The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-09-11
About Conspiracies.

Abost Conspiracies.
About the main part of all Lineoln's sresch.
es since he has entered upon the Senatorial
Campaign has been an attempt to give plaus.
Utility to charge, invented by Greedy and
men of that stamp, that Judge Douglas, Sen.
ator Toombs, Presidents Pierce aud Buchau.
an, and the Judges of the Supreme Court of
the U. S., and members of congress from
the south generally, had, as early Is 1854,
entered into grand conspiracy, the object
Of which was to force slavery into all the
territories of the U. s. The Nebraska Bill '
was the first step towards the consumma.
ton of this scheme, and the bred Scott de-
cision the climax. All the steps had been
marked out from the beginning, and were to-
ken one after tho other in regular order,
each fitting IS perfectly as the framework Of
building. This is Lincoln's charge I'm
fortunately for the chain Of proof, however,
it turns out that the suit in the bred Scott
case was not commenced until 1856, two
years after the conspiracy Was formed, and
as its success is said to have mainly depen-
ded upon that, the argumentin favor of any
such conspiracy whatever, loses its under
pinning, and falls for want of consistency
The framework don't ct together.
While Lincoln is SO earnestly pressing this
foolish conspiracy charge, however, he is
wholly oblivious to another cba,6e Of
conspiracy, in which he hmsslfcuts prom.
inent figure, and which has this solid advan-
tage over HE charge, that lis supported by
direct proof The charge We alluds to was
made by Judge Douglas in his speech at
Ottawa in these terms:
"In 1854, Mr.. Abraham Lincoln and Mr..
Trumbul entered into IN arrangement, one
with the other, and each with his respective
! friends, to dissolve the old wbig party on
the one hand, and to dissolve the old demo-
cratic party on the other, and to connect the
members Of both into an Abolition party
under the name and disguise Of . Republi-
can party. The business was to be cenduc-
ted on the plan: LIST. That they would all
combine and elect Mr.. Trumbull to congress
and thereby carry his district for the lesis-
lature in order to throw al the strength
the Democrats; I'd. That when the Legisa-
ture should meet, the officers Of that body,
such as Speaker, clerks, eoorkeepers, &c,
should be given to the Aboltionists; 3D.
that the Wings were to have the u S. Sen.
ator."
| The principle witness produced by Judge
Douglas to prove this charge was james Il.
Matheny, the present Republican candidate
for congress in the Springfield district and
a particular personal friend of Lincoln's-
Matheny being called to the stand tes.ifes
as follows:
1.-TWO years ago this fall, q. O., two years
before the fall of 1860 the Wings, Adolf.
tiOnists, knowNothings, and renegade De-
mocrats maze solemn compact for the pur.
pose of carrying this state against the de.
mocracv. on this plan. LIST. That they would
all combine and elect Mr.. Trumbuil to con
gress, and thereby carry his district for the
Legislature, in order to throw all the strength
that could be obtained in that body against
the democrats. ID That when the legisla
ture should meet, the officers OF that body
such as speaker, clerks, doorkeepers, &c
would be given to the aboli,ionists; and Sd
that the wings were to have the L. S. scna
J
bull was elected TO congress, and his dis
trict carried for the legislature, and when i
convened the aboli;ionists got all the OIL
t GERS of that body. and thus far the "bond'
was fatally executed. The Wings, on ,hei
part, demanded the election Of Abram Lin
, coin to the United States senate, that III
bond might be fulfilled, tho other parties L
the contract having already secured to then
; all that was ca,led for. Blu, in the most er
fidious manner, they refused to elect Nj
Lincoln; and the mean, low-ived, sneakinl
Trun,bull succeeded by pledging all tina
e was required by any party, in thrus,in
S Lincoln aside and fois,ing himslf, an ex
crescence froue the rotten bowels of Desnoc
racy, into the United States senate, an
thus it has ever been, that an honest ma
n makes bad bargain when he eonspires o
: contracts with rogues."
That will 90, Mr.. Mathsny; you can stan
= aside. Are there any other wi,nesses?-
r Burton c. Cook, in speech at the cour
, house in Ottawa last Saturday evenin
8 talked about the conspiracy charge betwee
the Presidents, southern members Cf con
5 g-ess, and the Judges Of the Supreme cour,
t We venture to say, be knows a vast dea
more about this conspiracy of Trumbull
Co., than he does about the other. "
should like to see him on the stand unde
), oath on this subject. Stephen T. Logan
Stephen T. Logan-Stephen I. Logan! com
unto court Mr.. Logan, you cried whe
Trumbull beat Lincoln for the Senate, an
. said openly Lincoln had been basely an
foul!y cheated. What do you know abou
this conspiracy! Mr.. Logan, with tears i
his eyes, would probably answer again q
he did the day when Lincoln was defeate,
:, borrowing Matheny S Iansuage)
Il "Thus it has ever been that an hone.
man makes a bad bargain ,rhen he conspir
;, or contracts Nth rogues."
d Before these men who are so profuse i
!, making this unsupported change of consp
a racy against Judge Douglas, again repeat
e we want to hear from them in reply
d this direct evidence in support of the 9th,
:, conspiracy charge. Let them meet it
!, they dare.
Il; What Does 1t Mean.
&c The Chicago Herald, the organ of Il
II National Democrats in Chiraso, has
late written several leaders denouncing IL
Nebraska bill and condcmniug Judge Dou