every time. "To say that he was the victor, morally and intellectually, is simply to record the judgment of the world." "In this canvass he earned a reputation as a popular debater second to that of no man in America certainly not second to that of his famous antagonist." At the close of one of his debates with Mr. Douglas, even after the latter had occupied thirty minutes in closing the discussion, the assembly was so thoroughly "enthused" by Mr. Lincoln's victorious. effort, that they seized him, in their exuberance of joy, and bore him out of the hall to the hotel upon their shoulders, amidst cheers and shouts that made the welkin ring. In the popular vote he received a majority of four thousand and eighty-five over Mr. Douglas; but owing to the unfair apportionment of the legislative districts, Mr. Douglas was returned to the United States Senate.

In one of these debates he paid one of the most eloquent tributes to the "Declaration of Independence" (after having enunciated its principles) that ever fell from human lips; and he closed with these memorable words:

"You may do anything with me you choose, if you will but heed these sacred principles. You may not only defeat me for the senate, but you may take me and put me to death. While pretending no indifference to earthly honors, I do claim to be actuated in this contest by something higher than an anxiety for office. charge you to drop every paltry and insignificant thought for any man's success. It is nothing; I am nothing; Judge Douglas is nothing. But do not desTROY THAT IMMORTAL EMBLEM OF HUMANITY, THE DECLARATION OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.'

CHAPTER XXIII.

GOING UP HIGHER.

HE Republican State Convention of Illinois. met at Decatur, May 9, 1860, in a "Wigwam erected for the purpose. Directly

after the convention was organized, Governor Oglesby, the chairman, arose, and said, "I am informed that a distinguished citizen of Illinois, and one whom Illinois will ever delight to honor, is present, and I wish to move that this body invite him to a seat on the stand." After a pause, as if to awaken curiosity, he cailed out the name in a much louder voice, ABRAHAM LINCOLN. Such a round of applause, cheer upon cheer, followed the announcement, as shook every board and joist of the wigwam. A rush, too, was made for the gentleman, who stood near the door, and he was actually taken up and borne through the dense crowd to the platform. The cheering was like the roar of the Hats were thrown up by the Chicago delegation, as if hats were no longer useful.

sea.

The convention proceeded to business, and was fairly under way, when the chairman interrupted by saying: "There is an old Democrat outside, I understand, who has something to present to this convention."

"Receive it! receive it!" responded several. "What is it? what is it?" cried out others.

"Let us have it," shouted another.

The convention voted to receive the Democrat, and in walked Mr. Lincoln's old friend, John Hanks, who helped him to split the rails for his father's fifteen acre lot; the same Hanks who went with him to New Orleans for Offutt, and enlisted with him in the Black Hawk War. John bore on his shoulders two rails, from the lot he and Abe split, surmounted with a banner with this inscription:

"Two RAILS

FROM A LOT MADE BY ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND JOHN HANKS, IN the SANGAMON BOTTOM, IN THE YEAR 1830.”

"A

Wild, tumultuous applause greeted the rails, and the scene became simply tempestuous and bewildering. The tumult subsided only to make way for another. "A speech!" "Let's hear the rail-splitter!" speech!" "Old Abe must show his hand!" These and other demands were made in one incessant noisy. clamor, lasting several minutes, until Mr. Lincoln arose, confused, blushing, yet smiling, and remarked, ·

"Gentlemen, I suppose you want to know something about those things (pointing to the rails). Well, the truth is, John Hanks and I did make rails in the Sangamon Bottom. I don't know whether we made those rails or not; the fact is, I don't think they are a credit to the makers. But I do know this: I made rails then, and I think I could make better ones than these now."

Another storm of applause shook the wigwam for several minutes; and was followed by a resolution

declaring "Abraham Lincoln to be the first choice of the Republican party of Illinois for the Presidency." The resolution was carried unanimously, amidst the wildest demonstrations.

Five thousand people attended this convention, among them many Democrats who were friends of Lincoln. Other Democrats were there, who were not a little provoked at the course of John Hanks and others of their party. One of them accosted Mr. Lincoln, after the adjournment :

"And so you're Abe Lincoln?"

"That's my name, sir," answered Mr. Lincoln. "They say you're a self-made man.”

"Well, yes ; what there is of me is self-made," replied Mr. Lincoln.

"Wall," added the Democrat, after surveying him from head to foot, "all I've got to say is, that it was a very bad job."

It should be said that, after Mr. Lincoln's senatorial contest with Mr. Douglas, particularly in 1859, he spoke by invitation in Kansas, Ohio, New York, and several of the New England States. His speeches were pronounced masterly. Cooper Institute was thronged to hear him in New York city, and he was introduced by the poet Bryant. The next morning, the Tribune said, "No man ever before made such an impression on his first appeal to a New York audience."

While in New York, two incidents transpired, which show much of the man. He met an old acquaintance from Illinois in a mercantile establishment. "How have you fared since you left Illinois?" inquired Mr. Lincoln.

"I have made a hundred thousand dollars, and lost it all. And how is it with you, Mr. Lincoln ?"

'Oh, very well," Mr. Lincoln replied; "I have the cottage at Springfield, and about eight thousand dollars in money. If they make me vice-president with Seward, as some say they will, I hope I shall be able to increase it to twenty thousand; and that is as much as any man ought to want.”

He stopped in New York over Sunday, and strolled alone into the Sabbath School of the Five Points Mission, interested to learn what could be done for the street children of the city. The superintendent was impressed by the appearance of the visitor, and invited him to address the girls and boys. Without hesitation, he consented, and immediately began a little speech that completely captivated his young listeners. Sev. eral times he essayed to stop, but his listeners cried out, Go on, go on, sir." "Do go on." It was an unusual address, and charmed both teacher and pupil alike. When he was about to depart, the superintendent said:

"Pardon me; may I have the pleasure of knowing who my visitor is?"

"Abraham Lincoln of Illinois," he replied.

He spoke at Norwich, Conn., and subsequently Dr. Gulliver published the following instructive and interesting account of his interview with him, on the next morning after listening to him :—

"The next morning I met him at the railroad station, where he was conversing with our Mayor, every few minutes looking up the track and inquir ing, half impatiently and half quizzically, 'Where's