The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1860-05-29

1
which underlie the tariff question, and present
ell arguments in favor Of the protective policy
with power and conclusiyeness rarely equa
| cd, and At the same time in a manner so lucid
aud familiar and SO well interpersed with
happy illustrations opposite anecdotes, rs TO
estab, ish Il reputation which he has never
since failed 10 maintain, "a tho ablest leader
in the Wing and Republican ranks in the
great West.
In 1916 he was elected to Congress, and
served oat his term, and would have been re-
elected had he not declined to be candidate.
He steadily and earnestly opposed he annex
alton of Texas. and labored with all his pow
er, in behalf of the Wilmot Proyiso. Ia tho
National Convention Of 1913, of which he WAS
a member, he advocated the nomination Of
General Taylor, and sustained the nomination
by an active canvass in Illinois and Indiana
From l8l0 to 1854 Mr. Lincoln was en-.
gagged a,sluously in the practice Of his pro-
tessIon, aud being deeply immersed in busi-
ness, was beginning to lose his interest in
politics, when the schcmiug ambition and
groyejng selfishness Of an uuscrupu'ouS aspi-
rant to the Presidency brought about the re.
peal Of the Missouri Compromise. That act
Of b9seness aad psrlidy aroused the sleeping
lion, and he prepared for new efforts. Ho
threw himself at once into the contest that
followed, aud fought the battle Of freedom on
the ground Of his former conflicts in Illinois
with more than his accustomed energy aud
zeal Those who fcca!lect the tremendous
battle fought in Illinois that year, will award
to Abraham Lincoln fully lhreo-iour,h7 uf the
ability and unwearying labor which resulted
in the mighty victory which gave Illinois her
first Republican Legislature, and p,ac'l Ly
man Trumbull in the Senate Of th' Uultrd
States The first AMI greatest debate Of that
year came off between Lincoln and Douglas
at Springfield during ia" progress of the
State Far in Oct ,bpr "" rrmamber the
event rs vvlly A. though 1t tranSpir'd yes
terday, and in view Of the prominence now
given to the chief actor in that exciting event,
it cannot fail to be Interesting TO all.
Thn affair came off on the fourth day of
October, 1854. Tho STATE Fair ha.! been in
progress two DAYS and tho caHital WAS full Of
sIl manner Of men. The Nebraska bill had
leen passed on the previous twenty-socani Of
May. Mr.. Douglas hai returned 70 lIi@ois
to meet an outraged constituency. He had
made fisCmentary speech in Chicago, the
people filling up each hiatus iu peculiar and
good humored way. He called the people
nob--they called him rowdy. The "mob"
had the best Of it, both then aud at the eec
tion which succeeded. The notoriety Of all
these events had stirred up the politics of the
State from bottom to top. Hundreds OF pol
i!icisns had met at Springfield expecting
tournament Of an unusual character-Douglas,
1 ,1,t,ll NJ,
Yates Coddug, John Calhoun, (oC the order
of the Candle Box,) John NJ. Palmer, the
whole house of the McConnejls, Singleton,
known to fame in the Mormon War,) Thos.
l.. IIarris aud II host Of others. Several
speeches were made before, and several after,
the passage between Lincoln and Douglas,
hnt that was justly held t. be ths event OF the
season
We DO not oemenber whether challenge
t. debat passed between the friends of the
speaker or Mt, but here WAS a perfectly ami
cable understanding between Lincoln and
Douglas, that the t)rmor should speak two or
three hours aud the latter reply in Just as little
or rs much time As ha chose. Mr.. Lincoln
took the stand q, two o'clock-a large crowd
in attendance, and Mr. Douglas seated on
small patf rn in front Of the desk. The
first half holr Of Mr. Liucoius speech was Ia
ken up with compliments to his distinguished
friend judge Douglas, and dry illusions to
the political event, OF the past few years.
His Distinguished friend Judge Douglas had
taken his seat, as solemn as the Cock Lane
ghost, evidently with the design OF not NOV
ing muscle til il camo his tun to speak. -
The laughter provoked by Linc3u's exprdium,
however, soon began To make bin uneasy; /;
and whom Mr.. L. arrived at bis lDoug!as(
speech pronouucing the Missouri Compromise
"a sacred thing which no ruthlas, hand would
ever be reckless enough to disturb" he opened
bis lips far enough to remark, ~ first rate
speech" This was the beginning Of an anu
sing coljoquy.
YES" continued Lircoln, $50 aGtc,ionn.e
was my fu'nl's regard for this cNnpromlse
lire, that when Texas was admitted into the
Union, AMI il was found that stlip extended
north Of 30 deg. 80 min, he actually in ro-
duced a bill extending the liuo aud prohibit
iug slavery IN the northern edge of the new
State"
And you voted against the BILL said
Douglas.
''Prcci.ey so,' repl ed Lincoln; II was ir
favor of running the Iinc a great deal further
South"
about this time" the speaker continued,
"my distinguished friend introduced me TO a
particular friend of MS. one David Wimot, of
Pennsylvania" Laughter.
81 lhought,' said Douglas, "you would find
him congenial COMPANY"
$50 did" replied Lincoln 81 had the
pleasure Of voting for his Provso, in one way
ard another about forty times 1t was n
Democratic measure then, believe. 1T any
rate Gen. Csss scodcd Honest John Davis OF
Massachusetts soundly for talking away the
last hours Of the session SO that hc (Cass)
couldn't crowd it through. Apropos of Gen.
Cass: if am not m staken he has prior
claim 10 my distinguished friend, to the au.
thorship Of Popular Sovereignty. The old
General has an infrmity for writng.letters.-
Shortly alter the scolding Lc gave John Davis
be write his Nicholson lotter--
Douglas (soemnly)-"GodA Almighty placed
man on tho earth, and told him 10 choose be-
tween good and OWL That was the origin Of
tic Nebraska bill ~
LiucoIn--"Wcll. tho priority Of invention
hring settled, lct Us award al rrclit.,o Iige
ID buplls for Lainy ia, crst 1, discover IL 4"