Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1860-05-31

challenge to debate passed between the
friends of the speakers or not, bu;
there was perfectly amicable under
standing between Lincoln and Doug
laS, thai the former should speak two
or three hours, and the latter reply in
+ just a little OF much time a. NE chose
Mr.. Lincoln took the stand at two
o'clock-a large crowd in attendance,
ami Mr. Douglas was seated on a
small platform in front Of the desk
The first halt hour OF Mr.. L;nco'n's
speech was taken UP with compli-
ments TO his friend Judge Douglas
and dry illusions to the political
events of the past few years. His
distinguished friend Judge Dougla,
had taken his seat, as solemn as the
Cock-Lane ghost, evidently with the
design of not moving a muscle till il
came his turn to speak. The laughter
provoked by Lincoln's exordlum
however, soon legan TO make him
uneasy: and when Mr.. L. arrived at his
Douglass speech pronouncing the
Missouri Compromise. "a sacred thing
! which no ruthless hand would ever be
reckless enough to disturb. ''he opened
his lips far enough to remark, "A first
rate speechl" This was the begin
ing of an amusing colloquy.
YES" continued Lincoln, $50 af-
fectionate was my friends regard for
the compromise line. that when Texas
was admitted into the Union, and it
was found that strip extended north
of 80 deg. 80 min.. he actually intro
duced bill extending the line and
prohibiting Slavery in the northern
edge of the new State"
And you voted against the bill, 4"
said Douglas.
Precisely so," replied Lincoln;
81 was in favor of runnir g the line
a great deal further SOUTH
about this time" the speaker
continued, my distinguished friend
introduced me to q particular friend oI
his. one David Wilmot, of Pennsyl-
vania." Laughter.
Il thought" said Douglas, "you
would find him congenial company"
$50 l did, replied Lincoln. al
had the pleasure of voting for his
Proviso, in one way and another,
about forty times. 1t was a Demo
cratic measure then, l believe. Al
any rate Gen. Cass scolded homes.
John Davis of Massachusetts soundly
for talking away the last hours of the
session, so that he (Cass) couldn'i
crowd it through. Apropos of Gen
Cass: if | am not greatly mistaken, he
has prior claim to my distinguished
friend. to the authorship of Popular
Sovereignty. The old General has
an in6rmity for writing letters
Shortly after the scolding he gave
John Davis he wrote his Nicholson
letter.
Douglas (solemnly)-"God AL.
mighty placed man on the earth. and
told him to choose between good and
evil. That was the origin of the
Nebraska bill!'
Lincoln-"Well the priority Of in
vention being settled. let us award all
credit to Judge Douglas for being the
first to discover it."
1t would be impossible, in these
limits to give an idea of the strength
of Mr.. Lincoln's argument. We
deemed it by far the ablest effort oI
the campaign-from whatever source
The occasion was a great one, and tho
speaker was every way equal to it,
The effect produced upon the listeners
was magnetic. No one who was pres
ent will ever forget the power and We
hcmence of the following passage:
"My distinguished friend says it i
an insult to the emigrants to Kansa
and Nebraska to suppose they are no
able to govern themselves. We mus
: not slur over an argument of this kim
because it happens to tickle the ear
1t must be met and answered. / al
NIT that the emigrant to Kansas an,
Nebraska is competent to COVER
himself, but" the speaker rising 4
his full height, II deny lis right {
gorern any other person WITHOUT TIA
PERSONS CONSENT" The applaus
which followed this triumphant refu
; tation of canning falsehood. was bu
c an earnest Of the victory at the poll
e which followed just one month fror
| that day.
: When Mr. Lincoln had concluded
Mr. Douglas strobe hastily to ih
= stand. AS usual he employed te
I minutes in telling how grossly he ha
d been abused. RecoIlecting himself
g added, "though in perfectly courtc
It Gus manner"-abused in perfect
n courteous manner! lie then devote
6 half an hour to showing that it wa
= indispensably necessary 10 Californi
IS emigrants, Santa Fe traders and oti
: ers, to have organic acts provided f
e the Territories of Kansas and Ncbra
It ka-that being precisely the poir
'e which nobody disputed. Having c
tablishcd this premise to his saiisfa
! ton. Mr.. Douglas launched forth Int
d an argument wholly apart from II
le position taken by MIR. Lincoln. I
d. had about half finished at six o'clocl
n when an adjournment to tea was c
: iected. The speaker insisted strenr
n ously upon his right to resume in Il
le evening, but we believe the secor
he part OF that speech has not been deli
q cred to this day. After the Sprini
le field passage, the two speakers we
ID to Peoria and tried it again with idc
he iically the same results. 4 friel
c. who listened to the Peoria debate i