Lincoln's "Lost Speech" was a speech given by Abraham Lincoln at the Bloomington Convention on May 29, 1856, in Bloomington, Illinois. Traditionally regarded as lost because it was so engaging that reporters neglected to take notes, the speech is believed to have been an impassioned condemnation of slavery.
There are no known transcripts or written accounts of the Lost Speech, other than a brief summary in the local press. Eyewitnesses have offered snippets of some of Lincoln's content that day. William Herndon asserted that some of Lincoln's House Divided Speech was not based on new concepts at the time of its delivery. He wrote that Lincoln's "house divided against itself cannot stand" originated with the famous Bloomington speech of 1856.[2] Editor of the Chicago TribuneJoseph Medill claimed that Chicago lawyer Henry Clay Whitney's transcript of the speech was accurate; Whitney's version was later debunked.[3][4]
It is thought that the speech was a strongly worded derision of slavery.[5][unreliable source?] It is known that Lincoln's condemnation of the expansion of slavery was strong.[6]
The traditional reason given for the lack of any written recollection of the Lost Speech is that Lincoln's skilled and powerful oration had mesmerized every person in attendance. Reporters were said to have laid down their pencils and neglected note taking, as if hypnotized by Lincoln's words. When the speech ended no notes existed, so media reports of the day simply recorded the fact that the speech had been delivered.[4]
There is evidence in Herndon's recollections that the fact that the speech was "lost" may not have been an accident. So strongly worded was Lincoln's oration[7] that others in attendance feared the words might lead to a crumbling of the Union and that Lincoln consented to suspending "its repetition" for the duration of the 1856 campaign.[2]
Whitney versionedit
In 1896, Chicago attorney Henry Clay Whitney published his account of the speech in an issue of McClure's Magazine.[8][9] Whitney claimed he had taken notes during the speech and based his version of the speech upon those notes.[9] Initially, Whitney's version was given some credibility. Ida Tarbell sought out Joseph Medill, who was present at the Lost Speech, and he claimed that Whitney's version displayed "remarkable accuracy".[3]
Tarbell was unwittingly carried away by the story, but others were skeptical. Former Lincoln private secretary John George Nicolay declared Whitney's version devoid of Lincoln's style and a fraud.[4]Robert Lincoln, Abraham's son, agreed with Nicolay's assessment.[4] In 1900, the McLean County Historical Society[10] declared their skepticism.[11] In modern times, Lincoln researcher and Director of the Chicago Historical Society Paul M. Angle exposed Whitney's version of the speech and his claims of its validity as a "fabrication".[4]
Importanceedit
Lincoln's Lost Speech was famous, with a status considered legendary by the time Tarbell became enamored with Whitney's version of it.[4][when?] Lincoln was said to have spoken "like a giant inspired" and the tale of how the speech came to be lost was well known.[4] Many who attended the speech considered it the greatest of Lincoln's life.[12] Given at the first state convention, which essentially founded the Illinois Republican Party, the speech thrust Lincoln into the national political limelight.[6][12]
Though it was known as the Lost Speech, its content influenced people nonetheless. Those who heard it were often asked to repeat what they heard and a frenzied group of supporters spearheaded Lincoln's drive toward a second-place finish among U.S. vice presidential candidates in 1856.[13]
^ abBriggs, John Channing. Lincoln's Speeches Reconsidered, (Google Books), JHU Press, 2005, pp. 165–66, (ISBN0801881064).
^ abTarbell, Ida M. All In a Day's Work: An Autobiography, (Google Books), 2003, University of Illinois Press, p. 173, (ISBN0252071360).
^ abcdefgPeterson, Merrill D. Lincoln in American Memory, (Google Books), Oxford University Press, 1994, p. 154, (ISBN0195096452).
^"The Historical Significance of Downtown Bloomington 2008-02-13 at the Wayback Machine", Our History, Downtown Bloomington Association, accessed April 18, 2008.
^Carl Sandburg thought that it was similar to a speech, reported in Galena and Springfield newspapers, that Lincoln gave in answer to Millard Fillmore's charge that a Republican victory in 1856 would cause secession: "All this talk about the dissolution of the Union is humbug--nothing but folly. We won't dissolve the Union, and you shan't. [Emphases as given by newspapers.] Sandburg, Carl (1954), Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years, 1965 reprint, New York: Dell, p. 223.
