Chicago's Tremont House - where Douglas died
The Little Giant Has Died
From The New-York Times June 4, 1861:
DEATH OF SENATOR DOUGLAS.; His Remains to be taken to Washington. THE NEWS IN CANAIDAGUA. THE NEWS IN ALBANY. THIS NEWS IN POUGHKEEPSIE. …
CHICAGO, Monday, June 3.
Senator DOUGLAS died at ten minutes past 9 o’clock this morning. Those in attendance at the time were Mrs. DOUGLAS, Dr. MILLER, Mrs. CUTTS; J. MADISON CUTTS, Jr., of Washington; D.P. RHODES of Cleveland; Dr. McVICKAR, SPENCER C. BENHAM, and Dr. HAY, of Chicago. His remains will be taken from here on Wednesday, to Washington.
The Little Giant (LOC - LC-USZ62-110141)
CANANDAIGUA, Monday, June 3
Tidings of the death of Judge DOUGLAS fills the hearts of our citizens with sorrow. Our bells are tolling and the flags at half-mast, draped in mourning.
A splendid flagstaff was raised in front of the Town House amid the cheers of the people, to day, and it now bears a flag in mourning, at half-mast, out of respect to Judge DOUGLAS. He (DOUGLAS) was educated here, and is remembered by many of our citizens. A fine portrait of him occupies a prominent position in our County Court room.
Mrs. J.N. GRANGER, the only sister of Judge DOUGLAS, while on her way to the depot at Clifton Springs, to take the train for Chicago on Saturday last, was thrown from her carriage, and was injured, and barely escaped with her life.
The mother of Judge DOUGLAS, who resides at Clifton Springs, is overwhelmed with grief at the death of her only son.
ALBANY, Monday, June 3.
The intelligence of the death of Senator DOUGLAS causes deep grief here. Flags are flying from the Capitol and other places, at half mast, as a mark of respect to his memory.
POUGHKEEPSIE, Monday, June 3.
On the publication of the news of the death of Senator DOUGLAS most of the flags throughout the city were lowered to half mast and the bells tolled. …
The editors of The New-York Times disliked most of Douglas’ Democrat policies, but respected his support for the Union as the secession bandwagon began:
The Death of Senator Douglas.
Had we the power to choose when men should die, we might uncharitably hurry a host to their fate, while others we should earnestly grasp and retain. The present is not the time for the nation to lose Mr. DOUGLAS, At a moment when the entire fabric of our institutions is shaken to its base, and men of character, energy and executive ability, and possessed of the popular confidence, are demanded to lead the great movement for the redemption of our national unity, Mr. DOUGLAS was not to be spared; and our private reasons for lamenting the death of the individual are aggravated immeasurably by the untimely death of an invaluable popular leader. It was just at the moment that the politician was lost in the patriot, and it had become possible for the errors of a political career to be nobly atoned, that the opportunity was torn away.
Non-coercive 1860 campaign envelope (LOC - LC-USZ6-693)
The character of Mr. DOUGLAS, as the type of a class of men peculiar to this country, is deserving of careful study. Entirely self-dependent and self-made, his way through the world was forced by dint of sturdy shouldering and incessant blows. His energy, directed by a mind singularly prompt and subtle, and by a courage which nothing of opposition and personal hostility could daunt, was sufficient for every emergency of his public life; indeed, its excess rather carried him beyond the limits which a prudent consultation of self-interest would have marked. …
It is agreeable to pass from this page of biography to a later and more honorable chapter. Mr. DOUGLAS lent invaluable aid to Mr. LINCOLN’s Administration by his prompt renunciation of party ties, and his earnest cooperation in the measures necessary for the conquest of the rebels, long before the attack on Fort Sumter had produced a corresponding change in the Democratic sentiment of the North. From that moment he labored with characteristic industry in strengthening the patriotic resolutions of the Western people; and was about to accept rank as Major-General in the army, very properly tendered him by the President, when prostrated by this mortal sickness. If, resuming our partisan uniforms, we find much to censure and object to in the political career of Mr. DOUGLAS, we can safely permit the purer light which gilded his latter days, to fall upon, and mellow, and atone for the past.
Stamped 'Patriot' - Civil War union envelope (LOC - LC-USZ62-53591)
In private life, and especially in social intercourse, Mr. DOUGLAS was unusually attractive. His vigorous, acute, creative intellect stimulated other minds in contact with it to abnormal activity, and his wealth of anecdote, observation and reading, rendered his conversation as amusing as it was suggestive and instructive. In his domestic relations he was peculiarly happy. A warmly affectionate nature prepared him to enjoy the society and intimacy of his children, whom he was never willing to spare from his side. The frank and confidential character of the relations between him and his amiable wife have, in the publicity of his career during the last year or two, been matters of popular remark and admiration. In every relation indeed, whether as a statesman, a citizen, a father, or a husband, the loss of Judge DOUGLAS is an incalculable one; and one the entire people will unite in deploring.
The Little Giant (LOC - LC-USZ62-90675)
S. A. didn't win 1860 election (LOC - LC-USZ62-12424)
