At the conclusion of the speaking the same individual we first alluded to rushed upon the platform, and in a very insinuating manner commenced propounding interrogations to Douglas. The Judge answered the questions in an appropriate manner. We were told that the questioner was a candidate of some few persons for Congress, and that his name is Hope, or something like that. Last night a meeting was held at Alton, and Messrs Merrick, of Chicago, and A. J. P. Garesche, of this City, made Douglas speeches. [St. Louis Evening News, October 16, 1858] THE TRIP TO ALTON.-THE DEBATE.-DOUGLAS AND LINCOLN The debate between Douglas and Lincoln, at Alton yesterday, afforded to our citizens an opportunity of hearing and seeing those eminent champions of Democracy and Republicanism in conflict; and, as the people of St. Louis are notoriously fond of speeches, several hundred of them went "up to Alton" to listen to the discussion. One crowd went up on the Terre Haute railroad, another took the Baltimore at seven o'clock, and a third detachment followed on the White Cloud, which left at ten o'clock. We cast our fortunes with this latter crowd. It was, politically a promiscuous gathering. There were fierce and furious friends of Douglas, whose admiration for the "Little Giant" knew no bounds; steady old Adamantine Administration Democrats, who support the President at all hazards and to the last extremity; rampant Republicans, and neutral Americans. Of course, such an assemblage contained the elements of boundless and endless political disputes; and the boat was no sooner afloat than the whole crowd got afloat, too, in the deep water of politics. The Douglas men were vociferous in praises of the "Little Giant." The Administration men were vehement in their denunciation of him. The Douglas men believe their champion to be the "greatest man now living." The Administration men suggested that he had lived well nigh to the end of his political life. The Douglas men went into grandiloquent expositions of "the great principle of the Kansas Nebraska Act," "popular sovereignty," "the rights of the people," and other "glittering generalities," to which the Administration men listened with "serene indifference," while the Americans and Republicans grappled each other in animated side fights, which made the cabin of the White Cloud as uproariously interesting and pro foundly instructive as one of the midnight sessions of the last Congress, when the Kansas question was up. The disputation was vigorously kept up until the boat arrived at Alton, at half past twelve. The streets of Alton were alive with independent looking "Suckers," who had come from all the country round about to hear the speeches; flags were streaming from the two hotels to denote the headquarters of the respective forces; and Senator Douglas' six-pound traveling swivel was blazing away in the most obstreperous manner, to impress the Altonians with a proper sense of the respect due the "big gun" who was its master. At half past one the people assembled to the number of five thousand, in front of the new City Hall, against which a platform had been erected, midst mingled cheers for "Douglas" and "Lincoln " the "Little Giant" came forward and opened the game. When Mr. Lincoln arose to speak he was loudly cheered by a portion of the crowd, while a magnificent bouquet of dahlias and roses, thrown at his feet, bespoke the admiration which the tall Republican had inspired in the bosom of one of the ladies in the crowd. Mr. Lincoln appeared to some disadvantage in the first part of his speech, which was a labored defense of himself against the charges of his antagonist, and a rescue of his position from the misrepresentations which Mr. Douglas had thrown around it; but the latter portion was an admirable example of close, compact and finished argument, and would have been creditable before any Court or Council in the land. It was a lucid exposition of the doctrines and philosophy of the Republican party, and, as a forensic effort, was certainly superior to the speech of Mr. Douglas. [Chicago Press and Tribune, October 18, 1858] SEVENTH AND LAST DEBATE BETWEEN LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS AT ALTON, FRIDAY, OCT. 15TH Douglas's Seventh Rehearsal of "That Speech."-Admirable Summing Up of the Issues of the Campaign by Mr. Lincoln.-Verbatim Report of Mr. Douglas' Speech, Mr. Lincoln's Reply and Mr. Douglas's Rejoinder The final passage-at-arms between Lincoln and Douglas came off at Alton on Friday last-two days subsequently to the Quincy debate. The speakers, accompanied by a few friends, took passage on the fine steamer City of Louisiana, at Quincy on Thursday-reaching Alton at five o'clock Friday morning. There was very little excitement manifest in the city during the forenoon, beyond the constant arriving of people from the country and the neighboring towns. A train of eight or ten cars came down from Springfield, Carlinville, and other stations on the Alton & Chicago Railroad; and the steamer White Cloud brought up a full load from St. Louis. The whole number in attendance upon the discussion was probably between four and five thousand. By mutual agreement the friends of the respective candidates made no processions or other demonstrations of enthusiasm. The debate passed off with rather less than the ordinary amount of applause, but with unusually close attention on the part of the audience. The speaking commenced at 2 o'clock P. M. at the south front of the new City Hall. [Cincinnati Gazette, October 20, 1858] THE LAST JOINT DEBATE The number of people in attendance was considerably less than on the occasion of their former debates. Only four or five thousand were present. The novelty had worn off and the full reports of the previous debates had partially satisfied the public curiosity, and as little that was new could now be expected on either side. . . . . Both these champions will appear before the people on several occasions previous to the election but not again in conjunction. It has evidently been a less advantageous arrangement to Douglas than to his competitor. [Illinois State Journal, October 20, 1858] SPRINGFIELD CADETS.