Lincoln was compelled to argue his case against the Kansas-Nebraska Act in three public speeches during September and October 1854, all in direct response to Douglas.
White described the speakers:[10] At the appointed time Douglas and Lincoln entered the hall, the former taking a seat on the front row of benches and the latter advancing to the platform.
The two men presented a wide contrast in personal appearance, Lincoln being 6 feet 3 inches high, lean, angular, raw boned, with a complexion of leather, unkempt, and with clothes that seemed to have dropped on him and might drop off; Douglas, almost a dwarf, only 5 feet 4 inches high, but rotund, portly, smooth faced, with ruddy complexion and a lion-like mane, and dressed in clothes of faultless fit.
White described Lincoln's style of speaking in colorful terms:[9] Progressing with his theme, his words began to come faster and his face to light up with the rays of genius and his body to move in unison with his thoughts.
Lincoln's speech in many ways foreshadowed the political future that he would soon embark upon:[11] Little by little, but steadily as man's march to the grave, we have been giving up the OLD for the NEW faith.