TFTK PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LIFE ow ABRAHAM LINCOLN Born February 12th, 1809. Died April 15th, ISliS, BEADLE AND COMPANY, 118 WILLIAM ST. American News Company, 121 NasFau 5t 9 t^^.^.m t^V W V -.^^w ■M.m « « • >M.M^'K_ '•a^a-A^ IlSr 'Is/L:E11^0'FiTJ^lS/L. \VlIEX the great and good pass away iii the fulhiess of years, we mourn their loss with a grief tempered by resignation. That they have lived to prove their greatness and fulfill their destiny is a consolation full of Christian sweetness ; and to Him who doeth all things well be thanks and praise ! When the great and good pass away in the meridian of their years, wo mourn their loss with a grief painfully tempered by thoughts of work unaccomplished and destiny mifulfilled. That they have not been spared to complete their mission can but be a source of poignant regret, even though we accept, as Christians, the will of Him who doeth nothing ill. But, when the great and good pass away in the very midst of their labor, stricken down by an assassin, we forget;^ for a while, our grief, in the desire to wreak vengeance upon the 2 IN MEMOEIAM. creature whose hand has wrought the mighty and unnatural crime. Abraham Lincoln was great and good. True greatness ever is allied to goodness ; but, in this case, goodness was the chief element of a character whose perfections we have, as yet, not fully red:lized. The kindness of heart, the be- nevolence of hand, the charity of disposition, were so stamped upon his every act, that the people, in their reverence for these, overlooked the majestic qualities of mind which placed him among the foremost of statesmen and rulers. It only needed his loss to attest his worth. Who can fill his place ? Who can so command the popular heart ? Who so potent to direct public opinion, and to lead it imerringly to the Right ? Who so wise in simple things, and so simple in his wisdom ? Who so patient, so hopeful, so forgiving ? Who so honest, loyal, and just ? Kow that he is no more, we wonder, in our grief, that he lived so long for us, and wrought- IN MEMORIAM. 80 well, yet excited so little rcnmrk. Ho who, in our own circles, goes about doing good, is repaid in the grateful thanks bestowed upon his labors ; but, was Abraham Lincoln so re- paid ? Few men realized the magnitude of his task — it was too mighty for comprehension ; few men were dispassionate enough to judge justly ; few were wise enough to judge under- standingly. Hence, he labored as one whose destiny it was to work without immediate re- ward — awaiting the future, which would con- demn or applaud as his achievements deserved. That future has come all too soon. On the very threshold of his door, when the morning had come, and the glad sun of peace was to drive away the horrible night of our National travail, he was stricken down, and all that there is of Abraham Lincoln is of the past : he is no more, save in memory and in the hearts of Ids countrymen. Now let us do him justice— ^lot that which time alone can pronounce, but the justice which 4 IN MEMOEIAM. comes of a recognition of his goodness, of his purity, of his single-minded devotion to his country, of his sagacity, of his patience, of his firmness, of his charity, of his wisdom, of his , nobility. Let us realize how much he has suf- fered in our behalf— the " long days of labor and nights devoid of ease " he has endured in his ceaseless vigilance on the watch-tower where his countrymen placed him, only so recently, a second term. Let us try to comprehend the trials, anxieties, distrusts, disappointments, false tongues and false lights which have been his constant persecutors. Let us see, in the final triumph of our arms, the triumph of his faith in the Right ; in his Christian spirit, the true spirit of the free Republic which now is ours. Thus we shall pay him the tribute which is now his reputation's due ; and, while we look forward to the coming years with confidence, let us enshrine in our heart of hearts the mem- ory of the great and good Abraham Lincoln. , O. J. V. - x^*^^:;:';^^^??^ ?^ . ..^■^^ ^ TTEE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LIFE oor ABRAHAM LINCOLN; 0O3CPRISINO ▲ FULL ACCOUNT OF HIS EARLY YEARS, AND A BUCCINCT RECORD OF HIS CAREER Afi STATESMAN AND PRESIDENT. BY O. J. VICTOR; Author or Liybs of " Gaiubaldi," "WmFucLD Scott," "John Paot. JONKS," ETC BEADLE AND COMPANY, PUBLISHERS, US WILLIAM bTHEET. Entered according to Act of Congreas, In the year 1864, by BEADLE AND COMPANY, In the Clerk's Ofllce of the District Court of the United State* for the Southern District of New York. (B. No. 14.) INTRODUCTION. In producing this biography we have had in mind its moral Few men have lived in modern times whose lifc- hiatory is so suggestive as that of Abraham Lincoln. Not tliat he should have stepped from a log-cabin to the national capitol, though that fact, of itself, might challenge our liveliest intdVest ; but that, out of the very discouraging circumstances which surrounded his years to manliood, he should have come forth with a well-stored mind, a large and humanitarian soul, and perceptions which led him unerringly forward to his high destiny — that is a result so remarkable as to render the story of his life one of the highest significance. Greatness was not thrust upon him — he achieved it. Step by step, line by line— " Throngh long days of labor, And nights devoid of ease," he forced his way from obscurity to renown. By the dim light of the pioneer's hearth — by the candle in the log loll — by the lamp in the musty office, he wrought out his task. While others slept, he found repose in the realms of knowl- edge. While he labored, with zeal, at the ax, at the plow, at the harvest, at the sweeps of the flatboat, his eager soul was laying away its treasures won from books, from experience, from men — from every thing which could impart information. The years of his hardest experience, therefore, were years of development and mental progress ; and it would seem, when viewed by the light of succeeding events, that that early expe- rience was a school of Providence to fit him for the mighty struggle which he was to direct In the production of this jyork we have had befoie us the •everal biographies already well known to readers. But as X mTBODucnojr. these were prepared for partisan purposes chiefly, they hayo been found lacking in the material which we most desired — the facts of his boyhood and student days, and the narrative of his first steps in public life. Tliese we have had to gather more from men, from letters and from newspapers than from books ; and if we have failed in producing such a work as we designed, it has been less from lack of data than from our neglect to properly use what was at our disposal. That this little volume may do good is the highest wish of both author and publishers. /.I 91- (injiii CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Mr Lincolu's Early History and Education, - - - - If CHAPTER II. His Experiencea as a Flatboatman, ..---- 24 CHAPTER III. His rcm^ral to Illinois— Hard Experioncc*! — Second Fhitboat Voyage to New Orleans - liecoines known as " Honest Abe" — Enlists as a Volunteer in the Black-Hawk War— luslauco of his extraordinary Physical Strength, 28 CHAPTER IV. Ab a Merchant, Legislator, and Lawyer, ..... 82 CHAPTER V. In Congress, --89 CHAPTER VI. The Canvass of 1854 — The great Senatorial Contest — Visit to Kansai and New York — The Cooper Institute Speech — Beautiful Incident, 42 CHAPTER VII. N How he became President, 50 CHAPTER VIII. The Secession Movement — Mr. Lincoln's Record — Stupendous Villainy of the Conspirators and Imbecility of Buchanan — Tiio " Progress" of the President Elect from Illinois to Washington — The Inaugura- tion, 53 CHAPTER IX. The War-Cloud Deepens and Burgts, ------ 74 CHAPTER X. SubBequent Events of 1861, - ------78 CHAPTER XI. New Laws, and the Battle Summer of 1862, - ... 84 CHAPTER XII. Event! of 1868, 90 THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. CHAPTER I. ma BABLY HIBTORT ASD EDCCATIOIT. Abraham Lincoln — the " pioneer boy," the flatboatman, the "rail-splitter," the self-educated lawyer, the congressman and the President of the United States — was born on the 12th day of Febniary, 1809, in an obscure cabin of that portion of Hardin county, Kentucky, which has since been formed into the county of Larue. Like that of Jackson, Clay, Webster, and others whose illustrious names are bright upon the scroll of our nation's history, his early life was cast in the unfavoring cru- cible of poverty and toil — a crucible from which we come forth dross or gold, as the case may be. Thomas Lincoln, his father, and Abraham, his grandfather, were native to the soil of Rockingham county, Virginia, their ancestors having emi- grated thither from Berks county, Pennsylvania. Further back than this, we find it difficult to trace liis genealogy. It was a Quaker family, originally, but, as time drew on, the characteristic habits of that sect seem to have been forsaken by the Lincolns. Our hero's grandsire, Abraham, had four brothers — Isaac, Jacob, John and Thomas. Isaac emigrated to a point near the junction of Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee, where his descendants are now living. The descendants of Jacob and John are still living in Virginia, as far as known. Thomas came to the wilds of Kentucky, and, subsequently, died in that State, whence his descendants migrated still farther west, to Missouri. In the year 1780, the remaining brother, Abraham, removed to Kentucky, with his family, and took possession of a small tract of land in the forest solitude, erecting a log-cabin wherein to shelter his household gods. Armed with the pioneer's watchword, " Hope and hard work," he here set himself 14 THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. re^lutely to the project of hewing for himself a comfortable and permanent -home out of the game-peopled, Indian-haunted ■wilderness. But his occupation was accompanied by con- siderable personal peril. His cabin, which was isolated from its neighbors by several miles, was a dangerous dwelling in a region infested by roving savages, whose blind instinct of revenge was perpetually searching for a pale-face victim ; and it seai.hed only four years before this hardy pioneer was numbered with the slain. At the end of that period, while at work on some timber, about four miles from his home, he was sliot dead by the bullet of a skulking savage, and his scalped remains were found the next morning by his afflicted family. Upon sustaining this heavy loss, the widow was left alone in the inhospitable wilderness with her three sons and two daughters. Poverty compelled a family separation, and all the children but Thomas bade a farewell to their sorrowing mother, to seek other homes in other parts, the second son migrating to Indiana, and the rest to other portions of Ken- tucky. The elder of the brothers, Mordecai, lived long in Kentucky, and afterward removed to Hancock county, Illinois, but soon after died there. Several of his descendants reside in that location at this present date (1864). Mary, the eldest sister, was married to Ralph Crume, and some of her descend- ants were to be found in Breckinridge county, Kentucky, in 1864. Nancy, the second sister, was married to William Brumfield ; but there is nothing further known of her family, though they are supposed to have remained in Kentucky. Thomas, the younger son, and the father of our Chief Magistrate, owing to his mother's straitened circumstances, was, from early childhood, a wandering farm-boy, and grew up without education. The extent of his knowledge of pen- manship was the mastery of his own signature. When still a boy, he passed a year, as a hired hand, with his uncle Isaac, who had a farm on the Watoga branch of the Holston river. He was in his twenty-eighth year when, upon his final return to Kentucky, he married Nancy Hanks, mother of oui subject, in the year 1806. The Old Dominion was also her native State, and some relatives of hers were, in 1864, residing in Illinois, in the counties of Coles, Macon and Adams, as well as in Iowa. Thomas Lincoln and his wife were plain HIS PAKKNTa 15 people, members of the Baptist church, and about equally uneducated. The latter could read, tut not write ; while lief husband, as we have before stated; oc'jJd manage his own name as a penman, but, it is sjiid, in a style more perplexing than readable. Nevertheless, he could fully appreciate the value of a better education than he himself possessed, and was not devoid of that truly democratic reverence which can bow before superior mental attainments in others. He was, besides, an industrious, cheerful, kind-hearted man. His wife was a woman of excellent judgment, sound sense, and proverbial piety, and, withal, an excellent helpmeet for a backwoodsman of Thomas Lincoln's stamp, and a mother whose piety and affection iiliist have been of inestimable value in the shaping and directing of her children's destinies. Says the poet : "There's a Divinity that ehapcs our ends, Rough hew them as wo will." But how much that divinity is controlled and directed by the heart and hand of the mother, the lives of all men remind U9. In tlieir keeping rests the destiny of their children, to an almost exact degree. In Europe — in our own country, in many cases — a similar lowliness in progenitors might be disguised, or alluded to with the haste of an unworthy shame ; but the compiler of this record of a truly noble life, dwells upon the rude but honest charac- teristics of the parents of his now most illustrious subject with pride, and with democratic fervor in his pride. A brimming health to our low-bom, high-risen President, and a God-rest to the bones of those whose simple names ar'" emblazoned in the brightness of his own ! Three children were the fruit of this union — a daughter, a son who died in infancy, and Abraham. The sister, who was older than Abraham, attained the years of womanhood and married, but she long since died, without issue, so that tlio subject of this biography has now (1864) neither brother nor sister. Together with his sister, Abraham was first sent to school, when he was seven years of age, to a man by the name of Hazel, who