The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-06-14

tnree lourtnS OF tne aDlllty ana unweery-
ing labor which resulted in the mighty
victory which gave Illinois her first Re.
publican Legislature, and placed Lyman
Trumbull in the Senate of the United
States. The first and greatest debate of
that year came off between Lincoln and
Douglas at Springfield. during the pro-
IGress Of the State Fair, in October. We
remember the event as wildly as though
it transpired yesterday: and in view of
the prominence now given to the chief
actor in that exciting event, IT cannot fail
to be interesting 10 all.
The affair came off on the fourth day
Of October 1854. The State Fair had
been in progress two days, and the cspi.
tai WAS full Of all manner Of men. The
Nebraska bill had been passed on the pre-
vious 22nd May. Mr.. Douglas had re-
turned TO Illinois to meet an outraged
constituency. He made ffaGmentary
spe chin Chicago the people filing up
each hiatus in apeculiar and good humor.
ed way. lIe called the people a mob
they called him a rowdy. The "mob"
had the best of it, both then and at the
election which succeeded. The notoriety
Of all these events had stirred up the poll
tics of the State from bottom to top
Hundreds ofpolilicians had met at Spring
field, expecting tournament Of all unu-
sual character--Douglas. Breese' Kern
er, Lincoln. Trumbull, Matteson. Yates,
Codding, John Calhoun, (of the order of
the Candle Box, John M. Palmer, the
whole house Of the Nc McConnslls, Single
ton, known to fame in the Mormon war,
Thomas L. Harris and host OF others
Several speeches were made before and
several after. but that was justly held to
be tile event Of the occasion.
We do not remember whether chall-
enge of debate passed between the friends
of the speakers or not, but there was o
perfectly amicable understanding between
Lincoln and Douglas, that the former
should speak two or three hours, and the
latter reply in just as much or just as lit
tie time as he chose. Mr.. Lincoln took
the stahd at two o'clock--a large crowd
in attendance, and Mr.. Douglas was seat
cd on platform in from. ofthe desk
The first half hour Of Mr.. Lincon's speech
was taken up with compliments to his
friend Judge Douglas, and dry illusions
10 the political events of the past few
years. His distinguished FREUD Judge
Douglas had taken his seat, as solemn as
the Cock Lane ghost, evidently with the
design of not moving muscle till it came
his turn TO speak. The laughter provoked
by Lincoln's exordium, however, soon
began to make him uneasy; and when
Mr.. Lincoln arrived at his (Douglas)
speech pronouncing the Missouri Compro.
mise, "sacred thing which no ruthless
hand would ever be reckless enough tc
disturb" he opened his llps far enough
to remark, "a frst-rate speech!" This
was the beginning of an amusing colo
guy.
YES" continued Lincoln, "so affec.
tionate was my friends regard for this
compromise line, that when Texas wat
admitted into the Union, and it was found
that a strip extended north oi SO deg
80 mn.j he actually introduced bill ex
tending the line prohibiting slavery in the
northern edge of the new State.
"And you voted against the BILL" sale
I Douglas.
"Precisely so,' replied Lincoln; ID
was in favor of running the line a grea
deal further South"
"About this time" the speaker contin
ued, "my distinguished friend introduced
me to particular friend of his, one Davit
} WiImot of Pennsylvania Laughter.
IL thought" said Douglass "you woul(
find him congenial company"
$50 l did," replied Lincoln. 81 ha(
; the pleasure Of voting for his proviso, ii
one way and another, about forty times
: 1t was Democratic measure then, be
lievo. At any rate Gen. Cas- scoldet
honest John Davis. of Massachusetts
: soundly for talking away the last hour
, of the session, so that he (Cass) couldn'
crowd it through. Apropose of Gen
CAss; if am not greatly mistaken, HI
las prior claim to my distinguishes
5 friend to the authorship Of Popular Sov
, ereignty: The old general has an infrm
1 ity for writing letters. Shortly after tn
scolding he gave John Davis he wrot
, his Nicholson letter.
Douglas (solemnly)=-"dod Almigbt,
, placed man on the earth, and told him t.
: choose between good aud evil. That W a
e the origin of the Nebraska bill"
Lincold-"Well the priority of inven
Y lion being settled, let us award all credi
to Judge Douglas for being the first t.
: discover it" .tk
|. 1t would be impossible. in these limit
to give an idea of the strength of Mr.
= Lincoln's argum cpt. We deem 1t by ia
o the ablest effort Of the campaigu-frou
g whatever source. The occasion was
great one, and the speaker was every wa
J, equal to it. The effect produced on tn
e listeners was magnetic' No one who wa
Q present VI i'll ever forget tie power an,
vehemencc of the following passage.
: "My distinguished friend says it is a
c insult to the emigrauts to Kansas an
: Nebraska to suppose they are not able t
/ govern themselves We must no
l. slur over an argument of this kind be
n cause it happens to tickle the ear. ]
l. must be met and answered. l admit tina
the emigrant to Kansas and Nebraska
IS competent TO govern himself, but" tn
is speaker rising to his full height. "I den
n his right 10 govern any other person wITu
;. OUT THAT PERSONS coNsNET." The ar
plause which followed this triumphant re