The Wilmingtonian., 1885-06-20

The history of Mr.. Lncoln's life is an ex.
ceedingly interesting one-more interesting
in many respects than that of any other
man which our country has produced, or
humble age, without opportunities for men
tai culture in early life, he became an able
lawyer, a forcibe writer, a captivating and
instructive speaker, an executive officer in
the most trying period of our nations histo-
ry of singular foresight and wisdom Be-
fore his joint debate with Mr.. Douglas in
1858 he was little known outside of his own
state. The ability which he displayed in
that debate gave him a national reputation.
He and Mr. Douglas were the rival candi-
dates for seat in the United States Senate,
of which Mr.. Douglas was a prominent
member but whose term of office was about
to expire.
Mr.. Douglas was the leading advocate, in
fact the father, of the doctrine OF popular
sovereignty-the right of the people of the
territories, in preparing constitutions for
admission into Union as sovereign states,
to determine for themselves whether they
should be slave states or free. Mr.. Lincoln
although hater of slavery, was not an
Abolitionist. He had profound reverence
for the Constitution upon which the Union
was founded, which recognized slavery as a
local institution, but he was firm and un-
yielding in his opposition 10 its extension.
Thus they stood before the people of ILL
nois, the acknowledged representatives of
their respective parties-one the advocate
of the naturalization Of slavery; the other
the advocate of freedom for all aud every.
where, except in those states in which slav.
cry had constitutional existence. Neither
was an extremist neither was the exponent
of ultra doctrines Oh either side. Mr.. Lin
coin did not go far enough, in merely oppos
ing the extension of slavery to satisfy the
Abolitionists OF the North. Mr.. Douglas, who
was neither an advocate nor an opponen
of slavery. did not GA far annurh to satisf,
the Abolitionists of the North. Mr.
Douglas, who was neither an advocate no
an opponent ofslavery did not go far enough
to satisfy the pro-slavery leaders of tht
South.
THE JOINT DEBATE.
While, therefore, neither of them came NJ
to the high standard of either Abolitionists
on the one hand, Or pro-slavery men on thu
other, the difference between them wal
decided and irreconcilabe; and, IN order
that the difference might be fairly ant
thoroughly discussed before the same audi
ences, Mr. Lincoln invited Mr.. Douglas t.
meet him in joint debate in some of tn,
most populous counties of che state, TIL,
invitation was promptly accepted. Til,
debate began on the 2lst of August anC
closed on the 10Th of October. They spoke
in the open air, and their speeches wer
listened to with the deepest interest by tn
many thousands who thronged to hea
them. They were fully and carefully re
ported, and were published in the leading
journals North and South.
No speeches ever made i'll the Unite
States commanded so great attention, q
made so deep an impression upon the publ
mind. 1t was, indeed, the opening of tn
'rrepressible coufiict" which Mr.. Sewar
had predicted.
Mr.. Lincoln, in speech with he made
short time before, had avoN ed the seutmeu
that the United States could not permaner
tly continue to be "part slave and paI
free;" that freedom or slavery, sooner q
later, must boone dominant in all tn
states; that slavery was local; that ther
was no warrant under the the Constitutio
for its extension, and that its extensio
could rightfully be prevented by Congress.
On the contrary, Mr.. Douglas was commi
ted to the doctrine that slavery was nationi
lized by the Constitution; that Congress la
the territories.
SENATOR DOUGLAS ADvGNTAGE.
At the beginning of the debate the advar
tages seemed to be on the side of Mr. Don.
las. The anti.slavery sentiment had NJ
taken root in Illinois, Washed by the OH
on the South and the Wabash on the Yves
by which the largest part of her surplr
productions were sent to the Souther
markets, her pecuaiary interests bound ht
South. From her earliest settlement I'll
sldNG-ONhtiS hhh uGtll utl bsSNt bllupSl III
only reliable, customers. Nor was tn
all. illinois had been largely settled /
immigrants from the slave states, 50 thu
she was connected with the South by soc
as well as pecuniary ties For more tha
half century the Union had existed an
rapidly grown iu wealth and populatic
part slave and part free. Why might it nj
remain SO and still continue to thrive an
prosper? Besides, there was somethir
captivating in the doctrine of popular so
ereignty-the right of the people to gover
themselves according to their own GOO
pleasure.
Nor were these the only advantages po
sessed by Mr.. Douglas. lie was one OF Il
ablest debaters in the country To a
almost unlimited command oflanguage we
added audacity aud tact, which made him
formidable opponent in the United Stat
Senate, filled, as the Senate them was, vii
very able and accomplished men. Upon Il
stump he had no equal. His voice wi
sonorous and flexible. Thoroughly verst
in the political history of the country, boil
dashing, self-contident and selEpossesse,