Abraham Lincoln in Madison County
SEPTEMBER 22, 1842 - THE LINCOLN - SHIELDS DUEL
Abraham Lincoln wrote a series of letters to the Sangamon Journal, keenly satirizing the young James Shields, auditor of the State of Illinois on the Democratic ticket. Shields dress, his "dudish" manners, and his self-proclaimed status as a "ladies man," drew down ridicule from others. After reading the letters in the newspaper, Shields fumed, which only encouraged their continuance. Mary Todd, future wife of Abraham Lincoln, and Julia Jayne sent a poem to the Sangamon Journal, which pictured Shields as receiving a proposal of marriage from "Aunt Rebecca." Another poem followed, which celebrated the wedding. Shields went to the editor of the Journal in rage, demanding to know the name of his tormentor. The editor went to Lincoln, who was unwilling that Todd and Jayne be revealed. Lincoln ordered that his name be given as the author. Shortly after, Lincoln received a letter from Shields, demanding an apology. Lincoln replied that he could give the note no attention, because Shields had not first asked if he really was the author of the poem. Shields wrote again, but Lincoln replied he would receive nothing but a withdrawal of the first note, or a challenge. The challenge came, was accepted, and Lincoln picked broadswords as the weapons to be used. They selected the place of their duel - on Sunflower Island, directly across from Alton. To read the full story of the Lincoln - Shields Duel, please click here.
OCTOBER 8, 1856 - SPEECH AT ALTON FOR JOHN FREMONT
On October 8, 1856, a large political rally was held in Alton during the 1856 Presidential election campaign. Abraham Lincoln, then an attorney and member of the Republican Party, arrived in Alton to give a speech for Presidential Republican candidate, John C. Fremont. He spoke to a large audience in front of the Presbyterian Church at the southeast corner of Broadway and Market Street (this later became the Laura Building), and returned to Springfield on the evening train.
SEPTEMBER 10 - 12, 1858 - VISIT TO ALTON, EDWARDSVILLE, AND HIGHLAND
During the hotly contested senatorial campaign against Stephen A. Douglas, Abraham Lincoln made a third trip to Madison County in September 1858. Lincoln arrived in Alton on Friday, September 10, and then traveled to Edwardsville on the 11th. He met with local Republican Party officials at the home of Matthew Gillespie, brother of Joseph Gillespie. The men went to the Marshall House, formerly known as Haskett's Tavern, where they ate a noon-time meal. After the meal, Joseph Gillespie arranged for a band and a small parade to escort Lincoln to the courthouse for his 1 p.m. speech. One eyewitness reported that the parade was a "poor showing," while another recalled running alongside the small procession yelling racial slurs at Lincoln. After the speech, the Alton Weekly Courier reported that Lincoln's speech received "loud applause." Lincoln moved on to Highland, where he gave another speech that evening. On Sunday, September 12, Lincoln left Madison County and traveled to Greenville, where he delivered a two-hour address the next day.
OCTOBER 15, 1858 - LINCOLN - DOUGLAS DEBATE IN ALTON
On October 15, 1858, the seventh debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, for the Illinois Senate seat, was held in Alton, Illinois. In July 1858, Lincoln challenged Douglas to a series of debates, which were held throughout the State. Douglas was an incumbent Democrat, and Lincoln was a former Whig, turned Republican. At around 1:00 p.m., approximately 5,000 citizens gathered at the northeast corner of the Alton City Hall, where a large stand, decorated in patriotic bunting, had been erected. Seating was provided for the ladies. The Chicago and Alton Railroad provided half-priced train fare for the event, while others came by steamboat, horse, or by foot. Lincoln and Douglas had arrived by steamboat, coming down from Quincy, Illinois, before daybreak. Lincoln received friends at the Franklin House on State Street, while Douglas received friends at the Alton House on Front Street. A military company paraded through the streets, accompanied by a band. Excitement was in the air, and people walked up and down the streets of Alton, cheering on their favorite candidate, while businesses were decorated with banners of their chosen party. Although Lincoln lost the Senatorial election to Douglas, he gained a wide reputation through his speeches, and went on to become the 16th President of the United States in 1861. Click here to read in detail the newspaper articles of the debate.
A LINCOLN INCIDENT
By Edward Levis of Alton
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, February 25, 1895
Mr. Edward Levis, one of Alton’s best-known citizens, recently
related this incident to a representative of the Telegraph:
“I attended one of the early State Fairs which was held in
Springfield. It was announced that Lincoln and Douglas would discuss
public questions on the afternoon of one day of the fair in the
State House. A great crowd was present in the State House at the
appointed time. I sat near the stage, and could hear an animated
conversation going on between the speakers, as to which of them
should make the opening address. Douglas refused to do so. Lincoln
insisted that as Douglas was a public man, and had a policy on
public matters, he should make the opening address defining his
policy, and then if he (Lincoln), as a Whig, had any criticisms to
make, he would follow the Senator. But Douglas was immovable. He
would not speak first. Finally, Mr. Lincoln got on his feet and
explained to the audience the predicament, saying that it was only
fair, as Judge Douglas was a national Character, and one of the
framers of public opinion, that he should begin the argument, but as
he declined, there was nothing to do but for Mr. Lincoln to begin.
He did so, and taking up Douglas’ record, he tore it to shreds;
talked about everything Douglas had said or done, and seemed in no
hurry to close. It was getting late; the sun was sinking in the
west. Douglas began to get nervous at Lincoln’s long speech, hitched
from one side to the other on his chair, and finally said, loud
enough for the audience to hear: ‘I hope, Mr. Lincoln, you will not
take up all the time with your argument.’ Mr. Lincoln quickly
replied, turning to Mr. Douglas, ‘You compelled me to speak first,
and now I hope you will not interrupt me until I get through,’ and
at Douglas’ record he went again, and kept it up until the evening
shadows began to darken the room in which the people were gathered.
Finally, Lincoln closed, and as it was late, fully two-thirds of the
audience got up and left. To say that the ‘Little Giant’ was warm is
putting it mildly, and he never again tried to make Lincoln speak
first, unless the agreement was such at the start.”
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, February 26, 1895
Mr. S. H. Nichols of Alton states he was present at the
Lincoln-Douglas debate in Springfield, mention in yesterday’s
Telegraph. Mr. Nichols states that the debate was to have taken
place at 2 o’clock, but for some reason it was not begun until 3,
and that Mr. Lincoln spoke for three hours. When he was through, it
was the supper hour, and most of the people went away. Mr. Nichols
states that Douglas did not attempt to answer Lincoln’s arguments,
but talked about the old law, which did not permit people to enter
or cross over land unorganized into a territory, and advocated
organizing that part of the country into territories. Mr. Nichols
tells of a humorous sally of Mr. Lincoln in reply to an interruption
of Judge Douglas. While Mr. Lincoln was discussing Douglas’ popular
sovereignty ideas, the Senator interrupted by saying, “I am not the
author of the declaration of popular sovereignty. It was ordained by
the Almighty when he put Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.” Mr.
Lincoln quickly turned to Judge Douglas and said, “Then I want to
give credit to you as the first man who discovered that fact,”
whereat there was loud applause. Mr. Nichols states that Douglas
spoke only a short time, as there was a meeting of the State Board
of Agriculture called at 7 o’clock in the State House. Mr. Nichols
was a resident of Springfield at the time, and thinks it was in 1854
or 1855.