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] 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 of 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." SITE OF THE FREEPORT DEBATE The granite boulder and tablets were placed by the Freeport Woman's Club to mark the site rogatories in writing, and also my answers to it. The first one of these interrogatories is in these words: Question 1.-"I desire to know whether Lincoln to-day stands as he did in 1854, in favor of the unconditional repeal of the FugitiveSlave law ?" Answer. I do not now, nor ever did, stand in favor of the unconditional repeal of the Fugitive-Slave law. [Cries of "Good! good!"] Q. 2. "I desire him to answer whether he stands pledged to-day, as he did in 1854, against the admission of any more Slave States into the Union, even if the people want them ?" A. I do not now, nor ever did, stand pledged against the admission of any more Slave States into the Union. Q. 3. "I want to know whether he stands pledged against the admission of a new State into the Union with such a Constitution as the people of that State may see fit to make ?" A. I do not stand pledged against the admission of a new State into the Union, with such a Constitution as the people of that State may see fit to make. [Cries of "Good! good!"] Q. 4. "I want to know whether he stands to-day pledged to the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia ?" A. I do not stand to-day pledged to the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia. Q. 5. "I desire him to answer whether he stands pledged to the prohibition of the slave trade between the different States ?" A. I do not stand pledged to the prohibition of the slave trade between the different states. Q. 6. "I desire to know whether he stands pledged to prohibit slavery in all the Territories of the United States, north as well as south of the Missouri Compromise line?" A. I am impliedly, if not expressly, pledged to a belief in the right and duty of Congress to prohibit slavery in all the United States Territories. [Great applause.] Q. 7. "I desire him to answer whether he is opposed to the acquisition of any new territory unless slavery is first prohibited therein ?" A. I am not generally opposed to honest acquisition of territory; and, in any given case, I would or would not oppose such acquisition, accordingly as I might think such acquisition would or would not Reads: "them" for "it." |