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the Government。〃
The reception was recognized by the politicians of both parties as a great success。 It was a brilliant opening of the senatorial campaign。 The Republicans were anxious to counteract it。 On the following evening Lincoln spoke at the same place。 He had a large and enthusiastic audience。 But he was not an impromptu orator at all comparable to Douglas。 While his carefully prepared Springfield speech was decidedly better than Douglas' dashing address in Chicago； his unprepared speech was by no means equal to it。 The marked disparity between the two speeches must have intensified the suspicion among Lincoln's friends that he was no match for his rival on the stump。
On the 16th of July Douglas again spoke to a vast multitude at Bloomington。 He made an artful appeal for the Whig vote by a well turned compliment to 〃Kentucky's great and gallant statesman； John J。 Crittenden；〃 who proposed to refer the whole question back to the people of Kansas and thus 〃showed himself a worthy successor of the immortal Clay。〃 The Republicans had 〃endorsed the great principle of the Kansas…Nebraska bill；〃 they had 〃come to the Douglas platform in supporting the Crittenden…Montgomery bill。〃 The compromise of 1850 embodied the principle that every people ought to have the privilege of forming and regulating their own institutions to suit themselves。 Each State had that right and no reason existed why it should not be extended to the Territories。 The Illinois House of Representatives by an almost unanimous vote had asserted that the principle embodied in the measures of 1850 was the birth…right of free men； the gift of heaven； a principle vindicated by our Revolutionary fathers； that no limitation should ever be placed upon it either in the organization of a territorial government or the admission of a State into the Union。 In conformity with that principle he had brought in the Kansas…Nebraska bill； for which Lincoln and his friends were seeking his defeat。
〃I have known Lincoln well；〃 he said； 〃for a quarter of a century。 I have known him as you all know him； a kind…hearted； amiable gentleman； a right good fellow； a worthy citizen； of eminent ability as a lawyer； and； I have no doubt； sufficient ability to make a good Senator。〃
He examined Lincoln's 〃house divided…against…itself〃 philosophy； pointing out that the house had been divided for nearly seventy years and still stood。
〃How is Lincoln； if elected Senator； going to carry out that principle which he says is essential to the existence of this Union； that slavery must be abolished in all the States； or must be established in all？ * * * * He invites； by his proposition； a war between Illinois and Kentucky； a war between the free States and the slave States； a war between the North and the South； for the purpose of either exterminating slavery in every Southern State； or planting it in every Northern State。 * * * * * What man in Illinois would not lose the last drop if his heart's blood before he would submit to the institution of slavery being forced upon us by the other States against our will？ * * * What Southern man would not shed the last drop of his heart's blood to prevent Illinois or any other Northern State from interfering to abolish slavery in his State？ * * * * I am opposed to organizing a sectional party which appeals to Northern pride and Northern passion and prejudice against Southern institutions； thus stirring up ill feeling and hot blood between brethren of the same Republic。 * * * * How is he to carry out his principles when he gets to the Senate？ Does he intend to introduce a bill to abolish slavery in Kentucky？ Does he intend to introduce a bill to interfere with slavery in Virginia？ How is he to accomplish what he professes must be done to save the Union？
〃There would be but one way to carry out his ideas。 That would be to establish a consolidated empire as destructive to the liberties of the people and the rights of the citizen as that of Austria or Russia or any other despotism that rests upon the necks of the people * * * *。 Who among you expects to live or have his children live until slavery shall be established in Illinois or abolished in South Carolina？ * * * * There is but one possible way in which slavery can be abolished and that is by leaving a State * * * * perfectly free to form and regulate its institutions in its own way。 That was the principle upon which this Republic was founded。 * * * * Under its operation slavery disappeared from New Hampshire； from Rhode Island； from Connecticut； from New York； from New Jersey； from Pennsylvania； from six of the twelve original slave holding States； and this gradual emancipation went on so long as we in the free states minded our own business and left our neighbors alone； * * * * so long as the free States were content with managing their own affairs and leaving the South perfectly free to do as they pleased。 But the moment the North said； 'We are powerful enough to control you of the South；' * * * * that moment the South combined to resist the attack and thus sectional parties were formed and gradual emancipation ceased in all the Northern slave holding States * * *。
〃Lincoln makes another issue； * * * * a crusade against the Supreme Court of the United Sates because of its decision in the Dred Scott case。 * * * * I have no crusade to preach against that august body。 * * * * I receive the decision of the Judges of that Court when pronounced as the final adjudication upon all questions within their jurisdiction。 * * * * Unless we respect and bow in deference to the final decisions of the highest judicial tribunal in our country； we are driven at once to anarchy； to violence； to mob law； and there is no security left for our property or our own civil rights。 * * * * Are we to appeal from the Supreme Court to a country meeting like this？ * * * Does Mr。 Lincoln intend to appeal from the decision of the Supreme Court to a Republican caucus or a town meeting？ * * * He tells you that he is opposed to the decision in the Dred Scott case。 Well； suppose he is； what is he going to do about it？ I never got beat in a law suit in my life that I was not opposed to the decision。 * * * * This Government is divided into three separate and distinct branches。 * * * * Each one is supreme within the circle of its own powers。 The functions of Congress are to enact the statutes； the province of the Court is to pronounce upon their validity； and the duty of the Executive is to carry the decision into effect。〃
Yet； he said； Lincoln wants to be elected Senator in order to reverse the Dred Scott decision by passing another unconstitutional statute。 He can not get rid of the Judges now on the bench until they die。 He must first elect a Republican President by Northern votes bound by pledges to appoint none but Republicans to the bench。 He must then persuade the Judges to die。 The President must pledge his new Judges in advance to decide this slavery question according to the wishes of his party； regardless of the Constitution。 What confidence would the people have in a Court thus constituted？a Court composed of partisan Judges； appointed on political grounds； catechized in advance and pledged in regard to a decision before the argument and without reference to the state of facts？ Would such a Court command the respect of the country？ Without regard to the Dred Scott decision slavery will go just where the people want it and not one inch further。
〃I tell you； my friends； it is impossible under our institutions to force slavery on an unwilling people。 If this principle of popular sovereignty * * * be fairly carried out by letting the people decide the question for themselves by a fair vote at a fair election and with honest returns； slavery will never exist one day or one hour in any Territory against the unfriendly legislation of an unfriendly people。 I care not how the Dred Scott decision may have settled the abstract question so far as the practical results are concerned。 * * * If the people of the Territory want slavery they will encourage it by passing affirmatory laws and the necessary police regulations； patrol laws and slave code； if they do not want it they will withhold that legislation and by withholding it slavery is a dead as if prohibited by a constitutional provision。 * * * * * They could pass such local laws as would drive slavery out in one day or one hour； if they were opposed to it； and therefore； so far as the question of slavery in the Territory is concerned； so far as the principle of popular sovereignty is concerned in its practical operation； it matters not how the Dred Scott case may be decided。 * * * * * Whether slavery shall exist or shall not exist in any State or Territory will depend on whether the people are for or against it； and which ever way they shall decide it will be entirely satisfactory to me。〃
The Dred Scott case； he continued； decides that negroes are not citizens。 But Lincoln insists on conferring on them all the privileges； rights and immunities of citizens。 〃I believe this Government of ours was founded on the white basis。 I believe it was established for white men； of the benefit of white men and their posterity in all time to