The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-03
LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS.
An Interesting "Reminiscences of ILL
nOis Politics.

ST. Louis Globe-Democrat
In the summer of 1858, about midday,
Lincoln entered the law office of Lawrence
Weldon, at Clinton. AS he deposited him
self in a chair he looked at Weldon. and,
with a humorous expression on his face.
said:
Wei, I'm here"
Yes" replied Weldon, 81 see you are"
while 1 have the right of any other cit
izen to be here or anywhere else I please"
Lincoln went on, al don't feel altogether
unembarrassed."
At Clinton that day eliminated a crisis
in the relations of Lincoln and Douglas as
rival candidates for the Illinois senator
ship. The series of incidents which fol-
lowed LincOln's arrival in Clinton, if il
did not actually bring about the famous
joint debate between the men who were
to be presidential nominees in the cam
paign two years later, certainly had an
important bearing thereon. Judge Law
renee Weldon is the senior justice of the
Court OF Claims at Washington. He be-
loEged to that group of strong characters
lawyers and politicians. of central Illinois
which for two enerations welded mighty
influence In the affairs of the Nation.
Some years before coming TO Washington
to take the place on the Court of Claims
Judge Weldon was law partner of David
Davis at Bloomington. In 1888 he was liY-
ing and practicing at Clinton, and was tho
friend of Lincoln.
Clinton" said Judge Weldon recalling
circumstances and conversations Of fifty
three years ago as readily as if they were
of last week, was the headquarters of
the Danites.' That was the name which
was given to a faction of Democrats i'm
Illinois which was antagonistic to Judge
Douglas. In making his campaign Doug
las had come to Clinton to speak. Lincoln
was there to hear him. Douglas Travelled
by special train with two coaches and a
flat car. On the fiat car was a cannon.
AS soon as the train arrived where a
meeting was to be held the cannon was
fired a number of times to inform the peo-
pie. Because of the fact that Clinton was
recognized a center of the Danites.'
there was great excitement over the meet
ing to be held that day. Lincoln had espe-
cial reasons for wanting to hear Douglas.
There had been several speeches up to that
time, but no joint debate had been ar
ranged. References of the candidates to
each other had been growing more pointed.
Lincoln had made his 18th OF June speech.
in which he had charged that james and
Stephen and Roger (meaning James Blu
chanan, Stephen a. Douglas and Roger
Taney) are in a conspiracy 10 natiOnalize
slavery, through the administrations poll
icy in Kansas the Nebraska compromise
and the bred Scott decision.
Douglas, said Judge Weldon, chad
made his Chicago speech following this
declaration by Lincoln He had not
answered the charge, but had wholly ig-
combining himself TO a discussion of ma
tional issues and to his own course in Con-
RTeSS, ne nd0 QeNOIeQ a considerable portion
OF his speech 10 Lincoln and had attacked
him personally. This gave Lincoln his OPP
pOrtunity, and he took advantages OF il in
a speech at Springfield a few days later
In the course of his analysis of the Chicago
speech of Douglas. Lincoln said:
" The Senator has referred TO me person
ally, Dut' he has not answered the charge
/ made. Therefore, / am entitled to take
default on the bill against him.
THE Republicans had Of course made
much of this failure of Douglas 10 meet the
assertion of Lincoln. The next important
event of the campaign was this meeting at
Clinton. Public interest in what Douglas
might have to say was keyed to a high
pitch. Lincoln had left Springfield and had
come to Clinton 20 listen although as he
| said he was not altogether unembar-
rassed' Lincoln came to my office as soon
/ as he reached Clinton and remained there
| until il was time 10 go TO the meeting
| which was TO be held I'm a grove. While we
| SAT In my Office talking about the cam
paign Lincoln told me that Judge Douglas
! had at that time in his pocket a challenge
| TO joint debate.
We'll I said If you have already chal-
! lenged him, the question is not on the
1 docket
| '.When we started FOR the meeting Lin
! coin suggested that We keep out OF the way
! OF the procession. lie said he didn't care
| to be any more conspicuous than necessary.
| We took a roundabout course. When we
got to the grove We found a place near 10