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194 Press and Tribune for the purpose of squaring up the reports sent in by Lincoln's hired reporters, and to see that they tell the tale of his progress as Republican leaders can best afford to let the readers of their circulating mediums peruse them. I speak on no hypothesis, for it is beyond denial that the committee does so meet on nearly every evening, and that the Black Republican gubernatorial aspirant for 1860, Mr. Judd, is constantly running in to see that all goes on according to gunter [sic].

Judge Douglas arrived at this place, the second on his second list of appointments, last evening, when he was made to be the recipient of honors which would well become the crowned head of a monarch. Napoleon or Victoria, passing to Cherbourg, through towns of equal size with this, followed by the proud pageantry of modern monarchical show, never fell in with such enthusiastic greeting, such cordial welcome of vociferous applause as fell to his share when he stepped from the railroad car into this, which is claimed to be a Black Republican town. There was no Mayor in scarlet robes, supported by potbellied Aldermen to deliver him keys of gold, no cringing and fawning employees, no standing multitudes gaping upon hereditary greatness, but there was a shout—oh, such a shout— as in times of yore they were wont to describe as making the "welkin ring." There were not multitudes of people obeying the behests of titled lords, or following the command of some flattering courtier, but there were thousands of men whose sovereignty is in their own hands, and whose votes are the tokens of their unbought and unpurchasable rights.

But a new feature has here been introduced into the reception. By the side of every main street there are flaming torches, each with a living bearer; a field piece is yielding from its unswelling and untiring throat the echo of those glorious shouts, banners are waving, and the gloom of the evening is dissipated by the flooding of light, and concealed by those waving colors, which, as the breeze sweeps by, stir and rustle in like tones of jubilee.

Such a shout and such an echo as that I have spoken of, could not but find the Senator at his feet, when he would have bowed his acknowledgment, had it not been that these people, in their glee, captured him, to make him first see how they welcomed the favorite son of Illinois. They took him to the carriage which was in waiting hard by to the line of procession, which they formed. First was the band, discoursing sweet sounds; then the committee of arrangements,