It is too late in the day for Mr. Abraham Lincoln to set himself up as a supporter of the Mexican war. It is not important whether he voted for supplies or not. He stood up in his place in the house, during the pendency of the negotiations of the treaty with Mexico, and, in a mountebank harangue, argued, to the best of his ability, that his own country was wrong and that his country's enemies were right, thereby holding out inducements to the enemy to insist upon more rigorous terms in the pending negotiations. At Charleston he called upon Mr. Ficklin to help him out of the drag. That gentleman came upon the stand, and, instead of making Mr. Lincoln's "spot" more comfortable, testified that Mr. L. voted for the Ashum resolution, declaring the war to be unjust and unconstitutional. He stood alone in the Illinois delegation in giving that vote. The resolution was introduced and voted for no other purpose than to cripple the country in negotiating a peace. If it was not this what was it for? The war had begun, battles had been fought, American blood had flowed like water, and for what good or patriotic purpose could Mr. Lincoln have joined the abolitionists in making a record for the enemy's benefit? He did give that monstrous vote, and many others like it, however, but now attempts to pettifog out of it by denying something that Douglas had not charged upon him. Lincoln, and the Massachusetts abolitionists who led him, were determined that in the treaty of peace our country should come off without advantage-that we should not acquire Mexican territory as indemnity for the outrages put upon us, in order that the crew of sectionalists with whom he acted might make party capital. They would have robbed their country of its just rights, blotted its escutcheon, and branded with infamy all who maintained the justice of the war, to secure that great end of politicians of his class-power and spoils. Mr. A. Lincoln was the humble catspaw of these sectionalists, and most faithfully has he followed up his service in the same line of policy for the benefit of the same political interest. It was in support of this policy that he joined with the enemies of Clay in the whig ranks, and contributed to the ruling out of the great whig chieftain by substituting the leader in that "proslavery raid," the Mexican war, as the Chicago Tribune has termed it, in place of Mr. Clay, who could not be made the supple instrument of the abolition wing of the whig party, to which Mr. Lincoln attached himself, and which affiliation. he showed in his famous, or rather infamous "spotty" speech. Mr. Lincoln cannot quibble out of the odium of his unpatriotic course in regard to the Mexican war, by begging the question upon votes of supplies. He showed by his congressional course that he was as serviceable an ally of Mexico as if he had met his countrymen-his constituents-upon Mexican soil, with a Mexican musket, to welcome them with "bloody hands to hospitable graves," as Corwin hoped they would be. We have heretofore given our readers his record, at length, on this question. His course is familiar to the people of the whole state, especially to our older residents, and it is only surprising that Mr. Lincoln should have ventured to dig it up in a county where there are so many who participated in that "unjust war," as he and the abolitionists proclaimed it! We can only account for it in the fact that he had to play a delicate part in Coles, to hide himself on the slavery question and in his trepidation and his desire to find other subjects of comment blundered from Scylla upon Charybdis. He run upon his most odious "spot," which brought upon him the exposé of his Mexican record by Douglas at Sullivan. In his course in relation to the Mexican war Mr. Lincoln only vented that abolition feeling, which has culminated in his avowal that he favors the doctrine of the equality of the negroes with the whites. Abolitionism then, as now, was the basis of his political creed. [Chicago Journal, September 21, 1858] THE FOURTH JOINT DEBATE BETWEEN LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS (Special correspondence of the Journal) CHARLESTON, COLES Co., Sept. 20 Saturday was a great day in Charleston. There were not less than twelve thousand people present, from the adjacent towns and counties, to hear the fourth joint debate between Lincoln and Douglas. The streets of the village were filled with a perfect tide of humanity, surging to and fro, and immediately after dinner the tide flowed out to the County Fair Grounds, where the debate took place. The reception that was given to Mr. Lincoln on his arrival, by the Republicans of Charleston, was most cordial and enthusiastic. Mr. Bromwell, on behalf of the Republicans of Charleston, made an eloquent speech of welcome, to which Mr. Lincoln responded briefly, but in befitting terms; after which our noble leader was perfectly overwhelmed with the warm greetings of the thousands of good friends who had come to see and hear him. The debate, in the afternoon, was opened by Mr. Lincoln, who, on taking the stand, was vociferously cheered. CHAPTER IX THE GALESBURG DEBATE [Chicago Press and Tribune, October 2, 1858] THE GALESBURG DEBATE GALESBURG, IOWA, Sept. 29, 1858 Editors Press and Tribune: Please inform the readers of your paper the time of the debate between Lincoln and Douglas at Galesburg on the 7th of October. Will it be in the day time or evening, and at what hour. Many Republicans from Muscatine will be there. Insert notice in paper, and oblige, Yours truly, G. W. V. (The previous debates have all commenced at 2 P. M. and we believe that is the hour fixed on by the Galesburg committees.-Eds. P. & T.) [Burlington, Iowa, State Gazette, September 30, 1858] DOUGLAS AT GALESBURG Douglas and Lincoln will address the people at Galesburg on Thursday the 7th of October. Persons desiring to be present on the occasion can do so at a small expense via the Burlington & M. RR. and Chicago & Quincy Railroad. Tickets to Galesburg and back—half fare—good for the 7th and 8th on regular trains. We hope to see a large delegation from Iowa on that occasion. Those coming from towns west of us had better avail themselves of the afternoon train on the 6th in order to make sure of connection. Tickets can be had at any of the Railroad ticket offices. [Peoria, Ill., Transcript, October 1, 1858] THE NEXT GREAT DEBATE BETWEEN LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS The next great debate between Lincoln and Douglas comes off at Galesburg, on Thursday next, the 7th of October, and will attract the largest crowd that has yet assembled to listen to the joint discussions between the two great political champions. It is estimated that not less than 25,000 persons will be in attendance, and the citizens of Galesburg are making extensive preparations for the event. The Peoria, Oquawka and Burlington Railroad are prepared to accommodate all who may desire to pass over their road to attend this this great debate. An extra train will leave this city at 8 in the morning, and returning, leave Galesburg at 6 o'clock in the afternoon. Peoria ought to furnish at least 3,000 persons for this train. Let there be a general pouring out of our citizens. We urge our Republican friends, in particular, to be on hand. An extraordinary effort will be made by the Douglas-worshippers to get out the largest crowd for the occasion. The decided advantage which Mr. Lincoln has heretofore gained over his antagonist in these joint debates, has exasperated them to such an extent that no pains will be spared at Galesburg to regain their lost grounds by giving Douglas as large a number of sympathizers in the audience as possible, who will be desperate in their enthusiasm to the last degree. But the Republican party throughout this section is confident and spirited, and Old Abe will meet with a reception next Thursday, which, in point of zeal and magnificence will far excel anything of the kind ever before witnessed in the West. [Chicago Press and Tribune, October 5, 1858] THE GALESBURG DEBATE.-A WORD TO THE COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS The fifth public debate between Lincoln and Douglas comes off at Galesburg on Thursday next. We observe from our exchanges in that quarter that preparations are being made for an immense crowd. A special train will leave this city from the Central Depot on Thursday morning at six o'clock, reaching Galesburg at 1:25 P. M. Fare for the round trip six dollars. In this connection we desire to say a word to the Committee of Arrangements for the debate. At none of the previous discussions have there been any adequate accommodations for reporters. It is not a fact that two chairs and a wash-stand eighteen inches square are sufficient furniture for half a dozen men to work on, nor is it always convenient to make a battle against a mob of excited politicians, when the fighting editor is at home. In behalf of ourselves and such other representatives of the press as may be represented, may we request that |