came to reside in the neighborhood of his father's cabin. The capacities of this pedagogue seem to have been nlmost as limited as those of the hedge-schoolmaster of Ireland ; 16 THE LEFB OP ABRAHAM LUTCOLN. but he could read and write, which enabled him to assist tht young ideas of the backwoods to take root at leabt. Very probably the school-cabin of Caleb Hazel appeared like a temple of learning to the little Abraham when he first entered its portals, with hope and aspiration in his breast and brain, and a dog-eared copy of Dilworth's spelling book under his arm But this first by-lane to the broad highway to learning was relinquished by the young aspirant almost as soon as begun, owing to his father's removal, shortly afterward, to_ another State. He had been residing on Knob creek, on the road from Beardstown, Kentucky, to Nashville, Tennessee, a few miles south-west of Atherton ferry, on the Rolling fork. Thomas Lincoln seems to have been impelled to this removal by an inherent disgust for the institution of slavery,* with which he had become early imbued, although himself a South- ron by birth and residence. An early acquaintance with the evil which wrought upon his own class by the effects of the " peculiar institution," combined with an independence of spirit which revolted at the consequent degradation which, as a " poor white," he must undergo, if he remained in the midst of the helot's curse, continually prompted him northward ; until, at length, in the autumn of 1816, finding a purchaser for his farm, he migrated fi:om the then slave- teeming region of Kentucky to rude^ but free, Indiana, accom- panied by his wife and son — the latter then approaching the threshold of his ninth year. The place whereon the home- seeking pioneer proposed to strive anew was in Spencer county, Indiana, The price which he received for his Ken- tucky farm was ten baiTels of whisky, forty gallons each, valued at two hundred and eighty dollars, besides twenty dollars in money. Such transactions iu the disposal of real estate were quite common at that period. As soon as the sale was" effected, the father determined to proceed alone to Indiana in quest of the new home to which he was finally to remove his famUy. Having had some expe- rience as a carpenter, he set to work, with such shght assist- ance as could be afforded by little Abe, and bmlt a flatboat, wherewith to transport his household goods to the northern * Most probably this removal was, also, partially influenced by the difficulty in land-titles in Kentucky. TH« PKBJLfl OF M0VJC50. 17 bank of the Ohio river. The flatboat was soon finished, and launched on the current of the liolUng fork. Then loadmg it with his goods and tools, and his ten barrels of whisky, tho pioneer bade adieu to little Abe, who stood watching hiin from the bank, and was soon on his way down the stream. For quite a distance the voyage was accomphshed with success, but after entering the broader current of the Ohio, an ^un- lucky mishap served to dissipate the self-congratulation of the adventurous xoyageur. A sudden gust of wind, or the sidelong punch of a sunken snag, caused the craft to careen, when the whisky rolled from its position to the side depressed, and the next instant there was a capsize. Every thing wen:; uuvn, and trying to make out what was the exact meaning of some of their, to me, dark sayings. I could not sleep, though I often tried to, when I got on such a nunt after an idea, until I had caught it ; and when I thought I had got it, I was not satisfied until I bad repeated It over and over, until I had put it in language plain enough, as I thought, for any boy I knew to comprehend. This was a kind of passion with me, and it has since stuck by me, for I am never easy now, when I am hand- ling a thought, till I have bounded it north and bounded it south, and bounded it east and bounded it west. Perhaps that accounts for the char- acteristic you observe in my speeches, though I never put the two things together before.' "'Mr. Lincoln, I thank you for this. It is the most splendid educa- tional fact I ever liappened upon. This is genius, with all its impulsive. Inspiring, dominating power over the mind of its possessor, developed by education into talent, with its uniformity, its permanence, and its disci- plined strength, always ready, always available, never capricious — the highest possess iou of the human intellect. But let me ask, did you not have a law education f How did you prepare for your profession ?' " ' Oh, yes. I " read law," as the phrase is ; that is, I became a lawyer's clerk in Springfield, and copied tedious documents, and picked up what I could of law in the intervals of other work. But your question reminda me of a bit of education I had, which I am bound in honesty to mention. In the course of my law-reading I constantly came upon the word demon- strate. I thought, at first, that I understood its meaning, but soon became Batieficd that I did not. I said to myself, " what do I do when I demon- ttrate more than when I recisun or prove f Uow does deiiwiutration dilTer from any other proof?" I consulted Webster's Dictionary. That told of " certain proof," " proof beyond the poBSlbility of doubt ;" but I could 24 " THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM LrNOOLN. form no idea what sort of proof that was. I thought a great many things were proved beyond a possibility of doubt, without recourse to any such extraordinary process of reasoning as I understood " demonstration " to be. I consulted all the dictionaries and books of reference I could find, but with TiC better results. Ton might as well have defined blue to a blind majD. At last I said, "Lincoln, you can never make a lawyer if you do not understand what demonstrate means," and I left my situation in Springfield, went home to my father's house, and stayed there till I could give any propositions in the six books of Euclid at sight. I then found out what " demonstrate " means, and went back to my law studies.' "I could not refrain from saying, in my admiration of such a develop- ment of character and genius combined, ' Mr. Lincoln, your success is no longer a marvel. It is the legitimate result of adequate causes. You deserve it all, and a great deal more. K you will permit me, I would like to use this fact publicly. It will be most valuable in inciting our young men to that patient classical and mathematical culture which most mmds absolutely require. No man can talk well unless he Is able, first of all, to defljQe to himself what he is talking about. Euclid, well studied, would free the world of half its calamities, by banishing half the nonstnse which now deludes and curses it. I have often thought that Euclid would be one|Of the best books to put on the catalogue of the Tract Society, if they could only get people to read it. It would be a means of grace.' . •" I think 80,' said he, laughing ; ' I vote for Euclid.' " CHAPTER II. mS EXPEEIRNCES AS A FLATBOATUAK. Between the time of his leaving school and the attainment of his nineteenth year, the subject of our sketch was coii* stantly employed in the hardy avocation of a western wood- man, cutting down trees, splitting rails, and the like, and, during the evenings, eagerly devoting the few hours until bedtime to such books as he could manage to procure. When he was a year older (twenty), Abraham was hired by a person who lived near by, at the rate of ten dollars per month, to go to New Orleans on a flatboat loaded with stores, which were to be vended at the Mississippi river plantations, in the vicinity of the Crescent City. The vocation of flatboating and keelboating on the great watercourses of the West and Southwest was then almost the only WATDOATETO, IB mode of transportation by means of navigation, for the em of steamboats bad barely commenced. The boatmen who were employed in traversing these great water-routes were a fearless, iiardy, athletic class of men, exposed to many perils, and almost shelterless in all phases of clime and weather. •' With no bed but the deck of their boats on which to He at night, and no covering but a blanket, they spent months and years of their existence. It was on such boats that the rich cargoes ascending the Mississippi were carried. By human labor they were propelled against the strong current nearly two thousand miles ; and it was a labor that required great muscular strength and remarkable powers of endurance. The result was that a class of men were trained in this business of unusual courage, and proud only of their ability to breast storms and endure hardsliips. In addition to this class, whoso life-business it was to propel these western boats, there were others who only occasionally made a trip to New Orleans, to sell their stores." Abraham's new employer was of the latter class. He was, at this time, peculiarly fitted for the hardy vocation which ho agreed, for a period, to embrace. Nature had bestowed upon him a frame of much muscular power, a readiness of wit, and a shrewdness of judgment, all of which qualities could be used to advantage in the llatboat peddling voyage, as it may be termed. Besides, he was full of the natural excitement of leaving his home for a length of time, and of becoming the beholder of remote and novel scenes. The day of his departure at length was at hand. Accom- panied by one associate (the son of his employer), young Lin- coln embarked at the appointed time, and started upon his voyage. They continued upon their way, from day to day, with monotonous regularity, making fast to the shore as night drew on, and swinging off into the stream again at break of day. Their voyage was not wholly monotonous, but enlivened with at least one perilous adventure, as we shall presently see. The scenery of the banks was perpetually changing, like a vast panorama, and they frequently met and passod other Gratis, with their numerous and jolh"- crews, and communicated with the people who would appear upon the river-banks from the neighboring villages and plantations. The weather was 26 THE LTFH OF ABRAHAM LUTCOLN. mostly fine, but several tempests caugtit them on their way, requiring their utmost exertions to keep tlieir boat from cap- sizing. Yet they managed to keep in good spirits, making the best of the worst that came. " Never for a moment did Abraham wish he had not un- dertaken the voyage. He was not accustomed to wndeHake a work, and fail to accomplish it. He always finished what he began, and started with that determination." They were approaching the Crescent City, and had disposed of a portion of their cargo, when the moot noticeable incident of the voyage occurred. On the night after their arrival, they had made their boat fast to the lonesome shore, and lain down to rest at their usual early hour. Somewhere near the middle of the night, young Lincoln was startled from his slumber by a noise which aroused his apprehensions. Awaking his comrade, he called out through the darkness, in order to learn if any one was approaching the boat. A ferocious shout from several throats in concert was his answer, and the boat was immediately at- tacked by a party of seven desperate negroes, from some of the neighboring plantations, who, doubtless, suspecting that there was money on board, had thought it an easy undertaking to overpower and murder the sleeping boatmen, and possess themselves of the property they guarded. There was no time for parley. The robjbers, upon finding their stealthy approach discovered, made a bold push for the coveted prize. Hardly had young Lincoln's call of-- inquiry passed from his lips before one of the ruflSans sprung upon the edge of the boat. But no sooner did he touch the deck with his feet than he was knocked sprawling into the water by a blow fi'om our backwoodsman's terrible fist. Nothing dashed by their comrade's fall, several more of the black river-pirates leaped upon the boat with brandished billets. But by this time the courageous boatmen had armed them- selves with huge cudgels, to the serious detriment of the dark assailants. Heavy and rapid blows fell upon either side, until the fighting-quarters became so close that the clubs were par- tially relinquished for a hand-to-hand fight. After a desperate struggle of several moments' duration, three more of the ruffians were tumbled into the river, and FIGHT WITH RrVER-PIRATKB. 