Freeport Township in Stephenson County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Legacy Remains

Lincoln-Douglas Debate Square

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 11, 2023

1. The Legacy Remains Marker

Inscription.

The Legacy Remains. Lincoln-Douglas Debate Square. The Civil War. As Lincoln assumed the presidency in March 1861, states in the South began to secede from the Union. Four long years of a bloody civil war followed in which some 618,000 Americans died and an additional 375,000 were wounded. While many from the North initially fought to "preserve the Union," ultimately the war was about the abolition of slavery., Death of Douglas. No sooner had Lincoln's victory been declared, than Southern states began to secede from the Union. Lincoln asked for national unity. Douglas offered his assistance in keeping the Union together, so at Lincoln's request, Douglas began a speaking tour of Southern states that were on the edge of secession. , A passionate believer in the Union, Douglas threw himself into a campaign to persuade border states to remain loyal to the United States. That effort so weakened Douglas' health that he died at the relatively young age of 48. As the newspaper shows, Douglas' death was a cause of widespread mourning. , Death of Lincoln. As Lincoln assumed the mantle of the presidency, he was faced with a nation pulling itself apart. He was burdened with the task of holding the Union together in such a way that when the fighting was over those who had wanted to leave would be willing to remain. As the Civil War wore on, Lincoln began to realize that the price that was being paid in the blood of Americans had to be worth more than preserving the Union. Gradually Lincoln convinced his fellow citizens that the war was about abolishing the horrid institution of slavery, not just holding together a political structure. , Having guided the United States through its most trying times, including having a national election during a civil war, Lincoln was struck down just as peace was achieved. As the newspaper articles demonstrated, his passing was a national trauma. , The Thirteenth Amendment. During the Civil War, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation abolishing slavery in those states which had seceded. Worried that the Emancipation Proclamation would be viewed as a wartime measure and not enforceable after the war, Lincoln and the Republican Party pushed the Thirteenth Amendment through Congress. Sponsored by Lyman Trumbull, United States Senator from Illinois and a long-time friend of both Lincoln and Douglas, the amendment states that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude ... shall exist within the United States."

The Civil WarAs Lincoln assumed the presidency in March 1861, states in the South began to secede from the Union. Four long years of a bloody civil war followed in which some 618,000 Americans died and an additional 375,000 were wounded. While many from the North initially fought to "preserve the Union," ultimately the war was about the abolition of slavery.

Death of DouglasNo sooner had Lincoln's victory been declared, than Southern states began to secede from the Union. Lincoln asked for national unity. Douglas offered his assistance in keeping the Union together, so at Lincoln's request, Douglas began a speaking tour of Southern states that were on the edge of secession.

A passionate believer in the Union, Douglas threw himself into a campaign to persuade border states to remain loyal to the United States. That effort so weakened Douglas' health that he died at the relatively young age of 48. As the newspaper shows, Douglas' death was a cause of widespread mourning.

Death of LincolnAs Lincoln assumed the mantle of the presidency, he was faced with a nation pulling itself apart. He was burdened with the task of holding

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the Union together in such a way that when the fighting was over those who had wanted to leave would be willing to remain. As the Civil War wore on, Lincoln began to realize that the price that was being paid in the blood of Americans had to be worth more than preserving the Union. Gradually Lincoln convinced his fellow citizens that the war was about abolishing the horrid institution of slavery, not just holding together a political structure.

Having guided the United States through its most trying times, including having a national election during a civil war, Lincoln was struck down just as peace was achieved. As the newspaper articles demonstrated, his passing was a national trauma.

The Thirteenth AmendmentDuring the Civil War, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation abolishing slavery in those states which had seceded. Worried that the Emancipation Proclamation would be viewed as a wartime measure and not enforceable after the war, Lincoln and the Republican Party pushed the Thirteenth Amendment through Congress. Sponsored by Lyman Trumbull, United States Senator from Illinois and a long-time friend of both Lincoln and Douglas,

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 11, 2023

2. The Legacy Remains Marker

(looking southeast from Lincoln-Douglas Debate Square • East Douglas Street in background)

the amendment states that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude ... shall exist within the United States."

Erected by The Journal-Standard, Howard Education Grant.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Government & Politics • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1861.

Location. 42° 18.031′ N, 89° 37.165′ W. Marker is in Freeport, Illinois, in Stephenson County. It is in Freeport Township. It is on East Douglas Street (Illinois Route 75) just east of North State Avenue, on the left when traveling east. The marker is located along the walkway in Lincoln-Douglas Debate Square. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 114 East Douglas Street, Freeport IL 61032, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was

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once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Richard F. Sokup (here, next to this marker); Robert J. Schmelzle (here, next to this marker); Douglas Re-elected (here, next to this marker); Lincoln and Douglas in Debate 1858 (a few steps from this marker); Freeport Commemorates (within shouting distance of this marker); The Debates and the Media (within shouting distance of this marker); The Freeport Lincoln-Douglas Debate (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Debate Square (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Freeport.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. 2nd Lincoln-Douglas Debate • Freeport, Illinois

Also see . . .
1. Stephen A. Douglas: Legacy (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

According to biographer Roy Morris Jr., Douglas "is remembered, if at all, for a hard-fought election victory that most people believe mistakenly was a defeat". Morris adds, however, that "for the better part of two decades, Douglas was the most famous and controversial politician in the United States." Douglas always had a deep and abiding faith in democracy. "Let the people rule!" was his cry, and he insisted that the people locally could and should make the decisions about slavery, rather than the national government.

(Submitted on September 26, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Abraham Lincoln: Reconstruction (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

Reconstruction preceded the war's end, as Lincoln and his associates considered the reintegration of the nation, and the fates of Confederate leaders and freed slaves. Lincoln was determined to find meaning in the war in its aftermath, and did not want to continue to outcast the southern states. His main goal was to keep the union together, so he proceeded by focusing not on whom to blame, but on how to rebuild the nation as one.

(Submitted on September 26, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution (Wikipedia).

Though three million Confederate slaves were in fact eventually freed as a result of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, their postwar status was uncertain. To ensure that abolition was beyond legal challenge, an amendment to the Constitution to that effect was initiated. The 13th Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. The amendment was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, by the House of Representatives on January 31, 1865, and ratified by the required 27 of the then 36 states on December 6, 1865 (under Lincoln's successor, President Andrew Johnson), and proclaimed on December 18.

(Submitted on September 26, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 18, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 159 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 25, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.