Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-07-25
lincoln and Douglas.

Tho editor of the Worcester Daily Time:
istes to himself our remarks on the dscredit
able folly of those, who assail Hon. Abraham
Lincoln by representing that he is an inferior
man. whose nomination for the presidency is
fit only for "ridicule We shall not deny
that our neighbor has done what we censured
but our opinion eff the matter is unchanged,
and it is likely to remain SO. The Times,
however, goes beyond its warrant in repre-
seuting that we have "traduced'' Mr.. Douglas,
and said that he is destitute of ability as a
debater." But, it is not our custom to engage
in useless disputes, and we would not refer to
tho matter, even to correct this mistake, if
our neighbor had not fallen into some other
inaccuracies which should not be allowed to
mass without notice We find two of them in
the following paragraph =
"The legislature of Illinois is chosen trien-
piaIly. one third of the members being elected
each year. In 1858, Mr.. Douglas term being
about to expire, it was an object Tor him to
secure reelection, partly from the fact that
the republicans had determined to spare nei.
ther pains nor money 10 prevent such reelcc-
flor. because Mr.. Douglas had reported the
Kansas Nebraska act and partly for the war
which Mr. Buchanan saw Mt to make upon
Mr.. Douglas because he had opposed the Lee
compton policy of bis administration. In this
condition of things the fight was made between
Mr.. Douglas and Mr.. Lincoln, not in the state
at large as has been thousand times foolishly
but falsely repeated, but in those districts
where there were members of the legislature
to elect
NJ ;pnolr of hot
1000 votes ahead of Mr.. Douglas. The popu-
lar vote was decidedly in his favor; but, the
great force OF this fact would be broken, if it
could be shown that the election extended
only to one third OF the state. Our neighbor,
being vehement Douglas man, adopts this
theory, and declares, in so many words, that
"the legislature of Illinois is chosen triennial.
", one thcd of the members being elected
each year" 1t is very ingenious view of
the matter, no doubt; but unfortunately for
those who adopt this triennial theory, the state
of Illinois has constitution with which it is in
conflict. According to the constitution of Hi
nos, every election for members of the legis-
lature must extend to the whole state, all the
members Of the house of representatives and
one half Of the senator's being elected at the
same time, once in two years. The provisions
of the constitution of Illinois, relating to this
matter, may be found in the first, second, and
fifth sections of the third article of that instru.
ment. The election for which Messrs. Lincoln
and Douglas canvassed the state, in 1858, was
for state treasurer, members of congress, one
half of the state senator's, and all the repre-
sentatives. This has been said and repeated
many times, not 'foolishly and falsely" as the
Times tells its readers, but truly. We are
surprised to see that journal fall into so bad
mistake and maintain it with such strong and
confident assertion. That election did extend
to the state at large, and Mr.. Miller, the repub-
hcan candidate for treasurer, was elected, being
1921 votes ahead of Mr.. Fondey, the Douglas
candidate. And there was diligent contest
for representatives in every district, save
few down in Egypt, where the republicans
were at that time in hopeless minority, and
therefore made no nominations Ii they had
run candidates in those districts, the show of
favor of Mr. Lincoln No election has been
held for members of the legislature of Illinois,
since that time. The next will take place in
November of this year.
There is also mistake in the assertion that
the republicans SPARED neither pains nor
money" against Mr.. Douglas. 1t is true tina,
the great mass of the party in Illinois con.
tended against him nobly. But there were
leading republicans outside the state, who, al
lowing themselves to be deceived in regard to
his views and intentions, did all they could to
help him. Even the New York York Tribune
worked in his service. More than one distin-
guished republican speaker not only refused to
go there and take the stump against him, but
also wrote private letters in his favor. Their
eyes were pulled wide open by his speeches at
New Orleans and in the senate, after that cleo.
ton was over, and they were made ashamed
of their stupid policy. But they were
sefdeceived, and they do well to be
ashamed of it. 1t remains true, however, that
what was done by such republicans, drew votes
from Mr. Lincoln's side and secured the cleo
ton OF some representatives favorable to Mr..
Douglas. They are nowise likely to repeat
that folly.