97 tliose who still remained on tlie boat took counsel of prudence, and beat a sore-headed retreat shoreward, as best they might But young Lincoln, nothing disposed to rest satisfied with an indecisive victory, was after them in an instant. Before the last three who had been plunged into the river had succeeded in crawling up the bank, Abraham had pounded two of them, on the shore, almost to death with a ponderous cudgel. The first negro who had been knocked into the water, upon reaching the bank, fled from the avenging boat- men in utter dismay. In fact, all of the "land-forces" of the enemy were speedily scattered in panic-stricken rout, when the victors paid their respects to the marine reCnforccments, dealing hea\'y blows upon the luckless darkies before they were well out of the water. Feeling that it was a case of life and death — doubting not that the negroes meant to murder them — the young boatmen fought with desperation ; while the negroes, driven at bay, were scarcely less determined. Abraham's strength is said to have been almost superhuman on this occasion, but both ho and his comrade were badly bruised by the negroes' cudgels before the latter were compelled to beat a final retreat. Though aching from the blows which they had received, the next immediate care of the victors was to unfasten their craft and push her far out in the stream, as a precaution against further attacks ; but none other were made. A narrower minded youth, of the same age, and in the position which we here find the subject of our sketch, might have become tainted with a prejudice, either temporary or lasting, against the benrghted beings by whom he had been BO foully assaulted, and used his prejudice,, thus pardonably contracted, as a ftiture " all-they-are-good-for " argument in justification of the curse of slavery, which held the unfortu- nate Africans beneath its ban. But, even at this early age, and under these trying circumstances, he viewed the outrage with the calm and virtuous philosophy which blamed not the savage slaves so much as the infernal operation of the institu- ti( n that had made them savages. The adventurers disposed of their cargo very profitably, and returned safely to Indiana. When the di'tails of their expedition became known, together with an account of theii 28 THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM LIKOOLN. narrow escape from murder, they were spoken of with con^ sideration and praise by those whose whole lives had been passed in coping with danger, and young Lincoln's skill as a boatman, manager and salesman, as well as his courage and fidelity, were accredited accordingly. CHAPTER III, REMOVAL TO ILLINOIS — HARD EXPERIENCES — SECOND FLATBOAT VOTAGB TO NEW ORLEANS — BECOMES KNOWN AS " HONEST ABE " — ENLISTS A3 A VOLUNTEER IN THE BLACK-HAWK WAE — IN8TANCB OF HIS BXTRAOR- DINARY PHYSICAL STRENGTH. The nomadic Thomas Lincoln was again to strike his tent for a newer home ; for the paradisian accounts of the prairie lands of Illinois began to spread m the more eastern States. Accordingly, he deputed Dennis Hknks, a relative of his living wife, to proceed to Illinois and report upon actual advantages offered, and the iuducements held out for a change of resi- dence. The tour of investigation was duly made, and the subsequent report of the agent fully confirmed all that had been reported by others. The change of home was decided upon at once. It was a little more than two years after the flatboat voyage, and Abraham was just arrived of age, that Thomas Lincoln, in the month of March, 1830, accompanied by his family, and the families of the two daughters and sons- iu-law of his second wife, left the homestead hi Indiana for the teeming prairies of Illinois. Their mode of convey- ance was by ox-teams, and, this time, the transit occupied fifteen days. Reaching the county of Macon, they halted for a period, and during this same month (IVIarch), the Lincoln family set- tled on the north bank of the Sangamon river, about ten miles, in a westerly direction, from Decatur. They reared a log-cabin upon their new location, into which the family re- moved. The next " improvement " was a rail fence suflBcient to surround ten acres of ground, for which young Lincoln assisted in flitting the rails — the identical rails which RAIL-SPLlTTnTa, 29 afterward becarao tlio tbcrae of joke, song and story. Of their history the following incident is rchited : " During the sitting of the liepublican State Convention at Decatur, a banner, attached to two of these rails, and bearing an aj)proi)riate inscription, was brought into the assemblage, and formally presented to that body, amid a scene of unparal- .eled enthusiasm. After that, they were in demand in every State of the Union in which freed labor is honored, where they were borne in processions of the people, and liailed by hundreds of thousands of freemen as a symbol of triumph, Mid as a glorious vindication of freedom and of the rights and dignity of free labor. These, however, were far from being the first or only rails made by Lincoln. He was a practiced hand at the business. Mr. Lincoln has now a cane made from one of the rails split by his own hands, in boy- hood." Having built their cabin and fenced their farm, they broke the ground, and raised a crop of sod-corn on it the first year. The sons-in-law were, meantime, settled at other places in the country. A hard siege of fever and ague afflicted the new settlers before the close of the first autumn. Upon this ac- count they were greatly discouraged, and determined to seek a more congenial location. They remained, however, through the succeeding winter, which was the season of the " deep snow " of Illinois. For three weeks, or more, the snow was three feet deep upon a level, and the weather intensely cold. There was great constiquent suffering entailed upon beasts as well as men — all being totally unprepared for such extraor- dinary severity of climate. Our pioneers were fortunate in having a sufficient supply of com, but they had laid up an insufficient quantity of meat, and the deep snow seriously in- terfered with their dependence upon their rifles. Abraliam, however, was willing to brave any and every hardship to relieve their household wants. Through his untiring exer- tions, he managed to furnish enough game to keep the family in food, although he was not a first-rate hunter, his love for books having early overcome the fondness and enthusiasm with which he had at first adopted the rifle. " Wo seldom went hunting together," writes one of his early aasociatoe on this subject " Abe was not a noted hunter aa 80 THE LITB OF ABHAHATVT LINCOI,K. the time spent by other boys in such amusements "was improved by him in the perusal of some good book." And yet we have the evidence that, during the first years of the settlement in Indiana, he did become a proficient in the use of the rifle. His after devotion to labor by day and books by night evidently permitted his early skill to become some- what rusty. During that memorable winter, the family realized how much they were indebted to his devotion and remarkable powers of endurance. During this same winter, near its close, young Lincoln, in company with his stepmother's son, John D. Johnston, and John Hanks, proposed another flatboat trip to the Crescent City. They therefore hired themselves to a person named Dennis Oflult to take a boat to that metropolis from Beards- town, Illinois — they agreeing to meet their employer at Spring- field, Illinois, when the snow should have melted ofi", and complete their arrangements for the trip. But when the snow melted (in the early part of March, 1831), traveling by land became impracticable, as the country was entirely flooded ; so they purchased a large canoe, and came down the Sangamon river therein. By this mode l^Ir. Lincoln made his first entrance into the county of Sangamon. Offult, however, had failed to procure the boat ; so they hired themselves to him at twelve dollars per month each, and were employed in getting the timber out of the forest, and in building a boat, at old Sangamon town, seven miles north-west of Springfield, on the Sangamon river. In this craft they eventually proceeded to New Orleans. During the prosecution of this boating enterprise, Ofiult conceived a liking for young Lincoln, and contracted with him to act as a clerk, in charge of a store and mill at New Salem, Illinois. After his return from New Orleans, Lincoln, in pursuance of his new contract, remained at New Salem. This was in July, 1831. Here he soon made many acquaintances and friends, and won the respect of all with whom he had business dealings, while, socially, he was even more beloved by his acquaintances, and came to be familiarly known as " Honest Abe." In leas than a y«ar, however, Oflfult's business fell off HIB TSICTOTAXJSM. 81 considerably ; and, upon the breaking out of the Black-IIawk war of 1833, Lincoln joined a volunteer company, and, to his great surprise, was elected captain thereof. He says that he has not since had any success in life which gave him so much satisfaction. An anecdote is current of our subject, pertaining to this era of his life, which is interesting : Soon afler the election of the company officers, a friend of Captain Lincoln had vaunted the newly-elected commander as the strongest man in Illinois, when a stranger, who was listening, expressed a doubt as to the truth of the assertion, at tlie same time mentioning another individual whom he considered as the stouter man. The friend of the newly- elected captain at length proposed a small wager, which was accepted, that his champion could lift a barrel of whisky, holding forty gallons, and drink out of the bmig-hole. The interested parties proceeded to Captain Abe, who was nothing averse to making the experiment for the gratification of his friend. A barrel of whisky containing the necessary amount of gallons was accordingly procured, when the test was performed with readiness and apparent ease. As another man might have raised a six-gallon demijohn, the barrel was lifted, and the requisite mouthful extracted from the bung- hole, to the astonishment of the incredulous stranger. " The bet is mine," cried the athlete's admirer, as the former replaced the barrel on the floor ; " but that is the first dram of whisky I ever saw you swallow, Abe." The captain immediately spirted the cheek full of whisky upon the floor, with the exclamation : " And I haven't swallowed tfiaty you see." His friend burst out laughing at this demonstration of the incorrigible teetotaler. And this same friend, long afterward, writes : " That was the only drink of intoxicating liquor I ever knew him to take, and that he spirted out on the floor." Whether true or not, this little anecdote, so far as it concerns the whisky, is in keeping with the temperate habits which have since distinguished him. Young Lincoln's company, shortly afterward, proceeded to Beardstown, whence in a few days it was summoned to tha 83 THH LIFB OP ABKAHAM LINCOLK. expected scene of conflict. But -when the term of enlistment (thirty days) had expired, the men were disbanded at Otta-w^a, with most of their fellow-volunteers, and returned to their homes without having seen the enemy. However, a new levy being called for, Abraham did what few of our embrj'-o cap- tains of the present day would be likely to do — re6nlisted as a private. Again, their term of enlistment having expired, they were disbanded, and the war still not over. Determined to serve his country as long as the war should last, and desirous of participating in a battle, he enlisted for a third time ; but the battle of Bad Ax was, nevertheless, fought without him, and, before the last term of enlistment had expired, the con- test was at an end. He returned home, neither covered with honors, nor honored by scars. " Having lost his horse, near where the town of Janesville, Wisconsin, now stands, he went down Rock river to Dixon in a canoe. Thence he crossed the country on foot to Peoria, where he again took canoe to a point on the Blinois river, within forty miles of home. The latter distance he accom- plished on foot." He is said to have been a great favorite in the army — an efficient officer and a brave, danger-scorning, fatigue-defying Boldier. CHAPTER lY ▲S A HBRCHANT, LEGISLATOR AND LAWTEB. After his return from this campaign, in which, as he is said to have subsequently expressed it, " he did not see any live fighting Indians, but had a good many bloody struggles with the musketoes," he looked about for something to do. While thus employed " prospecting," he was astonished tc learn that it was a proposal, among his friends and admirera, to nominate him for the Legislature. Though he had only been a resident of the county for nine months, an undoubted, intelligent " Henry Clay man " was required for the ticket, and he was deemed a candidate " proper to success." BKCOTES A 8UUVEY0R. 3.1 The cliolce was jvirticulnrly influenced by llie fact tliat iho county had given General Jackson a large majority the yi-ur before; whereas, it was believed that Lincoln's popularity wouhl now insure success to the opposite ticket. The nomi- nation was accordingly made. It must have been a ]»roud moment, and one hard to realize, for the young man yet fresh from the woods, when, across a brief interval of retrospect, ho could tluis contrast his humble life of physic;fl toil with the condition which Ibund him wortiiy to sit in council beside the statesmen of his new, but wealtli-gathering and flist-rising Slate. lie accepted the proflered dignity with the gratitude and enthusiasm of j-outh and hoi^j. The issue, however, was averse to him, he receiving two hundred and seventy-seven votes out of tliQ tAVo hundred and eighty-four cast in New Salem ; there being, in all, ciglit aspirants for the legislative distinction. This was the only time that ^\y. Lincoln ever was beaten in a direct issue beibrc the people. We next find him as the purchaser of a store and stock of gfK)ds on credit, and officiating as the postmaster of the town in which he resided. Ily was desirous of studying the law at this time, but was deterred on account of his limited educa- tion. He had a partner in his store ; but the business soon proving a profitless incumbrance, they sold out. Notliing daunted by his ill-fortune, he next endeavored to gain an insight inta the profession of lawyer. To this end he borrowed some books from a friend, and gradually made him- self acquainted with the rudiments of the profession in which he has since been so distinguished an actor. He, meantime, pursued his studies diligently. He made himself somewhat proficient in grammar; while his newer opportunities i:,\x\q^ him the means of far more extensive read- ing than he had hitherto enjoyed. It was his custom to write cut an epitome of every book he read — a process which seiTcd to impress the contents more indelibly on his memory, as well as to give him skill in composition. Before he had proceeded veiy profoundly in his study of the law, he became acquainted with John Calhoun — al\erw;u'd President of the Lecompton (Kansas) Constitutional Conveh- lion, who proposed to Lincoln to take up the study and Tocation of surveying. Lincoln assented, anil hnmediutely 34 THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM LrSTCOLN. commenced the requisite routine of stud}'- and practice. He fre- quently went with Mr. Calhoun to the field, and, in a short time, Bet up for a surveyor on his own account. In this adventure fortune was more in his favor than it yet had been. He set . to work with his usual industry and vigor, and soon obtained plenty of work. He won quite a reputation in this vocation, and ccmtiuued in it for more tlian a year. At the close of this period, in August of 1834 — two years after our subject was first a candidate for the Legislature, and when he had just entered his twenty-sixth year — lie was again nominated as a candidate for the Leccislature -of Illinois. The prospect of success was much brighter than before, for Abra- ham Lincoln had become a very popular man. The first to enlist, and the last to leave, he Avas