Abraham Lincoln's Peoria speech was made in Peoria, Illinois on October 16, 1854. The speech, with its specific arguments against slavery, was an important step in Abraham Lincoln's political ascension.
The 1854 Kansas–Nebraska Act, written to form the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, was designed by Stephen A. Douglas, then the chairman of the Senate Committee on Territories. The Act included language that allowed settlers to decide whether they would or would not accept slavery in their region.[1] Lincoln saw this as a repeal of the 1820 Missouri Compromise which had outlawed slavery above the 36°30' parallel.
Lincoln was compelled to argue his case against the Kansas-Nebraska Act in three public speeches during September and October 1854, all in direct response to Douglas.[2] The most comprehensive address was given by Lincoln in Peoria, Illinois, on October 16.[3] The three-hour speech that evening[2] on the lawn of the Peoria County Courthouse,[4] transcribed after the fact by Lincoln himself, presented thorough moral, legal, economic, and historical (citing the Founding Fathers)[5][6][7] arguments against slavery, and set the stage for Lincoln's political future.[2]
Horace White[8] was a young journalist working as the city editor of the Chicago Evening Journal when he first saw Lincoln:[9]
It was a warmish day in early October, and Mr. Lincoln was in his shirt sleeves when he stepped on the platform. I observed that, although awkward, he was not in the least embarrassed. He began in a slow and hesitating manner, but without any mistakes of language, dates, or facts. It was evident that he had mastered his subject, that he knew what he was going to say, and that he knew he was right.
At the appointed time Douglas and Lincoln entered the hall, the former taking a seat on the front row of benches and the latter advancing to the platform. The two men presented a wide contrast in personal appearance, Lincoln being 6 feet 3 inches high, lean, angular, raw boned, with a complexion of leather, unkempt, and with clothes that seemed to have dropped on him and might drop off; Douglas, in contrast, was 5 feet 4 inches high, rotund, portly, smooth faced, with ruddy complexion and a lion-like mane, and dressed in clothes of faultless fit.
— Horace White
White described Lincoln's style of speaking in colorful terms:[9]
Progressing with his theme, his words began to come faster and his face to light up with the rays of genius and his body to move in unison with his thoughts. His gestures were made with his body and head rather than with his arms. His speaking went to the heart because it came from the heart. I have heard celebrated orators who could start thunders of applause without changing any man's opinion. Mr. Lincoln's eloquence was of the higher type, which produced conviction in others because of the conviction of the speaker himself. His listeners felt that he believed every word he said, and that, like Martin Luther, he would go to the stake rather than abate one jot or tittle of it. In such transfigured moments as these he was the type of the ancient Hebrew prophet as I learned that character at Sunday-school in my childhood.
— Horace White
Lincoln's speech in many ways foreshadowed the political future that he would soon embark upon:[11]
Little by little, but steadily as man's march to the grave, we have been giving up the old for the new faith. Nearly eighty years ago we began by declaring that all men are created equal; but now from that beginning we have run down to the other declaration, that for some men to enslave others is a 'sacred right of self-government.' These principles cannot stand together. They are as opposite as God and Mammon; and whoever holds to the one must despise the other.
^Mr. Lincoln and Friends: Abraham Lincoln's friendships from Springfield, Illinois – Washington DC
^ abHorace White, "Abraham Lincoln in 1854", Address before Illinois State Historical Society, January 1908, p. 10.
^us Rockwell Wilson, editor, Horace White, "Lincoln Among His Friends", New York Evening Post, February 12, 1909, p. 170.
^Roy P. Basler, editor, The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, Volume II, p. 275 (October 16, 1854).
Further readingedit
Lehrman, Lewis E., Lincoln at Peoria: The Turning Point, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books, 2008.
Wilson, Douglas L., "Lincoln's Rhetoric," Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association, 34 (Winter 2013), 1–17.
