While Lincoln took a mild interest in politics, he was not a candidate
for office, except as a presidential elector, from the time of leaving
Congress until the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. This repeal
Legislation was the work of Lincoln’s political antagonist, Stephen A.
Douglas, and aroused Mr. Lincoln to action as the lion is roused by some
foe worthy of his great strength and courage.
Mr. Douglas argued that the true intent and meaning of the act was not
to legislate slavery into any territory or state, nor to exclude it
therefrom, but to leave the people perfectly free to form and regulate
their domestic institutions in their own way.
“Douglas’ argument amounts to this,” said Mr. Lincoln, “that if any one
man chooses to enslave another no third man shall be allowed to object.”
After the adjournment of Congress Mr. Douglas returned to Illinois and
began to defend his action in the repeal of the Missouri Compromise.
His most important speech was made at Springfield, and Mr. Lincoln was
selected to answer it. That speech alone was sufficient to make Mr.
Lincoln the leader of anti-Slavery sentiment in the West, and some of
the men who heard it declared that it was the greatest speech he ever
made.
With the repeal of the Missouri Compromise the Whig party began to break
up, the majority of its members who were pronounced Abolitionists began
to form the nucleus of the Republican party. Before this party was
formed, however, Mr. Lincoln was induced to follow Douglas around the
State and reply to him, but after one meeting at Peoria, where they both
spoke, they entered into an agreement to return to their homes and make
no more speeches during the campaign.