tliought to have distin- guished himself as a military man. He was an excellent survej^or, a tolerable lawyer — in fact, a rising man, in the Western sense of the term. More than this, he was heartily esteemed for his good sense, greatness of heart, and integrity of soul. These auguries were not fallacious. The day of election arrived ; a large vote was polled ; and, as had been generally anticipated, Mr. Lincoln was the successful candidate by a handsome majority. In this manner was commenced the political life of the humble and noble man who at length became tlie recipient of the highest gift of dignity and honor which it is in the power of the American people to bestow. To the Legislature of Illinois he accordinglj'- went. It was during the first session that he determined to follow up the study of the law ; and he here formed the acquaintance of his colleague, the Hon. John T. Stuart. He was three times reelected to the Legislature — in 1836, 1838, and 1840. What were his particular services it is not necessary to relate. That he labored successfully and. acceptably for the interests of his constituents and for the advancemient of his State is true. The quick-discerning and strong-minded men who generally compose the "first settlers" of a new country, were not to be appeased with the pretense of work ; tliey judged the tree bv its fruits, and that Mr. Lincoln was so frequently re-elected proves him to have been true to liis old habits of' AS A LA^VYEK. 85 Inrlnstry and wcll-doin^. It was during Ids legislative dutiea tliat !Mr. Lincoln I'li-sl became acquainted with Stiplicn A- Douglas. Little did the two men then realize what a i)Osilion they were, ere long, to assume toward one another and toward their country. Douglas, like Lincoln, was the sole architect of his ownXortuncs; the good State of Illinois cradled them both in theitt humble estate, and gave them, as her own, to a career of jiolitical glor}' now become historical. lie obtained a law license in 183G, removed to Springfield in April, 1837, and commenced law-practice as partner of .Mr. Stuart. One instance, in connection with his practice of the law, we may relate : A murder having been committed, " a young man named Armstrong, a son of the aged couple for whom, many jears before, Abraham Lincoln had worked, was charged with the deed. Being arrested and examined, a true bill was found against him, and he was lodged in jail to await his trial. As soon as 3Ir. Lincoln received intelligence of the affair, he addressed a kind letter to ]^Ii*s. Armstrong, stating his anxiety that her son should have a fair trial, and olfering, in return for her kindness to him while in adverse circumstances some years before, his services gratuitously. Investigation con- vinced the volunteer attorney that the young man was the victim of a conspiracy, and he determined to postpone the case until the excitement had subsrded. The day of trial, however, finally arrived, and the accuser testified positively that he saw the accused plunge the knife into the heart of the murdered man. lie remembered all the circumstances per- fectly ; the murder was committed about half-past nine o'clock at night, and the moon was shining brightly. ]Mr. Lincoln reviewed all the testimony carefully, and then proved con- clusively that the moon which the accuser had sworn wa'3 shining brightly, did nf)t rise until an hour or more after the murder was committed ! Other discrepancies were ex]iosed, and, in thirty minutes after the jury retired, tliey returned 'nth ft verdict of ' not guilty.' "" The prisoner and his mother had been awaiting the verdi«:t with agonizing anxiety. -No sooner had tlic most momentous words, " not guilty," dropi)ed from the foreman's lips, tlian tho mother swooned in the arms of her sou. lie raised her and pressed her to his heart with words of glad reassurance. 36 THE LIFB OP ABRAHAM LINCOLN. " Where is Mr. Lincoln ?" he exclaimed, and then flew across the room and grasped his deliverer by the hand, ■with a heart too full for speech. It was sunset-time, and they were near a window that foced the west. Mr. Lincoln returned the warm grasp of the prisoner, and then cast his glance through the window toward the golden western horizon. " It is not yet sundown," said he, tenderly, " and you are free." One who was a witness to the impressive scene remarks : "I confess that my cheeks were not wholly unwet vvith tears, and I turned from the affect hig scene. As I cast a glance behind, I saw Abraham Lincoln obeying the divine injunction by comforting the widowed and fiitherless." ]Mr. Lincoln continued prospering, devoting the succeeding six years to the study as well as the practice of the law. Each new case seemed to add to his growing reputation for ability as a court and jury lawyer and eminence as counsel. Several of his associates in practice at the Springfield bar were remarkable men. Says a writer, fomiliar Vvith the persons and incidents of that gathering of great and peculiar men who made the Illinois capital the arena of their combats : " It would be hard to find in any backwoods town, at the period of which I have been speaking, a coterie of equal ability and equal possibilities with those who plead, and wrangled, and electioneered together in Springfield. Logan, one of the finest examples of the purely legal mind that the West has ever produced ; M'Dougal, who afterward sought El Dorado ; Bissell, and Shields, and Baker, brothers in anns and in coun- cil, the flower of the Western chivalrj^, and the brightest examples of western oratory ; Trumbull, then, as now, with a mind preeminently cool, crystalline, sagacious ; Douglas, heart of oak and brain of fire, of energy and midaunted courage unparalicledj ambition insatiate and aspiration unsleeping; Lincoln, then, as afterward, thoughtful, and honest, and brave, conscious of great capabilities, and quietly sure of the future, before all his peers in a broad humanity, and in that prophetic lift of spirit that saw the triumph of pnnciples then dimly discovered in the contest that was to come." Truly a singular gathering of great souls — each one of whom ni8 rosiTioN ON Tiia blavejiy (question. 87 Tfaa destined to occupy promincut positions in their countr}''3 history. His interest in the exciting nnd important political events of Ihi; day — his steadily-increasing conception of their import- ance not only to his own community but to the country — ere long drew him into the vortex of politics. During tlie presi- dential canvass of 1844, he "stumped" the State of Illinois Avith unwearying enthusiasm. His admiration of Henry Clay, which had been early imbibed, intluenced, in no small degree, the remainder of his life. The antagonism to Slavery — in which he was to become such a distinguished mover and champion — was publicly manifested as early as 1837. The Legislature of Illinois had, like most of the newer Western States, lost no occasion to placate the ruflled feelings of their "southern brethren" upon the "agitation" of this subject, by the Adoption of resolutions of an eminently pro-slavery type, as well as by ofTining other evidences of. sympathy. But, in the session of 1837, when Mr. Lincoln was one of tlio representatives from Sangamon county, he refused to vote for several of these regularly-digested resolutions for the propitiation of the southera sentiment ; and, taking advantage of a constitutional privilege, combined witli his colleague from Sangamon in the following protest, which was read to the house March 3d, 1837 : " Resolutions on the gnbjcct of domestic slavery having passed both houses of the General Assembly at its present session, tho undrrsigncd hereby protest against the passage of the same. "They believe that the .institution of slavery is founded on both injustice and bad policy; but tluit the promulgation of abolition doctrines tends rather to abate its evils. "They believe that the Congress of the United States has no power, under the C(mslitution, to interfere with the institution of slavery in tlie dillerent States. " Tliev believe that the Congress of the United States hm the power, under the Constitution, to abolish slavery in the District of Columl)ia; but that the power ought not to b^ exercised, unless atllie rcciucst of the pcojile of said District. "The dilference between these o])inions and those contained in the suid resolutions is their reason lor entering this y.rotcst. "D.\x. Sto.ne, '•A. LixcoLX, ''lt^pr»»€ntatii>e* front, Vu county of iSdu^ainon"' In the election of 1844 — already referred to — the tariff 88 THE LIFE OP ABRAHAM LINCOLN. question being the main subject at issue — Mr. Lincobi's name headed the Whig electoral ticket, as opposed to John Cal- houn's on the Democratic side. Calhoun was then regarded as the ablest debater of his party in Illinois. They " stumped" the State together, usually making speeches, on alternate days, at each place, "where they were listened to generally by large audiences. In these speeches, Mr, Lincoln gave evidence of a surprising mastery of the principles, working and results of ths protective system. The canvass proved how thoroughly he had studied the question in all its bearings — how exhaus- tively he had read history and political economy. He demon- strated not only his own native strength as a debater, but his accomplishments as a well-read student and statesman. He ppoke with that directness and precision which ever are most forcible in popular address. Ilis manner was flimiliar, as if talking to a large circle of friends — a feature of his oratory which became one of his public characteristics. Yv^e say orator}'', yet it would hardly be termed such in the Ciceronean sense of the word. The very ftimiliarity of his discourse, the homeliness of his illustrations, the quiet good-humor of his temper, and the seemingly inexhaustible fund of anecdote and story ever ready at his command — all sei*ved to divest his speeches of the acknowledged constituents of the oration, and to invest them with something of the characteristics of the harangue ; yet, his simple words were weighty with an elo- quence which swayed not only the hearts but the judgments of his hearers, and few men ever left an audience under greater weight of obligation for truths spoken and principles enunciated. He came out of that first canvass the conceded champion* of the Whig party and policy in the State, and was soon made to assume still more important functions iu public life by representing his district in the United States Congress. * During tb^ campaisn, at a Convention held at Vandalia, the old Cap- ital ol' the State of Illinois, an old man carried a bauner with this device : "ABKAHAM LINCOLN, PEEilDfcNT IN 1S6(J." Thi? is a well attested /ac^, but what was the prophet's name we have not boeu able to learn. IB EUB.CTKD TO CtJNGltESS. S9 C II A P T E 11 \' . *Mr CONQRESS. ^IiL Lincoln was elected to Congress from the central dis- trict of Illinois in 184C ; and took his seat in that body on the first Monday in December, 1847. Mr. "Wintlirop, of Massachusetts, was elected Speaker of the House. This house was replete with the best talent of the countr}'; and it proved one of tlic most agitated and agitating 6«'ssions ever convened in Washington. Enrolled with ]\Ir. Lincoln, as Whigs, were such names as Collamer, Tallmage, Ingersoll, Botts, Clingman, Stephens, Toombs and Thompson ; while, opposed to him in politics, were others, not less dis- tinguished, of whom we may mention AVilmot, Bocock, Rhett, Linn, Boyd and Andrew Johnsoi^ — the latter afterward Ids associate and coadjutor in the great work of restoring the Union. Such conspicuous lights as Webster, Calhoun, Dayton, Davis, Dix, Dickinson, Hale, Bell, Crittenden and Corwiu constituted a senatorial galaxy which seldom has been outshone. Mr. Lincoln was the only representative from his State who had been elected under the Whig standard — his six col- leagues being all Democrats. Lie entered into the spirit of his new duties with character- istic energy, voting pro or con on every important question, ever ready with liis tongue for the argumentative contest, and frequently exhibiting a power of utterance quite remarkable in its effect upon his ever-attentive listeners. Mr. Giddings having presented a memorial (December 21st, 1847) from certain citizens of the District of Columbia, asking for the repeal of ^ill laws upholding the slave-trade in tlic District, a motion was made to lay it on the table, when ]SIr. Lincoln voted in the lu'ffatire. Although he went with the majorit}' of the Whig party in jpposii\g the declaration of war with ^lexico, he invariably supported, with his vote, any bill or resolution having for its object the sustenance of the health, comfort and honor of our ioldiers engaged in the war. On the 22d of December, 40 THE LIFE OP ABRAHAM LINCOLN. he introduced, with one of his characteristically humorotis and logical speeches in their favor, a series of resolutions, keenly criticising the motives which had superinduced the war. In later years, it was cirarged against Mr. Lincoln by those whose political enmit)^ he had incurred that he lacked a gentiine patriotism, inasmuch as. he had xoted against the Mexican war. " The charge was sharply and clearly made by Judge Douglas at the first of their joint discussions, in the senatorial contest of 1858." Mr. Lincoln replied : " I was an old Whig, and whenever the Democratic party tried to get me to vote that the war had been righteously begun by the Presi- dent, I would not do it. * * * But when he [Judge Douglas], by a general charge, conveys the idea that I withheld supplies from the soldiers who were fighting in the Mexican war, or did any thing else to hinder the soldiers, he is, to say the least, grossly and altogether mistaken, as a consultation of the records will prove to him." This plain denial of a false assertion is proof sufficient in itself; for it bears the impress of veracity. Mr. Lincoln's congressional career, though brief, was im- portant and brilliant to a singular degree, and is well worthy of a diligent study by the student in statesmanship. " On the right of petition," says Mr. Raymond, " Mr. Lin- coln, of course, held the right side, voting repeatedly against laying on the table, without consideration, petitions in favor of the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia. " On the question, of abolishing slavery in the district, he took rather a prominent part. A Mr. Gott had introduced a resolution directing the committee for the District to introduce a bill abolishing tile slave-trade in the District. To this ]Mr. Lincoln moved an amendment instructing them to introduce a bill for the abolition, not of the slave-trade, but of slavery, within the District. The bill which he proposed prevented any slave from ever being brought into the District, except in the case of oflScers of the Goveniment, who might bring the necessary servants for themselves and their families M'hile in the District on public business. It prevented any one, when resident within the district, or thereafter bom within it, from being held in slavery without the District. It declared that all children of slave-mothers, bom in the district after January UrS RBCORU IN CONGIUiSS. 