Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-07-24
Illinois Politics.

The campaign of 1858, which is in great
measure to determine the political character of
the next house of Representatives, and perhaps
very sensibly affect the succession to the pre-
sent national administration, has been opened
in Illinois by Mr. Douglas. AS was expected
by all the opponents of the administration, save
a few sanguine politicians who lamented the
perverseness of the opposition in not making
terms nor counting an alliance with the dis
tinguished Senator, the little Giant in his first
speech on Friday evening the 9th inst, took
strong ground against the Republicans. He
claimed to be a Democrat, believer in the Gin
cinnati creed and firm supporter of democratic
men and measures. 1t is true that he did rot
endorse Lecompton. He reaffrmed his oppo-
sition to that bill and to the English bill, which
finally passed. He claimed victory in the de-
feat Of Lecompton and mentioned that the ques-
ton of adopting Or rejecting that constitution
was virtually submitted to the people, although
the terms Of submission were Objectionable and
degrading inasmuch as they Disseminated be-
tween free and slave State and in favor of
the latter. He upheld the bred Scott decision
and declared that it was never intended that ne
groes should become citizens. In conclusion,
he spoke Of the importance of maintaining the
democratic organization.
The following evening Hon. Abraham Lin
coln addressed large collection of the people
of Chicago and the adjacent region, in reply to
the speech of his opponent He contendcd that
if there was so much merit as Mr.. Douglas
claimed in opposing Lecompton the Repubh-
cans were entitled certainly to some share of
the praise so lavishly claimed by the anti-Lc-
compton Democrats. The idea advanced by
Mr.. d. that the bred Scott case having been
decided by the Supreme Court and therefore the
justice of the decision and the correctness of the
principles involved therein are not to be ques-
toned or combattcd, was very happily met by
quotation from the message of Andrew Jack
son wherein that noted democrat claimed that
the Supreme Court could not decide constitu-
tonal principle for coordinate branch of the
government, but that every one must support
the constitution as they understand it. The
speech of Mr.. Lincoln was an able effort and
III
was delivered
This is the beginning of contest which will
attract the attention of the whole country until
it is terminated in November. Mr.. Lincoln is
the avowed candidate for the seat in the Sen
ate which Mr.. Douglas now holds, and he will
contest with that gentleman the election on the
stump in every portion of the State. The Re-
publicans are united and enthusiastic. Although
they were in a minority of about 5000 at the
Presidential election of 1856, they confidently
count upon considerable accessons to their
ranks. Most of the democrats it is believed
will support Douglas notwithstanding the de-
nlnciations and thunders of the Washington
Union. The Douglas papers in Illinois rather
court the opposition Of the government organ
than otherwise. Some of the Southern demo-
cratic journals support Douglas as the only hope
of saving Illinois to the democracy. The fight
will in any event be interesting and the result
is doubtful. Mr.. Douglas is man of almost
infinite resources and one of the hardest men
in the country to beat. If the dogs of the adj
ministration are called off and the democratic
party thoroughly united the chances would seem
TO be in his favor. Otherwise his defeat NAV
be reasonably expected.
For the curious in this matter we append the
Presidential vote of Illinois in 1856: Fremont.
96,2S0 Fillmore, 81, 45l Buchanan, lO4, 279.
Majority against Buchanan, 29,452.