The Life of Abraham Lincoln

1840.

He introduces a bill. His speech. - Financial expedients.
Bitterness of feeling. - Democrats seek to hold a quorum.
- Mr. Lincoln
jumps out of a window. - Speech by Mr. Lincoln. The alien question.
The Democrats undertake to "reform " the judiciary. - Mr. Douglas a

leader. - Protest of Mr. Lincoln and other Whigs. — Reminiscences of a

colleague. — Dinner to "The Long Nine.". "Abraham Lincoln one of

nature's noblemen."

184

CHAPTER XI.

Capital removed to Springfield. — Mr. Lincoln settles there to practise law.

First case. Members of the bar. - Mr. Lincoln's partnership with John

T. Stuart.—Population and condition of Springfield. — Lawyers and

politicians. Mr. Lincoln's intense ambition. Lecture before the

Springfield Lyceum. His style. - Political discussions run high. –

Joshua F. Speed his most intimate friend. Scene in Speed's store. -

Debate. Douglas, Calhoun, Lamborn, and Thomas, against Lincoln,

Logan, Baker, and Browning. - Presidential elector in 1840. Stump-

ing for Harrison. Scene between Lincoln and Douglas in the Court-

House. A failure. Redeems himself. Meets Miss Mary Todd.

She takes Mr. Lincoln captive. She refuses Douglas. Engaged.

Miss Matilda Edwards. Mr. Lincoln undergoes a change of heart.

Mr. Lincoln reveals to Mary the state of his mind. — She releases him.

- A reconciliation. Every thing prepared for the wedding. — Mr. Lin-

coln fails to appear. — Insane. — Speed takes him to Kentucky. — Lines

on "Suicide.". His gloom. Return to Springfield. — Secret meetings

with Miss Todd. Sudden marriage. Correspondence with Mr. Speed

on delicate subjects. Relics of a great man and a great agony. - Miss

Todd attacks James Shields in certain witty and sarcastic letters. — Mr.

Lincoln's name "given up " as the author. Challenged by Shields. — A

meeting and an explanation. Correspondence. Candidate for Con-

gressional nomination. — Letters to Speed and Morris. - Defeat

223

CHAPTER XII.

Mr. Lincoln a candidate for elector in 1844.-Debates with Calhoun.

Speaks in Illinois and Indiana. —At Gentryville. Lincoln, Baker,

Logan, Hardin, aspirants for Congress. Supposed bargain. - Can-

vass for Whig nomination in 1846. Mr. Lincoln nominated. Opposed

by Peter Cartwright. Mr. Lincoln called a deist. Elected. - Takes

his seat. Distinguished members. Opposed to the Mexican War.

The "Spot Resolutions."- Speech of Mr. Lincoln. - Murmurs of disap-

probation. Mr. Lincoln for " Old Rough " in 1848.- Defections at home.

- Mr. Lincoln's campaign. — Speech. - Passage not generally published.

-Letter to his father.-Second session. The "Gott Resolution."-

Mr. Lincoln's substitute.

274

CHAPTER XIII.

Mr. Lincoln in his character of country lawyer.

Public feeling at the time

of his death. Judge Davis's address at a bar-meeting. Judge Drum-

mond's address. - Mr. Lincoln's partnership with John T. Stuart.

With Stephen T. Logan.— With William H. Herndon. Mr. Lincoln

a case-lawyer." Slow. Conscientious. Henry McHenry's case.

Circumstantial evidence. A startling case.

Mr. Lincoln's account of

Could not defend a bad case.

- Ignorance of technicalities. — The Eighth Circuit. — Happy on the

circuit. Style of travelling. His relations. - Young Johnson indicted.

Mr. Lincoln's kindness. - Jack Armstrong's son tried for murder.

Mr. Lincoln defends him. Alleged use of a false almanac. Prisoner

discharged. Old Hannah's account of it. Mr. Lincoln's suit against

McCormick Reaping Machine case.

Illinois Central Railway Company.

- Treatment by Edwin M. Stanton.

. 311

CHAPTER XIV.

Mr. Lincoln not a candidate for re-election. Judge Logan's defeat. - Mr.

Lincoln an applicant for Commissioner of the Land Office. — Offered the

Governorship of Oregon. Views concerning the Missouri Compromise

and Compromise of 1850. — Declines to be a candidate for Congress in

1850. - Death of Thomas Lincoln. Correspondence between Mr. Lin-

coln and John Johnston. - Eulogy on Henry Clay. In favor of voluntary

emancipation and colonization. Answer to Mr. Douglas's Richmond

speech. - Passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill. - Mr. Lincoln's views

concerning slavery. - Opposed to conferring political privileges upon

negroes. -— Aroused by the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. — Anti-

Nebraska party.—Mr. Lincoln the leader. — Mr. Douglas speaks at

Chicago. — At Springfield. — Mr. Lincoln replies. — A great speech. --

Mr. Douglas rejoins. The Abolitionists. — Mr. Herndon. - Determined

to make Mr. Lincoln an Abolitionist. They refuse to enter the Know-

Nothing lodges. The Abolitionists desire to force Mr. Lincoln to take a

stand. — Ile runs away from Springfield. He is requested to "follow

up" Mr. Douglas. Speech at Peoria. Extract. Slavery and popular

sovereignty. Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Douglas agree not to speak any

The election. - Mr. Lincoln announced for the Legislature by

Mrs. Lincoln withdraws his name. Jayne restores it.

He is elected. — A candidate for United-States Senator. Resigns his

seat. Is censured. - Anti-Nebraska majority in the Legislature. The

balloting.-Danger of Governor Matteson's election. - Mr. Lincoln

advises his friends to vote for Judge Trumbull. — Trumbull elected.

Charges of conspiracy and corrupt bargain. - Mr. Lincoln's denial. Mr.

Douglas imputes to Mr. Lincoln extreme Abolitionist views. Mr. Lin-

The struggle in Kansas.-The South begins the struggle. - The North

meets it. -The Missourians and other proslavery forces. — Andrew H.

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.

CHAPTER XVI.

366

His course in Congress.

Mr. Lincoln's definition of

Mr. Douglas opposes the Administration.

Squatter sovereignty in full operation.

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.

CHAPTER XVII.

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. -

389

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.

CHAPTER XVIII.

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.

CHAPTER XIX.