The Lincoln-Douglas Debates: The First Complete, Unexpurgated Text

Images

Illustrator John D. Whiting (b. 1884) captured the striking difference in height between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas in this oil painting of their encounter at Ottawa, Quincy, or Alton-the three debates that occurred in town squares much like the one depicted here. However, the artist erred in depicting Lincoln in his presidential-style finery: eyewitnesses to the debates commented frequently on his "grotesque" appearance and ill-fitting clothes. (From the Frank J. and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana; photograph by Mary Murphy) Stephen Arnold Douglas (1813-1861), as he looked around the time of the debates with Lincoln, in a photograph by Mathew Brady. At five feet, four inches, "the Little Giant" made up for his small stature with a ferocious speaking style, a "deep horizontal wrinkle between his eyes, which was usually dark and scowling," and large, sparkling eyes that looked as if they were "shooting out electric fire," according to a journalist of the day. It was the fact that he was so short, a contemporary believed, that compelled him "to 'show himself' to his fellow men." (National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.) Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) posed for this photograph two years after the debates to provide a model for a sculptor who proposed making a full-length statue of him. At six feet, four inches in height, a full twelve inches taller than his rival, "Long Abe" seemed to one journalist who covered the debates "indescribably gawky," especially when he employed "absurd, upand -down and sidewise movements of his body to give emphasis to his arguments." Meeting him for the first time, future statesman Carl Schurz found him "ungainly," but marveled at his height. Although over six feet himself, Schurz had "to throw my head backward in order to look into his eyes." (Library ofCongress) Lincoln and Douglas Debate by artist Robert Marshall Root (b. 1863) portrayed Lincoln speaking at Charleston during the fourth debate, on September 18, 1858. Also visible here are the phonographic reporters, who can be seen on the platform in the near background transcribing Lincoln's words. From left to right are: ex-congressman Orlando Bell Ficklin (to whom Lincoln would unexpectedly pose a question during this debate); Dr. W. M. Chambers; Douglas; Horace White, the "color" reporter of the Chicago Press and Tribune; Robert Roberts Hitt, the Tribune stenographer; Lincoln; Henry Binmore, principal shorthand reporter for the Chicago Times (taking notes); Colonel ]. T. Cunningham (arms folded), who welcomed Douglas to Coles County that day; James B. Sheridan, also of the Times; Usher F. Linder, another Douglas supporter, who had spoken on his behalf at the Jonesboro meeting; Congressman H. P. Bromwell, who gave the welcoming speech for Lincoln at Charleston; Elisha Linder; and Richard]. Oglesby, a Lincoln supporter destined to lose a race for Congress this year, but to win election as governor of Illinois during the Civil War. (Illinois State Historical Library) The fifth debate, at Galesburg, was portrayed from the point of view of the dense throng of spectators in this illustration by Victor Semon Perard (b. 1870), a French-born artist for Harper's and Scribner's magazines. The "pushing and squeezing" of the immense crowd that day, the Missouri Republican reported "can be appreciated but not described." Lincoln can be seen in the distance, speaking from the platform that was put up alongside the Knox College building for the October 7, 1858, debate to shield the speakers from arctic northwest winds that day. (Library ofCongress) On October 11, 1858, two days before the sixth debate at Quincy, Lincoln posed for this gloomy portrait by photographer William J. Thompson after speaking before a huge crowd in Monmouth. Chicago Press and Tribune correspondent Horace White observed ofLincoln around this time that when "addressing an audience . . . the dull, listless features dropped like a mask. The melancholy shadow disappeared in a twinkle ... the whole countenance was wreathed in animation ." But in repose, testified the humorist Petroleum V. Nasby, who saw Lincoln for the first time at Quincy, "I never saw so sad a face." (The Lincoln Museum, FortWayne) Six days before the Galesburg debate, on October 1, 1858, Lincoln gave a twohour speech in Pittsfield, after which photographer Calvin Jackson took this ambrotype portrait. Observing him at one of his encounters with Douglas, an eyewitness described Lincoln's clean-shaven face as...