d was
followed by Lincoln with the same crushing arguments that had served him
at the State Fair, and with the same triumphant effect. His Peoria
speech was written out by him and published after its delivery. A few
specimens will show its style and argumentative power.

Argue as you will, and as long as you will, this is the naked front
and aspect of the measure; and in this aspect it could not but
produce agitation. Slavery is founded in the selfishness of man's
nature; opposition to it, in his love of justice. These principles
are an eternal antagonism; and when brought into collision so
fiercely as slavery extension brings them, shocks, throes, and
convulsions must ceaselessly follow. Repeal the Missouri
Compromise; repeal all compromises; repeal the Declaration of
Independence; repeal all past history,--you still cannot repeal
human nature. It still will be the abundance of man's heart, that
slavery extension is wrong; and out of the abundance of his heart,
his mouth will continue to speak.... When Mr. Pettit, in connection
with his support of the Nebraska Bill, called the Declaration of
Independence 'a self-evident lie,' he only did what consistency and
candor require all other Nebraska men to do. Of the forty-odd
Nebraska Senators who sat present and heard him, no one rebuked
him.... If this had been said among Marion's men, Southerners
though they were, what would have become of the man who said it? If
this had been said to the men who captured Andre, the man who said
it would probably have been hung sooner than Andre was. If it had
been said in old Independence Hall seventy-eight years ago, the
very doorkeeper would have throttled the man, and thrust him into
the street.... Thus we see the plain, unmistakable spirit of that
early age towards slavery was hostility to the principle, and
toleration only by necessity. But now it is to be transformed into
a 'sacred right.' Nebraska brings it forth, places it on the high
road to extension and perpetuity, and with a pat on its back says
to it: 'Go, and God speed you.' Henceforth it is to be the chief
jewel of the nation, the very figurehead of the ship of state.
Little by little, but steadily as man's march to the grave, we have
been giving the old for the new faith. Nearly eighty years ago we
began by declarin