Senator Douglas and the repeal of the Missouri Compromise--Disruption of political parties--Trumbull announces himself a candidate for Congress in opposition to the Nebraska Bill--Is elected in the Eighth Illinois District--Abraham Lincoln takes the stump against Douglas--Their joint debate at Springfield in October, 1854--An Anti-Nebraska legislature elected--Lincoln a candidate for Senator in place of General Shields--Five Anti-Nebraska Bill members vote for Trumbull--Supporters of Shields transfer their votes to Governor Matteson--Lincoln transfers his votes to Trumbull, who is elected by a majority of one 32
Trumbull takes his seat in the Senate--A protest is presented declaring him not eligible--It is overruled after debate--Disturbances in Kansas consequent upon the passage of the Nebraska Bill--Trumbull makes a speech criticizing Douglas's report thereon--Debate between the two Senators attracts wide attention--Speeches of Seward, Sumner, Collamer, and others--Trumbull's first appearance in debate is warmly welcomed by the opponents of the Nebraska Bill 48
The national contest of 1856 results in the election of James Buchanan as President--The Republicans of Illinois elect their state ticket--The Kansas war continues--Buchanan appoints Robert J. Walker governor of the territory--The Pro-Slavery party hold a convention at the town of Lecompton to form a state constitution--The Free State men decide not to participate, but to vote against the constitution when submitted to the people--The convention decides not to submit the constitution to popular vote--President Buchanan agrees to this plan--Governor Walker thereupon resigns his office and Senator Douglas opposes the admission of Kansas under the Lecompton Constitution--Both Trumbull and Douglas speak against the Lecompton measure and Congress rejects it--Douglas contemplates joining the Republicans 69
THE CAMPAIGN OF 1858 AND THE JOHN BROWN RAID
Popularity of Douglas among the Eastern Republicans growing out of the Lecompton fight--Not shared by those of Illinois--The latter choose Lincoln as their candidate for Senator--Some letters from Lincoln to Trumbull in 1858--The campaign of 1858 results in the reëlection of Douglas, but the popular vote shows a plurality for Lincoln--Douglas's doctrine of "Unfriendly Legislation" in the territories in regard to slavery turns the South against him--The John Brown raid at Harper's Ferry--Trumbull's speech and debate thereon in the Senate 86