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THE CAMPAIGN--DOUGLAS AMONG THE PEOPLE
Joint Discussion at Ottawa.—Lincoln Breaks Down.—Enthusiasm of the People!—The Battle Fought and Won.—Lincoln's Heart Fails Him!—Lincoln's Leg's Fail Him!—Lincoln's Tongue Fails Him!— Lincoln's Arms Fail Him!—Lincoln Fails All Over!!—The People Refuse to Support Him!—The People Laugh at Him!—Douglas the Champion of the People!—Doug-las Skins the "Living Dog-."-The "Dead Lion" Frightens the Canine.—Douglas "Trotting" Lincoln Out.—Douglas "Concludes" on Abe
On Saturday, the first of the series of joint discussions between Lincoln and Douglas took place at Ottawa. Below we publish a full report of the speeches.
At an early hour Ottawa was alive with people. From daylight till three o'clock in the afternoon the crowds came in, by train, by canalboat, and by wagon, carriage, buggy, and on horseback. Morris, Joliet, and all the towns on the railroad, above and below Ottawa, sent up their delegates. Lincoln on Friday night left Peoria, and passed up the road to Morris, where he staid over, in order that he might have the appearance of being escorted to Ottawa by the crowds who filled the special train on Saturday morning. Douglas left Peru in the morning in a carriage, escorted by a large delegation on horseback, and in vehicles. The procession as it passed along the road received new accessions at every cross-road and stopping place, and when it reached Ottawa it was nearly a mile in length. As it passed through the streets the people from the sidewalks, from windows, piazzas, house-tops, and every available standing point, cheered and welcomed him. Upon his arrival at the Geiger House he was welcomed by Wm. H. H. Cushman, in the following remarks:
Mr. Douglas responded in a few appropriate remarks, and throughout the entire proceedings was cheered most enthusiastically.
At two o'clock the multitude gathered in the public square, the sun shining down with great intensity, and the few trees affording but little shade. It would seem that the most exposed part of the city was selected for the speaking. After a long delay, the discussion was opened by Judge Douglas, who spoke as follows:
When Douglas had concluded the shouts were tremendous: his excoriation of Lincoln was so severe, that the Republicans hung their heads in shame. The Democrats, however, were loud in their vociferation. About two-thirds of the meeting at once surrounded Douglas, and with music, cheers, and every demonstration of nthusiastic admiration they escorted him to his quarters at the hotel, where for several minutes they made the welkin ring with their cheers, and applause.
Lincoln in the meantime seemed to have been paralyzed. He stood upon the stage looking wildly at the people as they surrounded the triumphant Douglas, and, with mouth wide open, he could not find a friend to say one word to him in his distress. It was a delicate point for Republicans who had witnessed his utter defeat, and who knew how severely he felt it, to offer him condolence, or bid him hope for better uccess again. The only thing they could say was that Lincoln ought not to travel round with Douglas, and had better not meet him any more. When Douglas and the Democrats had left the square, Lincoln essayed to descend from the stage, but his limbs refused to do their office. During Douglas' last speech Lincoln had suffered severely; alternately burning with fever, and then suddenly chilled with shame, his respiratory organs had become obstructed, his limbs got cold, and he was unable to walk. In this extremity, the Republican Marshall called half a dozen men, who, lifting Lincoln in their arms, carried him along. By some mismanagement the men selected for this office happened to be very short in stature, and the consequence was, that while Lincoln's head and shoulders towered above theirs, his feet dragged on the ground. Such an exhibition as the " toting " of Lincoln from the square to his lodgings was never seen at Ottawa before. It was one of the richest farces we have ever witnessed, and provoked the laughter of all. Democrats and Republicans, who happened to see it.