41 St, 1850, should be free, but should be reasonably supported and educated by the owners of their mothers, and lluit any owners of slaves in the district might be paid their value from the treasury, and the slaves should thereupon be free ; and it l>rovided, also, for the submission of the act to the people of the district for their acceptance or rejection. " The question of the Teriitories oamc up in many ways. The Wilmot proviso liad made its appearance in tiic previous session, in the August before; but it was repeatedly before this Congress also, when efforts were made to apply it to the territory which- we procured from ^le.xico, and to Oregon. On all occasions, when it was before the house, it was sup- ported by Mr. Lincoln ; and he stated, during his contest with Judge Douglas, that he had voted for it, * in one w:iy and an- other, about forty times.' He thus showed himself, in 1817, the same friend of freedom for the Territories which he was afterward during the heats of the Kansas struggle. " Another instance in which the slavery question was be- fore the house, was in the famous Pacheco case. The ground taken by the majority was that slaves were regarded as pro- jx'rty by the Constitution, and, when taken for puljlic service, should be paid for as property. The principle involved in the bill was, therefore, the same "which the slaveholders have sought in so many ways to maintain. As they sought, after- ward, to have it established by a decision of the Supreme Court, so, now, they sought to liave it recognized by C'ongns.'*. Mr. Lincoln opposed it in Congress as heartily as he afterward opposed it when it took the more covert, but no less daugcr- oiLS, shape of a judicial dictum. " On other questions which came before Congress, Mr. Lin- coln, being a AVhig, took the ground which was held by the great body of his party. lie believed in the right of Con- gress to* make appropriations for the improvement of rivers and harbors. He was in favor of giving the public lands, not to speculators, biit to actual occupants and cultivators, at as low ratcB as possible ; he was in favor of a protective tiuilf, and of abolishing the franking privilege." In the Wliig National Convention of 1818, Mr. Lincoln was a delegate, and earnestly advocated the nomination o'' (J'-ncral Zachary Taylor as tho nominee for the Presuiencv During 43 THE LIFE OF ABllAUAM LINCOLN. the ensuing canvass he " stumped the States of Indiana and Illinois in support of his favorite candidate. In Illinois the Democrats, under the leadership of Douglas, made herculean efforts to save the State to their nominee, General Cass, and succeeded, as was expected they would. In 1849 he was a candidate for United States senator, be- fore the Illinois Legislature, but was -beaten by General Shields — the Democrats having control of the State. The bitterness of the previous Presidential canvass was intensified by the de- sire to elect also a Legislature wiiich should return a Democrat to the United States Senate. Mr. Lincoln visited Massachu- setts once during the campaign, and was present at the Massa- chusetts State Convention, by invitation of parties endeavoring to effect harmony of action between the strict anti-slavery and the Whig or " Conservative " factions. He did not speak, however, except at New Bedford, where he made one of his happiest efforts. CHAPTER VI. THB CANVASS OF 1854 — THE GRBAT SENATORIAL CONTEST — VISIT TO KAN- SAS AND NEW YORK — THE COOPER INSTITUTE SPEECH — BEAOTIFDL INCIDENT. For the five years succeeding the canvass of 1848, Mr. Lincoln was but little engrossed in public affairs. He prac- ticed his profession with diligence and success, adding both to his fame as a lawyer and to " his fortunes. His interest in politics, though lively, did not draw him from the bar. But the repeal of the Missouri compromise suddenly aroused him for fresh endeavors. Illinois was once more a field for the battle of Freedom, and the bold leader, who before had led the van of the host arrayed against slave encroachment, was not deaf to the call for his good right arm. The murmuring drum-beat of liberty sounded its alarm throughout the land, for the hour of danger to free institutions had indeed come. The old compact, won by the herculean efforts of Henry Clay, and which stood like the sea-dike of Holland, to keep off the ftll-devouring flood, was to be rent asunder, and the beautiful THE thiNVAsa OK 18.')4. 48 laml, reclaiinecl forever to five hiltor, wiis to be ^iven over to darkuess aiul death. All the lion in Lincoln's nature was aroused. ^V'hat were peace, and fame, and fortune, when the country was assailed by treachery and cunniu'; device, at the comuiand of slave-breeders ? The warrior put aside all his own interests, girded on his armor and went forth, like Peter the Hermit, to arouse his people to a sense of their shame and loss in permittini,' the lioly sepulchcr of freedom to be invaded by the Soutlicrn ^loslem and Northern Tartars. The desperate poliliial struggle of that year was measurably influenced by his jjower, and the crowning victorv, which gave Illinois her lirst Republican Legislature, and made Lyman Trumbull her United States Senator, it is conceded was mainlv due to his extraordinary elforts. The editor of The Chicago 2Vibune — a personal friend of lyir. Lincoln — thus sketches th# Illinois campaign of 1S54: "The first and greatest debate of that year came off between Lincoln and Douglas at Springlield, during the progress of the StateJ^^iir, in October. " The Stale Fair had been in progress two daj'S, and the capi- tal was full of all m;uiner of men. Hundreds of politicians had met at Springfield, expecting a tournament of an unusual char- acter. Several' speeches were made before, and several after, the passage between Lincoln and Douglas, but that was justly held to be Oie event of the season. "Mr. Lincoln took the stand at two o'clock, a large crowd in attendance, and 'Mv. Douglas seatctl on a small i)latIorm in front of the desk. The first hrdf-hour of Mr. J^iiicohi's sjieech was taken up with compliments to his distinguished friend. Judge Douglas, and dry allusions to the jjoliticid events of the past few years. His distinguished friend. Judge Douglas, had taken his seat as solemn as the Cock-Lane ghost, evidently with the intention of not moving a muscle till it came to his turn to speak. The laughter provoked by Lincoln's exordium, how- ever, soon began to make him uneasy; and when Mr. Linci)ln arrived at his (Douglas') speech, pronouncing the Missouri com- promise 'a sacred thing, which no ruthless hand would ever be reckless enough to disturb,' he opened his lips far enough to re- mark, ' a first-rate speech I' This was the beginning of an amusing colloquy. "'Yes,' continued ilr. Lincoln, 'so affectionate was my friend's regard fur this compromise line, when Texas was ad- mitted into the Union, and it was fonnd that a strip e.x- tended north of (hiity-six degrees thirty minutes, he actu^Uy 44 THE J.IFE OF ABllArfAM LINCOLN. introduced a bill extending the line, and prohibiting Siavery in the northern edge of the State.' " ' And you voted against the bill,' said Douglas. "'Precisely so,' replied Lincoln ; ' I was in favor of running the line a great deal further south.'' "'About this time,' the speaker continued, 'my distinguished friend introduced me to a particular friend of iiis, one David Wilmot, of Pennsylvania.' (Laughter.) " ' I thought,' said Mr. Douglas, ' you w^ould find him conge- nial company.' " ' So I did,' replied Lincoln. ' I had the pleasure of voting for his proviso, in one v>^ay and another, about forty times. It was a Democratw measure then, I believe. At any rate. General Cass scolded Honest John Davis, of Massachusetts, soundly, for taking up the last hours of the session, so that he (Cass) could not crowd it through. Apropos of General Cass : if I am not greatly mistaken, he has a prior claim to my distinguished friend, to the authorship of " popular sovereignty." The old General has an infirmity for writing letters. Shortly after the scolding he gave John Davis, he wrote his Nicholson letter — ' " Douglas, solemnly : ' God Almighty placed man on the earth and told him to choose between good and evil. That was the origin of the ISTebraska bill.' "Lincoln : 'Well, the priority of invention being settled, let us award all credit to Judge Douglas, for being the first to dis- cover it.' " It would be impossible, in these limits, to give an idea of the strength of ]\Ir. Lincoln's argument. We deemed it by far the ablest etfort of the campaign, from whatever source. The occasion was a great one, and the speaker was every way equal to.it. The effect produced on the listeners was magnetic. Ko one who was present will ever forget the power and vehemence of the following passage : " ' My distinguished friend says it is an insult to the emigrants to Kansas and Nebraska to suppose \hej are not able to govern themselves. We must not slur over an argument of this kind because it happens to tickle the ear. It must be met and an- swered. I admit that the emigrant to Kansas and Nebraska is competent to govern himself but ' (the speaker rising to his full bight), ' I deny his right to govern any other person icithout that person^ s consent.^ " The applause whicli followed this triumphant refutation of a cunning falsehood was but an earnest of the victory at Ihe polls, which followed just one month from that day." Mr. Douglas replied powerfully and at length, but it was not possible to pariy the force of Lincoln's logic and facts. The vast multitude who listened to this debate dispersed to all parts of the State — the majority to advocate the cause of HE DBCLTNT-S TOE NOMINATTON FOR OOYKRNOR. 45 freedom. A similar pasjsau^e Avas tried at Peoria. " A friend, ■who listened to the Peoria debate, informed ii3 that, after ^Ir. Lincoln had finished, Dongla.s ' hadn't much to say,' which we presume to have been ^Ir. "Douglas' view of the cjise also, for the reason that he ran away from his antai^onist, and kept out of the way during the remainder of the campaign." In speaking upon the subject of slavery, it must not be presumed that ^Ir. Lincoln confined his argumentative eflbrts to tlie upper portion of Illinois, where his ear would most frequently meet with applause. lie carried the war into the central portions of the State ; he illuminated the pre- cincts of benighted E.g}'pt. Here the population was largely composed of emigrants from slave States — Kentucky, Tennes- see, Virginia and North Carolina — and he urged upon them the slaver}'' issue with all the vigor of his understanding and all the arts of his true eloquence. The political feeling of the State was completely revolutionized. For the first time in lier history a freedom-loving majority rule"d her legislative lialls, and opposed the retrogressive policy of the Doinocratic Administnititm at "Washington. The election for United States Senator came on, when the anti-Xebraska Democrats united on Mr. Trumbull, the oj^posilion invariably casting their votes for Lincoln. ]Mr. Lincoln feared that the anti- Nebraska Democrats, though averse to ]Mr. Douglas, woukl relinquish Judge Trumbull for some third candidate of less decided anti-slavery views ; and, to prevent this, he readily sacrificed himself, and, by personal persuasion, induced his own supported to vote for Trumbull, who was thus elected. "'Some of his (Mr. I/mcoln's) friends, on the floor of the Legislature, wept like children when constrained, by ]\[r. Lin- coln's personal appeals, to desert him and unite on Trumbull. It is proper to say, in this ccmnection, that, between Trumbull and Lincoln, the most cordial relations have always existed, and that the feeling of cnv}' or rivalry is not to be found in the breast of either." In 18.'54 the anti-Nebraska (afterward Republican) party ofi'ered to "Mr. Lincoln the nomination for Governor. Ho declined, saying • " No, I am not the man ; BLssell will make a better Governor than I, and you can elect him on acctnmt of his Democratic antecedents." 46 THE LIFE OF AURA HAM LINCOLN. Thus, again, did he permit liis love for his party, and the prin- ciples involved, to overcome anj^ desire which he may have had to be their standard-bearer and leader. In the first National Convention of the Republican party, which met at Philadelphia, June 17th, 1856, the name of Abraham Lincoln was conspicuous before the convention for the Vice-Presidency, standing second to Mr. Dayton on the informal ballot, and receiving one hundred votes. The choice of that convention having settled upon John C. Fremont and William L. Dayton for its candidates, Mr. Lincoln took an active part in the ensuing canvass. The Republican elec- toral ticket of Illinois was headed with his name ; though, in the event, the Democrats carried the State by a plurality vote. The great Senatorial contest of Illinois, between Mr, Doug- las, on the one hand, and jMr. Lincoln on the other, which gave rise to those debates which have become a distinguished part of our national x>olitical history, took place in the sum- mer of 1858. Mr. Douuglas, by his refusal to support the Lecompton fraud, had earned for himself the enmity of the Administra- tion ; but his strength, inside and outside of Illinois, was still enormous. In consequence of his defection from the then openly avowed pro-slavery policy of his party, and the com- mendation which he had earned from many Republicans, he was probably stronger than ever before. Of course, under these circumstances, it required a man of no ordinary ability, and of no ordinary hold upon the public regard, to contest the State of Illinois with the " Little Giant." As a Republican candidate for United States Senator, and one of less equivocal record with regard to the absorbing issue of slavery or free- dom in the the Territories, Mr. Lincoln was thought to be the opponent upon whom the freedom-lovers of Illinois could best depend, as their champion. He was, accordingly, nomi- nated by the Republican State Convention, whicli met at Springfield, June 2d, 1858. In the projected tournament of debate between the rival candidates, Mr. Lincoln was the first to fling down the gaunt- let, in a brief note, under date of July 24th, requesting an arrangement to " divide time, and address the same audiences •mE GUEAT SENATOIIIAL CONTEBT. 