uttered it. [One of Mr. Douglas's reporters gesticulated affirmatively at
Mr. Lincoln.] I don't care if your hireling does say I did, I tell you
myself that I never said the "Democratic" owners of Dred Scott got up the
case. I have never pretended to know whether Dred Scott's owners were
Democrats, or Abolitionists, or Freesoilers or Border Ruffians. I have
said that there is evidence about the case tending to show that it was a
made-up case, for the purpose of getting that decision. I have said that
that evidence was very strong in the fact that when Dred Scott was
declared to be a slave, the owner of him made him free, showing that he
had had the case tried and the question settled for such use as could be
made of that decision; he cared nothing about the property thus declared
to be his by that decision. But my time is out, and I can say no more.



LAST DEBATE,

AT ALTON, OCTOBER 15, 1858

Mr. LINCOLN'S REPLY

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:--I have been somewhat, in my own mind, complimented
by a large portion of Judge Douglas's speech,--I mean that portion which
he devotes to the controversy between himself and the present
Administration. This is the seventh time Judge Douglas and myself have
met in these joint discussions, and he has been gradually improving in
regard to his war with the Administration. At Quincy, day before
yesterday, he was a little more severe upon the Administration than I had
heard him upon any occasion, and I took pains to compliment him for it. I
then told him to give it to them with all the power he had; and as some