River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-12-31
How Lovejoy, on LincoIn's Red Letter
day, Made \ Thousand Heart

How Lovejoy, on Lincoin's Red Letter
day, Made \ Thousand Heart
Strings Nibrate.
| was present at the great joint
debate between Abraham Lincoln and
Stephen A. Douglas at Freeport, III.
1t was then that Mr. Lincoln, who had
the closing Of the debate, answered the
seven questions propounded at Ottawa
by Judge Douglas. How logically and
eloquently the answers were given the
world knows. Then he read seven
questions. which he said he could fairly
ask Judge Douglas. Those questions
sealed the political doom Of Mr.
Douglas. Among these was this one
in substances If the constitution OF
tho United States protected slavery in
the territories, how was popular
sovereignty to drive il out when it be-
came state, ii a majority of the
people did not want it?' When Judge
Douglas arose to occupy the time that
was his, every one could see that he
was excited beyond all control, and in
anger he tore off his collar and nccktie,
and like gladiator entered upon his
great speech. Here he made the great
mistake of his life. Instead of taking
time, as Dir Lincoln did. to think over
his replies and frame them carefully,
he answercred at once, giving such
hasty and ill-considercdr replies as came
to him on the spur of the moment.
His reply to the above question was in
substance that the people of 4 territory
or state could exclude slavery by ''un-
friendly legislation. even as against
the constitution of the United States.
The admission then and there made
aroused perfect cyclone of indignation
in the Southern states, and the presi-
dental star Of Judge Douglas then and
there set forever, and the civil war fol-
lowed as a result of it.
Another event of that meeting was
the presence of Owen Lovejoy. Judge
Douglas knew he was there, and charged
that LOyejoy was guilty OF moral per-
jury, because having taken the oath of
a congressman, he had publicly declared
he would not be Il party to enforcing
the fugitive slave law. After the joint
debate was over the vast sea of people
assembled IN front of the Brewster
House. Calls were made for Lincoln
and Douglas, and each came out and
bowed to the people. At length some
one saw Lovejoy, and such yelling for
him was enough to make man deaf,
Finally Lovejoy came out under the bal
cony and platform of dry goods boxes
was hastily constructed, and as he rails
ed his hand for silence the noise died
away like the receding waves of the
ocean. For pathos and the vehement
power of deep conviction that speech
excelled anything | ever heard, and his
impassioned eIoquence he'd his audi
ence spell-bound. He referred to the
charge of moral perjury in refusing to
help enforce the fugitive slave law, and
| shall never forget these thrilling
words as he hurled them Ikea thunder
bolt upon that vast sea of people. He
said: 'If Judge Douglas wants to make
a bloodhound of himself. and chase the
fleeing fugitive across the free prarieS
Of Illinois and fasten his canine teeth
in the quivering flesh of the fleeing
bondsman, he can do it, but, thank God
Almighty, Owen Loveioy never will.
For a moment a spell rested over the
vast throng and the stiffness was sti-
fling, but the great sea of people COM
menced tQ sway back and forth, a wild,
wailing shout broke forth, and back
wards and forwards over that moving
mass of Immunity went such cheering
as is seldom heard in this world. Like
the tide ii would go and come and ebb
and flow until il seemed as though it
would never stop. The climax of hu-
man nature had been reached, and the
great heart and conscience of the listen
ing thousands had been aroused until
feeling akin TO divine revelation had
taken possession of the vast multitude;
and dom believe there was a man in
the vast sea of people who did not so
home carrying with him there, and re-
tanning until the present feeling that
higher power than man governed
and controlled the memorial meeting in
the beautiful city Of Freeport.