John Calhoun and Lincoln debate Nebraska question at public meeting in court house. Calhoun leads off with what "Journal" calls able speech, "but if any of his positions were left standing after Mr. Lincoln closed, gentlemen who were present and heard both speeches, could not discover them." Speech at Springfield, Illinois, 9 September 1854, CW, 2:229.

Register admits (September 11, 1854) that Lincoln, "with his usual ability, made the best of a bad position."