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SIXTH GREAT DEBATE. - IMMENSE MEETING AT QUINCY!
Speeches of Douglas and Lincoln.—The People for Douglas!
The sixth great debate between Senator Douglas and Mr. Lincoln came off on Wednesday, October 13, at Quincy: and though the weather was unfavorable, the people attended in immense numbers, filling all the public houses in Quincy, and literally crowding the city.
Senator Douglas had been stopping for a brief time at Augusta, whence he left on Tuesday evening, for Quincy, in the cars of the Chicago and Quincy railroad. At Camp Point, on the route—a small town of about one thousand inhabitants—the senator was met by a great cavalcade of military, bands of music, and citizens gathered from that and the adjacent towns. In front of the station house a splendid bonfire was flaming, and hundreds of torches were carried in the streets. Every house in the town was illuminated,—presenting, altogether, one of the finest spectacles witnessed during this splendid campaign. The train having a few minutes to spare, short speeches were made by Senator Douglas, J. N. Morris, and Major Roosevelt. The last named gentleman is candidate for the legislature in Hancock County.
The Senator arrived in Quincy at 9 o'clock and 50 minutes, where he was received by one of the most extensive and brilliant torch light processions ever witnessed. On either side of the immense procession by which Senator Douglas was escorted to his hotel—the Quincy House—stood in line hundreds of men holding up to view appropriate and gorgeous transparencies. The evening reception was complete in all respects, and brilliant beyond description. All the morning of the following day—Wednesday—was taken up in receiving delegations of the Democracy, from all the surrounding country, and from Iowa and Missouri.
The people came in displaying hickory poles and flags till Quincy looked like a forest of hickories. There were present at the meeting upwards of Fifteen Thousand people—of which number full three-fourths were Democrats. A grand, a glorious day and occasion indeed. The enthusiasm was with the Democracy; and the victory was theirs.
Lincoln's Opening
Mr. Lincoln took the stand, and received the welcome of three cheers from his friends; considerable of a mixture occurred in cheering. He proceeded with his remarks as follows:
[Here follows the opening speech of Lincoln and the reply of Mr. Douglas.]
Lincoln's Reply
Mr. Lincoln, on taking the stand, was again greeted with three cheers. During the course of his reply, the reporter would here add, that his party kept up a perfect bedlam let loose. There was such a confusion even on the side of the platform occupied by the Republican marshalls, that great difficulty was experienced in hearing him. He said:
[Here follows the rejoinder of Mr. Lincoln.]
