Progress of the Campaign. Mr. Lincoln in Montgomery County.

2

September 14, 1858.

Correspondence of the Illinois State Journal.
Hillsboro, Montgomery Co., Ills. Aug. 10.

Editors of Journal -- On yesterday (9th) the Hon. A. Lincoln addressed about 3,000 persons in this place. It was the most enthusiastic assemblage that I have seen for a long time. He commenced speaking about three o'clock, P.M., and on being introduced by Samuel Haller, Esq. he was greeted with three loud and prolonged cheers. It commenced raining before the speaking began and continued to rain a perfect torrent during the whole time of speaking. The canvas under which the meeting was held soon became thoroughly saturated with water and it then run through on our heads as through we were not under cover. The seats and pit were packed full of men and women, who hoisted their umbrellas and stood until the last word was heard. During the delivery of the speech he was frequently interrupted with spontaneous outbursts of applause. At the close cheer after cheer was given and a thousand hats thrown in the air in token of the principles and soul of our own Abe Lincoln. The Douglasites were confused and did not know what to make of it, they had not, although they tried it, cheered Douglas any when he was here (so to remedy that omission in their meeting, they got together to the number of five and as the Republicans gave their last cheer, on of thee five selected a convenient position and screamed at the top of his voice, "three cheers for Lin, then low, Douglas, making the name really Lin-Douglas, the last part of which was not heard by a great many Republicans who, with you humble servant, joined in cheering. When about done with that, some one said that was a Douglas cheer, when we kindly paid them back in three groans for the little Milk Maid, that made the earth tremble.) By all Republicans and many Democrats his speech here, on yesterday, was considered the strongest they have ever read or heard for many years. Our cause is prospering finely and every day finds accessions to our ranks of men from the Democratic party who say they are disgusted with the differences that exist in that party and say they can not be expected to favor either squatter or popular sovereignty in that party until its leaders have agreed and settled what they can not agree on, and are now in strife about among themselves. We are at work here and depend upon it there is fun ahead in next November, in this city.

The "Herald," of this place, a neutral paper, and published by Jno. Kitchell, Esq., has been purchased by the Douglas town clique here, and will hereafter be run as a "Little Milk Maid paper."

We have a good Republican Club here in good healthy condition. On to-night General Kitchell will address us and prove that the "Milk Maid" is a real blooded relative of Col. R. M. Johnston's deceased colored wife. Of course the proposition will excite the Douglasites' curiosity some, for the "little Joker" says it is a lie.

The Democratic party is in quite a distracted state here and now: Douglas had it all his own way among them for a while, but Buchanan is rapidly gaining ground now; it is pull dog pull devil and we think both wings of the party are rotten.

Yours, & c.
ABSALOM