Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1920-02-05

citizen of the United States, exclude slavery
its limits prior to the formation of a state con-
stitution?
Answer-It matters not what way the Supreme
court may hereafter decide as the abstract ques
ton whether slavery may may not go into a
territory under the constitution, the people nave
the lawful means to introduce it or exclude 1t as
they please, for the that slavery cannot
exist day or an hour anywhere, unless 1t is
supported by local police regulations Those po-
lice regulations can only be established by the
local legislatures and if the people are opposed to
slavery, they will elect representatives to that
body who will by unfrendy legislation effectually
prevent the introduction Of it into their midst L.
the contrary, they are for it, their eg1slatlon
will favor its extension. Hence, no matter what
the decision Of the Supreme court may be on that
abstract question: still the right of the people to
make Slave Territory Free Territory is per-
feet and complete under the Nebraska bill.
These Lincoln-Dougas debates-sometimes they
are called the "Freeport Debates" because OF the
momentous results Of the foregoing question ana
answer-are unique in our history. Never before
or since have two citizens engaged in series OF
public discussions under such remarkable circum-
stances. While the nominal issue was the election
of members of the Illinois state legislature, which
was to fill the United States senatorship for Whlch
the two debaters were candidates, the real issue
was one so tremendous in Importance that 1t was
destined within few years to plunge the country
into the greatest civil war Of oil history. So Lin
coin did not exaggerate when at Quincy, with
the prophets vision he spoke of the seven debates
as successive acts of drama to be enacted not
merely in the face of audiences like this, but In
the face of the nation and to some extent of the
face Of the world.
To be sure, the two men were old-time rivals.
They had competed in the courts for the hand OF
the same maiden and for political favors. Douglas
had become nationally famous; Lincoln was d To-
cal celebrity. Douglas the leader of a great
q
and untried party. Douglas the aggressive
creator Of the policy of popular sovereignty,
pretending to be Indifferent whether the people
voted slavery up voted it down." Lincoln was
the earnest defender of the proposition that "al
men are created free and equal" And this time
it was a contest between them for the United
States senatorship from Illinois.
But Lincoln knew--whether or not Douglas
realized the stuation--that the contest between
them involved more than election to the senate.
This is made clear in his speech of acceptance
of the nomination made by the Republican state
convention the preceding June. Here are his i'm
kmortal words. which sounded the keynote of the
whole mo,nentous issue which confronting
the nation:
eff we could first know where are, and
Ewllitller tending we could better judge
awhat to do now, and how to do it. We are now far
into the fifth year since policy was initiated
with the, avowed object and confident promise OF
Eputting an end to slavery agitation Under the
operation of that policy, that agitation has not
only not ceased but has constantly augmented
En- my opinion it will not cease until crisis shall
shave been reached and passed. "A house divided
against itself cannot stand believe this govern
ment can not endure permanently half slave ant
half free do not expect the Union to be dis
Rsolved / do not expect the house to fall but d.
sexpect it will to be divided. 1t will become
,all one thing, or all the, other Either the op
ponents of slavery swin hrrest lthe further sprea
&of it, and place it where the public mind shall res
sin the belief that lit As the course of ultimate eS
.tinction or it's advocates will push it forward til
1T shah become alike lawful in all the states oil
aas wellas new, north as we'll as isouh.'t
q And Illinois knew that this was. more than
npersonal and local contest between two politics
rivals ortawa, aided BY the rest Of the state
started off the debates in q blaze of glory. Rivf
Eprocessions the roar Of cannon, city decked wit
Hdiags and an enormous crowd marked the occ;
sson Each of the debates attracted the sam
great crowds Neither party spared pains e,
Eneuse Delegations marched in from every eros
Mroads within fifty,miles Many of these procession
,zwere a mile long, lEethe main plrades were hoa
bearing young women representing the states
the Union; among the Republican beauties W;
&usually one in mourning-kansas-;lnd over IL
Democratic maidensr noated n banner with the i
scription "Protect Us From Negro Husbands"
Irnally they all assembled before the, gran
stand seats could b .:.ovidcd for comparative