CHAPTER V -DOWN THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI TO QUINCY - OCTOBER 13, 1858 ABRAHAM
I’M GLAD TO GET OUT OF GALESBURG. THE CROWDS WERE 20,000 OR MORE. HOW COULD ANYONE ACTUALLY HEAR ANYTHING IN THE BACK ROW ?
MARY
WELL KNOX COLLEGE WAS A BEAUTIFUL SETTING FOR A DEBATE.
ABRAHAM
AND THERE WERE MANY STUDENTS FROM LOMBARD COLLEGE THERE ALSO.
MARY
I THINK YOU HAVE THE JUDGE UP AGAINST THE WALL. INFORMAL POLLS HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU ARE WINNING OVER VOTERS WHERE YOU SPEAK.
ABRAHAM
PEOPLE SEEM TO BE LISTENING AS ALL THE NATION’S NEWSPAPERS ARE NOW CALLING THE DEBATES A PRAIRIE FIRE SPREADING ACROSS ILLINOIS. I’LL NEVER MATCH THE JUDGE’S ARTILLERY GUARD, TRAIN, AND HIS SIX WHITE HORSES. WHAT AN ENTRANCE!
MARY
IT WAS FITTING THAT THE GALESBURG DEBATE WAS AT A MAJOR UNDERGROUND RAILROAD SITE.
ABRAHAM
WELL THE JUDGE PULLED OUT EVERY STOP - ESPECIALLY REPEATEDLY ACCUSING ME OF CHANGING SPEECHES, TUNES, AND TACTICS TO SUIT THE AUDIENCE.
MARY
AND SLAVERY WAS OBVIOUSLY THE MAIN ISSUE AT GALESBURG AS IT WILL BE IN QUINCY AND ALTON.
ABRAHAM
I HOPE I MADE MY POINT CLEAR IN THAT I REALLY DON’T CARE IF THE TERRITORIES VOTE SLAVERY IN OR OUT. I PERSONALLY WOULD VOTE TO GET RID OF SLAVERY - BUT IT IS THE TERRITORIES DECISION -IF INDEED ONE CAN MAKE A DECISION ANY LONGER AFTER DRED SCOTT AND THE NEBRASKA ACT.
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MARY
WELL I ESPECIALLY ENJOYED YOUR SPECIFIC SPEECH REGARDING THE NEGROES PERSONAL RIGHT TO LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. THE POLITICS AND MORALS OF ALL OF THIS ARE WRONG. TIMES HAVE CHANGED.
ABRAHAM
WELL I GIVE THE JUDGE CREDIT FOR NOT VOTING IN CONGRESS FOR THE ENGLISH BILL SINCE WITH KANSAS HAVING ONLY 35,000 PEOPLE, IT COULDN’T APPROVE OF THE REQUIRED 93,000 PLUS FOR STATEHOOD -FEDERAL LAW. I DON’T KNOW WHAT PRESIDENT BUCHANON WAS THINKING. WE AGREE ON THIS POINT AND IT IS NOT WORTH DEBATING - ONLY TO REINFORCE AMONGST SOUTHERN VOTERS TWO YEARS FROM NOW WHEN THE JUDGE RUNS FOR PRESIDENT ON THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET THAT THIS WAS AN ANTISLAVERY VOTE IN THE US SENATE.
MARY
THE LITTLE MIDGET IS SMARTER THAN WE KNOW. HE CAN TREAD A HIGH WIRE BETTER THAN ANYONE. HE IS CLEAR HOWEVER AND WILL GET MUCH SOUTHERN SYMPATHY IN THIS AND FUTURE ELECTIONS BY PROCLAIMING NEGROES ARE NOT VOTERS OR JURORS, ARE UNABLE TO INTERMARRY WITH WHITES AND ARE NOT OF POLITICAL AND SOCIAL EQUALITY.
