The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-06-06

test that followed, and fought the battle
of freedom on the ground Of his former
conflicts in Illinois, with more than his
accustomed energy and zeal. Those who
recollect the tremendous battle fought in
Illinois that year, will award to Abraham
Lincoln fully three fourths of the ability
and unwearying labor which resulted in
the mighty victory which gave Illinois
her first Republican Legislature, and
placed Lyman Trumbull in the Senate OF
the United States. The first and great
est debate of the year came off between
Lincoln and Douglas at Springfield, dur
ing the progress of the State Fair, in Oc-
tober. We remember the event as viv-
idly as though it transpired yesterday,
and in view of the prominence now CIV
en- to the chief actor in that exciting event,
it cannot fail to be interesting to all.
The affair came off on the fourth day
of October, 1854. The State Fair had
been in progress two days, and the cap
ital was full of all manner of men. The
Nebraska bill had been passed on the
previous twenty second of May. Mr..
Douglas had returned to Illinois to meet
an outraged constituency. He had made
frsgmentary speech in Chicago, the
people filling up each hiatus in pecu-
liar and good humored way. He called
the people a mob-they called him a
rowdy. The "mob" had the best of it,
both then and at the election which sue
ceeded. The notoriety of all these events
had stirred up-the politics of the State
from bottom to top. Hundreds of poll
ticians had met at Spring field. expecting
a tournament Of an unusual Character
Douglas, Breese, Koerner, Lincoln,
Trumbull, Matteson, Yates, Codding,
John Calhoun (of the order of the Can :
die Box), John NJ. Palmer, the whole
house of the McConnels, Singleton,
(known to fame in the Mormon War,
Thos. l.. Harris, and host Of others
Several speeches were made before, and
several after, the passage between Lin
coin and Douglas. bat that was Justly
held to be tile event of the season.
We do not remember whether chal-
lehge to debate passed between the
friends of the speakers or not, but there
was a perfectly amicable understanding
between Lincoln and Douglas, that the
former should speak two or three hours,
and the latter reply in just as little or as
much time as he chose. Mr.. Lincoln
took the stand at two o'clock-a large
crowd in attendance, and Mr. Douglas
seated on small platform in front of the
desk. The first halfhour of Mr.. Lin
coins speech was taken up with COM
pliments to his distinguished friend,
Judge Douglas, and dry illusions to the
political events Of the past few years.
His distinguished friend, Judge Douglas,
had taken his seat, as solemn as the
Cock-L ghost, evidently with the de-
sign OF not moving muscle till ii came
his turn TO speak. The laughter provoked
by Lincoln's exordium, however, soon
began to make him uneasy /; and when
Mr.. l.. arrived at his douglas speech,
pronouncing the Missouri Compromise
"a sacred thing. which no ruthless hand
would ever be reckless enough to dis
turb," he opened his lips far enough to
remark. A first-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 was
admitted into the Union, and il was
found that strip extended north OF Sc
deg. 80 min, he actually introduced q
bill extending the line, and prohibiting
slavery in the northern edge of the new
State"
" And you voted against the bill,
said Douglas.
" Precisely So" replied Lincoln :"
was in favor of running the line a greal
deal farther .South."
About this time. the speaker con-
tinued, my distinguished friend intro.
duccd me to friend of his, one David
Wilmot, of Pennsylvania" Laughter.
81 thought" said Douglas, "you
would find him congenial company"
$50 | did," replied Lincoln. Il had
the pleasure Of voting for his Proviso, in
one way or another, about forty times
1t was Democratic measure, then, be-
lieve. At any rate, Gen. Cass scolded
Honest John Davis, of Massachusetts,,
soundly, for talking away the last hours
of the session, so that he Cass) couldn't
crowd it through. Apropos of General
Cass if am not greatly mistaken he
has a prior claim 10 my distinguished
friend, to the authorship of Popular
Sovereignty. The old gentleman has an
intirmity for writing letters. Shortly af'
ter the scolding he gave John Davis, be
wrote his Nicholson letter.
Douglas (solemnly) "God Almighty
placed man on earth, and told him &c
choose good from evil That was the
origin of the Nebraska bill -
Lincoln" Well, the priority of in
vention being settled, let us award al
credit to Judge Douglas. for being The
first TO discover il"
/ 1t would be impossible, in these linn
its, to give an idea of the strength o
/ Mr.. Lincoln's argument. We deemed j
by far the ablest effort OF the campaigr
from whatever source. The occasion
was great one. and the speaker was ey
cry way equal TO il. The effect produ
ced on the listeners was magnetic. NJ
one who was present will ever forget the
power and vehemence Of the following