Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-11-05
A sUNBUEsr OF ELOQUENCE.
How LoYejoy, on LIncOln's Red-Letter
Day, Made n Thousand Heartstrings
yihrata.

How LoTeJoy, on Llncolhs heu-heh'ei
Day, Made n Thousand Heartstrings
Yiorate.
1. T. Terrell in ne ChioagO Tribune.
Twas present at the great joint debate
between Abraham Liucol and Stephen A.
Douglas at FreepOrt, III. Il was then
that Mr. Lincoln, who had the closing OF
the debate, answered the seven ques'
lions propounded at Ottawa By Judge
Douglas. How logically and eloquently
the snsWers were given the world knows
Then he read seven questions, which he
said he could fairly ask Judge Douglass
Those questions sealed the political doom
of Mr.. Douglas. Among these was this
one in substance: If the Constitution
of the United States protected slavery in
the territories, how was popular
sovereignty to drive it out when
it became q state, If a majority
or the people did not want itY' When
Judge Douglas arose to occupy the time
that WAS his every one could see that he
was excited beyond all control, and in an
ger he tore of his collar and neektie, and
ike q gladiator entered upon his great
speech. Here he made the great mistake
of his life. Instead of taking time, as Mr..
Lincoln did, to think over his replies and
frame them carefully, he answered at once,
giving such hssty and ilkconsidered replies
as came to him on the spur OF the moment.
His reply to the above question was in
substance that the people OF territory or
state could exclude slavery by 'uDftiendly
legislation" even as against tina Constitu
ton Of the United States. The admission
then and there made aroused perfect
cyclone of indignation in the Southern
states, and the presidential star of Judge
Douglas then and there set forever. and the
civil war followed as a result Of it.
Another event of that meeting was the
presence of Owen Lovejoy. Judge Doug
las knew he was there, and he charged
that Loyejoy was guilty of moral perjury
because, having taken the oath Of Con-
g8essmsu, he had publicly declared he
would not be party to enforcing the Fug-
tive 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
q yelling ior him Was enough to make o
man des! Finally Lovsjoy came out un-
der the balcony aud platform OF dry
goods boxes was hastily constructed, and
as be raised his hand for silence the noise
died away ike the receding waves Of the
ocean. For pathos and the Vehe-
msnt power of deep conviction that
speech excelled anything | ever heard, and
his impassioned eloquence held his su-
dience 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 like a thuuderbolt upon
hat vast sea of people He ssid: "If
Juige Douglas wants to make blood.
hound of himself, and chase the fleeing
fugitive across the free prsiries of Illinois
and fssten his canine teeth in the culver.
ing flesh of the fleeing bondmsn, he can
do it, but, thank God Almighty, Oven
Loveioy never will.
For q moment spell rested over the
vast throng and the stiffness was sitting,
butthe great sea Of people commenced to
sway back aud forth, a wild, wailing shout
broke forth, and backwards and forwards
over that moving mass of humanity went
such cheering as is seldom heard in this
world. Like the tide, it would go and
come and ebb and flow until it seemed as
though it would never stop. The climax
OF human nature had been reached, and
the great heart and conscience of the list
ening thousands had been aroused until a
feeling akin to divine revelation had
taken possession of the vast multitude; and
don't believe there was q man in the vast
sea OF people who did not 90 home carry
ing with him, and retaining until the pres
ent feeling that q higher power than
man governed and controlled the memorial
meeting in the beautiful city Of Freeport