The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1860-06-21

had . family early thrown upon him for
support. In the woods OF Indians ne went
around helping his neighbors to roll logs, to
raise their houses, to husk their corn. and
took part with them in all the avocations OF
life. 1t was such an experiences that made
| his heart big His heart was 6rst educated.
and afterwards his head. (Applause) He
now stands An acknowledged leader, rank
| ing with .hc first men Of his State; and he
will soon be recognized As among the first
men of this nation, and of the world. Loud
applause. "Three cheers for old Abe"
heard some gentlemen inquire while
ago what sort OF a statesman he was. Now,
thero are some men who have an idea that
nobody can be great statesman unless he
has been great brawler before the people;
that no man can be great statesman unless
he has been long while In Congress-in
my Judgment not = very good school in
which to train our Presidents. Laugh
ter.) teHyou that 10 this country our vir-
tues grow up strongest in the country. IN
the fields. and in the shops.
I have not time. nor am disposed to
night to talk about the platform which has
been made at hicago. and upon which I
suppose Mr.. Lincoln will stand. regard
this platform in most respects admirable. but
have not = very high regard for platforms
generally. l have seen them SO often disre.
garded that l have almost come to view
them as ingenious contrivances to cheat the
people. LIE, me give you an illustration -
Don't You know that in 1859 the Democratic
party, at Baltimore, resolved unanimously
and uproarioasly that the agitation Of slave
~ st,ould cease. both in Congress and out
Of Congress? Don't you know that in 1885.
at Cincinnati, they reiterated that resolution.
and tha, they tried to make the same resolve
again down at Charleston. Yet, since the
day that resolution was first adopted, that
party has done nothing else in the world
but agitate, agitate, as;tase this same irrita-
ting question of slavery. They would not
let il rest. They forced it upon the country
everywhere and upon all occasions. The
question broke up the Whg party. it broke
up the American party, and at last it has
struck its hard head against tee Democratic
vase and shivered it 10 pieces. But beg
leave, gentlemen, to refer you to the history
Of James Buchanan as President of the
United States, as fair answer 10 the ques-
ton whether. after all said and done, the
man who is to occupy the White House is
not the main thing? (Laughter.)
Fellow citizens, happened the other day
to be in the Senate Chamber when Hon.
Mr.. Benjamin. the Senator from Louisiana,
was making a speech not very friendly in It's
purposes. nor very comforting, l should i'm
agine, in its results to the honorable Sena-
tor from Illinois, Mr. Douglas. Twas struck
with one passage Of that speech, which 1
beg leave to read to you. You know that
the memorable debate between Mr. Douglas
and Mr.. Lincoln has been published ia book
form. aud / hope it will be read by the
American people everywhere. Mr.. Benja-f
min has been reading that book, ilSs been
studying it. and he states his views Of the
great debate in the passage of his speech
which shall read. Mr.. Benjamin, being
stakeholder, would, of course, be very SEN
sitive upon anything in reference to the in
stitution of slavery. He says:
"In that contest the two candidates for
the Senate of the United States. in the State
OF Illinois. went before their people. They
agreed to discuss the issues; they put ques-
tlons 10 each other Tor answer; and must
say here, for | must be just to all, that
nave been surprised in the examination
that have made again within the last f. W
days of this discussion between Mr.. Lincoln
and Mr.. Doug IS, to fud that Mr.. Lincoln
Is far more conservative man, unless he has
since changed his opinions. than l supposed
him to be-
l.
more Conservative man than he supposed him
to be. Yes. Mr.. Lincoln has been misun-
dsrstood and misrepresented. Just as the Re
publican party has been. as the People s
party has oeen-ss the American party has
been-just as every party is misunderstood
and misrepsen.ed that does not bow down in
submission to Democratic domination.
Mr.. Benz amin continues:
There was no dodgiag on his part. Mr..
Douglas started with his questions. Here
they are, with Mr. Lincoln's answers:
Question !. desire to know whether
Lincoln day stands as he did in 1854, in
favos OF the unconditional repeal of the fa
giiive slave law?
Answer. l do not now, nor ever did
stand in favor Of the uncondttiona! repeal .
the fugitive slave law.
Question 2. / desire him TO answer wheth
er he stands pledged today, as he did Il
1854. against the admission of any more slave
States into the Union, even il the people
want them?
Answer. | do not now, nor ever did
stand pledged against the admission Of an,
more slave States into the Union.
Question 8. I want to know whether b,
stands pledged against the admission Of ,
new State into the Union with such . con
stitution As the people of that State may se,
st to make?
Answer. I do not stand pledged egains
the admission of new State into the On
ion with such constitution as the peopI
of that State may see ft to make.
Question 4. / want to know whether b.
stands to- day pledged to The abolition o
slavery in the District of Coiumbia?
Answer. / do no not stand pledged to tn
abolition Of Slavery in the District Of Colum
bia.
Question 5. Idesire him to answer wheth
er he stands pledged to the prohibition O
the slave trade between the different State,
Answer do not stand pledged to tn
prohibition of the slave trade between tn,
different States.
+ Question 6. desire to know whether h,
stand. pledgei to prohibit slavery 10 all tn,
territories of the United States. north .
we'll ~ south Of the Missouri compromis.
insf