“When Southern people tell us that they are no more responsible for the origin of slavery than we are, I acknowledge the fact.  When it is said that the institution exists and that it is very difficult to get rid of in any satisfactory way, I can understand and appreciate the saying.  I surely will not blame them for not doing what I should not know how to do myself.  If all earthly power were given me, I should not know what to do as to the existing institution.”

His instinctive aversion to fanaticism found expression in a plea for the golden mean in politics.

“Some men, mostly Whigs, who condemn the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, nevertheless hesitate to go for its restoration lest they be thrown in company with the Abolitionists.  Will they allow me as an old Whig, to tell them good-humoredly that I think this is very silly.  Stand with anybody that stands right.  Stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong.  Stand with the Abolitionist in restoring the Missouri Compromise, and stand against him when he attempts to repeal the Fugitive Slave Law.  In the latter case you stand with the Southern dis-unionist.  What of that?  You are still right.  In both cases you are right.  In both cases you expose the dangerous extremes.  In both you stand on middle ground and hold the ship level and steady.  In both you are national, and nothing less than national.  This is the good old Whig ground.  To desert such ground because of any company is to be less than a Whig-less than a man-less than an American.”

These two speeches against Douglas made an immense impression Byron-like, Lincoln waked up and found himself famous.  Thereupon, his ambition revived.  A Senator was to be chosen that autumn.  Why might not this be the opportunity to retrieve his failure in Congress?  Shortly after the Peoria speech, he was sending out notes like this to prominent politicians: 

“Dear Sir:  You used to express a good deal of partiality for me, and if you are still so, now is the time.  Some friends here are really for me for the United States Senate, and I should be very grateful if you could make a mark for me among your members (of the Legislature)."(7)

When the Legislature assembled, it was found to comprise four groups:  the out-and-out Democrats who would stand by Douglas through thick and thin, and vote only for his nominee; the bolting Democrats who would not vote for a Douglas man, but whose party rancor was so great that they would throw their votes away rather than give them to a Whig; such enemies of Douglas as were willing to vote for a Whig; the remainder.

The Democrats supported Governor Matteson; the candidate of the second group was Lyman Trumbull; the Whigs supported Lincoln.  After nine exciting ballots, Matteson had forty-seven votes, Trumbull thirty-five, Lincoln fifteen.  As the bolting Democrats were beyond compromise, Lincoln determined to sacrifice himself in order to defeat Matteson.  Though the fifteen protested against deserting him, he required them to do so.  On the tenth ballot, they transferred their votes to Trumbull and he was elected.(8)