ABRAHAM
YES, THE MISCEGENATION TOPIC HAS YET TO BE ASKED OF ME. I HAVE NO OPINION - I’M PROBABLY NOT AN ADVOCATE OF INTERMARRIAGE - BUT ASK ME IN 100 YEARS AND IT WILL BE A MOOT ISSUE. ENDING SLAVERY WILL BE A PROCESS. EVEN WITH AN EMANCIPATION OF AFRICANS, IT WILL STILL TAKE GENERATIONS FOR PEOPLE TO ACCEPT NEGROES ON AN EQUAL BASIS IN MANY PARTS OF THE UNITED.STATES AND CIVILIZED WORLD.
MARY
THE JUDGE WAS REALLY ON THE OFFENSIVE IN GALESBURG ACCUSING YOU OF CLAIMING PHYSICAL DIFFERENCES IN AFRICANS AND AMERICANS, USING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE TO BOLSTER YOUR RIGHTS FOR NEGROES, AND NOT USING DIVINE LAW - WHATEVER THAT IS - TO RESOLVE THE SLAVERY ISSUE.
ABRAHAM
I EXPECT NO LESS FROM THE JUDGE. HE REITERATES THAT THE TALLY IN 1776 WAS 12 SLAVE STATES TO ONE FREE STATE. 3
MARY
WELL SINCE THE LITTLE MIDGET FATHERED THE NEBRASKA BILL - WHICH WAS AN OUTGROWTH OF THE 1850 COMPROMISE - HE CLAIMS TO BE THE ESSENTIAL FATHER OF ALL LEGISLATION AFFECTING THE GROWTH AND TERRITORIES OF OUR COUNTRY. IN FACT SINCE CALIFORNIA CAME IN AS A FREE STATE, IT WAS HELD UP FOR APPROVAL BY THE JUDGE AND HIS PARTY FOR SIX FULL MONTHS.
ABRAHAM
YOU ARE EXACTLY CORRECT. BUT THE 1850 COMPROMISE ENDED SLAVE TRADE IN D.C. NEW FUGITIVE SLAVE LAWS WERE ENACTED WHICH LED TO A MORE FAIR TREATMENT OF AN ESCAPED SLAVE.
MARY
AND MY GOD - THE MORE ONE LOOKS AT DRED SCOTT TWO YEARS AGO – IT’S APPARENT IT WAS WHOLLY DECIDED BY THE JUSTICES’ PARTY AFFILIATIONS. ABRAHAM CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT THERE ARE NINE JUSTICES ON THE HIGHEST COURT, EIGHT WROTE OPINIONS ON THIS CASE - EVEN THE JUSTICES VOTING WITH TANEY WROTE SEMI - DISSENTING OPINIONS.
MARY
I JUST DON’T THINK HENRY CLAY’S COLONIZATION SOCIETY IDEA OF SENDING ALL THE SLAVES BACK TO LIBERIA WOULD WORK.
ABRAHAM
WELL CLAY WILL BE BEST REMEMBERED AS THE VERY BEST STATESMAN THE COUNTRY HAS WITNESSED. HE DID WHAT WAS RIGHT, AND THE COLONIZATION SOCIETY WHICH INCLUDED WEBSTER WAS A STRONG PLUG FOR NEGRO RIGHTS.
MARY
IT SEEMS THAT WITH SO MUCH GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY, THAT SLAVERY IS THE KEY FOCAL POINT. FOR INSTANCE THE ACQUISITION OF A PORTION OF MEXICO, NOW THE STATE OF TEXAS, ALLOWED THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO DECIDE THE SLAVERY QUESTION INSTEAD OF THE PEOPLE.
ABRAHAM
THIS WAS THE CONTINUING BALANCE IN CONGRESS BETWEEN FREE AND SLAVE STATES. THIS WILL ALL COME 4
TO AN END AS WE CAN NOT REMAIN A HOUSE DIVIDED.
MARY
WELL I’VE HAD IT WITH THE JUDGE’S REVERBERATING COMMENTS ON YOUR CLAIMING THE NEGRO RACE IS INFERIOR; AND THAT YOUR SPEECHES KEEP CHANGING DEPENDING UPON WHETHER YOU ARE IN NORTHERN OR SOUTHERN ILLINOIS.
