was perhaps the most momentous of the debates.

Threatening weather greeted the visitors who arrived on the scene during the morning of that day; but no rain fell, and by noon several thousand persons had assembled from the adjoining counties and from southern Wisconsin. A train of nine cars came through Dixon, Illinois, and another of sixteen cars bore many hundred excursionists from the east over the Galena & Chicago Union. Douglas arrived from Galena on the night of the 26th in a special car, and was met at Freeport by an enthusiastic delegation with an address of welcome, after receiving which he proceeded to the Brewster House in a carriage and four, the pride of the local livery stable, followed by a torchlight procession and a band.

Lincoln arrived the next morning from Dixon and walked to the same hotel, escorted by a procession which included ExCongressman John B. Turner, Joseph Medill, Owen Lovejoy, Norman B. Judd,

E. B. Washburne, Dr. C. H. Ray, chief editor of the "Tribune," and other wellknown Republican leaders. Some of these gentlemen had been in close consultation with him at Dixon, and his tactics during the Ottawa debate had been thoroughly discussed and somewhat severely criticized. He had been entirely too solemn on that occasion, he was told, and it behooved him to redeem himself by amusing the audience, after the fashion of the then celebrated Tom Corwin of Ohio. But Lincoln had declined to accept this suggestion. The issue was too serious to admit of jesting, he declared, and his advisers did not press the point. A much graver difference of opinion developed when the questions which Lincoln proposed to put to Douglas were discussed; and here it was that some of his supporters are said to have prophesied ruin if he insisted on his now famous "second interrogatory," only to be met with the response that if Douglas answered it as they expected, he might win the Illinois senatorship, but he could

It was therefore with a foreboding of disaster that the Republican leaders accompanied their candidate to the Brewster House, in the vicinity of which an immense crowd had already assembled. The site chosen for the debate was a large plot of vacant land a little to the north of the hotel, and there a platform similar to that

erected; but although an attempt was made to mitigate the crude effect of the rough pine boards by draping the stand with flags, the general surroundings were decidedly less picturesque than those of the first debate. No seats of any sort had been provided, and yet a throng even greater than that at Ottawa gathered long before the appointed time, prepared to

stand during the whole of the three-hour struggle. Douglas arrived on the scene shortly before three o'clock, in the same coach and four which had been placed at his disposal earlier in the day, and his appearance was evidently designed to impress and awe the country folk. Certainly he received a rousing welcome; but the cheers had scarcely ceased before the crowd burst into a shout of laughter, for just at that moment an old-fashioned Conestoga wagon, drawn by six draft-horses, lumbered into view, and on one of the high seats of this clumsy conveyance sat Lincoln, accompanied by half a dozen farmers in their working clothes. The rear nigh horse was guided by a rider with a single rein, and the harness of the rest of the team consisted of old-fashioned wide straps and chain traces. In fact, the burlesque on Douglas's ceremonial coach had been made as complete as possible, and the good-natured roar which greeted it demonstrated its effect.

The Hon. Thomas J. Turner, Republican Moderator, promptly called the meeting to order, and it was a friendly audience to which he introduced his candidate; for Freeport was almost on the northern border of Illinois, where antislavery sentiment prevailed even ven more strongly than at Ottawa. But in this part of the State Lincoln was almost a stranger, and his uncouth appearance and slouchy bearing were not offset by any direct knowledge of his professional attainments. On this occasion, however, he speedily dispelled all doubts of his ability by advancing boldly to the attack. Reminding his auditors that Douglas had seen fit to cross-examine him at their last meeting, he announced that he was prepared to answer the seven questions which had been put to him provided his adversary would reply to questions from him not exceeding the same number. "I give him an opportunity to respond," he announced, and, turning to Douglas, paused for his reply.

In an instant the vast audience was hushed. Even the fakirs and vendors at the outskirts of the crowd ceased plying their trades and strove to catch a glimpse of the platform. It was a dramatic moment, and an unequaled opportunity for

1 New York "Tribune," September 1, 1858. 2 The writer's authorities on this debate S. Tibbets, Esq., Editor of the "Jonesboro Gazette,"

are A.

Douglas; but he merely shook his head and smiled. "The judge remains silent," continued Lincoln. "I now say that I will answer his interrogatories whether he answers mine or not."

