They had been the trusted and sturdy allies of the slave power
in the great contest for the possession of the vast territory
between the Mississippi and the Pacific. The old leaders,
Douglas in Illinois and Cass in Michigan, who ruled those
States with an almost despotic power, sought to win the favor
of the South for their aspirations for the Presidency by espousing
the doctrine of squatter sovereignty, under which the invaders
from the slave States hard by, without even becoming residents
in good faith, might fix forever the character of that fair
domain. At that time a young knight, a figure of manly courage
and manly strength, came forward to challenge General Cass
to a struggle for the supremacy in Michigan. It was our guest
of this evening. As you all know, the young champion vanquished
the veteran warrior in a trial by battle for the freedom of
the Continent. I met him at Buffalo in 1854, in the height
of the conflict, at a gathering of a few gentlemen to concert
measures for sustaining, aiding and arming the Free State
immigrants in Kansas. He was the leader and the life of
the company.
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