47 diirini^ the present canvass." The challeni^e was not accepteii with niucli readiness, but the terms -were at hist agreed upon, antl the places and days of meeting specified. It will be impossible to give amy thing more t,han a brief synopsis of these celebrated debates. It was, generally, the venlict of the press and of the country', that, in every encoun- ter, ]\Ir. Lincoln held his ground firmly against his talented opjionent ; and it is vcr}' probable that tlie majority accorded to the former the meed of victor}'. A discerning writer wrote of this celebrated word-duel and the contestants : " In perhaps the severest test that could liave been applied to any man's temper — his political contest with Seitalor Doug- las in I808 — Mr. Lincoln not only proved himself an able speaker and a good tactician, but demonstrated that it is pos- sible to carry on the tiercest political warfare without once descending to rude personality and coarse denunciation. We have it on the authority of a gentleman who followed Abra- ham Lineoln throughout the whole of the campaign, that, in spite of all the temptations to an opposite course to which lie was continuously exposed, no personalities against his oppo- nent, no vituperation or coarseness, ever defiled his lips. His kind and genial nature lifted him above a resort to any such weapons of political warfare, and it was the commonly ex- pressed regret of fiercer natures that he treated his opponent too courteously and urbanely. Vulgar personalities and vituperation are the last thing that can be truthfully charged against Abraham Lincoln. His heart is too genial, his good sense too strong, and his innate self-respect too predominant to permit him to indulge in them. His nobility of nature — and we may use tlie term advisedh' — has been as manifest' throughout his Avhole career as his temperate habits, his self- n-linnce, and his mental and intellectual power." This picture presented the man as lie appeared and acted. Another writer, well acquainted with his subject, wrote of the Great Campaigner, as he was then called, as follows: " In manner he is remarkably cordial, and, at the same time, Bimi)le. His politeness is always 5-iuccre, but never elaborate and oppressive. A warm shake of the hand, and a warmer Bmile of recognition, arc his methods of greeting his frieudik 48 THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM LLNCOLN. At rest, liis features, though those of a- man of mark, are not such as belong to a handsome man ; but when his fine, dark- gray eyes are lighted up by any emotion, and his features begin their play, he would be chosen from among a crowd as one who had in him not only the kiudly sentiments which women love, but the heavier metal of which full-grown men and Presidents are made. His hair is black, and, though tliin, is wiiy. His head sits well on his shoulders, but bej'ond that it defies description. It nearer resembles that of Clay than that of Webster, but it is unlike either. It is very large, and, phreuologically, well proportioned, betokening power in all its developments. A slightly Roman nose, a wide-cut mouth, and a dark complexion, with the appearance of having been W'Cather-beaten, complete the description. " In his personal habits, Mr. Lincoln is as simple as a child. He loves a good dinner, and eats with the appetite which goes with a great brain ; but his food is plain and nutritious. He never drinks intoxicating liquors of any sort, not even a glass of wine. He' is not addicted to tobacco in any of its shapes. He never was accused of a licentious act in all his life. He never uses profane language." On the evening before the debate which took place at Free- port, Mr. Lincoln was in company with a few friends, when it was remarked by some of them that, if he cornered Doug- las on the question of the Dred Scott decision, his opponent (Douglas), would surely " take the bull by the horns, and £^- sert his squatter sovereignty in defiance of that decision, and that will make him Senator." " That may be," replied Lin- coln ; " but, if he takes that shoot, he never can he President^ Was there not something like a prophecy in this careless rejoinder ?,, Judah Benjamin, of Louisiana, one of the ablest of Soutlie;*n Senators — afterward Secretary of State in Jefferson Davis' cabinet, complimented jNIr. Lincoln very highly, in the course of a speech w^herein he had occasion to review this celebrated series of debates. Speaking of the queries propounded by Douglas to his opponent, and the answers they elicited, Mr. Benjamin observed : " It is impossible, Mr. President, however we may differ in opinion with the man, not to admire the perfect candor and TRIBUTE TO THE DECLARATION. 49 frankness with which these answers were given ; no equivo- cation — no evasion." During tlie c-.unpaign, ]\Ir. Lincoln paid the following noble tribute to the Declaration of Independence : "Now, my conntr}'inen, if you have been taught doctrines conllicting with the great lanihnarksof the Declaration of Inde- pemlcnce; if you liave listened to suggestions wliich would take away from its grandeur, and nnitilate the fair syniuictry of its proportions; if you have been inclined to believe that all men are not created ecjual in those inalienal)le rights enumerated by our chart of libert}', let ine entreat 3'()U to come back — return to the fountain whose waters spring close by the blood of the Kevolution. "You may do* any thing with me you choose, if you only Jieed these sacred principles. You may not only deleat me for ^ the Senate, but you may take me and put me to death. While pretending no indilference to earthly honors, I do claim to be actuated in this contest by something higher tlian an anxiety for olhee. I charge you to drop every paltry and insigniticant thought for any man's success. It is nothing ; 1 am nothing ; Judge Douglas is nothing. But do not dent roij tloit i/umortul em- blem of humaiiitij — the JJularatioii of American I/uL'jJtndence." The election day at length arrived. Tlve popular vote stood : for the Republican candidate, 120,084 ; for the Doughrs Democrats, 121,'JiO; for the Lecompton candidates, 5,091. But the vote for Senator being cast by the Legislature, Mr. Douglas was elected, Ids supporters having a majority of ci{/hi on joint ballot. Notwithstanding the result, the endeavors of Mr. Lincoln during the debate had caused an immense increa.se iu the Republican vote ; and his party had no reason to regret that their choice of a leader had fallen upon him. Mr. Lincoln made several visits into other States, after the close of the Senatorial contest,- and before the opening of the campaign of 18G0. lie made several speeches in Ohio iu the following 3'ear ; and also visited Kansas, where he was received with great enthusiasm. In February, 1800, he was iu New Y'ork, and made a speech before the Y'oung Glen's Repub- lican Club at the Cooper Institute, which made him many friends in a quarter Avhere they were already numbered b}' the thousjuid. It was the finest oration, as such, pronounced by the eminent speaker up to that time, and commanded much attention from men of all classes. A most touching incident occurred — probably during tliii 50 THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM LES'COLN. visit — which is thus narrated by a teacher at the Pive Points House of Industry : " Our Sunday school in the Five Points was assembled one Sabbath morning, when I noticed a tall, remarkable-looking ^ man enter the room, and take a seat among us. He listened with fixed attention to our exercises, and his countenance ex- • pressed such genuine interest that I approached him and sug- gested that he might be willing to say something to the chil- dren. He accepted the invitation with evident pleasure, and, coming forward, began a simple address, which at once fascin- ated every little hearer, and hushed the room into silence. His language was strikingly beautiful, and his tones musical with intensest feeUng. The little faces around him would droop into sad conviction as he uttcied sentences of warning, and would brighten into sunshine as he spolie cheerful words of promise. Once or twice he attempted to close his remarks, but the imperative shout of * go on !' ' oh, go on !' would compel him to resume. As I looked upon the gaunt and sinewy frame of the stranger, and marked his powerful head and determined features, now touched into softness by the impressions of the moment, I felt an irrepressible cm"iosity to learn something more about him, and when he was quietly leaving the room, I begged to know his name. He cour- teously replied ; ' It is Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois.' " That was just the place where the man of great heart loved to go. We have no doubt but that he enjoyed that touching recognition, by the children, of his power over them, more than any ovation which the public could have tendered. CHAPTER yil. HOW HE BECAME PRESIDENT. Abraham Lixcoln was first conspicuously named for the Presidency at a meeting of the Illinois State Republican Con- vention, wliere a Democrat of Macon county presented to the convention two gayly-decorated fence-rails, upon which wer« inscribed the following words: THE CUICAGO CONVKNTIOX. 51 ABRAHAM LIXCOLX, THE Il.VIL CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT IX 18G0. Two rails from a lot of o,000, made in 1830 by I'liDmas Uanlvs and Abe Lincoln, whose father was the first pioneer of 3Iacon county. The production of these singular and appropriate tokens of the glorious advantages which our democratic institutions alTorded to the humblest in life, was a signal for enthusiastic applause. ^Ir. Lincoln, who happened to be present as a spectator, was loudly called ui)on for a speech. He rose from his seat, acknowledged that he had been a rail-splitter some thirty years previous, and said that he was informed that those before him were some which his own ax had hewn. Ill the autumn of 1859, Mr. Lincoln, in compliance with invitations from various States, made several powerful speeches in favor of Republican principles, to one of which — that he delivered at Cooper Institute, New York, February 27th, 18G0 — we already have adverted. These speeches confirmed the impression which had been growing in the public mind since 185-4, that Mr. Lincoln — " Honest Old Abe," as he was chris- tened — was the man for President if the people could name their candidate ; yet few really anticipated his nomination. The Republican National Convention met at the " Wigwam," in Chicago, May IGth, 18G0. Not less than ten thousand per- sons were in the building, wdiile vast throngs blocked the en- trance, and filled the grounds around, unable to obtain admis- sion. Governor Morgan, of New York, called the convention to order at twelve o'clock, and proposed the Honorable David Wilmot, of Pennsylvania, for temporary president. ;Mr. "\Vil- mot was accordingly chosen, and made a brief address to the convention for the honor bestowed, with some appropriate remarks as lo the object of the assembly before him, and the great principles involved. Committees were next constituted. The committee on organization reported the name of George Ashmun, of !Massa- chusetts, for permanent president, and vice-presidents mul secretarie'* from every State represented in the conventioD 62 THE LIFE OP ABRAIIAil LEIsCOLN. On Thursday morning tlie convention again assembled at ten o'clock, and, upon the adoption of rules, it was agreed a majoriiy should nominate the candidates. The committee on resolutions then reported the platform, which was adopted with enthusiasm, the immense multitude of spectators rising to their feet, with cheer upon cheer of applause. The names of Messrs. Chase, Cameron and Bates had been early urged as candidates, but it had soon become evident that the actual contest would be between Mr. Seward and Mr. Lincoln. It was proposed that the convention should at once proceed to the nomination of candidates, but an adjournment was had until morning. Had this motion to proceed at once to business been carried, it is more than probable that Mr. Seward would have been the nominee, as his, at that time, was the most conspicuous name before the convention ; but, during the night, combinations were etfected in favor of jilr. Lincoln, which eventaliy secured his nomination. <- Great excitement was manifested in the convention, upon its next sitting, and the interest with the audience was intense. Upon the first ballot, Mr. Seward had 173 1-2 votes to 102 for Mr. Lincoln, with others scattering. Upon the second bal- lot, the chairman of the Vermont delegation, whose votes had previously been divided, announced that " Vermont casts her ten votes for the Young Giant of the West, Abraham Lincoln ;" when the " beginning of the end " began to be felt throughout the convention. On this ballot, Mr. Seward had 184 1-2 to 181 for Mr. Lincoln ; and the thhxl ballot gave Mr. Lincoln 230 votes — nearly a majority. Hereupon Mr. Carter, of Ohio, announced a change in Ohio's vote of four votes in favor of Mr. Lincoln, which raised the excitement of the convention to the highest pitch. Now, as the choice was certain. State after State struggled to -be next in succession to change votes for Lincoln. The whole number of votes cast at the next ballot was 466, of which 234 were necessary to a choice. Three hundred and fifty-four were cast for Abraham Lincoln, who was, thereupon, declared duly nominated. When the loud applause with which the nomination wai gi-eetcd had somewhat subsided, IMr. William Evarts, of New IS NOMINATED FOK THE PRESIDENCY. 