Lincoln, the unknown

LINCOLN THE UNKNOWN•95man named Shields. Mary Lincoln had an old score to settlewith Shields, too. Back in 1842, largely because of insultingletters that she herself had written, Shields had challenged Lincolnto a duel; and the two of them, armed with cavalry swordsand accompanied by their seconds, had met on a sand-bar inthe Mississippi River, prepared to kill each other. But, at thelast moment, friends interceded and prevented bloodshed. Sincethat time, Shields had gone up in politics, but Lincoln had gonedown.But now Lincoln had struck bottom, and had started to rebound.The repeal of the Missouri Compromise had, as he said,"aroused" him. He could no longer remain quiet. He was determinedto strike with all the vigor and conviction of his soul.So he began preparing his speech, working for weeks in theState library, consulting histories, mastering facts, classifying,clarifying, studying all the hot debates that had been thunderedback and forth across the Senate chamber during the stormypassage of this bill.On October 3 the State Fair opened at Springfield. Thousandsof farmers poured into town; men bringing their prizehogs and horses, their cattle and corn; women fetching theirjellies and jam, their pies and preserves. But these displayswere all but forgotten in the excitement of another attraction.For weeks it had been advertised that Douglas was to speakthe opening day of the fair, and political leaders from all partsof the State had thronged there to hear him.That afternoon he spoke for more than three hours, goingover his record, explaining, defending, attacking. He hotly deniedthat he was trying either "to legislate slavery into a territoryor to exclude it therefrom." Let the people in a territorydo whatever they pleased about slavery."Surely," he shouted, "if the people of Kansas and Nebraskaare able to govern themselves, surely they are able togovern a few miserable Negroes."Lincoln sat near the front, listening to every word, weighingevery argument. When Douglas finished, Lincoln declared: "I'llhang his hide on the fence to-morrow."The next morning handbills were scattered all over town andthe fair-grounds, announcing that Lincoln would reply to Douglas.The public interest was intense, and before two o'clockevery seat was occupied in the hall where the speaking was totake place. Presently Douglas appeared and sat on the plat-