ambition； whose early congressional service gave small promise of the great leader of after years。
The famous description of him contained in the Adams diary relates to this period of his life。 The venerable ex…President； then a Member of the House； mentions him as the homunculus Douglas and with acrid malevolence describes him as raving out his hour in abusive invectives； his face convulsed； his gesticulation frantic； and lashing himself into such heat that if his body had been made of combustible matter it would have burned out。
〃In the midst of his roaring；〃 he declares； 〃to save himself from choking； he stripped off and cast away his cravat； unbuttoned his waistcoat and had the air and aspect of a half…naked pugilist。〃 With all its extravagance and exaggeration； it is impossible to doubt the substantial truth of this charicature。 Adams did not live to see the young Member become the most powerful debater； the most accomplished political leader and most influential statesman of the great and stirring period that ensued。
The time was strange； as difficult of comprehension to the generation that has grown up since the War as the England of Hengist and Horsa is to the modern C