to vote for Major Harris; and if so, of course you will stick to it.  But allow me to suggest that you should avoid speaking of this; for it probably would induce some of your friends in like manner to cast their votes.  You understand.  And now let me beg your pardon for obtruding this letter upon you, to whom I have ever been opposed in politics.  Had your party omitted to make Nebraska a test of party fidelity, you probably would have been the Democratic candidate for Congress in the district.  You deserved it, and I believe it would have been given you.  In that case I should have been quite happy that Nebraska was to be rebuked at all events.  I still should have voted for the Whig candidate; but I should have made no speeches, written no letters; and you would have been elected by at least a thousand majority.

Yours truly,
A. Lincoln.

TO A. B. MOREAU.

Springfield, September 7, 1854
A. B. Moreau, Esq.

Sir:—­Stranger though I am, personally, being a brother in the faith, I venture to write you.  Yates can not come to your court next week.  He is obliged to be at Pike court where he has a case, with a fee of five hundred dollars, two hundred dollars already paid.  To neglect it would be unjust to himself, and dishonest to his client.  Harris will be with you, head up and tail up, for Nebraska.  You must have some one to make an anti-Nebraska speech.  Palmer is the best, if you can get him, I think.  Jo.  Gillespie, if you can not get Palmer, and somebody anyhow, if you can get neither.  But press Palmer hard.  It is in his Senatorial district, I believe.

Yours etc.,
A. Lincoln.

REPLY TO SENATOR DOUGLAS—­PEORIA SPEECH

Speech at Peoria, Illinois, in reply to senator Douglas,
October 16, 1854.

I do not rise to speak now, if I can stipulate with the audience to meet me here at half-past six or at seven o’clock.  It is now several minutes past five, and Judge Douglas has spoken over three hours.  If you hear me at all, I wish you to hear me through.  It will take me as long as it has taken him.  That will carry us beyond eight o’clock at night.  Now, every one of you who can remain that long can just as well get his supper, meet me at seven, and remain an hour or two later.  The Judge has already informed you that he is to have an hour to reply to me.  I doubt not but you have been a little surprised to learn that I have consented to give one of his high reputation and known ability this advantage of me.  Indeed, my consenting to it, though reluctant, was not wholly unselfish, for I suspected, if it were understood that the Judge was entirely done, you Democrats would leave and not hear me; but by giving him the close, I felt confident you would stay for the fun of hearing him skin me.