Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-08-16
from the CarrOllton Gazatte.
Remarks of Peter Cartwright.

Rev. Peter Cartwright,the Backwoods
Methodist Preacher, being called upon
at the Democratic mass meeting held at
Carrollton August End, 1860, came for.
ward in the presence Of twenty thous.
and people, and in the course of few re-
marks used the following language.
am 40 old man and it would be i'm
possible for me to make my voice heard
by this vast assembly. l do not desire
to make political speech, for it is my
sphere to talk upon another subject ;
besides there are others here better
able to address you than myself. | only
wish to explain a few facts that have
been circulated in the papers in regard
to conversation which took place be-
tween myself and certain others on the
cars the substance of which is as fol.
lows:
While on trip to the East l found
myself in the company of some North.
ern Abolitionists and Republicans, and
10 the course of our remarks some one
asked, what State | was from. and l re-
piled " from illinois" "Then," said he,
"you must be acquainted with Mr.. Lin
coin, our candidate for President.
told him l" ought to be, for had lived
in the same county with him for many
years." He then asked what kind of a
man is hep
Smelling the rat, as the old saying is,
and wishing to avoid political discus
sion, thought would divert the atten-
ton OF the company from the subject, and
says /. lie is about six feet four, and if
line were let fall perpendicular from
the crown of his head to the sole of his
foot it would cut him in two about three
times"
l also told them that had been twice
elected to the Legislature and was once
candidate against old Abe, aud beat
him, and though he not only suffered
defeat bat was the hindermost man of
the three candidates in the field.
l also remarked that l entered the
political arena because there was an at
tempt by some corrupt politicians to
change the State Constitution so as to
admit slavery, that left Kentucky be-
Cause l did not like to live with the To-
stitution Of slavery, and naturally de-.
sired Illinois, my adopted State, TO re-
main flee; hence, upon this issue l be-
came a candidate and was elected, . ma
jority Of the people preferring free,
and small minority aslave State. Abe
subsequently became q Wing when
there came to be . majority of that par
ty in his county. l have always been .
Democrat, and if it were not for what
little religion have got would slap
the jaws Of some Of those Republicans
who accuse Democrats of being pro-
slavery.
The papers say Old Abe beat me for
Congress, which is true; but | wish to
explain how it was. The Wing major
itg 10 the District was thirty.tiye hum
bred. I was nominated by the Demo
Gratis, but told my friends could not
and would not canvass the District. l,
however, canvassed one county, and in
that beat Abe thirteen votes; and / be-
lieve if I had canvassed the whole Dis
trict, should have been elected to Gen.
gress. Abe was elected, however, by
fifteen hundred majority, ! having re-
duced his party's majority two thousand
votes; and if this is getting beat, am
willing to get beat, I am willing to be
beat at any time. If any DO not believe
these facts, let them 60 to the records
and see for themselves. l had intended,
if Douglas-whom I assisted in getting
his frat Office in this State, and who /
hope will be elected-was not nominate
ed at Baltimore, to declare myself an
independent candidate against Abe Lin
colin, for am confident / could best
him. and know would make . batter