American Historical Ephemera & Photography

4pp., folio, 20 x 26 in. (almost fully split at centerfold, few light stains to margins). 

This issue contains a prominent inside page headline, “Mr. Lincoln, of Illinois, on the Declaration of Independence," and a half column of text from a speech delivered by Abraham Lincoln as Republican candidate for US Senator from Illinois in his political battle against Democrat Stephen A. Douglas.

On a hot, summer afternoon in 1858, Lincoln stood up and gave a campaign speech in Lewiston, Illinois, which lasted two and a half hours. It was his reply to Stephen A. Douglas’ speech, which was given a few days earlier. While the entire speech is a very worthy read, it’s at the end of the speech that Lincoln shows his innovative brilliance and his prescience. Lincoln took the crowd to school – where they stood – and gave them a lesson on the Declaration of Independence. He recalled the purpose of that Declaration, and he interpreted the meaning and intent of the writers and signers who composed the Declaration. In so doing, Lincoln led his listeners to associate – in their own minds – the document with the issue at hand in 1858 – slavery.