Lincoln’sappearanceonthestumpandofhismannerwhenspeaking，“asHerndonaptlyremarks，“maynotbewithoutinterest。Whenstandingerect，hewassixfeetfourincheshigh。
Hewasleaninfleshandungainlyinfigure。Asidefromhissad，painedlook，duetohabitualmelancholy，hisfacehadnocharacteristicorfixedexpression。Hewasthinthroughthechestandhenceslightlystoop-shouldered……Atfirsthewasveryawkwardanditseemedareallabortoadjusthimselftohissurroundings。Hestruggledforatimeunderafeelingofapparentdiffidenceandsensitiveness，andtheseonlyaddedtohisawkwardness……Whenhebeganspeakinghisvoicewasshrill，pipingandunpleasant。Hismanner，hisattitude，hisdarkyellowface，wrinkledanddry，hisoddityofpose，hisdiffidentmovements；everythingseemedtobeagainsthim，butonlyforashorttime……Asheproceeded，hebecamesomewhatmoreanimated……Hedidnotgesticulateasmuchwithhishandsaswithhishead。Heusedthelatterfrequently，throwingitwithhim，thiswayandthat……
Heneversawedtheairnorrentspaceintotattersandrags，assomeoratorsdo。Heneveractedforstageeffect。Hewascool，considerate，reflective——intime，self-possessedandself-reliant……Ashemovedalonginhisspeechhebecamefreerandlessuneasyinhismovements；tothatextenthewasgraceful。Hehadaperfectnaturalness，astrongindividuality，andtothatextenthewasdignified……
Hespokewitheffectiveness——andtomovethejudgmentaswellastheemotionofmen。Therewasaworldofmeaningandemphasisinthelong，bonyfingeroftherighthandashedottedtheideasonthemindsofhishearers……Healwaysstoodsquarelyonhisfeet……Heneithertouchednorleanedonanythingforsupport。Heneverranted，neverwalkedbackwardandforwardontheplatform……Asheproceededwithhisspeech，theexerciseofhisvocalorgansalteredsomewhatthepitchofhisvoice。Itlostinameasureitsformeracuteandshrillingpitchandmellowedintoamoreharmoniousandpleasantsound。Hisformexpanded，andnotwithstandingthesunkenbreast，heroseupasplendidandimposingfigure……Hislittlegrayeyesflashedinafaceaglowwiththefireofhisprofoundthoughts；andhisuneasymovementsanddiffidentmannersunkthemselvesbeneaththewaveofrighteousindignationthatcamesweepingoverhim。“[4]
Awonderfuldramaticcontrastwerethesetwomen，eachinhiswaysomasterful，astheyappearedinthefamousdebates。BygoodfortunewehaveaportraitofDouglastheorator，fromthepenofMrs。Stowe，whohadobservedhimwithreluctantadmirationfromthegalleryoftheSenate。“ThisDouglasistheveryidealofvitality。Short，broad，thick-set，everyinchofhimhasitsownalertnessandmotion。Hehasagoodhead，thickblackhair，heavyblackbrows，andakeenface。