selves in a dilemma, either horn of which was an embarrassing one. If they voted in favor of war measures, they violated their oft-expressed principles; if they voted against them, they found themselves in the position of working against the Government, and liable to the charge of unpatriotic and treasonable conduct. Some of their representatives strove to avoid the issue by absenting themselves, when the war measures were put to vote, others sturdily maintained their political principles, and consistently opposed the administration, while others, and among them was Lincoln, although condemning the principle of the war, sustained the administration in all things wherein the honor and welfare of the country were concerned.

The position which he took was one that commended itself to the better sense of the people, but was quickly taken advantage of by his political enemies to create a prejudice against him. In 1858, in one of the great debates, Judge Douglas spoke of Lincoln's having "distinguished himself in Congress by his opposition to the Mexican war, taking the side of the common enemy against his country." In reply, Mr. Lincoln said:

"The Judge charges me with having, while in Congress, opposed our soldiers who were fighting in the Mexican war. I will tell you what he can prove by referring to the record. You remember, 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 President, I would not do it. But whenever they asked for any money or land-warrants, or anything to pay the soldiers, I gave the same vote

that Judge Douglas did. Such is the truth, and the Judge has the right to make all he can out of it."

On July 27, 1848, he made a strong and effective speech on "The Presidency and General Politics." He spent considerable time in ridiculing General Cass, the Democratic candidate for the Presidency. He showed vividly, and often humorously, the shortcomings and unwarranted pretensions of the General, and raised many a laugh at his expense. While it was an able effort, it was intended mainly for political effect, and seems to have been sadly out of place in the great council of the nation.

During the session he introduced a bill for the gradual and compensated abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, but the state of public affairs at that time was so disturbed that the bill was not brought before the House for consideration.

After the close of the session, and the inauguration of General Taylor, he became a candidate for the position of Commissioner of the General Land Office, and actively exerted himself to secure the honor. All the influence he could summom was brought to bear to obtain the coveted honor, and the President seemed, personally, to favor him; but a Mr. Justin Butterfield, of Chicago, was finally appointed. While the appointment was still uncertain he went to Washington to urge his claims in person. His appearance was characteristic, but hardly prepossessing. He was six feet four inches in height, and when he stepped from the train, he was dressed in a suit of light summer clothing with an old linen duster on, neither well-fitting nor clean. His pants came only to his ankles, showing the woolen socks above his coarse

brogans. With his great length of limb and ill-fitting garments he was a noticeable object in the street, but there was something in his general mien, as well as in the expression of his face, notwithstanding the sadness and gloom apparent there, that made him a marked man, and led those who saw him, to feel that he was of no ordinary mould.

He was deeply disappointed and chagrined at his failure, and afterwards adverted to it, when, during his Presidential term, he was asked to give an appointment to the son of his successful rival. When the application was presented, the President paused and, after a moment's silence said :

"Mr. Justin Butterfield once obtained an appointment I very much wanted, and in which my friends believed I could have been useful, and to which they thought I was fairly entitled; and I hardly ever felt so bad at any failure in my life. But I am glad of an opportunity of doing a service to his son." And he gave an order for his commission.

CHAPTER VIII.

LINCOLN would unquestionably have been glad to return to Congress for another term, for the life and duties at Washington were far more attractive to him than his law business. For certain reasons he felt disinclined to seek the nomination, and, as his course in Washington had not been generally popular among his constituents, he failed to secure a renomination.

Upon his return to Springfield, he applied himself closely to his law-practice, and from 1849 to 1859 was actively engaged in it. Though taking part in the political movements of the day, with more or less interest, he held no important public office during that time. It was largely a period of preparation, during which he was finding out the ground upon which he stood, and his principles were becoming more fully developed and established. It was an important and interesting period, and one in which his intellectual and moral growth were plain. He was analyzing the political situation, and defining more clearly to himself its vital points. Many of his most eloquent speeches and finest sayings were uttered during this time, and much that is immortal in literature issued from his pen.

During his Congressional term the affairs of the firm had been conducted by the junior member, so that, when he returned, he found a flourishing business ready to be taken up. He entered into his labor

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with great earnestness, as if his profession afforded a pleasing change from the responsibilites and frictions of a political life. It was during this time that he largely earned his legal reputation, which gradually extended beyond the borders of the State.

Had he died in 1849, he would have been unknown to posterity. Had this event occurred in 1859, he would have occupied a position in the history of the State, second only to Douglas, perhaps surpassing even him.

His character as a lawyer was in many respects unique. He would never undertake a case unless reasonably certain that the cause was a just one. And he was several times known to surrender a case in the midst of a trial when unexpectedly convinced that his client was in the wrong.'

“At a term of court in Logan county, a man named Hoblet had brought suit against a man named Farmer. The suit had been appealed from a justice of the peace, and Lincoln knew nothing of it until he was retained by Hoblet to try the case in the Circuit Court. Judge Treat, afterwards on the United States bench, was the presiding judge at the trial. Lincoln's client went upon the witness-stand and testified to the account he had against the defendant, gave the amount due, after allowing all credits and set-offs, and swore positively that it had not been paid. The attorney for the defendant simply produced a receipt in full, signed by Hoblet prior to the beginning of the case. Hoblet had to admit the signing of the receipt, but told Lincoln he supposed the defendant had lost

' Browne.