ABRAHAM
WE HAVE ONLY TWO MORE DEBATES PRIOR TO THE ELECTION. THE JUDGE IS FEELING PUBLIC PRESSURE. ¬HIS GENOCIDAL STATEMENTS REGARDING SLAVES WERE EXTREME - CLAIMING THAT MAKING SLAVERY ILLEGAL WOULD BE GENOCIDE FOR THE RACE AS THEY COULDN’T SURVIVE ON THE LAND THEMSELVES.
MARY
WELL I AM TIRED AND HOME SWEET HOME IN SPRINGFIELD WILL BE WELCOME. YOU CAN THEN GO BACK TO CALLING ME PUSS, LITTLE WOMAN, CHILD MOTHER, OR JUST PLAIN MOTHER.
ABRAHAM
I GUESS - I’LL STILL MISS LITTLE EDDIE.
MARY
WELL IT HAS BEEN EIGHT YEARS SINCE HIS DEATH FROM CONSUMPTION. NEITHER OF US WILL EVER COMPLETELY GET OVER IT. IT IS SOMETHING WE JUST HAVE TO DEAL WITH. I KNOW BOTH OF US MOURN.
ABRAHAM
I’M ADMITTEDLY STILL MOURNING OVER MY MOTHER DYING IN INDIANA AS A KID GROWING UP, MY SISTER SARAH’S DEATH, AND AGAIN LITTLE EDDIE.
MARY
WELL THAT DEFINITELY ACCOUNTS FOR YOUR DEPRESSIVE EPISODES WHICH ARE QUITE OBVIOUS - YOU JUST TUNE OUT EVERYONE AND YOUR SURROUNDINGS. I KNOW THAT GREAT MIND OF YOURS IS ALWAYS MOVING, AND AT TIMES IT MOVES TOO MUCH.
ABRAHAM
DID YOU KNOW THERE WAS NO RELIGIOUS SERVICE AT MY MOTHER’S GRAVE SITE ?
MARY
NO I DIDN’T REALIZE THAT.
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ABRAHAM
AND MY FATHER HARDLY GRIEVED. HE RAN BACK TO KENTUCKY TO SECURE A WIFE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. IT WAS AS IF THERE WAS NO GRIEF IN HIM.
MARY
WELL AT LEAST HE WENT TO A GREAT PLACE TO FIND A WIFE - HARDIN COUNTY KENTUCKY. HMMM..... HASN’T SARAH BEEN A GREAT MOTHER TO YOU - AS GOOD AS NANCY WOULD HAVE BEEN ?
ABRAHAM
YOU ARE CORRECT. HECK I’M LUCKY TO BE ALIVE WITH THAT MILK SICKNESS INFESTING MUCH OF INDIANA AT THE TIME. MY DAD SAID THAT WAS THE MAIN REASON WE LEFT - TO SURVIVE.
MARY
I GUESS LITTLE THINGS THAT OTHER MEN JUST LET GO TEND TO KEEP YOU OCCUPIED.
SUCH AS....
ABRAHAM MARY
THE WHIG PARTY. YOUR EFFORTS IN CONGRESS FOR YOUR ONE TWO YEAR TERM WERE INCREDIBLE - INCLUDING GETTING ZACHARY TAYLOR ELECTED AS WHIG PRESIDENT. BUT I KNOW YOUR IDEAS OF PROTECTIVE TARIFF, A NATIONAL BANK, AND INDEPENDENT TREASURY SYSTEM ALL WHIG IDEALS - FAILED. YOU ARE NOW A REPUBLICAN WITH A BRIGHT NEW PLATFORM. GONE ARE THE CLAY PARTIES OF THE 40S.
ABRAHAM
YES I MUST GET ONTO THE NEW SPIRIT OF THE 50S AND SUPPORT OLD JOHN QUINCY ADAMS WITH HIS ANTISLAVERY FIGHT.