^Lincoln, Abraham, Whitney, Henry Clay and Medill, Joseph. "Lincoln's Lost Speech", Now First Published from the Unique Report", (Google Books), McClure's Magazine, S.S. McClure, September 1896, pp. 319–31.
^ abWhitney, Henry Clay and Miller, Marion Mills. Life of Lincoln (Google Books), The Baker & Taylor Company, New York: 1908, pp. 327–52.
^The location of the speech, Bloomington, Illinois, is found in McLean County.
^Prince, Ezra M., ed. Meeting of May 29, 1900 Commemorative of the Convention of May 29, 1856 That Organized the Republican party in the State of Illinois (Transactions of the McLean County Historical Society v. 3) June 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, 1900, Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project, Northern Illinois University, accessed April 18, 2008.
^ abAngle, Paul M. Abraham Lincoln by Some Men Who Knew Him, (Google Books), Ayer Publishing, 1950, pp. 29–30, (ISBN083691242X).
^Wheeler, Samuel P. "Adultery, Murder and Lincoln," Illinois Times, December 27, 2007, accessed January 27, 2013.
Further readingedit
Crissey, Elwell. Lincoln's Lost Speech: The Pivot of His Career, New York: Hawthorn Books, Inc., 1967.
Fenster, Julie M.The Case of Abraham Lincoln: A Story of Adultery, Murder, and the Making of a Great President, (Google Books), Palgrave Macmillan, 2007 (ISBN140397635X).
Randall, J. G. "Life on the Circuit with Lincoln by Henry Clay Whitney" JSTOR book review, The American Historical Review, Vol. 46, No. 1 October 1940, pp. 172–173.
External linksedit
Abraham Lincoln's Lost Speech
Bloomington was the scene for Lincoln's famous 'Lost Speech' - Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois newspaper)
'Bleeding Kansas’ rallying cry at great political gathering - Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois newspaper)
lincoln, lost, speech, lincoln, lost, speech, speech, given, abraham, lincoln, bloomington, convention, 1856, bloomington, illinois, traditionally, regarded, lost, because, engaging, that, reporters, neglected, take, notes, speech, believed, have, been, impass. Lincoln s Lost Speech was a speech given by Abraham Lincoln at the Bloomington Convention on May 29 1856 in Bloomington Illinois Traditionally regarded as lost because it was so engaging that reporters neglected to take notes the speech is believed to have been an impassioned condemnation of slavery This plaque marks the site of the Lost Speech Contents 1 Speech 2 Whitney version 3 Importance 4 See also 5 Notes 6 Further reading 7 External linksSpeech editLincoln s Lost Speech was given at the since demolished building at the corner of East and Front Streets in downtown Bloomington Illinois known as Major s Hall on May 29 1856 1 Lincoln gave the speech at the Anti Nebraska Bloomington Convention that culminated with the founding of the state Republican Party 1 There are no known transcripts or written accounts of the Lost Speech other than a brief summary in the local press Eyewitnesses have offered snippets of some of Lincoln s content that day William Herndon asserted that some of Lincoln s House Divided Speech was not based on new concepts at the time of its delivery He wrote that Lincoln s house divided against itself cannot stand originated with the famous Bloomington speech of 1856 2 Editor of the Chicago Tribune Joseph Medill claimed that Chicago lawyer Henry Clay Whitney s transcript of the speech was accurate Whitney s version was later debunked 3 4 It is thought that the speech was a strongly worded derision of slavery 5 unreliable source It is known that Lincoln s condemnation of the expansion of slavery was strong 6 The traditional reason given for the lack of any written recollection of the Lost Speech is that Lincoln s skilled and powerful oration had mesmerized every person in attendance Reporters were said to have laid down their pencils and neglected note taking as if hypnotized by Lincoln s words When the speech ended no notes existed so media reports of the day simply recorded the fact that the speech had been delivered 4 There is evidence in Herndon s recollections that the fact that the speech was lost may not have been an accident So strongly worded was Lincoln s oration 7 that others in attendance feared the words might lead to a crumbling of the Union and that Lincoln consented to suspending its repetition for the duration of the 1856 campaign 2 Whitney version editIn 1896 Chicago attorney Henry Clay Whitney published his account of the speech in an issue of McClure s Magazine 8 9 Whitney claimed he had taken notes during the speech and based his version of the speech upon those notes 9 Initially Whitney s version was given some