Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-04-30
LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS
Interesting Statement Concerning Their
Famous Debate at Freeport-An
Eye Witness.
(From the Montpelier Journal.)

NIOIl tnc MOntpol1cr JOurnal.)
Respecting 1.incolns encounter with
Douglas at Frceport. and Churchils
story Of the events of the day. Mr.. In
gals Carleton of Rockford, ILL.,, writes
in the Republic of that city. n correction
of certain of Mr.. Churchills statements
In THE Crisis" Mr.. Carleton. who is
cousin of Hon. Hiram Carleton of this
city. and who went West from Marsh
field. VT. and grew up with the coun-
try" was present on that now historic
occasion at Freeport going from Rock
lord with the contingent Winnebago
county contributed to swell the great null
titude assembled at this contest of wits.
MIR. Carleton says there was no process
sion. and us inclined to the view that
the author of The Crisis has taken liber-
~ with history in order to make a bet
ter story of the day." although he is at
loss to understand why it needs any
embellishments That the Winnebago
people carried any banner. as set forth
by Churchill, Mr.. Carleton knows is fic-
ton. He corrects the story in some
minor details which are not essential to
the truth of history" and writes an OK
tremely interesting chapter of events
and incidents rs he saw them. The null
titude arriving after noon by the train
which took Mr.. Carleton to Freeport
struggled to the brewster Hotel where
Lincoln and Douglas were quartered. The
street was packed with people cheering
for their respective champions. Mr.
Carleton continues:
Presently Lincoln and Douglas came
out on the balcony OF the hotel. They
stepped out arm in arm and the crowd
checred and cheercd. I must say that
:. -, a.. w ~, -. a. Wv, Wv
J;rooi,, bon.oa ~ ,, T.; ~ . oo"
,i.t ~, 49, "M III N'i'.p,r, isoi'
,a ,,',, .., s,,ta y.
n, "''V "e ~, ~. ~ i, VI 'ate peo
L., VIC WIZ iVi' 'iN' 'iieS Dc'oHseu
are ', .,,,o .... A..
,,or, .n.o ,o, r,'trLo, d. 90. '": a..
,b,.si,,.N h,,, IL, ',n,, ~ 'il's III
T iHoni,, ,, ~, ,,'ii ,,at,, :" -
,, r 80 ''IV "'Ie.s.ii.S, VIZ
;,, ,,.,nI ,ro'''.is Gnu ~. ~" iui '""N
Us Us T.''s Duus i"S "rS SUIT anu la''
nnorod e. 10 th,, 70 ,' ,.i''..., IL
bod WOO, 80 81 ,,,,oo.s 49,, ,.,,, ,.''
nn',o,as az ,,.oa, y, ..'u .9t'lI''
to,,' aait1 ,t",ta.;a ,., ..''
r,mad .ti,t r,,,a, e., a., 80 WI, 1t
,i,toora,io I,irn1, -; 49,, ~ .''''F ".','
ni,,o ca,+ t,,tto,o5 nio - q I"' ,
,one ,ioht tro,,,o., r.i .'.t "'''''s ""'
id ,',i,,,roa ,.,.c. ~; ",''' 81
,",,- g,t,iai,s 20 i."' nv wy p'USpc'
MI - ~ ~ Hout"ci" p'ir "t
t a., w ','i7 O'''' ~ .'i'u " l''-
49,. - ~ W "',V'' WIZ
,aa,4 10. ,., ~ ,l '''' '''i " N,"' -
,,I iia,,, 10y Mi.l ii 10 ~
60, - ,a, ,"',r ~
,iieS SHoMcu ms rUush nooIs' ne
-. ". - vi N,'cN III "l"' 'n'SH, navy
into the Senate. ANA to tell the truth the
Lincoln men couldn bras, ,nuch an thcir
man for exhibition purposes.
when it came to the debate. however.
the Lincoln men had the laugh on the
Douglas men. OF course each crowd
thought his man did the best. but it was
"a fact that the whole crowd fclt that
Lincoln had Douglas on the hin and that
the latter was doing the best he could
under the circumstances. The debate
took place not far from the brewster
House Tho platform was three or ;our
feet high and there was inst about room
on it for the debaters and the rcn,rt.rs
The crowd was a big one but 7 saw a
larger crowd than that i'm tho c,mroion
of 1910. You see no one recognized tho
importance of that day besides Lincoln.
No one knew but he how he vas noinr
to tan:!le Douglas nm on souottor SOW.
oreientv SO that the den,ocracv womb
I mad tI,, I,t