CHAPTER XV.

The North
Andrew H.

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The struggle in Kansas.-The South begins the struggle.
meets it. The Missourians and other proslavery forces.
Reeder appointed governor.- Election frauds. Mr. Lincoln's views on
Kansas. - Gov. Shannon arrives in the Territory. The Free State
men repudiate the Legislature. Mr. Lincoln's "little speech" to
the Abolitionists of Illinois. Mr. Lincoln's party relations. — Mr.
Lincoln agrees to meet the Abolitionists. - Convention at Blooming-
ton. Mr. Lincoln considered a convert. His great speech. - Con-
servative resolutions. — Ludicrous failure of a ratification meeting at
Springfield. Mr. Lincoln's remarks. - Plot to break up the Know-
Nothing party. "National" Republican Convention. - Mr. Lincoln re-
ceives a hundred and ten votes for Vice-President. - National Democratic
Convention. Mr. Lincoln a candidate for elector. His canvass.- Con-
fidential letter. Imperfect fellowship with the Abolitionists. — Mr. Doug-
las's speech on Kansas in June, 1857.—Mr. Lincoln's reply.—Mr. Douglas
committed to support of the Lecompton Constitution. - The Dred Scott
Decision discussed. — Mr. Lincoln against negro equality.— Affairs in
Kansas. - Election of a new Legislature. — Submission of the Lecomp-
ton Constitution to the people.- Method of voting on it. Constitution
finally rejected. Conflict in Congress.-Mr. Douglas's defection.
Extract from a speech by Mr. Lincoln.

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CHAPTER XVI.

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Mr. Douglas opposes the Administration. — His course in Congress.
Squatter sovereignty in full operation. Mr. Lincoln's definition of
popular sovereignty and squatter sovereignty.—Mr. Douglas's private
conferences with Republicans. — Judge Trumbull's opinion. - Mr. Douglas
nominated for senator by a Democratic Convention. - Mr. Lincoln's idea
of what Douglas might accomplish at Charleston. - Mr. Lincoln writing
a celebrated speech. He is nominated for senator. -A startling doc-
trine. A council of friends. - Same doctrine advanced at Bloomington.
-The "house-divided" speech. - Mr. Lincoln promises to explain.
What Mr. Lincoln thought of Mr. Douglas. -What Mr. Douglas thought
of Mr. Lincoln. - Popular canvass for senator. - Mr. Lincoln deter-
mines to "kill Douglas as a Presidential aspirant. — Adroit plan to
draw him out on squatter sovereignty. — Absurdities of Mr. Douglas. —
The election. - Success of Mr. Douglas. — Reputation acquired by Mr.
Lincoln.

""

. 389

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. 366

CHAPTER XVII.

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Mr. Lincoln writes and delivers a lecture. - The Presidency. - Mr. Lincoln's
"running qualities."— He thinks himself unfit. - Nominated by "Illinois
Gazette." - Letter to Dr. Canisius.-Letter to Dr. Wallace on the pro-
tective tariff policy. - Mr. Lincoln in Ohio and Kansas. —A private
meeting of his friends. — Permitted to use his name for the Presidency.—

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An invitation to speak in New York. - Choosing a subject.—Arrives in
New York. — His embarrassments. - Speech in Cooper Institute. — Com-
ments of the press. He is charged with mercenary conduct. Letter
concerning the charge. — Visits New England. - Style and character of
his speeches. — An amusing encounter with a clerical politician... 421

CHAPTER XVIII.

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Meeting of the Republican State Convention. - Mr. Lincoln present.-John
Hanks and the rails. Mr. Lincoln's speech. - Meeting of the Republican
National Convention at Chicago. — The platform. — Combinations to
secure Mr. Lincoln's nomination.
- The balloting. Mr. Lincoln nomi-
nated. Mr. Lincoln at Springfield waiting the results of the Con-
vention. How he received the news. -Enthusiasm at Springfield. -
Official notification. - The "Constitutional Union" party. - The Demo-
cratic Conventions at Charleston and Baltimore. The election. The
principle upon which Mr. Lincoln proposed to make appointments. - Mr.
Stephens. Mr. Gilmore. Mr. Guthrie.-Mr. Seward. Mr. Chase.
- Mr. Bates. The cases of Smith and Cameron. Mr. Lincoln's visit to
Chicago.—Mr. Lincoln's visit to his relatives in Coles County. - Appre-
hensions about assassination. - A visit from Hannah Armstrong.

. 444

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CHAPTER XIX.

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Difficulties and peculiarities of Mr. Lincoln's position. — A general review
of his character. His personal appearance and habits. His house and
other property. His domestic relations. His morbid melancholy
and superstition. — Illustrated by his literary tastes. - His humor. —
His temperate habits and abstinence from sensual pleasures. — His am-
bition. Use of politics for personal advancement. - Love of power
and place. Of justice. —Not a demagogue or a trimmer. - His re-
ligious views. Attempt of the Rev. Mr. Smith to convert him. — Mr.
Bateman's story as related by Dr. Holland. Effect of his belief upon

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his mind and character.

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CHAPTER XX.

Departure of the Presidential party from Springfield. — Affecting address by
Mr. Lincoln to his friends and neighbors. His opinions concerning the
approaching civil war. Discovery of a supposed plot to murder him at
Baltimore. Governor Hicks's proposal to "kill Lincoln and his men."
- The plan formed to defeat the conspiracy. The midnight ride from
Harrisburg to Washington. -Arrival in Washington. Before the In-
auguration. Inauguration Day.-Inaugural Address. — Mr. Lincoln's
Oath. Mr. Lincoln President of the United States. Mr. Buchanan
bids him farewell.

466

505.

LIFE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

BRAHAM LINCOLN was born on the twelfth day of February, 1809. His father's name was Thomas Lincoln, and his mother's maiden name was Nancy Hanks. At the time of his birth, they are supposed to have been married about three years. Although there appears to have been but little sympathy or affection between Thomas and Abraham Lincoln, they were nevertheless connected by ties and associations which make the previous history of Thomas Lincoln and his family a necessary part of any reasonably full biography of the great man who immortalized the name by wearing it.

Thomas Lincoln's ancestors were among the early settlers of Rockingham County in Virginia; but exactly whence they came, or the precise time of their settlement there, it is impossible to tell. They were manifestly of English descent; but whether emigrants directly from England to Virginia, or an offshoot of the historic Lincoln family in Massachusetts, or of the highly-respectable Lincoln family in Pennsylvania, are questions left entirely to conjecture. We have absolutely no evidence by which to determine them. Thomas Lincoln himself stoutly denied that his progenitors were either