credibility Ida Tarbell sought out Joseph Medill who was present at the Lost Speech and he claimed that Whitney s version displayed remarkable accuracy 3 Tarbell was unwittingly carried away by the story but others were skeptical Former Lincoln private secretary John George Nicolay declared Whitney s version devoid of Lincoln s style and a fraud 4 Robert Lincoln Abraham s son agreed with Nicolay s assessment 4 In 1900 the McLean County Historical Society 10 declared their skepticism 11 In modern times Lincoln researcher and Director of the Chicago Historical Society Paul M Angle exposed Whitney s version of the speech and his claims of its validity as a fabrication 4 Importance editLincoln s Lost Speech was famous with a status considered legendary by the time Tarbell became enamored with Whitney s version of it 4 when Lincoln was said to have spoken like a giant inspired and the tale of how the speech came to be lost was well known 4 Many who attended the speech considered it the greatest of Lincoln s life 12 Given at the first state convention which essentially founded the Illinois Republican Party the speech thrust Lincoln into the national political limelight 6 12 Though it was known as the Lost Speech its content influenced people nonetheless Those who heard it were often asked to repeat what they heard and a frenzied group of supporters spearheaded Lincoln s drive toward a second place finish among U S vice presidential candidates in 1856 13 See also editAbraham Lincoln and slavery The Lincoln HuntersNotes edit a b Federal Writer s Project Illinois A Descriptive and Historical Guide Google Books A C McClurg amp Company Chicago 1939 p 164 ISBN 1603540121 a b Briggs John Channing Lincoln s Speeches Reconsidered Google Books JHU Press 2005 pp 165 66 ISBN 0801881064 a b Tarbell Ida M All In a Day s Work An Autobiography Google Books 2003 University of Illinois Press p 173 ISBN 0252071360 a b c d e f g Peterson Merrill D Lincoln in American Memory Google Books Oxford University Press 1994 p 154 ISBN 0195096452 The Historical Significance of Downtown Bloomington Archived 2008 02 13 at the Wayback Machine Our History Downtown Bloomington Association accessed April 18 2008 a b Cima Greg Inspiration found in lost speech permanent dead link The Pantagraph Bloomington Illinois May 30 2006 accessed April 18 2008 Carl Sandburg thought that it was similar to a speech reported in Galena and Springfield newspapers that Lincoln gave in answer to Millard Fillmore s charge that a Republican victory in 1856 would cause secession All this talk about the dissolution of the Union is humbug nothing but folly We won t dissolve the Union and you shan t Emphases as given by newspapers Sandburg Carl 1954 Abraham Lincoln The Prairie Years 1965 reprint New York Dell p 223 Lincoln Abraham Whitney Henry Clay and Medill Joseph Lincoln s Lost Speech Now First Published from the Unique Report Google Books McClure s Magazine S S McClure September 1896 pp 319 31 a b Whitney Henry Clay and Miller Marion Mills Life of Lincoln Google Books The Baker amp Taylor Company New York 1908 pp 327 52 The location of the speech Bloomington Illinois is found in McLean County Prince Ezra M ed Meeting of May 29 1900 Commemorative of the Convention of May 29 1856 That Organized the Republican party in the State of Illinois Transactions of the McLean County Historical Society v 3 Archived June 10 2011 at the Wayback Machine 1900 Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project Northern Illinois University accessed April 18 2008 a b Angle Paul M Abraham Lincoln by Some Men Who Knew Him Google Books Ayer Publishing 1950 pp 29 30 ISBN 083691242X Wheeler Samuel P Adultery Murder and Lincoln Illinois Times December 27 2007 accessed January 27 2013 Further reading editCrissey Elwell Lincoln s Lost Speech The Pivot of His Career New York Hawthorn Books Inc 1967 Fenster Julie M The Case of Abraham Lincoln A Story of Adultery Murder and the Making of a Great President Google Books Palgrave Macmillan 2007 ISBN 140397635X Randall J G Life on the Circuit with Lincoln by Henry Clay Whitney JSTOR book review The American Historical Review Vol 46 No 1 October 1940 pp 172 173 External links editAbraham Lincoln s Lost Speech Bloomington was the scene for Lincoln s famous Lost Speech Pantagraph Bloomington Illinois newspaper Bleeding Kansas rallying cry at great political gathering Pantagraph Bloomington Illinois newspaper Rediscovery of Lincoln s Lost Speech debunked Pantagraph Bloomington Illinois newspaper Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lincoln 27s Lost Speech amp oldid 1149575679, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
