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dry and the town was shrouded in dust raised by the moving populace. Crowds were pouring into town from sunrise till noon in all sorts of conveyances, teams, railroad trains, canal boats, cavalcades, and processions on foot, with banners and inscriptions, stirring up such clouds of dust that it was hard to make out what was underneath them. The town was covered with bunting, and bands of music were tooting around every corner, drowned now and then by the roar of cannon. Mr. Lincoln came by railroad and Mr. Douglas by carriage from La Salle. A train of seventeen passenger cars from Chicago attested the interest felt in that city in the first meeting of the champions. Two great processions escorted them to the platform in the public square. But the eagerness to hear the speaking was so great that the crowd had taken possession of the square and platform and had climbed on the wooden awning overhead to such an extent that the speakers and committees and reporters could not get to their places. Half an hour was consumed in a rough-and-tumble skirmish to make way for them, and when finally this was accomplished, a section of the awning gave way with its load of men and boys, and came down on the heads of the Douglas committee of reception. But, fortunately, nobody was hurt.

[Peoria Transcript, August 26, 1858]

The complete manner in which Lincoln used up Douglas at Ottawa is evinced by the desperation of the latter's newspaper organs. The Chicago Times, construing the enthusiasm of the Republicans in bearing Lincoln upon their shoulders after the debate in triumph through the city, says that he "broke down completely, and his friends were obliged to carry him from the ground!" That will do; the Times has touched. the bottom!

[Whig, Quincy, Ills., August 26, 1858]

THE ELEGANCIES OF DOUGLAS

The character and disposition of Judge Douglas were pretty clearly exhibited in his speech at Ottawa, the other day. Among other equally elegant terms which he used on the occasion, were the following: In speaking of Mr. Lincoln he said he intended to "bring him to his milk” -that he advocated the doctrine that "niggers were equal to white men"—that he was going to "trot him (Lincoln) down to Egypt." And much more of the same sort.

Isn't this beautiful language to come from a United States Senator?

Mr. Douglas is as much a blackguard as he is a demagogue, and scarcely has an equal in either respect.

[Chicago Press and Tribune, August 24, 1858]

The interest in the debate at Ottawa is wide-spread...

Our

own extra edition of 2,000 copies was exhausted before 9 o'clock and a third edition printed and sold during the day.

[Chicago Daily Journal, August 23, 1858]

THE RESULT OF THE FIRST LINCLON AND DOUGLAS

DEBATE

The Republicans were in their glory at Ottawa on Saturday, the foolish statements and falsehoods of the Chicago Times to the contrary notwithstanding. At least two-thirds of the vast assemblage that was attracted thither to listen to the Lincoln and Douglas Debate, was composed of Republicans, and every candid man present whom we have seen, bears testimony to the fact that Lincoln "took down" Douglas most effectually, on every point of the debate. The genuine enthusiasm of the occasion was all on the side of Lincoln, and so pleased were his friends with his strong and crushing reply to the misrepresentations and sophistications of Douglas, that when he concluded his speech, they rushed up to the stand, took him upon their shoulders, and bore him in triumphal procession to the house of Mayor Glover, where he stopped.

In the evening the Republicans had a grand time. Preceded by a band of music, they marched in procession to Mayor Glover's, and escorted Messrs. Lincoln and Owen Lovejoy from thence to the Court House, where one of the most enthusiastic meetings that was ever gotten up, was held. Mr. Lovejoy made a telling speech-one of his characteristic sledge-hammer efforts,-after which, the masses-all Republicans (for the Douglasites had hidden their heads in shame, at the, to them, inglorious result of the public debate,) formed a grand torchlight procession, and paraded the streets, with loud "hurrahs for Lincoln," until a late hour.

Every Republican present at this first regular tussle between Lincoln and Douglas, felt entirely satisfied, and the general opinion is that in the Third Congressional District, at least, Douglas is "a dead cock in the pit."

CHAPTER VI

THE FREEPORT DEBATE

[Chicago Press and Tribune, August 26, 1858]

HO! FOR FREEPORT!

The usual fare from Chicago to Freeport and return, is $7.20. But excursion tickets will be sold to those who wish to leave this evening or tomorrow morning for the Lincoln and Douglas meeting at Freeport tomorrow, for $4.35, or 60 per cent of the usual fare. By starting on the 9 train tomorrow morning, you reach Freeport at 3 P. M., an hour after the speaking commences. All should, therefore, leave by tonight's train, which starts from the Wells Street depot, North Side, at 45 minutes after 10 o'clock. Comfortable sleeping cars will be put on, and all can reach Freeport in season for the whole fun, without losing any time. Tickets for the excursion will be sold at the Wells Street Galena passenger depot alone.

[Freeport, Ill., Journal, August 26, 1858]
HOUR OF ARRIVAL

Lincoln spoke at Augusta, in Hancock County yesterday. He will probably arrive in town to-morrow forenoon, on the extra train from Dixon, which train will also bring up delegations from Ogle, Lee and Whiteside Counties.

[Chicago Press and Tribune, August 25, 1858]

LINCOLN AT FREEPORT

Our readers in the Western part of the State will bear in mind the fact that the second encounter between LINCOLN and DOUGLAS comes off at Freeport on Friday, the 27th. On that occasion it is expected that Douglas will try to "bring Mr. Lincoln to his milk," and all who are curious to know what the process used will be, and what will result therefrom, will not fail to be on hand.

SECOND JOINT DEBATE

Freeport, August 27, 1858

Mr. Lincoln was introduced by Hon. Thomas J. Turner, and was greeted with loud cheers. When the applause had subsided, he said:

Mr. Lincoln's Speech

Ladies and Gentlemen: On Saturday last, Judge Douglas and myself first met in public discussion. He spoke one hour, I an hour and a half, and he replied for half an hour. The order is now reversed. I am to speak an hour, he an hour and a half, and then I am to reply for half an hour. I propose to devote myself during the first hour to the scope of what was brought within the range of his half-hour speech at Ottawa. Of course there was brought within the scope of1 that half-hour's speech something of his own opening speech.

In the course of that opening argument Judge Douglas proposed to me seven distinct interrogatories. In my speech of an hour and a half, I attended to some other parts of his speech, and incidentally, as I thought, answered one of the interrogatories then. I then distinctly intimated to him that I would answer the rest of his interrogatories. He made no intimation at the time of the proposition, nor did he in his reply allude at all to that suggestion of mine. I do him no injustice in saying that he occupied at least half of his reply in dealing with me as though I had refused to answer his interrogatories. I now propose that I will answer any of the interrogatories upon condition that he will answer questions from me not exceeding the same number. I give him an opportunity to respond. The Judge remains silent. I now say that I will answer his interrogatories, whether he answers mine or not; [applause] and after that I have done so, I shall propound mine to him. [Applause.]

[Owing to the press of people against the platform, our reporter did not reach the stand until Mr. Lincoln had spoken to this point. The previous remarks were taken by a gentleman in Freeport, who has politely furnished them to us.]

I have supposed myself, since the organization of the Republican party at Bloomington, in May, 1856, bound as a party man by the platforms of the party, then and since. If in any interrogatories which I shall answer I go beyond the scope of what is within these platforms, it will be perceived that no one is responsible but myself.

Having said thus much, I will take up the Judge's interrogatories as I find them printed in the Chicago Times, and answer them seriatim. In order that there may be no mistake about it, I have copied the inter

Reads: "in" for "of."

Inserts: "to you" after "say."

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