Lincoln and Douglas in Olney
Location:
The marker is located in downtown Olney, on the front lawn of the Richland County Court House, which is on Main Street between Kitchel and Walnut Streets.
Dedication Date:
01/01/1972
Dedication By:
Richland County Historical Center and The Illinois State Historical Society
Marker Description:
During the Presidential Campaign of 1856 Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas spoke at Olney at separate political rallies held the same day - Saturday, September 20. In the morning Douglas spoke in a grove near town at a Democratic rally for Buchanan and Breckinridge. In the afternoon Lincoln spoke at the courthouse at a Republican rally for Fremont and Dayton. The Republican speakers - Lincoln, Senator Lyman Trumbull, and Ebenezer Peck of Chicago - also attended the Democratic rally. On the previous day they had challenged the Democrats to a debate, but the Democrats were confident of victory and did not accept.
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