The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-03-08

| influence the question, and he never failed to
appeal to the moral sentiment of the people
in aid of the argument drawn from political
sources, and to illuminate his theme with the
lofty inspirations of an eloquence, pleading
for the rights of humanity. A revolution
swept the State. Fer the first time majori-
ty of the Legislature of Illinois was opposed
| to the Democratic administration of the Fed
eral Government. A United States Senator
was to. be elected in place of General Shields,
who had yielded to the influence of his less
scrupulous colleague, and, against his own
better judgment, had voted for the Kansas
Nebraska act. The election came on, and
number Of ballots were taken, the almost
united opposition voting steadily for Lincoln,
but the anti-Nebraska Democrats for Trum-
bull. Mr.. Lincoln became apprehensfve that
those men would vote for and elect Matteson;
to prevent such consummation, he went
personally to his friends, and by strong per-
suasion induced them TO vote for Trumbull
He thus secured, by an act of generous self
sacrifice, q triumph for the cause of right,
and an advocate Of it on the floor of the Sen
ate, not inferior in earnest zeal for the priu-
ciples of Rspublicansm to any member of
that body.
From his thorough conviction of the grow
ing magnitude of the slave question and of
the need of a strong effort to preserve the
Territories to freedom, Mr.. Lincoln was
among the first to join in the formation of the
Republican party, although the public opin-
ion around him was strongly adverse to that
movement. He exerted himself for the or
ganization of the Republican forces in Illi-
nois and attended the first Republican Con-
vention held in the State. This was in
Bloomington, in May, 1856. His speech in
that Convention was of surprising power
and eloquence, and produced great effect
In the contest of that year. Mr.. Lincoln was
at the head of the Illinois electoral ticket,
and labored earnestly, though vainly, to
wrest that State from the grasp of the pro-
slavery Democracy, with the "walking mag
azine of mischief" as Douglas has been ap-
propriately called, at its head.
When the campaign of 1853 was about to
open, the voice Of the Republican party of
Illinois was so unanimous and enthusiastic
in his favor as the successor of Judge Doug
las, that in full State Convention of over
five hundred delegates the unusual step was
taken of nominating him for that Office by
acclamation. The enthusiasm Of the dele
gates in Convention extended to their con-
stituents. The party went into the contest
with the name of Lincoln on all their ban
ners, instituted Lincoln clubs, wore Lincoln
bad res, and held Lincoln meetings at almost
every school house in the State. The re-
spective parties were marshalct IN Ter lead
crs, who were fitting Representatives Of the
principles Of each. Lincoln, the consistent
advocate OF constitutional government. cog
infant of indefeasible rights, an animated
and controlled by sense Of human rcspou
sibility Independent of conventional rules,
pl,ce himself uD)a the battlcm ,nts of the
C1nstitution.-aad summoned to his side the
friends of law, order AMI humanity. Doug
las, in the spirit OF 4 system which assigns
all power to \ m ljortY, AMI iltters the peo-
pie in the concrete, while it cheats the illi-
vilual of all security for his personal rights,
appealed to popular preju lice AMI to the an
tiplthies of race. Til, one held slavery to
be an Institution in conflict with the princi-
Piles of free government, wholly dependant
upon positive law, and never to be extended
where it could be legitim mately prohibited
while the other averred that the despotic will
of any majority, though of a community ex-
listing only in n state of pupilage under the
guardianship Of federal authority sought to
be competent to establish it without question
by that authority" without regard to moral
considerations. The contest excited intense
interest and was maintained with infinite
spirit. Lincoln, after vainly attempting to
draw his opponent into a joint canvass of an
entire State, met him in seven great debates
in as many Congressional districts, and in
the opinion of every candid judge, fairly
overthrow him in argument on all controver-
| ted points. The result was that though a
majority of the popular vote was obtained
by Lincoln, Douglas obtained by the instru-
mentality of an old and grossly unequal ap-
portionment of the districts majority of the
representatives, and thus secured his re-
election to the U. S. Senate.
| Since that great contest, Mr. Lincoln has
repeatedly given his powerful aid in support
of the Republican cause in other States, as
/ in Ohio, Wisconsin and Kansas, during the
present year, and in every instance he has
been received with enthusiasm by the peo-
Pile, evincive of the hold he has on the popu-
lar heart. Wherever he speaks he draws to-
gether large crowds of interested listeners,
upon whom lie never fails to make marked
impression. Though ready and fluent
speaker, no avoids defamation, and is never
betrayed into mere word-painting, which his
good taste habituslly rejects. He abhors
emptiness as heartily as did the great Web
ster in his prime, and employs AS the vehicle
of his thoughts style of singular clearness
and simplicity. In his statements Of facts
he is scrupulously accurate, and to every
opponent he exhibits the utmost fairness,
candor and liberality, retorting no abuse,
but preserving an unfailing courtesy even
under the severest provocation. His manner
is earnest, his arguments close and logical,
and he reaches his conclusions by process
that seems to render those conclusions inev-
table Whether you agree with him or not,
YOU cannot listen to him without being salts
Cad of his sincerity and that his object is