The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-04-22
LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS.

! The following interesting scrap of His
tory is furnished the Chicago Tribune by
an old resident of that city, an ex-Iudgc
and himself an actor in the event he de-
scribes. 1t is now given to the public, it
! is believed, for the first time:
"When the opposition to the extension
of slavery had crystallized in the North
into new political party-the Republi
can't found i'll the North itself the
most talented and dangerous enemy the
rising spirit of universal liberty had to
overthrow. In the person of Stephen A.
| Douglas the South and slavery extension
had giant indeed to fight their battles
| in the very stronghoIds of liberty. In
| 1858 new Senator was to he elected
| from this State, and Douglas was put for
ward as the candidate of the 'sqnaitcr
! sovereignty Democracy. The LEADER
of the newly formed Republican Party
| instinctively turned to Old Abe as tie
| littest man III the State to contest the pc
| sition with him, and he was sent e.! 10
meet a few prominent men i'll Chicago to
arrange the conduct of the campaign and
| decide upon the proper course to be pur-
sued in the inevitable debate in prospect
| The meeting took place ut the old IRE
mont House, and a very full attendance
of the principal men Of the city and State
was secured
II vpil ho that Ilnu frl
and Buchanan greatly differed in their
views of Democratic doctrine and policy,
and after much debate it was the general
| sense of the meeting that, as Buchanan
va, the head of the Democratic Party
his views should be regarded as the true
Democratic doctrine. and hence in the
coming contest Mr.. Douglas should be
held responsible for them. And the de
bate should be conducted in opposition to
'hese sentiments in utter disregard of the
fact that Douglas r.pu1iated them, and
renee r"nA, ut in fact or i'll justice be
-.,:.i,',; IS ho.din. them. After mucE
ak had goue round, Mr.. Lincoln was
called npuu to give his views of the mat
ger. 1t is impossible now to quote his
oSact language or give any correct state
ment of the indescribabe manner of the
nan AS he slowly elevated his towering
frame above his fellows who filled the
call. We can only give the general sub
stance of the address:
"'Gentlemen. said he, You have put
ne forward in this contest without any
solicitation on my part, and | am hear at
your request. 1t is matter do no care
particularly about, and am of the opin~
ION you have made mistake IN selecting
me as your candidate. | cannot enter
ibis debate nor conduct it upon the prin
:iple and false in fact, and have never.
vet been able to advocate a cause with
any success which did not believe had
Justice and Truth upon my side. Mr.
Douglas, as matter OF fact. does not
entertain the prin ,iples nor advocate the
policy of James Buchanan, hence it would
be unfair and unjust to him to so regard
him. Besides, am convinced it would
place me in ridiculous light before the.
people to be continually replying to argu
.nents and overthrowins positions which
1t is notorious my opponent does not as
sumo. Nothing would give Mr.. Douglas
so easy a victory as such false and dis
honest course on my part. No, gentle
men, cannot enter the canvass upon any
such grounds as you propose; it would
not be honest There was no replying
to such arguments, and the npshot of the
matter was that Honest Old Abe was.
permitted to enter that memorable con
test entirely untrammcled and with what
result is well known to all the world