Stephen A. Douglas

Stephen Arnold Douglas (April 23, 1813–June 3, 1861), American politician from Illinois, was one of the Democratic Party nominees for President in 1860 (the other being John C. Breckinridge of Kentucky). Each lost to Republican Party candidate Abraham Lincoln, also from Illinois.

Service in Congress

In Congress, though one of the youngest members, he at once sprang into prominence by his clever defence of Andrew Jackson during the consideration by the House of a bill remitting the fine imposed on Jackson for contempt of court in New Orleans. He was soon recognised as one of the ablest and most energetic of the Democratic leaders.

Related Topics:
Congress - Andrew Jackson - New Orleans

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An enthusiastic believer in the destiny of his country and more especially of the West, and a thoroughgoing expansionist, Douglas heartily favoured in Congress the measures which resulted in the annexation of Texas (1845) and in the Mexican War (1846 - 1848). In the discussion of the annexation of Texas he suggested as early as 184? that the states to be admitted should come in slave or free, as their people should vote when they applied to Congress for admission, thus foreshadowing his doctrine of "Popular Sovereignty".

Related Topics:
West - Texas - Mexican War

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Douglas took an active share in the Oregon controversy, asserting his unalterable determination, in spite of President Polk's faltering from the declaration of his party's platform, not to yield up one inch of the territory to the United Kingdom, and advocating its occupation by a military force; indeed he consistently regarded the United Kingdom as the natural and foremost rival of the United States, the interests of the two nations, he thought, being always opposed, and few senators fought more vigorously against the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty (1850) or against the United Kingdom's reassertion of the right of search on the high seas.

Related Topics:
Oregon - Polk - Clayton-Bulwer Treaty - United Kingdom - Right of search - High seas

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Douglas ardently supported the policy of making Federal appropriations (of land, but not of money) for internal improvements of a national character, being a prominent advocate of the construction, by government aid, of a trans-continental railway, and the chief promoter (1850) of the Illinois Central; in 1854 he suggested that Congress should impose tonnage duties from which towns and cities might themselves pay for harbor improvement, etc.

Related Topics:
Railway - Illinois Central

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