“He has done all in his power to reduce the whole question of slavery to one of a mere right of property; and as such, how can he oppose the foreign slave-trade--how can he refuse that trade in that ‘property’ shall be ‘perfectly free’--unless he does it as a _protection_ to the home production? And as the home _producers_ will probably not ask the protection, he will be wholly without a ground of opposition. “Senator Douglas holds, we know, that a man may rightfully be wiser to-day than he was yesterday--that he may rightfully change when he finds himself wrong. But can we for that reason run ahead and infer that he will make any particular change, of which he himself has given no intimation? Can we safely base our action upon any such vague inferences? “Now, as ever, I wish not to misrepresent Judge Douglas’s position, question his motives, or do aught that can be personally offensive to him. Whenever, _if ever_, he and we can come together on _principle_, so that our great cause may have assistance from his great ability, I hope to have interposed no adventitious obstacle. “But clearly, he is not now with us--he does not pretend to be--he does not promise ever to be. Our cause, then, must be intrusted to, and conducted by its own undoubted friends--those whose hands are free, whose hearts are in the work--who do care for the result. “Two years ago the Republicans of the nation mustered over thirteen hundred thousand strong. We did this under the single impulse of resistance to a common danger, with every external circumstance against us. Of strange, discordant, and even hostile elements, we gathered from the four winds, and formed and fought the battle through, under the constant hot fire of a disciplined, proud and pampered enemy. Did we brave all then to falter now?--_now_--when that same enemy is wavering, dissevered and belligerent? “The result is not doubtful. We shall not fail--if we stand firm, we shall not fail. _Wise counsels_ may _accelerate_ or _mistakes delay_ it, but, sooner or later, the victory is _sure_ to come.” In this most vigorously prosecuted canvass Illinois was stumped throughout its length and breadth by both candidates and their respective advocates, and the struggle was watched with interest by the country at large. From county to county, from township to township, and village to village the two champions travelled, frequently in the same car or carriage, and in the presence of immense crowds of men, women, and children--for the wives and daughters of the hardy yeomanry were naturally interested--argued, face to face, the important points of their political belief and contended nobly for the mastery. In one of his speeches during this memorable campaign, Mr. Lincoln paid the following tribute to the Declaration of Independence:--