-This military company visited our city on the occasion of the joint debate between Lincoln and Douglas, and their beautiful appearance and excellent training merited notice from us. Their officers are as follows: Captain-D. S. Mather; 1st. Lieut.-W. H. Latham; 2d. Lieut.-J. Loyd; 3d. Lieut. -E. Strickland. Immediately after the arrival of the 10 o'clock train, on which they came down, they formed, and preceded, by Merritt's Cornet Band, which by the way, is one of the finest that has visited our city lately, they paraded through our streets, attracting general attention. In the afternoon, at the close of the discussion, they again formed, and after marching about the city a while, drew up in front of the COURIER office, and displayed their knowledge of military tactics. Their evolutions were exceedingly well performed. We are sure they need not fear comparison with any company in the State. They drew a large crowd of observers, and well they might The beauty of their uniform, their general neatness of appearance, the certainty and rapidity with which they moved at the word of command, all combined to make them justly worthy of admiration and praise. [Alton Courier, October 19, 1858] In our notice, the other day, of the flags and banners displayed, we are advised we did a "Young America Republican" injustice, as will be seen by the following: Editor Alton Courier: In your notice Saturday you give my father the credit of hanging out the banners at his store. I did it! They are mine. I have kept some of them ever since the election of the brave Col. Bissell, and will hang them out again when Lincoln is elected. I am only a "Young America" Republican, twelve years old, but if I had twelve votes I would give them all to Lincoln and Liberty. HARRY LEA Good for Harry, say we. He has all the fire of a genuine Republican, and puts to shame many of his elders. Those banners will be wanted, Harry, so be sure and keep them safe, and think what a rejoicing we will have on that occasion. How many of our young folks can say as much as Harry? [Chicago Press and Tribune, October 18, 1858] THE ALTON DEBATE The seventh and last public debate between Lincoln and Douglas, came off at Alton on Friday last. The audience, though large, was not equal in point of numbers to the average of those at the preceding discussions. This may be attributed partly to the staid character of the population of Madison County-a considerable plurality of whom are Old Line Whigs, and partly to the fact that both speakers had previously visited in the county during the campaign. Mr. Douglas' prudence in limiting this national discussion to seven meetings has prevented our candidate from driving him any farther into the ditch. We are grateful for what has been vouchsafed us. [Springfield, Ill., Republican, October 21, 1858] Douglas and Lincoln have concluded their joint discussions. The last was at Alton, on Friday. Each has about a dozen more appointments for speeches by themselves before the election. CHAPTER XII PROGRESS OF THE CAMPAIGN [Boston Daily Courier, July 16, 1858] The speech of Mr. Lincoln, of Illinois, following upon that of Senator Douglas, delivered the preceding day, has come to hand, and we have now read them both with much attention. The contest for the Senatorship between these two gentlemen is one of very great interest to the country at large, since by its issue will be substantially determined the political character of their State at the next Presidential election. ... Mr. Douglas assumes his position, in conformity with the laws of his State, that a negro is not entitled to the privileges, immunities and rights of citizenship. He says, "I am utterly opposed to negro equality with white men,"-and this corresponds with the existing laws of Illinois, which, while they forbid slavery, also forbid a negro to vote or hold office, to serve on juries, or to enjoy political privileges; as is the practice of Massachusetts, except in regard to the voting, though our laws are silent on the subject. Mr. Lincoln, on the other hand, amongst many other things tending to the same point, which we cannot quote in detail, declares—“I have always hated slavery, I think as much as any abolitionist," and when a man goes to the lengths of an abolitionist on this point, it is obvious that he waits only for opportunity to unite with those impracticables in their not very reasonable or judicious measures for its extinction. We must think it is not of such stuff that Senators of the United States, holding slave States with their rights, as well as free States with their rights, ought to be made; nor is it easy to see how the people of Illinois, under their own Constitution and laws, can find it consistent to elect a gentleman holding such opinions. The issue, of course, is quite beyond conjecture; but the diverse views of the candidates, on the point thus indicated, show what is the real question and what will be the nature of the discussion as the canvass proceeds. Thus in a free State, excluding negroes from all rights of citizenship by law, curiously enough, negroism in one aspect or another seems to |