During the speech, Lincoln referenced two murders committed by pro-slavery mobs.

He was murdered by pro-slavery mob in Alton, Illinois, during their attack on his warehouse to destroy his press and abolitionist materials.

On November 7, 1837, a pro-slavery mob attacked the warehouse where Lovejoy had his fourth printing press.

On July 20, 1833 an anti-Mormon and pro-slavery mob destroyed the press.

Elijah P. Lovejoy Monument, a 110-foot tall memorial to the famous abolitionist and free speech advocate, murdered by a pro-slavery mob.

The antislavery publisher Elijah Lovejoy, for example, had his printing presses destroyed three times by pro-slavery mobs in Illinois.

November 7, 1837 - American abolitionist and newspaper editor Elijah Lovejoy is killed by a pro-slavery mob, at his warehouse in Alton, Illinois.

In May 1838, the publication moved its offices to the newly-opened Pennsylvania Hall on North Sixth Street, which was shortly after burned by a pro-slavery mob.

Following numerous threats from pro-slavery mobs, the family moved again to Michigan, and finally to Philadelphia.

Park's newspaper was raided by a pro-slavery mob on April 14, 1855, and the printing press was thrown in the Missouri River.