Lincoln and Douglas in Olney
CITY:
Olney
COUNTY:
Richland
DEDICATED BY:
Richland County Historical Center and The Illinois State Historical Society
DEDICATION DATE:
January 1, 1972 at 6:00:00 AM
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.
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.