192 THE PORTRAIT GALLERY 
ture of Illinois, and was thrice re-elected, resigning when he had 
served eight years. By this time he had attained some proficiency 
in law, and he formed a partnership with J. T. Stuart of Spring- 
field, to which place the state capitol had been removed due to 
his efforts while in the legislature. 
In 1846 he was elected to congress. His first bill provided for 
the emancipation of the slaves in the District of Columbia, but 
was beaten. He was not a candidate for re-election and returned 
to Illinois to his practice and to take up the leadership of the 
Whig party in his state. He regarded the repeal of the Missouri 
compromise as most treacherous, and began a series of discussions 
against slave rights in territories, that made him one of the lead- 
ing figures of the anti-slavery party. The conservative element 
of the Whigs was led by Senator Douctass, while the new or 
Republican party was led by Lincoln. In 1858 when Mr. Douc- 
Lass sought re-election, the Republicans selected LINCOLN as his 
antagonist. LINcoLn challenged the senator to a series of joint 
discussions, which challenge the senator accepted. From this 
arose that remarkable series of arguments that have lived in 
American history. SENATOR Douciass defended popular sover- 
eignty (derisively called “squatter sovereignty”) with great adroit- 
ness, but Mr. Lincotn’s higher ethical and moral standards ulti., 
mately won the popular favor. It was in the course of these de- 
bates that he uttered the prophetic and pregnant words: “A house 
divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government 
cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not 
expect the Union to be dissolved; I do not expect the house to 
fall; but I do expect it will cease to be divided.” 
This debate established Mr. LINcon’s reputation as an orator 
and statesman, and he was nominated on the third ballot in the 
Republican convention of 1860, over WM. H. S—warp. As soon 
as the extreme partisans of the south learned of this, they. began 
preparations for an insurrection, and a provisional government 