58 York city came forward, and moved that the nomination bo made unanimous. Tlie motion was seconded by Mr. Andrews, of Massaohusetts ; and the n(miination was, accordingly, con- curred in with unanimity. The excitement, consequent ui)()n tlie nomination, spread from the convention to the audience within tlie building, and from them, like wildtire, to tiie crowds without, to -whom tl\c result had been announced. At the close of Mr. Evarta' remarks, a life-size portrait of Mr. Lincoln liad been displayed from the platform, greeted with bursts of uncontrollable ai)plausc. The building vibrated with the shouts of the delighted thousands beneath its roof, and, with cheer upon cheer, the multitude in the streets caught up the glad acclaim ; while, amid the boom of artillery salutes, the undulation of banners, and the tempestuous gusts of band-music, the intelli- gence of the people's choice flashed over the wires from Maine to Kansas, and from the Lakes to the Gulf A pleasant anecdote is related of the manner in which Mr. Lincoln received his nomination. lie was at Springfield during the sitting of the convention ; and, having left the telegraphic otlice after learning the result of the first two ballots, was quietly conversing with some friends, in tlie office of the Slate Journal^ while the casting of the third ballot "vvius in progress. In a little time, the result was received at the telegraph ollice. The superintendent, wdio was present, hastily wrote upon a scrap of paper: "Mr. Lin- coln, you arc nominated on the third ballot;" which he immediately sent, by a boy, to Mr. Lincoln. A shout of ap- plause greeted the message throughout the ollice of the Jounuil, but Mr. Lincoln received it in silence. Tlien he put the paper in Ids pocket, arose, and said quietly, before he left the room : " There is a little woman down at our liouse would like to hear this. I'll go down and tell her." This was his excuse for retiring to the privacy of his own room, where he might commune with himself alone. The committee appointed by the convention to bear official information of the result, arrived at Springfield on the next day. Mr. Ashmun, president of the couvcuLion, addresrsed ilr. Lincoln in the following terms : " I have, sir, the honor, in behalf of the gentlemen who are 54 TTTE hWK OF ABKARAM LTNCOLN. present, a commiltee appointed by tlie Hepublican Convention, recently assembled at Chicago, to discharge a most pleasant duty. We have come, sir, im'dor a vote of instructions to that committee, to notify 3^ou that you have been selected by that convention of the Republicans at Chicago, for President of tiic United States. They instruct us, sir, to notify you of that selection, and that committee deem it not only respectful to yourself, but appropriate to the important matter ^vhich they nave in hand, that they should come in person, and present to you the authentic evidence of the acticm of that convention; and, sir, without any phrase which shall cither be considered personally plauditor}^ to yourself, or which shall have anyirefer- ence to the principles involved in the questions wliicli are con- nected witli your nomination, I desire to present to you the letter which has been prepared, and wdiich informs j'-ou of the nomination, and with it the platform, resolutions and sentiments, wliicli the convention adopted. Sir, at your convenience, w^e shall be glad to receive from you such a response as it may be your pleasure to give us." Mr. Lincoln replied : "J/>', Chairman and Gentlemen of the Committee: I tender to you, and through you to the Republican National Convention, and all the people represented in it, my profoundest thanks for the high honor done me, w^hich 3'ou now formally announce. Deeply and even painfully sensible of the great responsibility which is inseparable from this high honor — a responsibility whicli I could almost wish had fallen upon some one of the far more eminent men and experienced statesmen whose distin- guished names were before the convention, I shall, by your leave, consider more fully the resolutions of the convention, denomi- nated the platform, and without unnecessary or unreasonable delay, respond to you, Mr. Chairman, in writing, not doul)ting that the platform will be found satisfactoiy, and the nomination gratefidly accepted. And now I win not longer defer the pleas- are of taking you, and each of you, by the hand." Upon shaking hands with Judge Kelly, of Pennsylvania, ne of the committee, who had been observing his tall figure with admiration, Mr. Lincoln inquired : " What is your hight ?" " Six feet three," replied the Judge. " What is yours, Mr. Lincoln ?" •' Six feet four." " Then," said Judge Kelly, " Pennsylvania bows to Illinois. My dear man, for years my heart has been aching for a Presi- dent that 1 could look up to, and I have found him at h'lst in HK ACCEPTS THE NOMINATION. 55 tlu« land where we thought there were none but IMiU Giants."* On the 23(1, Mr. Lincoln foriiiiilly replied Ao tlic ofllcial iiniiouncement of his nomination by the I'ollowing brief letter: " SpurNOFiELD, Illinois, May 2nd. ISOO. ** Hon Georc.e Ariimun, PrcMcUnt of the llcpubUcau National Convention : "Sir: I aeceiit the nomination tendered me l)y the conven- tion over wliieli you pre.^^ided, and of wliieh I am formally ajt- pri.sed in the letter of youi"self and others, acting as a committee of the convention for that purpose. "The declaration of jMiuciples and sentiments, which accom- panies your letter, meets my approval ; and it shall be my care not to violate, or disrcsrard it, in any part. " Iinplorini^ the assistance of Divine Providence, and witli due regard to the views and feelings of all who were represented in the convention ; to the rights of all the States and Territories, and peo])le of the nation ; tf) the inviolability of the Cer Cth, 18C0, ■was that ^Ir. Lincoln received 491,275 over Mr. Douirlas; 1,0 18,491) over Mr. Breckinridge; and l,27o,821 over :Mr. Bell; und the electoral vote, subsequently proclaimed by Congress, was — foi: Abraiiam Lincoln, of Illinois, 180 ; for John C. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, 72 ; for John Bell, of Tennessee, 39 ; for Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, 13. The following States cast their electoral votes for i^Ir. Lincoln : ]Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connec- ticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,. Michi- gan, Iowa,"\Visconsin, Minnesota, California — sixteen in number. The intention of the Auierican people, in electing Abraham Lincoln to be their chief magistrate, was to restrict the exten- sion of slavery in the Territories, and to abrogate its political ])owcr, whicli had threatened to become perpetual. The consequences of that election have been widely dilFerent from what was anticipated. Possibly the people of the North would have permitted themselves to be governed by their apprehensions rather than their sentiments, had they foreseen that the insanity of their " Southern brethren" would culminate in the terrible conflict which devastated the land ; but, can there be a doubt now^ when the ultimate issue of" the shaking struggle between freedom and slavery is so clearly in view, that we are moving onward to better things — that the result of the campaign of 18G0 was a thing ordained by Providence for the best? He who does all things well has nations as well as indi- viduals in his keeping ; and that he permitted the events of 1800-(jl to culminate in civil war, must have been for some divine purpose. A few generations hence the world will look back with wonder and awe upon the appalling trial through whicli the Union passed; but, if they see as its fruits a nation of freemen who sliudder at the crimes of their fathel-s in buy- ing and selling hun\an flesh and blood, the sacrilico will bo docmed to have been not too groat. 58 THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM LIXCOLIf. CHAPTER VIII. THE SECESSION MOVEMEXT— MR. LINCOLX's RECORD — STCPENDOrs VILLAINS OJ" TUK CONSPIRATORS AND IMBECILITY OF BUCHANAN — THE "PKO- G:^ESS" op the president elect from ILLINOIS TO WASHINGTON- TUB IXAUGUHATION, That Abraham Lincoln was for the subversion of the Con- stit.l1 ion, by intermeddling with slavery within the Stau-s wheie it existed, as was widely proclaimed by the wicked and amb tious leaders of public opinion in the South, was a false- hood of which none knew the falseness better than themselves * In no utterance, public or private, which Mr. Lincoln had made durmg his life, was this principle upheld or hinted. He had, irKleed, watched the increase of the slave power, and the baneful effects it was producing upon our Government, with jealousy and apprehension; but the means he would havci used to arrest the evil was simply by confining the institution within the limits of those States which already had legalized and ingrafted it upon their domestic systems. He had, there- fore, boldly asserted the right of Congress to prohibit the exUmion of the institution to the yet uncorrupted systems of those Territories which had come to us as free and untram- meled as the broad rivers that rush through their wastes, or the winds that shake their grasses and smg through their forests. * Amonsr other declarations of Mr. Lincoln on the question most affect- ine the Southern State?, we may cite his well-known answers to the queries propounded by ilr. Douglas at their joint debate at Freeport, Illinois, August 2Tth, 1858. He then stated: '•I do not now. nor ever did, stand in favor of the unconditional repeal of the Fugitive Slave Law. "I do not now, nor ever did, stand pledged against the admission of any more slave States into the Luion. •*I do not stand {)leJged against the admission of a new State into the Union with such a Constitution as the people of that State may see tit to "I do not stand pledged, to-day, to the abolition of slavery in the Dis- trict of Columbia. "I do not stand pledged to the prohibition of the slave-trade between the Slates." , . ^ . , And in his speech at the same time he alluded, in most uiieqnivocal terms, to his kindly feeling toward the Southern States, and hi? soleinu desire to ?ive them every and all constitntioual ri^j'ht, even to the recla- mation ol their slaves escaping to free soil. But whKt were these and hundreds of other similar declarations to men »rhos>e cause dared not to face the truth ? ~i THE SECESSION MOVfLMENT. 59 The Southerners knew this, and thoy knew — many of them nad said — that there was nothiii;; which was unconstitutional hi sucli principles, and the promulgation of them. ]}ut when wicked men are desirous of crime, the step ])etween its incep- tion ajid its commission is a In'lef one, and tlie excuses by which they would justify their Avickcdness to their own wicked souls and to the public, are as ready as lies on the lip of a coward, and as " thick as autumn leaves that strew the brooks of Vallambrosa." The deed of sin which was moaning for a vent in the hearts of the Southern extremists, and which had been Restating for thirty years, was the destruction of the American Union, and the foundation of a slave empire upon the North American continent. The accomplishment of this ambitious but detestable scheme was the underlying and over- lying motive of action, and to secure its fulfdlment truth was robbed of its sanctity, honor was scorned and virtue scouted. To declare the election of Lincoln a just cause for secession was as mean as it was false ; j'et it was only one of the stupendous falsehoods by which the " Southern heart Avas fired." It is, therefore, not wonderful that the news of Lincoln's election was the sigual for general gratulatioa and undisguised pleasiu-o*iu many jxirts of the South. They had been seek- ing excuses — here was one ready to their hand 1 In vain did the Republican party exclaim : " This is ungener- ous — unfair 1 We stood your Presidents, one after another, f«)r a quarter of a century. You will surely allow vs — the majority — four years ; only a four j^ears !" The South had only, laughed. " But, at any rate, be reasonable," remon- strated the North. " Only tn/ us ! For never so brief a time, let us, at least, haYe a trial, that you may judge us." Then the slave power fro\\Tied ; it was going to do nothing of the kind. Wliat ! — risk the long-sough t-for, at-length-dis- covered excuse for tiie parricidal blow, and. the establishment of their slave-kingdom — risk that on the chance of an experi- ment Avith the " Black Republican Abolitionists ?" Not a bit of it ! In short, the news of Mr. Lincoln's elect iIr. Lincoln and ]\Ijr. Breckinridge, in the Presi- dential issue. As the supporters of John Bell were simply the few who were dissatisfied with all existing parties, and who dared not enunciate definite opinions on the main points at issue, they and their principles (if they had ojiy) may be suflered to pass as too insigniticjint for consideration. The different sections of the country had entered the elec- tion with equal zeal and activity. And, as heretofore, the Lincoln, Bell, and Douglas parties, though desirous of success, were fully willing to abide by the victory, upon whichever Btandard it might happen to perch.' But, the BreckiDridge Democracy had entered upon the contest with the distinct, TREASON LM TIIE CABINET. 