JONESBORO SITE OF DEBATE RE-ENACTMENT

JONESBORO, Ill. -- The tall, ungainly farm-boy-turned-lawyer was in hostile country when he appeared at the Jonesboro town square in rural Union County, Ill., in September 1858.

The area in 1858 was heavily Democratic, and Abraham Lincoln, Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate, was in Jonesboro to debate the flashy incumbent, Sen. Stephen A. Douglas, popularly known as the "Little Giant."

Historians say decorations for the third debate between the two candidates were few and crude.

There were no planed boards for a platform; instead it was made up of rough-sawed planks from nearby sawmills. Seats for listeners were absent and seats for distinguished guests on the platform were few.

There was no community fund to provide for the purchase of even the simplest of decorations. But there was a band, which played a song or two.

All of this will be recalled Saturday when actors George Buss and Richard Sokup visit Jonesboro to re-enact the "Great Debate of 1858."

Buss and Sokup, natives of Freeport, Ill., have portrayed Lincoln and Douglas for civic and historical groups throughout the Midwest for more than five years

A daylong program has been planned for the re-enactment. The Jonesboro Community Center will feature exhibits of photographs and newspaper articles concerning the debate, and a mobile museum will display a replica of Lincoln's casket.

Other activities include musical entertainment at Jonesboro Square and Lincoln Park; arts and crafts demonstrations featuring horseshoe making, basket weaving and whittling; and activities such as three-legged races, frog races and marbles.

When the two debaters meet this time, it will be filmed by CNN Television for viewing by a national audience. Area residents are urged to show up in 1858 costumes.

Hundreds of Southern Illinois residents witnessed the original debate.

"The people who came to town for the debate were sitting in homemade chairs and in rickety farm wagons drawn by oxen teams," wrote George W. Smith, author of `When Lincoln Came to Egypt,' which was published in 1940 and republished in 1993 by Crossfire Press of Herrin.

In researching the original book, Smith interviewed Union County residents as early as 1908.

Capt. John P. Reese of Cobden described the debate scene for Smith.

"After dinner people began to stir around, the band played a piece or two, and we all moved toward the fairgrounds," said Reese. "There was no order in the procession, no one was in charge, and every fellow seemed to be taking care of himself."

Reese also recalled passing Abraham Lincoln as he walked along the path with D. L. Phillips of Anna.

"The preparations were simple," said Reese. "There was a platform built to a tree for support. I think it was a walnut tree. There were no seats for the audience. People would stand and listen until they tired, then change their position.

William Hacker introduced Douglas and Phillips introduced Lincoln."

The debate was held in a grove at the edge of town, and the crowd was a Democratic one.

A Du Quoin man who attended the debate said Lincoln appeared sad as Douglas spoke.

Lincoln, a tall man -- 6-foot-6 in his boots -- sat in a chair, "his legs drawn in toward the chair with his knees up," said the historical account written by John McLean in the book, "One Hundred Years In Illinois."

"I drove the 25 miles from our home to Du Quoin and rode a train to Jonesboro," wrote McLean, who said he was an admirer of Lincoln. "As I watched the debate, Lincoln appeared to have a faraway look in his eyes and appeared to be paying no attention to what Douglas was saying."

However, when Lincoln was introduced, he rose, and warmed to his subject, said McLean.

When Lincoln stepped to the platform, "some roughnecks in a wagon with fiddles" tried to drown him out," wrote McLean. But Lincoln sized the crowd and aligned himself with the commoners.

"I was raised just a little east of here," Lincoln was quoted as saying. "I am part of this people."

Of course, Honest Abe didn't add that he grew up more than 140 miles to the east and in another state.

Lincoln recalled every point Douglas had made and demolished it with his masterful logic, wrote McLean.

Douglas returned to Cairo after the debate, and Lincoln remained overnight in Anna, the guest of Phillips. During the events, a number of Phillips' neighbors visited with them.

The series of Lincoln-Douglas debates ended Oct. 15, 1858, at Alton. Douglas won the election for another term to the U.S. Senate, but two years later it was Lincoln over Douglas for the presidency.

Douglas was an honored guest on March 4, 1861, and he held Lincoln's hat while the president delivered his inaugural address.