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The first thing I have to say to you is a word in regard to Judge
Douglas's declaration about the 〃vulgarity and blackguardism〃 in
the audience； that no such thing； as he says； was shown by any
Democrat while I was speaking。 Now； I only wish； by way of reply
on this subject； to say that while I was speaking； I used no
〃vulgarity or blackguardism〃 toward any Democrat。
Now； my friends； I come to all this long portion of the Judge's
speech；perhaps half of it；which he has devoted to the various
resolutions and platforms that have been adopted in the different
counties in the different Congressional districts； and in the
Illinois legislature； which he supposes are at variance with the
positions I have assumed before you to…day。 It is true that many
of these resolutions are at variance with the positions I have
here assumed。 All I have to ask is that we talk reasonably and
rationally about it。 I happen to know； the Judge's opinion to
the contrary notwithstanding； that I have never tried to conceal
my opinions； nor tried to deceive any one in reference to them。
He may go and examine all the members who voted for me for United
States Senator in 1855； after the election of 1854。 They were
pledged to certain things here at home； and were determined to
have pledges from me； and if he will find any of these persons
who will tell him anything inconsistent with what I say now； I
will resign； or rather retire from the race； and give him no more
trouble。 The plain truth is this： At the introduction of the
Nebraska policy； we believed there was a new era being introduced
in the history of the Republic； which tended to the spread and
perpetuation of slavery。 But in our opposition to that measure
we did not agree with one another in everything。 The people in
the north end of the State were for stronger measures of
opposition than we of the central and southern portions of the
State； but we were all opposed to the Nebraska doctrine。 We had
that one feeling and that one sentiment in common。 You at the
north end met in your conventions and passed your resolutions。
We in the middle of the State and farther south did not hold such
conventions and pass the same resolutions； although we had in
general a common view and a common sentiment。 So that these
meetings which the Judge has alluded to； and the resolutions he
has read from； were local； and did not spread over the whole
State。 We at last met together in 1886； from all parts of the
State； and we agreed upon a common platform。 You； who held more
extreme notions； either yielded those notions； or； if not wholly
yielding them； agreed to yield them practically； for the sake of
embodying the opposition to the measures which the opposite party
were pushing forward at that time。 We met you then； and if there
was anything yielded； it was for practical purposes。 We agreed
then upon a platform for the party throughout the entire State of
Illinois； and now we are all bound； as a party； to that platform。
And I say here to you； if any one expects of mein case of my
electionthat I will do anything not signified by our Republican
platform and my answers here to…day； I tell you very frankly that
person will be deceived。 I do not ask for the vote of any one
who supposes that I have secret purposes or pledges that I dare
not speak out。 Cannot the Judge be satisfied？ If he fears； in
the unfortunate case of my election； that my going to Washington
will enable me to advocate sentiments contrary to those which I
expressed when you voted for and elected me； I assure him that
his fears are wholly needless and groundless。 Is the Judge
really afraid of any such thing？ I'll tell you what he is afraid
of。 He is afraid we'll all pull together。 This is what alarms
him more than anything else。 For my part； I do hope that all of
us； entertaining a common sentiment in opposition to what appears
to us a design to nationalize and perpetuate slavery； will waive
minor differences on questions which either belong to the dead
past or the distant future； and all pull together in this
struggle。 What are your sentiments？ If it be true that on the
ground which I occupyground which I occupy as frankly and
boldly as Judge Douglas does his；my views； though partly
coinciding with yours； are not as perfectly in accordance with
your feelings as his are； I do say to you in all candor； go for
him； and not for me。 I hope to deal in all things fairly with
Judge Douglas； and with the people of the State； in this contest。
And if I should never be elected to any office； I trust I may go
down with no stain of falsehood upon my reputation；
notwithstanding the hard opinions Judge Douglas chooses to
entertain of me。
The Judge has again addressed himself to the Abolition tendencies
of a speech of mine made at Springfield in June last。 I have so
often tried to answer what he is always saying on that melancholy
theme that I almost turn with disgust from the discussion；from
the repetition of an answer to it。 I trust that nearly all of
this intelligent audience have read that speech。 If you have； I
may venture to leave it to you to inspect it closely； and see
whether it contains any of those 〃bugaboos〃 which frighten Judge
Douglas。
The Judge complains that I did not fully answer his questions。
If I have the sense to comprehend and answer those questions； I
have done so fairly。 If it can be pointed out to me how I can
more fully and fairly answer him； I aver I have not the sense to
see how it is to be done。 He says I do not declare I would in
any event vote for the admission of a slave State into the Union。
If I have been fairly reported； he will see that I did give an
explicit answer to his interrogatories； I did not merely say that
I would dislike to be put to the test； but I said clearly； if I
were put to the test； and a Territory from which slavery had been
excluded should present herself with a State constitution
sanctioning slavery；a most extraordinary thing； and wholly
unlikely to happen；I did not see how I could avoid voting for
her admission。 But he refuses to understand that I said so； and
he wants this audience to understand that I did not say so。 Yet
it will be so reported in the printed speech that he cannot help
seeing it。
He says if I should vote for the admission of a slave State I
would be voting for a dissolution of the Union； because I hold
that the Union cannot permanently exist half slave and half free。
I repeat that I do not believe this government can endure
permanently half slave and half free； yet I do not admit； nor
does it at all follow； that the admission of a single slave State
will permanently fix the character and establish this as a
universal slave nation。 The Judge is very happy indeed at
working up these quibbles。 Before leaving the subject of
answering questions； I aver as my confident belief； when you come
to see our speeches in print； that you will find every question
which he has asked me more fairly and boldly and fully answered
than he has answered those which I put to him。 Is not that so？
The two speeches may be placed side by side； and I will venture
to leave it to impartial judges whether his questions have not
been more directly and circumstantially answered than mine。
Judge Douglas says he made a charge upon the editor of the
Washington Union； alone； of entertaining a purpose to rob the
States of their power to exclude slavery from their limits。 I
undertake to say； and I make the direct issue； that he did not
make his charge against the editor of the Union alone。 I will
undertake to prove by the record here that he made that charge
against more and higher dignitaries than the editor of the
Washington Union。 I am quite aware that he was shirking and
dodging around the form in which he put it； but I can make it
manifest that he leveled his 〃fatal blow〃 against more persons
than this Washington editor。 Will he dodge it now by alleging
that I am trying to defend Mr。 Buchanan against the charge？ Not
at all。 Am I not making the same charge myself？ I am trying to
show that you； Judge Douglas； are a witness on my side。 I am not
defending Buchanan； and I will tell Judge Douglas that in my
opinion； when he made that charge； he had an eye farther north
than he has to…day。 He was then fighting against people who
called him a Black Republican and an Abolitionist。 It is mixed
all through his speech； and it is tolerably manifest that his eye
was a great deal farther north than it is to…day。 The Judge says
that though he made this charge； Toombs got up and declared there
was not a man in the United States； except the editor of the
Union； who was in favor of the doctrines put forth in that
article。 And thereupon I understand that the Judge withdrew the
charge。 Although he had taken extracts from the newspaper； and
then from the Lecompton Constitution； to sho