Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1864-04-21

challenge was given and accepted for a
campaign with Douglas on the stump.
/ Mr. Lincoln was cool, candid, truth
full, logical, never betrayed into an un
fair statement; and it was wonderful
how, In these discussions, as In every
Other act of his public life, he has i'm
pressed the people with his honesty and
fairness. Every hearer Of these debates
went away with the conviction, whatever
his political views Mr. Lincoln believes
what he says, be is candid, and he would
not mistate a fact, or take an unfair ad-
vantage to secure a triumph = He
had one advantage over Douglas. He
| was always good -humored. He had al
ways his apt story for illustration, and
while Douglas was somewhat irritable,
and would lose his temper, Lincoln never
lost his. a4sa a- .t
Douglas carried away the most popu-
lar applause, but Lincoln made the deep
and lasting impression. Douglas did not
disdain an immediate triumph, while
Lincoln looked to permanent conviction.
Douglas addressed the feelings and preju-
dices with power and adroitness never
surpassed, Lincoln stated his propo-
sitions and proved their truth with ire
sistable logic Douglas carried the
majority of the Legislature of Illinois,
but Lincoln had the majority of the
popular vote Douglas secured the Sena-
torship, but Lincoln gained the Presi-
dency. The wonderful endurance of these
men, both of iron constitutions. was
strikingly manifest during the contest.
But at its close, Douglas could not ar
ticulate clearly for some weeks. while
Lincoln's voice was clearer, stronger, and
he himself was in better state of health
at the end than he was at beginning
Of the contest. tas 5.u
The friends of each Of these great lea
ders claimed the victory. All must ad-
NIT that each met in his antagonist a
foeman worthy of his steel.
The nomination of Mr.. Lincoln to the
Presidency came to him unsought and
unsolicited. The great leaders of ma
tional parties struggled by their power
full friends and organizations for the nomi-
nation at Chicago Mr. Lincoln remain
ed quietly at his home in Springfield,
pursuing the usual course of his q.iet.
simple life and the Presidency sought
him, and he did not 60 after or seek it.
Many have seen in the manner in which
he was called to the Executive Mansion
the finger of Providence.
LINCOLN LEAVING HOME FOR WASHINGTON
[ need not recall the dark and threat
ening aspect Of affairs in the winter
of 1S60-'6l. A long-planned, deep
laid conspiracy, about to break upon the
land. with all the horrors of civil war
Patriots saw the tornado coming, saw
the traitors planning and plotting the
destruction of the Government, disarm-
ing, plundering it, binding it, preparing
! it to fall an easy victim into the hands
of traitors, and yet had no means to
resist, because all it's machinery was in
the hands of traitors. How impatiently
and fearfully they waited for the 4th
of March all will remember. The
President elect felt the oppressive weight
of responsibility resting upon him =
There is not more simple, touching
and beautiful speech in the English
language than that which he uttered to
his neighbors from the platform Of the
rail-car, on bidding goodbye to his home,
to enter upon the duties Of the Presi-
dency: A .aa ea"
"For more than twenty years l
have lived among you, and during all
that time | have received nothing but
kindness from your hands Here the
most cherished ties of earth were as
sumed. Here my children were born,
and here one of them lies buried.
To you, my friends, owe all that I
have, all that I am. All the strange
checkered past seems to crowd now upon
my mind. To-day | leave you go to
assume task more difficult than that
which devolyed upon Gen Washington.
Unless the great God who assisted him
shall be with and aid me, [ cannot pre-
vail but if the same Omniscient mind
and the same Almighty arm that direct
ed and protected him shall guide and
support me, [ shall not fail. | shall
succeed. Let us pray that the God
Of our fathers may not forsake us now.
To Him commend you all Permit me
to ask that, with equal sincerity and faith
you will all invoke His wisdom and guild
ance for me Z"
The feelings of the people were i'm
pressively exhibited by the notices on
the banners which they extended across
the streets through which he passed on
his way to the Capitol. eve will pray
for you" was often the significant
motto.T % es.fg
REMARKABLE PREDICTION OF DOUGLAS,
IN JANUARY, 1861.
Here [ pause a moment to state a
remarkable prediction made By Douglas,
IN January, 1861. The statement is
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