Speech at Lacon, Illinois1Jump to section
Mr. Lincoln followed him,2Jump to section with one of his most brilliant efforts. His main purpose was to show that the peace and prosperity of the country, and the limitation of slavery depended upon the election of a Whig Congress and Gen. Taylor; that the Old Hero, whose fidelity to whig principles none should now doubt, had pledged himself to carry out the will of the people, through their representatives, without interposing the veto power. He declared that the contest was between Taylor and Cass---that he doubted that Van Buren would get even one State, except perhaps the little state of Wisconsin; and admonished all ``Liberty'' or Van Buren men, by the history of Texan Annexation to cast their votes for Gen. Taylor, and not indirectly for Gen. Cass, who has avowed his favor of the unlimited exercise of the veto power, and as a probable consequence if elected, to the unbounded extension of slavery, &c. He scored with the most scathing language, that ``consistency'' of the Abolitionists, which, while they professed great horror at the proposed extension of slave territory, they aided in the election of Mr. Polk; for which, and its disastrous consequences, they were responsible, as they held the balance of power.