Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-01-12
LINCOLN---DOUGLAS.

There was a great contrast be-
tween the two men. Douglas was
short of stature, but plump of build.
His face was rather broad and his
head large, with shock of black
hair rising straight up from his high
forehead. AS was the fashion then
he wore his hair rather long, and it
spread away over his ears without
much sign of parting. A smooth
shaved face tended to give him
youthful appearance, except for the
deep lines about his forehead, eye
brows, upper lip and mouth. His
voice was deep and sonorous and
delight to all listeners. He was
graceful in movement and gesture
and deserved the reputation of being
one of the most pleasing orators of
his time. He was impassioned in his
delivery, and walked up and down
the platform in demonstrative man
ner. He made great efforts to en-
force the principle of local self-gov-
ernment.
Lincoln, in appearance, was quite
the opposite of Douglas. He was
very tall, very angular, ungainly in
his motions and attitude; with thin
face, deeply furrowed, and a voice
not unpleasant, but sounding harsh
in the ears that had just listened to
Douglas. While the latter always
moved about when speaking, Lincoln
stood in one place. He dwelt on the
inhumanty of the fugitive slave law.
Of course Douglas had to defend it
as part of the compromise and also
as lawfully carrying out the provis-
ions of the constitution. The Dred
Scott decision, giving the opinion of
the supreme court, was much detest-
ed, but there was no way of gainsay-
ing it, if the duty of the states to
each other to carry out the compact
made at the forming of the eonstitu-
ton was conceded. However, the
conscience of the people was against
the return OF fugitive slaves, and the
right in this matter was an influence
powerful enough to override laws,
/ decisions and constitutional COM
pacts.
Douglas was in all respects, the
more powerful debated, but obvious
lY not on the popular side of of the
question. Lincoln had an advantage
in his ability to revive the dropping
interest of his audience by stories,
which he told in an inlmitable man.
ner. When Douglas was speaking
the faces of the democrats in the au-
dience were sufficiently broad to look
pleasant, but when Lincoln's turn
came they heightened out considera-
bly,, and it was not difficult to dis
| tinguish the partsans of each of the
great men who addressed enormous
crowds from the same platform.
|
The success of Douglas was owing
to pure force of intellect. Though
Lincoln never let his audience tire,
Douglas presentation of his views of
the question made some votes and
retained those wavering and ready
to give to the other side. He told
me as we journeyed to the first meet
ing that few in the United States
realized the kind of a man he had to
meet, his wonderful power over an
audience, or his great mental abiii-
ties. | had previously seen Lincoln
when he was representative in con-
gress, but he cut no figure in the
house, appeared to be out of his ele-
ment, and made few acquaintance in
Washington. Douglas reintroduced
me to him just before the meeting,
where both were to speak. They
were good friends, and before Lin
coin took his seat as president the
patriotic Douglas had rendered him
| his help and infuence-no small
thing al that crisis. This was fully
appreciated. and the president was
prepared to make his antagonist lieu
tenant general in the army. Doug
las would not accept the position. He
was not fitted by training for mill
tary career, and his habits of life at