The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-07-20
ment which they hate, have ascertained that

ment which they hate, have ascertained that
he introduced measure for stringent fu-
gitive slave law, applicable to the District Of
Columbia. When the discovery was made it
looked badly, and very naturally gave HE
friends serious aprrehensions Of its effect up
on his prospects. But they looked up the
record also and found that this measure for
fugitive law was attached and merely incl
dental to bill introduced by himself for the
gradual abolition of slavery in the District
of Columbia. The provision for the return
of fugitives was made for the'purpose of re-
moving objections to the bill, one of which
was that if slavery should be abolished in
the District, it would become the resort and
refuge of fugitives from the adjoining slave
states. The bill itself showed the anti-slaye-
ry character of the man, and the provision
was simply made to enable him to carry his
most beneficial measure, for without il he
could hope to accomplish nothing. So it
turns out that Wendell Phillips & Co. have
unwittingly been the means of discovering
that which proves to the country that Abra-
ham Lincoln thirteen years ago, was as much
OF an anti-slavery man as he is to-day, and
that he then took an active ard leading
part in the endeavor to free the District of
Columbia from the presence of the accursed
institution.
Thus it has proved with everything so far,
pertaining to his record. His letters, mod
els OF condensation and remarkable for their
power of statement, all tend to illustrate the
genius of the man and the consistency of his
life. His letter upon the Massachusetts two
years amendment and the proposed fusion of
the American and Republican elements was
an apple of gold in picture of silver. 1t
Strengthened out that matter in the light of a
sound, strong judsment-a judgment proved
sound and strong by events that have since
transpired. Thus it was with his letter to
the Jefferson supper in Boston-as literary
document one of the most remarkable we ev-
/ er met. In one brief letter he summed up
Jefferson-showed that he knew him, had
weighed his principles and could state them,
and exhibited the difference between the man
worshipped by the Democratic party and the
Democratic party itself in modern times. 1t
is safe to challenge the production Of any
specimen of modern epistolary literature that
in the same space contains and suggests SO
much as the Jefferson letter.
Now if Mr.. Lincoln had written these let
tiers and shaped his Congressional record
with reference to the position he stands in
to-day, he could have done no better than he
has done, vet nobody believes or mistrusts
that he thought of the presidency. So with
his Illinois campaign. He was put forward
by the Republicans of Illinois as their cham
pion to enter the lists with Judge Douglas
! put forward as their strongest man. The
prize that he struggled for was not the presi-
dency. but seat in the Senate, vet if he had
been ambitious for the former he could not
have spoken better for himself or done more
to show his fitness for the post to which he
has now been nominated. His expositions
of Republican principles in those remarkable
discussions are the best things in the field of
campaign literature.
There are some people who honestly re-
gard Abraham Lincoln as a second-rate man,
who comes into favor by the rule of expedi-
encv. His productions show him to be one
of the foremost men of the time. Beyond
this If any one supposes that an unobtrusive
lawyer. living in small town, can bv his
personal power and native worth win to HIM
self and hold the enthusiastic admiration
and love of the largest party in the state of
Illinois, and do it all without brains he
shows how poorly qualified he is for judg-
ment in the matter. The man chosen from
all others TO meet Judge Douglas was the
ablest man, and the manner in which he ac-
quilted himself did honor to the estimate of
his party. This man is the Republican can
didate for the Presidency, and, thank God,
to be elected.-Sprmgfeld Republican.