Primary sourcesedit
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809–1865. "Speech at Peoria, Illinois". Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 2. University of Michigan Digital Library. pp. 248–283. Retrieved 27 November 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
December 19, 2023
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Abraham Lincoln s Peoria speech was made in Peoria Illinois on October 16 1854 The speech with its specific arguments against slavery was an important step in Abraham Lincoln s political ascension The 1854 Kansas Nebraska Act written to form the territories of Kansas and Nebraska was designed by Stephen A Douglas then the chairman of the Senate Committee on Territories The Act included language that allowed settlers to decide whether they would or would not accept slavery in their region 1 Lincoln saw this as a repeal of the 1820 Missouri Compromise which had outlawed slavery above the 36 30 parallel Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 4 1 Primary sourcesHistory editLincoln was compelled to argue his case against the Kansas Nebraska Act in three public speeches during September and October 1854 all in direct response to Douglas 2 The most comprehensive address was given by Lincoln in Peoria Illinois on October 16 3 The three hour speech that evening 2 on the lawn of the Peoria County Courthouse 4 transcribed after the fact by Lincoln himself presented thorough moral legal economic and historical citing the Founding Fathers 5 6 7 arguments against slavery and set the stage for Lincoln s political future 2 Horace White 8 was a young journalist working as the city editor of the Chicago Evening Journal when he first saw Lincoln 9 It was a warmish day in early October and Mr Lincoln was in his shirt sleeves when he stepped on the platform I observed that although awkward he was not in the least embarrassed He began in a slow and hesitating manner but without any mistakes of language dates or facts It was evident that he had mastered his subject that he knew what he was going to say and that he knew he was right Horace White White described the speakers 10 At the appointed time Douglas and Lincoln entered the hall the former taking a seat on the front row of benches and the latter advancing to the platform The two men presented a wide contrast in personal appearance Lincoln being 6 feet 3 inches high lean angular raw boned with a complexion of leather unkempt and with clothes that seemed to have dropped on him and might drop off Douglas in contrast was 5 feet 4 inches high rotund portly smooth faced with ruddy complexion and a lion like mane and dressed in clothes of faultless fit Horace White White described Lincoln s style of speaking in colorful terms 9 Progressing with his theme his words began to come faster and his face to light up with the rays of genius and his body to move in unison with his thoughts His gestures were made with his body and head rather than with his arms His speaking went to the heart because it came from the heart I have heard celebrated orators who could start thunders of applause without changing any man s opinion Mr Lincoln s eloquence was of the higher type which produced conviction in others because of the conviction of the speaker himself His listeners felt that he believed every word he said and that like Martin Luther he would go to the stake rather than abate one jot or tittle of it In such transfigured moments as these he was the type of the ancient Hebrew prophet as I learned that character at Sunday school in my childhood Horace White Lincoln s speech in many ways foreshadowed the political future that he would soon embark upon 11 Little by little but steadily as man s march to the grave we have been giving up the old for the new faith Nearly eighty years ago we began by declaring that all men are created equal but now from that beginning we have run down to the other declaration that for some men to enslave others is a sacred right of self government These principles cannot stand together They are as opposite as God and Mammon and whoever holds to the one must despise the other Abraham LincolnSee also editAbraham Lincoln on slaveryReferences edit Mr Lincoln s White House an examination of Washington D C during Abraham Lincoln s Presidency Archived January 24 2009 at the Wayback Machine a b c Mr Lincoln and Freedom The progress of Abraham Lincoln s opposition to slavery Archived from the original on 2008 12 20 Retrieved 2008 02 26 Abraham Lincoln at Peoria The Turning Point The Peoria Speech by Theo Kenyon Political Argumentation in the United States Historical and contemporary studies Selected essays by David Zarefsky Lincoln at Peoria The Turning Point Lincoln s Virtues An Ethical Biography William Lee Miller Mr Lincoln and Friends Abraham Lincoln s friendships from Springfield Illinois Washington DC a b Horace White Abraham Lincoln in 1854 Address before Illinois State Historical Society January 1908 p 10 us Rockwell Wilson editor Horace White Lincoln Among His Friends New York Evening Post February 12 1909 p 170 Roy P Basler editor The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln Volume II p 275 October 16 1854 Further reading editLehrman Lewis E Lincoln at Peoria The Turning Point Mechanicsburg Pennsylvania Stackpole Books 2008 Wilson Douglas L Lincoln s Rhetoric Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association 34 Winter 2013 1 17 Primary sources edit Lincoln Abraham 1809 1865 Speech at Peoria Illinois Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln Volume 2 University of Michigan Digital Library pp 248 283 Retrieved 27 November 2012 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link CS1 maint numeric names authors list link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Abraham Lincoln 27s Peoria speech amp oldid 1167880790, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
