Progress of the Campaign

2

August 21, 1858.

Lincoln at Peoria -- Republican Congressional Convention -- Fourth District -- Nomination of Judge Kellogg.

PEORIA, Aug. 19, 1858.

At the Congressional Convention which convened at the Peoria Court House this forenoon, a very large delegation was present from the eleven counties embraced in this , the 4th Congressional District. Judge J. P. Boyer, of Marshall county, presided, and T. J. Picket, of Tazewell and L. Beaty, of Knox county, acted as Secretaries. A committee of one from each county in the district was chosen to draft resolutions and to nominate a Congressional Central Committee for the District. The committee in adopted:
Resolved, That we heartily indorse, and here reafirm the platform adopted by the Republican Convention held at Springfield on the 16th of June, 1858, and we here renew our pledge of fidelity to its principles, and will continue our most earnest efforts for their entire success.

The committee also reported the names of the following gentlemen, who were unanimously chosen as the Congressional Central Committee for the 4th District:
Peoria -- N. C. Greer; Fulton -- A. C. Babcock; Henry -- Jas. M. Allen; Knox --. S. Winter; Marshall -- Josiah Buchanan; Mercer -- J. W. Willis; Mason -- Wm. Walker; Stark -- Davis Lowman; Tazewell -- T.J. Picket; Warren -- P.E. Reed; Woodford -- R.T. Cassel.

After an agreement to nominate by acclamation, Hon. Wm. Kellogg, of Knox, was unanimously nominated for reelection to Congress from this District. Three hearty cheers followed this announcement.

Judge Kellogg was then called to the stand, when, after thanking the delegates for this manifestation of approval of his Congressional course, he for half an hour addressed the convention in one of his stirring speeches, which was received with great applause. He charged the dominant party with using the purse and all the power of the government to spread human slavery all over this land -- of endeavoring to make slavery national instead of keeping it confined to a single section of the country. During his remarks on this subject he eulogized Judge Trumbull for his manly course against this evil, which brought out three cheers for Senator Trumbull. A similar reference to Hon. A. Lincoln, who was present in the Convention, caused three hearty cheers for this able defender of liberty.

After announcing from the chair that Messrs, Lincoln and Kellogg would address the citizens of Tazewell county, at Tremont, on Monday, August 30th, the convention adjourned.

LINCOLN'S SPEECH -- 3,000 HEARERS.
At 2 o'clock, according to previous notice, Mr. Lincoln addressed the people from a stand on the east side of the public square. An immense crowd listened to him, estimated at about 3,000 men, or more by considerable than were at the Douglas meeting yesterday, through no effort whatever, no cannon, no music, was had to call them out. Mr. Lincoln was introduced in an able preliminary speech by Hon. James Knox, of Knoxville. A slight interruption was caused by a shower occurring during Mr. Lincoln's address, but it only served to show the extent of the audience and their anxiety to hear. They were crowded together in very close quarters, to get near the speaker, but a motion being made to adjourn to Parmely's new hall (during the rain,) which would hold some 2,700 people standing, they scattered and soon filled the whole street leading thereto, and the square seemed to be as full as ever. But the rain slacking up, the speaker and hearers returned to the Court House and stood it out, notwithstanding a continued drizzle of rain. The effort of Mr. L. was a most able one, and those who went to scoff, came away at its close strong Lincoln men.

Judge Kellogg followed in a lengthy and able speech, as he usually makes. He convinced many Democratic hearers of the truth of the "conspiracy" charge -- whether he will get their votes or not, is another question, as they were possibly "convinced against their will." He showed that to the Republican party were we indebted for three successive triumphs for freedom, in spite of the conspiracy of Douglas and his accomplices -- 1st the Toombs bill was defeated by the Republicans in the House , secondly, the defeat of the Lecompton bill, and lastly, the English swindle was driven back by the people of Kansas themselves. He charged Douglas with being against the people of the North with not caring whether slavery be voted up or down, or whether freedom, consequently, were enjoyed or not. He was for only beating Douglas; but had such sentiments as Douglas utters been expressed during the Revolutionary war, that he cared not whether the right or the wrong prospered, whether tyrants or those fighting for freedom succeeded, he would have been hung from a tree. He that is not with us is against us, and he called on all to act upon this principle at the polls. But it is impossible to give even an outline, in any reasonable space, of these speeches. Their effect upon the hearers, representatives from a dozen counties, was of the most gratifying kind. The cool, clam arguments of Lincoln are perfectly irresistible; and Kellogg's passionate appeals, vociferated in the ears of the multitude, told well today. Many of the really honest, fair minded Democrats, who heard these candid, honest speakers today, will give us their votes in November.

Douglas spoke today at Lacon, when he with Col. Wood's troupe of fat women and Donettes's monkeys, only drew a crowd together about half as large as that at this place.

SPRINGFIELD.