No more effective challenge was ever uttered, and the audience, quick to recognize its courage and fairness, responded in a fashion that must have disconcerted and nettled Lincoln's cautious adversary. Certainly Douglas was in no amiable mood when he rose to make reply, and the interruptions of the audience speedily worked him into a passion. Again and again he assailed his hearers as "Black Republicans," characterizing their questions as vulgar and blackguard interruptions, shaking his fist in their faces, and defying them as a mob.1 More than once Mr. Turner, the Republican Moderator, was drawn into the fray by the speaker's aggressive tactics, and the whole meeting was occasionally on the verge of tumult. Lincoln's closing address, however, had a calming effect, and when his time expired, the audience quietly dispersed, to spread the news throughout the countryside that this unknown lawyer was actually outmanoeuvering his distinguished adversary and forcing him into the open, beyond reach of cover or possibility of retreat.

Nearly three weeks elapsed before the combatants renewed their struggle, and then the scene of battle was shifted to the extreme south of Illinois, a region known as "Egypt," controlled by the Democracy, but favoring Buchanan rather than Douglas. Here Lincoln had few friends, but there was a great chance for winning them, and he had determined to make the most of his opportunity by carefully preparing for the event.

Jonesboro, the site selected for this contest, was then a little village of not more than twelve hundred inhabitants. It was situated nearly a mile and a half from the railroad station, which was known as Anna, and the station, said to be as large as the town, was reputedly opposed to it politically, the former being Republican and the latter Democratic. If the station deserved this reputation, however, it was certainly a unique distinction in southern Illinois, for in one of the counties in that and Dr. D. R. Sanders of Anna, Illinois, and the New York "Evening Post" of September 18 and 20,

1858.

LXXVII-2

region, Frémont is said to have polled only two votes in 1856, and the antislavery movement had not made much headway in the interim. The whole character of the country was essentially different from the prairies of the center and north of the State, and a very much rougher state of civilization prevailed. Jonesboro's accommodations for visitors were confined to one hotel, the Union House, a large but somewhat primitive hostelry, and Mr. Villard's reminiscences are eloquent of the sufferings he endured during his sojourn in the town. The only newspaper was the "Jonesboro Gazette," but as all its files were destroyed during the war, no local account of the debate has been preserved. There is, however, evidence that both Douglas and Lincoln arrived on the scene the day before the debate (Wednesday, September 15, 1858), the latter coming from Edwardsville, and that both of them were entertained at the Union House during their stay.

About a quarter of a mile from the center of the town lay the fair grounds, and here the speakers' platform

On the speakers' platform Lincoln was represented by an old friend, the Rev. David L. Phillips, who afterward became postmaster of Springfield and editor of the "State Journal"; but it is doubtful if the Republican candidate was personally known to half a dozen men in the audience, which regarded his party's doctrines with anything but favor. Indeed, Douglas had taunted his adversary with be

ing afraid to appear in southern Illinois, and prophesied a sorry experience for him when he was "trotted down to Egypt." This was mere pleasantry, of course, for at the first indication of hostility toward the Republican candidate, his adversary instantly silenced it with a sharp reproof, and the meeting passed off quietly. But Douglas was not in good form during the contest, his speech being poorly delivered, as though he were indifferent as to the effect he produced, while Lincoln, who had come to persuade, devoted his best powers to that end. Even

had been erected, and some attempt made at providing the audience with seats. The accommodations, however, proved wholly inadequate, though not more than fifteen hundred persons attended, and most of them were obliged to stand during the whole afternoon. No processions or demonstrations of any kind preceded the meeting. Douglas drove to the fair grounds in a carriage, accompanied by a few admirers, and Lincoln walked there with a friend.

1 Still standing, and kept in good repair.

2 The writer's information is partially derived from Messrs. Joseph Edmond Curd and Major Daniel Sayer of

to visit this hotbed of Democracy he turned. to his advantage. "Why, I know this people better than Judge Douglas does!" he exclaimed. "I was raised just a little east of here. I am a part of this people."

Certainly a part of that people was Lincoln's at the close of that autumn day. He had given them food for reflection. He was making the whole country think.

ONLY three days intervened before the rivals met again, and this time they appeared at Charleston,2 in Coles County, on Saturday, September 18, 1858. A

Charleston, eye-witnesses of the event; Mr. S. E. Thomas of the same city, and the New York " Evening Post" of September 25, 1858.