abraham lincoln and the union-第9章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
his position； to judge from the class of cases entrusted to him； was second to none in Illinois。 To that severe yet wholesome cast of mind which the law establishes in men naturally lofty； Lincoln added the tonic influence of a sense of stylenot the verbal acrobatics of a rhetorician； but that power to make words and thought a unit which makes the artist of a man who has great ideas。 How Lincoln came by this literary faculty is； indeed； as puzzling as how Burns came by it。 But there it was； disciplined by the court room； made pungent by familiarity with plain people； stimulated by constant reading of Shakespeare； and chastened by study of the Bible。
It was arranged that Douglas and Lincoln should tour the State together in a series of joint debates。 As a consequence there followed a most interesting opposition of methods in the use of words； a contest between the method formed in Congress at a time when Congress was a perfect rhetorical academy； and that method of using words which was based on an arduous study of Blackstone； Shakespeare； and Isaiah。 Lincoln issued from the debates one of the chief intellectual leaders of America； and with a place in English literature； Douglas came out a Senator from Illinois。
But though Douglas kept his following together； and though Lincoln was voted down； to Lincoln belonged the real strategic victory。 In order to save himself with his own people； Douglas had been forced to make admissions that ruined him with the South。 Because of these admissions the breach in the party of political evasion became irreparable。 It was in the debate at Freeport that Douglas's fate overtook him； for Lincoln put this question： 〃Can the people of a United States territory； in any lawful way； against the wish of any citizen of the United States； exclude slavery from its limits； prior to the formation of a state constitution？〃
Douglas answered in his best style of political thunder。 〃It matters not；〃 he said； 〃what way the Supreme Court may hereafter decide as to the abstract question whether slavery may or may not go into a territory under the Constitution； the people have the lawful means to introduce it or exclude it as they please； for the reason that slavery cannot exist a day or an hour anywhere unless it is supported by local police regulations。 Those police regulations can only be established by the local legislatures； and if the people are opposed to slavery； they will elect representatives to that body who will by unfriendly legislation effectually prevent the introduction of it into their midst。 If； on the contrary； they are for it； their legislation will favor its extension。 Hence； no matter what the decision of the Supreme Court may be on that abstract question； still the right of the people to make a slave territory or a free territory is perfect and complete under the Nebraska Bill。〃
As to the moral aspect of his actions； Douglas must ultimately be judged by the significance which this position in which he placed himself assumed in his own mind。 Friendly critics excuse him： an interpretation of the Dred Scott decision which explained it away as an irresponsible utterance on a subject outside the scope of the case； a mere obiter dictum； is the justification which is called in to save him from the charge of insincerity。 His friends； today； admit that this interpretation was bad law； but maintain that it may have been good morals； and that Douglas honestly held it。 But many of us have not yet advanced so far in critical generosity； and cannot help feeling that Douglas's position remains political legerdemainan attempt by a great officer of the government； professing to defend the Supreme Court； to show the people how to go through the motions of obedience to the Court while defeating its intention。 If not double…dealing in a strict sense； it must yet be considered as having in it the temper of double…dealing。* This was； indeed； the view of many men of his own day and； among them； of Lincoln。 Yet the type of man on whom the masters of the game of politics relied saw nothing in Douglas's position at which to be disturbed。 It was merely playing politics； and if that absorbing sport required one to carry water on both shoulders； whyplay the game！ Douglas was the man for people like that。 They cheered him to the echo and sent him back to the Senate。 So well was this type understood by some of Lincoln's friends that they had begged him； at least according to tradition； not to put the question at Freeport； as by doing so he would enable Douglas to save himself with his constituency。 Lincoln saw further； however。 He understood better than they the forces then at work in America。 The reply reported of him was： 〃If Douglas answers； he can never be President； and the battle of 1860 is worth a hundred of this。〃
* There are three ways of regarding Douglas's position： （1） As a daring piece of evasion designed to hold all the Democrats together； （2） as an attempt to secure his locality at all costs； taking his chances on the South； （3） as a sincere expression of the legal interpretation mentioned above。 It is impossible in attempting to choose among these to escape wholly one's impression of the man's character。
Well might Yancey and his followers receive with a shout of joy the 〃Freeport Doctrine；〃 as Douglas's supreme evasion was called。 Should Southerners trust any longer the man who had evolved from the principle of let…'em…alone to the principle of double…dealing？ However； the Southerners were far from controlling the situation。 Though the events of 1858 had created discord in the Democratic party； they had not consolidated the South。 Men like Toombs and Stephens were still hopeful of keeping the States together in the old bond of political evasion。 The Democratic machine； damaged though it was； had not yet lost its hold on the moderate South； and while that continued to be the case； there was still power in it。
CHAPTER IV。 THE CRISIS
The Southern moderates in 1859 form one of those political groups； numerous enough in history； who at a crisis arrest our imagination because of the irony of their situation。 Unsuspecting； these men went their way； during the last summer of the old regime； busy with the ordinary affairs of state； absorbed in their opposition to the Southern radicals； never dreaming of the doom that was secretly moving toward them through the plans of John Brown。 In the soft brilliancy of the Southern summer when the roses were in bloom； many grave gentlemen walked slowly up and down together under the oaks of their plantation avenues； in the grateful dusk； talking eagerly of how the scales trembled in Southern politics between Toombs and Yancey； and questioning whether the extremists could ride down the moderate South and reopen the slave trade。 In all their wondering whether Douglas would ever come back to them or would prove the blind Samson pulling down their temple about their ears； there was never a word about the approaching shadow which was so much more real than the shades of the falling night； and yet so entirely shut away from their observation。
In this summer； Stephens withdrew as he thought from public life。 With an intensely sensitive nature； he had at times flashes of strange feeling which an unsophisticated society would regard as prophetic inspirations。 When he left Washington 〃on the beautiful morning of the 5th of March； 1859； he stood at the stern of the boat for some minutes gazing back at the capital。〃 He had announced his intention of not standing again as a Representative； and one of his fellow…passengers asked jokingly whether he was thinking of his return as a Senator。 Stephen's reply was full of emotion； 〃No； I never expect to see Washington again unless I am brought here as a prisoner of war。〃 During the summer he endeavored to cast off his intuition of approaching disaster。 At his plantation； 〃Liberty Hall；〃 he endeavored to be content with the innumerable objects associated with his youth； he tried to feel again the grace of the days that were gone； the mysterious loveliness of the Southern landscape with its immense fields； its forests； its great empty spaces filled with glowing sunshine。 He tried to possess h