61 ungenerous intention of '• acquiescing in the result only in tho f LDfCOLuN record to a synopsis, if we would keep our subject of biogra- phy in view. The new Administration early devoted itself to define the position taken with reference to foreign powers, jlr. Adams, our Minister to London, received instnictions to govern liis course which were at once prudent and manly. It was the determination of the British Government, before the arrival of Minister Adams, to act in concert with France in & recog- nition of the slaveholding rebels as a belligerent power. Against this project Mr. Adams was directed to make a decided protest. June loth, the British and French Ministers at Washington requested an interview with Mr. Seward, in order to communicate certain instructions they had received from their respective Governments ; but, upon learning the nature of the instructions (which probably looked to a consummation of the purpose above intimated) the Secretary of State de- clined to hear the instructions read, or even to receive oflQcial notice of them. This was the Chief Magistrate's foreign policy from the commencement of the war — to utterly, decisively, resolutely refuse any thing like an intermeddling in our domestic trou- bles by the despots of Europe. CHAPTER X. srBSEQczxT EVENTS or 1861. C0XGEES3 met in extra session on the 4th of July, 1861, the Republicans having control of both Houses, besides being Burported by .some Democratic members who were urgent for the rigid prosecution of the war inaugurated by treason. Hon. Galusha A. Grow, a strong war man, was chosen speaker of the house. On the 5th of July, President Lincoln com- municated to Congress his first annual message. The President, in this communication, explained the cir- cumstances which had preceded the bombardment of Fort Sumter in a most satisfactor}' and lucid manner ; and thus sel HIS CONCILIATORY POLICY. 79 *brtU the course which he had endeavored tc pursue toward the seceded States, until their open act of bloodshed had com- pelled him to sterner measures : " The policy chosen looked to the cxlif.ustiou of all })caccfa. measures before a resort to any stron<;er ones. It sought only to hold tiie public places and property not already wrested from the Government, and to collect tJie revenue, relying for the rest on time, discussion and the ballot-box. It promised a continu- ance of the mails, at Government expense, to the very people who were resisting the Government, and it gave repealed pledges against any disturbances to any of the people, or any of their rights, of all that which a President might constitution- ally and justifiably do in such a ctise ; every thing was forborne, without which it was believed possible to keep the Government on foot." But his conciliatory policy had been in vain. The madness and treachery of the insurrectionary leaders had hurried on their wild schemes of empire until the monstrous crime of Sumter's bombardment had set at naught any further efforts for peace and conciliation. Said Mr. Lincoln : " By the affair at Fort Sumter, with its surrounding circum- stances, that point was reached. Tiicu and theri'by the assail- ants of the Government began the conflict of arms, without a gun in sight or in expectancy to return their fire, save only the few in the fort sent to that harbor years before, for their own protection, and still ready to give that protection in whatever was lawful. In tb.is act, discarding all else, thev have forced upon the country the distinct issue, immedUite di«!¥)lHtion or blfxxl, and this issue embraces more than the fate of these Unitevl States. It presents to the whole family of man the question whether a constitutional Republic or Democracy, a irovernment of the people, by the same people, can or can not retain its ter- ritorial integrity against its own domestic foes. It presents the question whether discontented individuals, too few in numbers to control the Administration according to the organic law in' any case, can always, upon the pretenses made in this case, or any other pretenses, or arbitrarily without any pretenses, break up their Government,' and thus practically ]>ut an end to free Government upon the earth. It forces us to &sk, 'is there in all republics this inherent and fatal weakness?' Must a Govern- ment of necessity be too strong for the liberties of its own peojile, or too weak t"> maintain its own existi nee ? So viewing the issue, no choice was left b\u to call out the war-power oi the Government, and so to resist the force empl«)yed for its de- Btruction by force for its preservation." 80 THE LIFE OP ABRAILVM LINCOLN. • Passing swiftly and tersely over the secession of Virginia, and the circumstances of violence and deceit by -which it had been effected, and exposing the nujnstness and hollowness of Kentucky's " neutrality," the President gave a brief sketch of the measures decided upon as necessary for the immediate work in hand. He then adverted to the abstract question cf secession, denying, with pungent logic, its chief claims. The pervading vein of this message — and, indeed, of every document of a similar cliaracter which he issued — is a vindi- cation of certain sentiments for which every true, thorough believ(ir in democracy should love and honor ^im. The great heart of the President never was attuned to the throbs of con- ventionality, nor to any particular sect or class; it ever beat in harmony and sj^mpathy with th3 claims of humanity and enlightened progress. This message concluded with the following memorable words : " It was with the deepest regret that the Executive found the duty of employing the war-power, in defense of the Govern- ment, forced upon him. He could but perform this duty, or surrender the existence of the Government. No compromise by public servants could, in this case, be a cure ; not that com- promises are not often proper, but tliat no popular Government can long survive a marked precedent that those who carry an election can only save the Government from immediate destruc- tion by giving up the main point upon which the people gave the election. The people themselves, and not their servants, can safely reverse their own deliberate decisions. " As a private citizen, the Executive could not have consented that these institutions shall perish ; much less could he, in betrayal of so vast and so sacred a trust as these free people had confided to him. He felt tliat he had i o moral right to shrink, not even to count the chances of his own life, in what might follow. In full view of his great responsibility, he has, so far, done what he has deemed his duty. You will now, according to j^our own judgment, perform yours. He sincerely hopes tliat your views and your action may so accord with his as to assure all faithful citizans, who have been disturbed in their rights, of a certain and sj. eedy restoration to them, under the Constitution and the laws. " And, having thus chosen our course, without guile and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear and with manly hearts." The action of the extra session, throughout, was in perfect \ TITE DISASTER AT BULL RUN. 81 accorlancc -with the patriotic intentions of the Executive; a resolution, otfcrcd by ?»lcClernand, of Illinois, passing the llouse by a lar^^e majority, by which the House pledged itself to vote any amount of money and any number of men which might be requisite to suppress the rebellion. Tlie session closed on the Cth of August, after having Uikeu the most energetic measures for the prosecution of the war, yet prudently avoided any action which would tend to divide or enfeeble the loyal sentiment of the nation. The people responded to the action of Congress with enthusiasm and a unanimity truly remarkable. The national army moved from the Potomac, under the> command of General :>reDowell, on the IGth of July, and the battle of Bull Hun was commenced five days thereafter — resulting in the complete discomfiture of the raw Federal forces, who fell back to Washington, a panic-stricken, dis- organized mass, or in flying fragments, after sustaining a loss of 480 killed and 1,000 wounded. Had the Confederates been cognizant of the completeness of this discomfiture, the capture of Washington must have followed with the certainty of destiny. But the hand on the national helm was that of a man who had hewed his path through the primeval forests of the great West, and breasted the current of the Father of Waters with a flatboatman's oar ; and he did not quail from liis responsil)le post when the other sailors on the deck were blanched with fear. Ue had one object — to subdue the South ; and tliis was to be done through defeat as well as victory. He knew that he had a people at his back strong to second him in every attempt looking to this final result; and he went forward •• without fear and with a manly heart." No one in the Nortli was permanently discouraged by the disaster at Bull Run. The anny was reorganized, increased in numbers and eftlciency, and vigorous measures put under way to obtain a footing ou the coast, as well as in the heart, of the rebel States. On the 28th of August, Fort llatteras fell into the possession of our fc^rces, with all its guns and garrison. Port Royal followed, s'.irrcndering October 31st, thus giving to the Federal arms a foothold in South Carolina. Ship Island, lying between Mobile and New Orleans, was occupied December 3d. Tha 82 THE LIFE OF ABRAH.Ul LINCOLN. New Orleans expedition was then set on foot. The rebels also were di'iven out of Western Virginia, KQntucSiy and Missouri. General Scott resigned his position on the 31st of October, and Major-General McClellan was called to the command of our forces, to prepare them for a fresh advance upon the rebel ariicipate in §4 THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM I-LNCOLN, '' the selection of public officers, except the Legislative body, i boldly advocated with labored arguments, to prove that large | control of the people in government is the source of all politi- ' cal evil. Monarchy is sometimes hinted at as a possible refuge \ from the power of the people. In my present position, I could , scarcely be justified were I to omit raising my voice against tliia approach of returning despotism. " ' It is not needed or fitting here that a general argument ' should be made in favor of popular institutions ; but there is : one point, with its connections, not so hackneyed as most others, j to which I ask a brief attention. It is the effort to place capiial \ on an equal footing with, if not abo've, labor, in the stinicture of I the Government. It is assumed that labor is available only in 1 connection with capital ; that nobody labors unless somebody | else owning capital somehow, by use of it, induces him to ! labor. ' " ' This assumed, it is next considered whether it is best that I capital shall liire laborers, and thus induce them to work by . their own consent, or buy them, and drive them to it without their consent. Having proceeded so far, it is naturally concluded 1 that all laborers are either hired laborers or what we call slaves. | And, further, it is assumed that whoever is once a hired laborer i is fixed in that condition for life. jS'ow there is no such relation i between capital and labor as assumed, nor is there any such thing as a free man being fixed for life in the condition of a ; hired laborer. Both of these assumptions are false, and aU in- ; ferences from them are groundless.' " He concluded as follows : " No men living are more worthy to be trusted than those who toil up from poverty — none less inclined to take or touch aught which they have not honestly earned. Let them beware of surrendering a political power which they already possess and w^hich, if surrendered, will be surely used to close , the door of advancement against such as they, and to fix new * disabilities and burdens -upon them till all of liberty shall be ; lost. I " None are so deeply interested to resist the present rebellion : as the working people. Let them beware of prejudices working i disunion and hostility among themselves. The most notable i feature of a disturbance in your city last summer was the hang- : ing of some working people by other working people. It ; should never be so. The strongest bond of human sympathy, outside of the family relation, should be one uniting all working J people, of all nations, tongues and kindreds. Nor should this \ lead to a war upon property or the owners of property. Prop- i erty is the jfruit of labor; property is desirable — is a positive ! good in the world. That some should be rich, shows that \ others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to ' THE BTATUE OF LINCOLN. 95 tnduslry nnd enterprise. Let not him who is lionselcss pull down the house of another, but kt liini labor cliiii^ciitly and build ono for himself; thus, by examjjle, assuring that his own shall bo safe from violence when built." We have now followed the train of Abraham Lincoln's life from tJie log-cabin in Kentucky, wherein he was born, to the White House at Washington, and have sketched the leading events of his executive career, down to the close of the year 180;J. Whether or not our illustrious subject shall achieve greater honors is for the future to reveal ; but nothing which he may accomplish — and God grant him a long life in which to work good to his fellows — will prevent the verdict, for what he has done, that is accorded to the truly great. Partisan feeling, and personal malice of enemies may expend itself in vain upon such a character ; it is too pure, too strong in its simplicity, too benevolent, too self-poised, to be more than temi)orarily disturbed by the tongue of detraction, and poster- ity will not fail to regard him as one of those rare souls which, like Cincinnatus, are discovered in obscurity for great and Divine purposes. May the United States of America live to see the day when the names of Washington and Lin- coln shall be twin stars in the constellation of our country's glory ! We close our notice with the following poem, written by one (^f our favorite poets : THE STATUE OF LIXCOLK "Tbere U ■ nlch* In the Teiuple of Fame, k niche near to WAsniNOToy, whicn thonld b« occn- pl«d by the »Utiie of hWii who thall »i»ve hU rouiitry. Mr. Lincol.n hHH a mighty J*«tinv. It ia be Kiiu Ut \m but • i*rc«lJeut of the peuple of the United SUte*, and there will hU atntiie be." John J. CKiTTKaoaii. Well hapt thou paid— .John Crittenden 1 Albeit the j)roi)het'i» loftier keu IJe »l\\\ denied to thee — " If Abrahnni Lincoln dare to ptand, 1'he IVojiie'^ Chiel— and k>:ive Ihii* land- When* Washinjrton towers, calmly yruud. There will his statue bo I" I bail tliy wordp, O Crittenden I And if thy faillj <;oe