Appletons' cyclopædia of American biography . n 1838, from which the foregoingfacts have been taken, Mr. Douglas thus spoke ofthis event: The excitement was intense, and Iwas rather severe in my remarks upon the opposi-tion. . The next week the Patriot, the organof the opposition, devoted two entire columns tome and my speech, and continued the same coursefor two or three successive weeks. The necessaryconsequence was that I immediately became knownto every man in the county, and was placed in sucha situation as to be supported by one party and op-posed by the other. . Within one week there-af
Appletons' cyclopædia of American biography . n 1838, from which the foregoingfacts have been taken, Mr. Douglas thus spoke ofthis event: The excitement was intense, and Iwas rather severe in my remarks upon the opposi-tion. . The next week the Patriot, the organof the opposition, devoted two entire columns tome and my speech, and continued the same coursefor two or three successive weeks. The necessaryconsequence was that I immediately became knownto every man in the county, and was placed in sucha situation as to be supported by one party and op-posed by the other. . Within one week there-after I received for collection demands to theamount of thousands of dollars from persons I hadnever seen or heard of. . How foolish, how im-politic, the indiscriminate abuse of political op-ponents whose humble condition or insignificanceprevents the possibility of injury, and who may begreatly benefited by the notoriety thus acquired!. . Indeed, I sincerely doubt whether I owe mostto the kind and efficient support of my friends. (and no man similarly situated ever had better and truer friends), or to the violent., reckless, and im-prudent opposition of my enemies/ Daring theremainder of the canvass Mr. Douglas boreapromi- nenf part, and on the assembling of the legislature, although not yet twenty-two years of age, he waselected attorney-general, an officerwho then, in addi-tion to his otherduties, rode themetropolitan cir-cuit. His oppo-nent was Gen. JohnJ. Hardin. Thisoffice he resignedin December, 1835,having been elect-ed to the lowerhouse of the legis-lature, of which hewas the youngestmember. The men-tal vigor and ca-pacity he theredisplayed, in strik-ing contrast withhis physical frame,which was then very slight, won for him the title of the Lit-tle Giant, which followed him through life. In1837 he was appointed register of the land-office atSpringfield. In 1838 he was the Democratic can-didate for congress; but his opponent was declaredelected by a majority of five vot
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