The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-06-13
A Valuable Witness

In the memorable contest in Illinois between
Lincoln and Douglas, in the Summer of 1858,
Mr.. Douglas, in one Of his speeches, thus alluded
to his opponent:
81 have known him for nearly twenty FIVE
years. We had many points of sympathy when
first got acquainted with him. We were both
comparatively boys; both struggling with power
ty in strange town for our support an hum.
bic school teacher in the town of Winchester,
and he Aourishing grocery keeper in the town
Of Salem. Laughter. He was more success
full than ], and hence became more fortunate in
this worlds goods. Mr.. Lincoln is one of those
peculiar men that has performed with admirable
skill in every occupation he ever attempted.
~ believe that Mr.. Lincoln was more sue.
cessful in his business than /, for his business
soon carried him directly into the Legislature
There met him in little time, and had sym
pathy for him, because of the uphill struggle
We had in life.
"Mr. Lincoln served with me, or | with him,
in the Legislature of 1886, when We parted
He subsidized or submerged for some years, and
l lost sight of him. In 1916, when Wimot
raised the Wilmot-Proviso tornado, Mr.. Lincoln
again turned up as a member o. Congress from
SangamOn District. /, being in the Senate Of
the United States, was called on TO welcome him,
then without friend or companion. He then
distinguished himself by his opposition to the
Mexican war, taking the side OF the common
enemy in time of war, against his own country
Cheers and groans. When he returned home
from that Congress, he found that the indigna.
ton of the people followed him everywhere, IN
til he again retired to private life, and was SUBJ
merged until he was again forgotten by his
fiends. He came up again in 1854, in time TO
Al Ill ,.fa "
In the new Occupation" OF running for the
Presidency, in which they are both about to en-
gage, il il more than probable that Mr.. Douglas
will still find that his old competitor is more sue
cessful than he, and he will have, in the course
Of the next four years, frequent occasions for
again bearing witness that Mr.. Lincoln sis one
Of those peculiar men that has performed with
admirable skill in every occupation he ever at
tempted" An opponent OF the war with Next
co, condemned as unjust and unnecessary by all
the distinguished Wing statesmen of that day,
all advocate of the Wimot Provso, and bull
der of the original Republican platform, his
course deserves to receive the appreciation of
the people in contest with any other candidate
for their suffrages, whether it be one who is the
advocate Of the extension of Slavery, pure and
simple, or one who is ready to welcome it as the
result OF Squatter Sovereignty. Circumstances
have brought about a more directly personal
conflict between Mr.. Lincoln and Mr.. Douglas
than probably ever occurred between any two
public men in this country, and there is hardly a
doubt that that contest viii be continued in d
wider arena. The testimony which the latter
bears to the ability and integrity of his rival has
a peculiar value, both when he praises and when
he blames; for his praise is on point of char
acter which, all man agree, is admirable, and his
blame is on a point Of conduct for which Mr..
Lincoln's friends hold him in special esteem
N. Y. Tribune