Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1860-08-22
SPEECH QFPETER CARTWRIGHT
From the Carrolltcn Gazette.

From the Carrolltcn Gazette. '@'5.1,
Rev. Peter Cartwright, the Back
woods Methodist preacher, being
called upon at the Democratic mass
meeting at Carrollton August 2, 1850,
came forward in the presence of'twcn-
ty thousand people, and in the course
of few remarks, used the following
language:
l am All old man, and it would be
impossible for ME to make my voice
heard By this vast assembly. I do not
desire to make a political speech, for
it is my sphere to talk upon another
subject. Besides, there are others here
better able to address you than myself:
l only wish to explain few tArts chat
have been circulated in the papers in
regard to a conversation which took
place myself and certain others on the
cars, the Substance of which was as
follows: ... .........-.
While on a:rip to the East, l found
mysclfin company with some Northera
Abolitienists and Republicans, and in
the course of our remarks some one
asked me what State l was from, and
l replied from Illinois. ''Then,' said
he, "you must be acquainted with Mr..
Lincoln our candidate for President"
I told him; 81 ought to be, for had
lived in the same county with him for
many years." He thcu asked, "wltat
kind Of a man is he?''
Smelling a rat, as the old saying is,
and wishing to avoid 4 political dis
cussion, + thought I would divert the
attention of the company from this sub
ject, and said I: "He is about six feet
four, and if line was let fall perpcn-
dicularly from the crown of his head
to the sole Of his foot, it would cut him
in tw" about three times"
F also told tlse1nT had been twice
elected to the Legislature, and was
once a candidate against Old Abe, and
beat him, and thought he not only suf-
tered defeat, hut was the hindmost
man OF the three candidates then in the
field. I also remarked that entered
the political arena because there was
an attetnpt made by some corrupt po(-
iticiaHs to change the State Constitu-
ton 30 as to admit slavery, that left
Kentucky because did not like to live
with the institution of slavery; and Il
naturally desired Illinois, my adopted
State, to remain free; hence upon this
issue l became a candidate and was
elected, a majority of the people pre-.
fering free and small minority a
slave State. Abe consequently became
a Wing when there came to be ma
jority of that party in his county. I
have always been 4 Democrat, and if
it were not for what religion / have
got, / would slap the JAYS Of some Of
those Republicans who accuse Demo.
Gratis Of being pro:slavery. The pa
pers say Old Abe beat me for Cor
gress which is true, but wish to ex.
plain how it was. The Wing majori-
ty in the district was thirty-fvc hun.
dred. was nominated by the Dem
ocrats, but told my friends l could no,
and would not canvass the district. II
however, canyasscd one county, and
ia SuAV OCoI kAOO Il1I kCcu tOiSSs ana L
believe j: l had canvassed the whole
district l should have been elected to
Congress.
Abe was elected however, by fifteen
hundred majority, l having reduced
bis party's ma ajority two thousand votes
and if this is getting beat am willing
to be beat any time. If any do not be-
lievc these facts let them go to the
records and see for themselves. in
tended if Douglas, whom assisted in
getting the first office in this State, and
who hope will be elected, was not
nominated at Baltimore, to declare my
self an independent candidate against
Abe Lincoln for I am confident l
conld beat him, and l know would
make better President than Old
Buck or Abe either. Some say that
Abe was only thirteen years old when
| was elected to the Legislature, and
if so, l have only to say l beat 4 big
baby. In my biography there are
many facts hastily thrown together,
the time of their occurrences not being