New-York tribune., 1885-07-19

nero tak0 tno DEFAULT on MIN on tnat cuarSos no
having refused and failed to answer"
Some time In the latter part Of July Mr.. Douglas
began his regular campaign in De Witt. that being
strong Buchanan county Colonel Thomas Smell
having organized tho DANTE party there. In opposi
tion to Mr.. Douglas We wrote Mr.. Lincoln that
inasmuch as Mr. Douglas was to begin his regular
campaign there, he had better come and hear him;
and on the morning of the day the meeting was
held Mr.. Lincoln came to Clinton. There was an
immense crowd for country town, and the people
were very much excited upon the subject Of politics
On the way to the grove Mr. Lincoln said IL have
challenged Judge Douglas for discussion what
do you think of 1t Z" / said: " The question is
already settled, but l approve your judgment in
whatever you may do" Mr.. Douglas spoke to an
immense audience and made one of the most
forcible political speeches l ever heard He spoke
over thrce hours. in the course of which he took
occasion to reply to Mr.. Lincoln's Springfield
speech. with reference to the default" which he
said Mr. Lincoln in his second speech had sought to
make against him. As he progressed in his argu-
ment he became very personal. and said to Mr..
Lincoln: Do you suppose Douglas knows you are
here p "Well." said he. :" don't know whether he
docs or not he has not looked around in this direc
ton but reckon the boys have told him am
herc.7 When Judge Douglas finished there was
great shout for Mr.. Lincoln. He stepped the
Douglass meeting. ] have no right and therefore
no disposition to interfere but if you ladies and
gentlemen desire tn hear what have to say these
oucstions and will meet me tonight at the Court
House ward, 1 ,ciU TRY and answer tho gentleman
Mr, Douglas was in the act OF putting OH his
cravat and turned in the direction Of sir Lincoln.
Both became poised in a tableau of majestic power.
The scene exhibited meeting of giants. contest
of great men, and the situation was dramatic IN the
extreme. Lincoln made speech that night which
in volume and force did not equal the speech of
Judge Douglas; but for sound and cogcnt argI-
mept it was superior. Negro equality then the
bugbcar of politics, and the Republican party
defending itself against the charges to the extent
made by the Democracy. Mr.. Lincoln said in his
speech: "Judge Douglas charges me with being
in favor of negro equality and to the extent that he
charges | am not guilty. am guilty of hating
servitude and loving freedom and while would
not carry the equality of the races to the extent
charged by my adversary, am happy TO confess
before YOU that in some things the black man is the
equal of the white man. In the right to eat the
bread his own hands have earned he is the equal Of
Judge Douglas or any other living man." When
he spoke the last sentence he had stretched himself
TO his full height, and as he reached his hands
toward the stars of tnat still night then aud there
fell from his lips one of the grandest expressions of
American craftsmanship After the meeting his
friends con graduated hun especially on the beauty
of the thonght in tie last sentence of the quotation
He said DO you think that Is fine r and when
assured that il was he laughingly said. " IL you
thluk 50. will get that of again Mr. Douglas
having received challenge from Mr.. Lincoln.
rcplied to him ia n few days and the memorable
discussion was the result.
In May 1860, State Convention was held at
Decatur to appoint delegates TO Chicago. Mr..
Lincoln WAS there; and at that convention was In
augurated by Governor, Oglcsby the rail movement;
e nad iOIsry r with WITH Mr. on Hank wo W% wss 1s
stl living and it occurred TO the Governor. in
ycrsation with Mr.. Hanks. that II they could get
soma of the rails that Lincoln and Hanks split, 10
wouId be good thing for the campaign ana on
the day of the convention 0glcsby arranged that
lust at the close of the business. Of ihe convention.
MIR Hanks should march IL with one Of these rails
on his shoulder. which he did and as Mr. Lincoln
rose 70 speak his attention was called to the rail-
He raid: :" Fellow citizens it is true that many,
many years ago John Hanks and made rails down
ON The SaDgamon. We made good big honest
rails but whether that is one of The rails am not
AZ this distant period Of time. able to say" That
naugurated the rail movement. He closed his
reference to the rails with enogy on free labor.
embracing the finest thought Of his theory upon
that subject. AT that convention the question
asked him whether he would attend the Chicago
Convention. and he replied am little too much
didate to stay away; but upon the whole believe
will not 60"
of 1850. lie attended one political meeting. but
declined to speak. On the day appointed by law
snG snseTta,nea Eat at dinner by Mr. J. c. Conking, the
elector for that district Mr. Lincoln was there as
one Of the guests and talked freely but sadly as to
Governor Yates. who had been elected Governor.
was of the party aud expressed to him the necessity
of being firm and determined. lie replied that hc
hoped he would be adequate to the responsibility of
the situation and that IN his hands. as President,
the Republic Of Washington wonld not perish
How much work be did at Springfield IN the
preparation of his inaugural was not known by his
most intimate friends. lie may have consulted
some of the members of his Cabinet who visited
l,ofo he lef for Washington,
Inc kept his own counsel. That fact illustrates one
of the distinguishing features OF his character AS
IN the ordinary affairs Of life he Indifferent. he
listened to any body. but when the highest and most
important functions OF duty were called into
reausiton he one of the most self reliant men
of history. As President of tho United States he
was Indifferent as to who was Minister to the Court
of St. James Postmaster at New-York; Councils |
and Cabinets might decide such questions but when
the oucston arose whether liberty was to be given |
TO all in the solitude OF his unmcasured genius the |
fsGO by some OF his more intimate friends that his
positions the subject Of slavery and human rights
would be prejudical to his party and to himself |
Ms Pna NO %t hm Wa, 20 h
thing was right and not what his friends may have |
thought about the expediency OF it. -.
but the surface indications Of his character he was
sad and serious; The poem, which he so often |
why should IL s sport fnr OF 81 GGa ,bo se
melancholy Of his sonl l have heard him as nc |
sat by the decaying cmbers of an old-fashioned |
freDlHces Wucl tuc iHclliipcht anu ouphi'So |
we're over. aud the nights stiness had assumed |
dominion quote at length his fayorite poem.
Another story IL told illustrative OF Mr. Lincolns
ability to relieve the embarrassment of his situation
as President by master stroke OF wit. In 1862 the
pe0plc OF New-YOrk City were apprehcnsvc OF a |
bombardment by some of the Confederate cruisers |
nubIic meetings held to express the gravity of
the situation and to induce tho Government 10 do |
something by way OF permanently protecting the |
citv In consummatiOn of that purpose delega- |
tio1 of fifty gentlemen representing in their own
right 81 on, 900 900 was selected TO visit Washing
tnn and have All interview with the President, and |
induce him to detail g1nboat to protect the city.
.rLa comnitter reaueated gentlcman then staying |