Lincoln's Lost Speech

On May 29, 1856, Lincoln spoke at the Bloomington Convention at Major's Hall in downtown Bloomington, IL. The convention led to the founding of the Republican Party in the state. Lincoln had thought about what he'd say at the convention but he let the inspiration of the moment guide him. He had no manuscript. His speech was so spellbinding that almost no one took notes. His law partner, William Herndon, started to take notes but gave up because he was so moved by Lincoln's words. There is one newspaper summary: https://www.abbevilleinstitute.org/mr-lincolns-lost-speech/ Otherwise, the event has become known as Lincoln's Lost Speech. 

Picture from: https://drloihjournal.blogspot.com/2018/05/abraham-lincoln-spoke-at-major-hall-in-bloomington-illinois-in-1856-and-the-speech-was-believed-to-be-unrecorded.html