Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-14
WHEN LINCOLN CAME TO NORWICH
Ffty-Two Years Ago He Spoke in Town Hall Here-Late Jeremiah Halsey Considered Speech a Model for Young Lawyers

appeared to be an abesnt minded man. He cared nothing Tor present surroundings, wanted no office and was lntently thinking upon the state Of the country. but now young lawyer had asked him to talk, anu that Drightened him up. He went direct lnto the late contest in Illinois. lie said: That Doug las is a keen little fellow, a splenuId debater, but ne can never be president Why not, Mr. Lincoln, when democrats can eletI Buchanan No, he has an swered mat second question which I put to him at treepUrt. He had to answer It. What could little Stephen sayf Could he say the people Of a territory cannot exclude slavery Then the whole north would denounce hlm Could he say the people of a territory can by law exclude slavery ?7 Then the whole south would uown hib 'buts Mr. Lincon, why can they not baiish slavery from their own territory Because the south ern people claim the right to take their property into Kansas or Ne braska and hold it there What would your New London county farmers say, if they could not emi- grate to Nebraka and take then
 
 these as their own property% Now the southern man regards his slave, man or woman, as property, standing no higher than your cattle or horses. stephen knew that well enough when l put the question to him, but he had no better answer than this. that the people of a territory have full power 10 admit slavery or exclude l as they please. He has obtained the sena- torship by majority of eight votes in the legislature. I shall never be sen ator, but he will never be president
 The Big Question.
 Then he went into the future of the great question. This country will not continue half slave and half free: 1t will be all slave or all free Yes, MT. Lincoln, we have seen that in your speeches, but how can you just ly say it? Because the fight is on. By repeating the Missouri compromise the south has invited the north to trial of strength. Northern emigrants called squatters' will rush into Kan sas and Nebraska, and if those terri tories become free states see trouble ahead But, MT. Lincoln, why any trouble?' Because the south, if beat en in the territories, will never sub init. You, young man, will probably live long enough to see this country all slave or all free. A efw days af- ter this memorable talk it became my duty to give a political address at Lebanon, this state. While speaking, it suddenly occurred to me to say to that audience, Within a day or two l have talked an hour with Abraham Lincoln, and he shows such marks of greatness that it would not surprise me to see his nominated and elected president of the United States But. of course none of Us dreamed that he would be nominated in the fall of that year.
 What Manner of Man?
 Now, what manner of man was Abraham Lincoln in 1860? A think CT but not an office seeker. A some what sad and very sober man. A sin cere searcher after truth. He cared for principles and thought deeply up- on them. Present applause was noth- ing to him. He did nothing for mere effect. He combined absolute simplic- ity with rare clearness of vision. He had intuitive knowledge and saw at d glance what other men must work out by slow process. He stood on T mountain top, and took in the whole landscape in one picture. He looked into the future and knew what 1t meant for the country. How then can l sum up the genius of Abraham Lincoln in 1860? 1 answer. Deep insight into things which then were Wonderful foresight into things which were to come"