"I was then twenty-four years of age, and in my second year as a student in the Illinois Congregational College at Jacksonville, thirty miles west of Springfield. Some of my college mates and I heard Mr. Douglas and Mr. Lincoln speak in the State House, in the fall of 1854. The people were wearied with the lengthy speech of Judge Douglas. When Mr. Lincoln began his reply, for about fifteen minutes he kept the audience in an uproar of laughter and applause. Then he waded into the subject of 'free speech, free soil, and free men,' much to the confusion of the man who 'didn't care whether slavery was voted up or down.' During Mr. Lincoln's reply, Judge Douglas several times interrupted him, saying he was misrepresented. Mr. Lincoln, in his good nature, allowed him to explain a number of times. At one point he was very much worked up, and, pointing his finger at Mr. Lincoln, vehemently demanded a chance to explain. In a very excited manner, Judge Douglas tried to set himself right, using about fifteen minutes of Mr. Lincoln's time. After he was through, Mr. Lincoln spread his mouth, and, with a broad smile, said, 'I believe the "Little Giant" is somewhat agitated,' and, without further attention to the judge, proceeded with his speech. I was so impressed with Mr. Lincoln's speech that on leaving the State House, I said to my college mates, 'Lincoln is my candidate for President at the next election.' This was six years before Mr. Lincoln was nominated at Chicago. The next evening, with my college mates, we called upon Mr. Lincoln at his home and complimented him for his great speech. He received us kindly, shook hands with us, and thanked us for our call. This was my first meeting with Mr. Lincoln, but I met him and heard him speak a number of times afterward." This speech of Mr. Lincoln's was a noted one, and nearly all his biographers mention it, but it has not been left on record, except in small extracts. Mr. McCord's statement, made for this book, is interesting, and all will be glad to see the picture of his friendly and intellectual face as it now appears. The passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill and its effects was the means of the destruction of the Whig party, to which Mr. Lincoln belonged, the disruption of other party lines, and the organization of a new party with Abraham Lincoln as its acknowledged leader, which in a few years was to decide the destinies of the United States Government. It also had the effect of bringing about a state of civil war in Kansas. Thousands of pro- and anti-slavery people flocked to Kansas to help decide the destiny of that territory. Illegal votes, bogus legislatures, mobs, murders, incendiary acts, and general lawlessness were some of the fruits of Mr. Douglas' famous bill for popular sovereignty, better known as "squatter sovereignty."