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asserting that principle every Whig and every Democrat voted in the affirmative。〃
In 1854 Lincoln； the leader of the Whigs； and Trumbull； one of the Democratic chiefs； entered into an arrangement to dissolve the old Whig and Democratic parties and to unite the members of both into the Abolition party under the name and guise of a Republican party。 The terms were that Lincoln should have Shield's place in the Senate； then about to become vacant； and that Trumbull should have Douglas' seat when his term expired。 Lincoln went to work to Abolitionize the old Whig party； pretending that he was as good a Whig as ever； and Trumbull began preaching Abolitionism in milder and lighter form； hoping to Abolitionize the Democratic party。 The party met at Springfield in October； 1854； and proclaimed its platform。 This document christened the coalition the Republican party。 It pledged the party to bring the administration of the Government back to the control of first principles； to restore Kansas and Nebraska to the position of free Territories； to repeal the Fugitive Slave Law； to restrict slavery to those States in which it existed； to prohibit the admission of any more slave States into the Union； to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia； to exclude it from all the Territories and resist the acquirement of more unless it should be prohibited therein。 He asked Lincoln to answer whether he stood pledged to each article in that creed and would carry it out。
〃I ask Abraham Lincoln to answer these questions in order that when I trot him down to lower Egypt （Southern Illinois） I may put the same questions to him。 My principles are the same everywhere。 I can proclaim them alike in the North and the South； the East and the West。 My principles will apply wherever the Constitution prevails and the American flag waves。 I desire to know whether Mr。 Lincoln's principles will bear transplanting from Ottawa to Jonesboro。 I put these questions to him to…day distinctly and ask an answer。 I have a right to an answer； for I quote from the platform of the Republican party； made by himself and others at the time that party was formed and bargain made by Lincoln to dissolve and kill the old Whig party and transfer its members； bound hand and foot to the Abolition party。 * * * I mean nothing personally disrespectful or unkind to Lincoln。 I have known him for nearly twenty…five years。 There were many points of sympathy between us when we first got acquainted。 We were both comparatively boys and both struggling with poverty in a strange land。 I was a school teacher in the town of Winchester； and he a flourishing grocery keeper in the town of Salem。 * * * I made as good a school teacher as I could and； when a cabinet maker； I made a good bedstead and tables； although my old boss said I succeeded better with bureaus and secretaries than anything else。 * * * Lincoln was then just as good at telling an anecdote as now。 He could beat any of the boys wrestling or running a foot race； in pitching quoits or tossing a copper； could ruin more liquor than all the boys of the town together； and the dignity and impartiality with which he presided at a horse race or a fist fight excited the admiration and won the praise of everybody。〃
After Lincoln and Trumbull had formed their combination to Abolitionize the old parties and put themselves into the Senate； he said； Trumbull broke faith by demanding Shield's place for himself when it fell vacant and leaving Lincoln to fight for Douglas' seat two years later。 Trumbull was stumping the State for Lincoln in order to quiet him。 Lincoln was opposed to the Dred Scott decision and would not submit to it because it deprived the negro of the rights and privileges of citizenship。
〃Do you desire；〃 he asked； 〃to * * * allow the free negroes to flow in and cover your prairies with black settlements？ Do you desire to turn this beautiful State into a free negro colony； in order that when Missouri abolishes slavery she can send one hundred thousand emancipated slaves into Illinois to become citizens and voters on an equality with yourselves？ * * * Mr。 Lincoln； following the example and lead of all the little Abolition orators who go around and lecture in the basements of schools and churches； reads from the Declaration of Independence that all men were created equal； and then asks； 'How can you deprive the negro of that equality which God and the Declaration of Independence awards him？'〃 * * *
〃Now I do not believe that the Almighty ever intended the negro to be the equal of the white man。 If he did he has been a long time demonstrating the fact。 For thousands of years the negro has been a race upon the earth and during all that time； in all latitudes and climates； wherever he has wandered or been taken； he has been inferior to the race which he there met。 He belongs to an inferior race and must always occupy an inferior position。 The question； what rights and privileges shall be conferred on the negro； is one which each State and Territory must decide for itself。 This doctrine of Mr。 Lincoln； of uniformity among the institutions of the different States； is a new doctrine； never dreamed of by Washington； Madison or the founders of this Government。 Mr。 Lincoln and the Republican party set themselves up as wiser than these men who made this Government which has flourished for seventy years under the principle of popular sovereignty； recognizing the right of each state to do as it pleased。 Under that principle we have grown from a nation of three or four millions to a nation of about thirty millions of people； we have crossed the Allegheny Mountains and filled up the whole Northwest； turning the prairie into a garden and building up churches and schools； thus spreading civilization and Christianity where before there was nothing but savage barbarism。
〃Under that principle we have become； from a feeble nation； the most powerful on the face of the earth； and if we only adhere to that principle； we can go forward increasing in territory； in power； in strength and in glory； until the Republic of America shall be the North Star that shall guide the friends of freedom throughout the civilized world。 * * * I believe that this new doctrine preached by Mr。 Lincoln and his party will dissolve the Union if it succeeds。 They are trying to array all the Northern States in one body against the South； to excite a sectional war between the free States and the slave States； in order that the one or the other may be driven to the wall。〃
When the applause subsided； Lincoln rose to reply。 Addressing himself first to the personal matters contained in Douglas' speech； he denied the charge of a secret bargain between himself and Trumbull dividing the two seats in the Senate between them。 〃All I have to say upon that subject is； that I think no mannot even Judge Douglascan prove it； because it is not true。〃 He denied utterly that he had anything to do with the Republican platform drafted by the party leaders in 1854； having refused to meet with the committee or take any part in the organization。
〃I have no means；〃 he said； 〃 of totally disproving such charges as this。 I cannot prove a negative； but have a righ