CHAPTER X.
LINCOLN'S OHIO SPEECHES When Lincoln, in opening the Senatorial campaign of Illinois, declared that the Republican cause must be intrusted to its own undoubted friends "who do care for the result," he displayed a much better understanding of the character and aims of his opponent than those who, not so well informed, desired the adoption of a different course.
Had the wishes of Greeley and others prevailed, had Douglas been adopted by the Illinois Republicans, the party would have found itself in a fatal dilemma, No sooner was the campaign closed than Douglas, having entered on his tour through the South, began making speeches, apparently designed to pave his way to a nomination for President by the next Democratic National Convention.

Realizing that he had lost ground by his anti-Lecomptonism, and especially by his Freeport doctrine, and having felt in the late campaign the hostility of the Buchanan Administration, he now sought to recover prestige by publishing more advanced opinions indirectly sustaining and defending slavery.
Hitherto he had declared he did not care whether slavery was voted down or voted up.

He had said he would not argue the question whether slavery was right or wrong.

He had adopted Taney's assertion that the negro had no share in the Declaration of Independence.

He had asserted that uniformity was impossible, but that freedom and slavery might abide together forever.