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THE ILLINOIS CAMPAIGN – HAS IT COME TO THIS? – The Springfield (Illinois) Journal says: – “We have before us a copy of the DeKalb county Sentinel of the 26th [illegible]., a Douglas organ of the most approved water, at whose masthead files the names of French and Fondey, and in whose columns we find enthusiastic adoration for Douglas. After declaring that “the great mass of the democracy are heart and [band?] with Judge Douglas,” it goes off into a rage with Mr. Lincoln for being opposed to ‘negro equality.’” It says: –
Our education has been such that we have ever been rather in favor of the equality of the blacks – that is, that they should enjoy all the privileges of the whites where they reside. We are aware that this is not a very popular doctrine. We have had many a [illegible] with some who are now strong “republicans,” [illegible] taking the broad ground of equality, and they the opposite ground. We were brought up to a State where blacks were voters, and we do not know of any [illegible] resulting from it, though perhaps it would not work as well where the blacks are more numerous. We have no doubt of the right of the whites to guard against such an evil, if it is one. Our [opinion?] is that it would be [best?] for all concerned to have the colored population to a State by themselves; but if within the jurisdiction of the United States, we say by all means they should have the right to their Senators and representatives in Congress, and to vote for President. With us “worth makes the man, and [illegible] the fellow.” We have seen many a “[nigger?]” that we thought much more of than some white men.
Has it come to this? Is Mr. Douglas riding two horses – Dred Scott and Uncle Tom – at the same time? At all events, when his organs are driven to such straits his case must indeed be desperate. And yet his agonies are to be prolonged till November. Oh, what dreadful things have followed that Kansas Nebraska bill! When shall we get at the end of the killed and wounded and the dead and dying who have straddled that fatal hobby of popular “sovereignty?”
