The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-02-27
Lincoln TO Follow Up" Douglas.

But the speech against the repeal OF
the compromise signally impressed all
parties opposed 20 Mr. Douglas late
legislation Wings, Abolltionists and
Democratic Free Sellers who agreed
with perfect unanimity that Mr.. Lin.
colin should be pitted against Mr.. Doug.
las wherever circumstances admitted
OF their meeting As one OF the evil
deuces OF this sentiment Mr.. William
Butler drew up paper addressed TO
Mr., Lincoln requesting and urging
him to follow Douglas up until the
election" 1t was signed by Mr. But
Ter William Jayne, 7. T. Eads. John
Cassidy, B +. Irwin aud many 9th.
ers. Accordingly Lincoln followed"
Douglas TO Peoria. where the latter
had "n .pr~i".,ae",. "aa esaiu replied
TO him IN much the same spirit and
with the same arguments as before
The speech was really great one. al
most perfectly adapted to produce con
viction upon a doubling mind. 1t
ought to he carefully read by every
one who desires 10 know Mr.. Lincoln's
power as a debater after his intellect
was matured and rlpened by years of
hard experience. ON the general sub
ject OF slavery and negroes In the I'm.
ion he spoke as follows
Before proceeding let me say
think ! have no prejudice against the
southern people. They are Just what
we would be In their situation. II
slavery did not now exist among them
they would not introduce II. IL IL did
now exist among us we should not in.
stantly give II up. This | believe OF
the masses north and south. Doubt.
less there are individuals on both
sides who would not hold slaves under
any circumstances. and others would
gladly Introduce slavery anew II II
were out OF existence, We know that
some southern men do free their slaves,
20 north and become tiptop Abolition.
lists, while some northern men go
south and become cruel slave masters.
when southern people tell us they
are no more responsible for the origin
" slavery than we ! acknowledge the
fact. When II Is said that the institu.
Ion exists and that II Is very difficult
10 get rid OF II In any satisfactory way
can understand and appreciate the
saying | surely viii not blame them |
mr. Osha \ 81
low to do myself II all earthly pow
n were given me | should not know |
what TO do as TO the existing instltu |
ion. My first impulse would be TO
rec all the existing slaves and send
hem 10 Liberia to their own native /
and-but a moments reflection would |
'onvInce me that whatever OF high /
,ope las think there is) there may be
n this In the long run its sudden exc
ution Is impossible. II they were all
nnded there In n day they would all
erish In the next ten days, and there
re not surplus shipping and surplus
money enough In the world TO carry
hem there In many times ten days.
What them Free them all and keep
hem among us ms underlings? Is II
ulie certain that this berters their
onditlonl think would not hold
ne In slavery nj any rate, yet the
olnt IL not clear enough TO me TO de-
ounce people upon. What nexti Free
hem aud make them politically and
cclally our equalsi My own feelings
'ill not admit Of this, and IL mine
iould we all know that those OF The
reat mass OF white people would not.
Whether this feeling accords with Jus.
ce aud sound Judgment Is not the sole
uestlon, II. indeed. II Is any part Of II
Z universal feeling, whether well or
founded, cannot he safely disre
nried We cannot, then, make them
luals II does seem TO me that sys.
ms ~ gradual emancipation might
, adopted. but for their tnrllness IN
lls ! win not undertake TO Judge our
-etbcn Of The south When they r..
Ind us of their constitutional rights |
knowledge them not grndgingiy, but
lily aud fairly, and ! would glre
em any legislation for the reclaim
Z Of their fugItiyes which should no,
IT. siringeBcy Dc more likely 10 car
free man into slavery than our
binary criminal laws are 10 hang an
noeent one
'Bn, sll this, 10 my Judgment, fur.
sl,ss no more excuse for permitting
avery 10 go Into our own free terri
ny than II would for reyiying the
friean slave trade BY law. The law
hitch fcsbids The Driugiag o. slaves
om Africa and that which has 70
rs forbidden the taking them to Ne