"I mean every word of it," replied the minister. "Indeed, sir," he continued, "I learned more of the art of public speaking last evening, than I could from a whole course of lectures on rhetoric."

Then Mr. Lincoln informed him of a most "extraordinary circumstance" that occurred at New Haven a few days previously. A professor of rhetoric in Yale College, he had been told, came to hear him, took notes of his speech, and gave a lecture on it to his class on the following day, and, not satisfied with that, followed him to Meriden the next evening, and heard him again for the same purpose. All of this seemed to Lincoln to be "very extraordinary." He had been sufficiently astonished by his success in the West, but he had no expectation of any marked success in the East, particularly among refined and literary men.

"Now," said Mr. Lincoln, "I should very much like to know what it was in my speech which you thought so remarkable, and which interested my friend, the professor, so much?"

Mr. Gulliver's answer was: “The clearness of your statements, the unanswerable style of your reasoning and especially your illustrations, which were romance and pathos and fun and logic welded together." After Mr. Gulliver had fully satisfied his curiosity by a further exposition of the politician's power, Mr. Lincoln said:

"I am much obliged to you for this. I have been wishing for a long time to find some one who would make this analysis for me. It throws light upon a subject which has been dark to me. I can understand very readily how such a power as you have ascribed

to me, will account for the effect which seems to be produced by my speeches. I hope you have not been too flattering in your estimate. Certainly, I have had a most wonderful success for a man of my limited education"

99 1

' Mr. Gulliver in the New York Independent.

CHAPTER XII.

MR. LINCOLN's candidacy for the Presidency was quietly but efficiently promoted by judicious friends, as well as by his own efforts, during the months which intervened before the National Convention.

Meantime affairs were so shaping themselves as to contribute more and more to the certainty of Republican success. Judge Douglas was actively engaged in a canvass to insure his own nomination by the Democratic Convention, which was to meet in Charleston, April 23, 1860. He sought to propitiate the hostile element of the South and, at the same time, not to alienate the friendly element of the North. Instead of standing firm upon his own convictions he tried to trim his course midway between the extreme elements of the Democracy and retain the support of both. In this he failed. While the majority of the delegates to the Charleston Convention favored him, he failed to secure the necessary two-thirds. The South had lost their confidence in him since his political integrity had caused him to refuse to support the Lecompton Constitution and by no effort could he regain it. The Southern wing withdrew from the Convention to meet later, in Richmond, while the Douglas party adjourned to Baltimore, where the great Illinois statesman was put in nomination for the Presidency.

The Richmond Convention nominated John C.

Breckenridge of Kentucky. Thus Democratic discord resulted in a party division, which rendered the success of the Republican party almost certain.

The Republican National Convention was called to meet in Chicago, May 16, 1860. Six days previous to this, the State Convention met in Decatur, where the movement to secure the nomination for Mr. Lincoln was publicly inaugurated in such a manner as to attract the attention of the nation and furnish a raliying cry for the campaign. The Convention was made up of representative men of the party, who felt that this meeting, held just before the greater Convention, should be one of special note. Lincoln was present, apparently out of mere curiosity and with no idea that he would receive more than passing notice from the delegates. "A few minutes after the Convention organized, Governor Oglesby arose and said amid increasing silence: '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 upon the stand.' Here the Governor paused, as if to tease and dally, and work curiosity up to the highest pitch; but at length he shouted the magic name, ‘Abraham Lincoln.' Not a shout but a roar of applause, long and deep, shook every board and joist of the building." Some of those standing nearest seized him and hoisting him on their shoulders passed him struggleing and kicking over the heads of the audience to the platform, where with clothing disarranged and face flushed, he tried to regain his composure.

1 Lamon's "Life of Lincoln."

Later on Governor Oglesby again arose and said that there was an old Democrat outside, who wished to present something to the Convention. A motion was made and carried that he be admitted. The doors swung open and a sturdy, open-featured old man entered bearing upon his shoulders two weatherbeaten fence rails, with a banner floating above them bearing the inscription, "Two rails from a lot made by Abraham Lincoln and John Hanks in the Sangamon bottom in the year 1830." He was met with the wildest enthusiasm and a babel of shouts and applause. As soon as the tumult subsided, Lincoln was called upon for a speech and afterwards a resolution was passed to the effect that "Abraham Lincoln is the first choice of the Republican party of Illinois for President,' and instructing the delegates to Chicago to use all honorable means to secure his nomination and to cast the vote of the State as a unit for him.

The Chicago Convention was one of the most notable of all the great political meetings which have become historic during the present century. The majority of the delegates were young men with enough gray-haired men to temper their actions and measures with moderation. Many of the delegates were afterwards prominent in public life. Not less than sixty were destined to be sent to Congress, many became Governors of States or occupied other prominent positions of public trust.

The Convention was sectional, being made up of delegates from the free States, and the five border States with a few representatives from Texas. David Wilmot, the author of the famous Proviso, was made