MARY
AND GIDDINGS FROM OHIO.
ABRAHAM
THOUGH A SOUTHERNER I WAS IMPRESSED BY STEPHENS FROM GEORGIA. SLAVERY WILL ULTIMATELY DECIDE OUR FATE AS A NATION. I FEAR SECTIONAL WARS, SECESSIONS, AND TYRANNY. LOOK AT WHAT THE WILMOT PROVISO CAUSED CONGRESS WITH THE CHESS GAME ENDING IN ITS FINAL DEFEAT EVEN THOUGH IT HAD PASSED THE HOUSE.
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MARY
THE SOUTH WILL NOT STOP IN ITS QUEST FOR UNIVERSAL SLAVERY. WE ALL WERE BORN INTO THIS PLIGHT. WE STILL HAVE SLAVES IN OUR HOMES IN KENTUCKY. MASTERS DYING WILL NOT MAKE IT EXTINCT. YOUNGER PEOPLE WILL BE FORCED ECONOMICALLY, POLITICALLY, AND BY CUSTOM TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE NEGRO BONDAGE.
ABRAHAM
WELL THE ONE GOOD THING I HAVE TO BE THANKFUL FOR IS THAT YOUR FATHER ACTUALLY SEEMS TO LIKE ME - EVEN THOUGH WE ARE OF DIFFERENT VIEWS ON SLAVERY.
MARY
DEEP DOWN MY FATHER WOULD PROBABLY RID HIMSELF OF THIS IF HE ACTUALLY COULD. I GUESS THE OLDER GENERATION MUST ALSO FEEL IT WILL JUST DIE.
ABRAHAM
SLAVERY WAS MEANT FOR EXTINCTION BY THE FOUNDERS, BUT I GET DEPRESSED KNOWING IT WILL NOT END WITHOUT BLOODSHED. MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE PROMOTED MYSELF MORE FOR GOVERNOR OF THE OREGON TERRITORY.
MARY
OR BETTER YET - THIS BACK ROOM WHIG DEAL TO ONLY ALLOW YOU TO SERVE ONE TERM IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT ?
ABRAHAM
IT IS BOTH CUSTOM AND AN INSIDE DEAL AMONGST WHIGS. BUT I AGREED TO IT AND I ABIDED BY OUR AGREEMENT NOT TO RUN FOE ANOTHER TERM - AT LEAST FOR THE HOUSE.
MARY
WELL I THINK THAT MAY HAVE HURT YOUR POLITICAL OPTIONS. OPPOSING STEPHEN DOUGLAS ISN’T THE EASIEST POLITICAL BATTLE. IN FACT TODAY I HEARD HE WAS BASHING YOUR PITTSFIELD SPEECH BEFORE GALESBURG ACCUSING YOU OF THE SAME THINGS BY PARLAYING TO THE AUDIENCE AT HAND.
ABRAHAM
YOU WONDER WHY I’M DEPRESSED AT TIMES - WELL THE THOUGHT OF LOSING TO THE JUDGE MAKES ME VERY DEPRESSED BECAUSE I FEEL HE IS LESS OF A MAN THAN ME. WHY IS THAT ?
MARY
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ABRAHAM
IT IS BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES AND HIS POLITICAL METHODS. THE JUDGE IS...
MARY
CONNIVING. BUT THAT IS POLITICS. YOU NEED TO GET OVER IT AND MOVE ON. EVEN IF YOU LOSE THIS ELECTION, YOU ARE NOT DONE POLITICALLY. YOU HAVE JUST STARTED. THERE IS MUCH TALK ALREADY - WIN OR LOSE - OF PUTTING YOU ON THE REPUBLICAN TICKET FOR PRESIDENT IN THE NEXT ELECTION.
ABRAHAM
MERE SPECULATION. I’M VIEWING SOME FLASHING LIGHTS - MUST BE REFLECTIONS OFF THE RIVER AT THE QUINCY HARBOR. WE ARE CLOSE.
END - CHAPTER V, PRAIRIE FIRE
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