PUBLISHER'S NOTE This edition is published under a special arrangement with THE CENTURY Co., publishers of the complete works of ABRAHA M LINCOLN and owners of copyright material relating to MR. LINCOLN A 156300, 45.4,5 COPYRIGHT 1903 BY HOWARD WILFORD BELL HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY MRS. ODIN ROBERTS Nov. 15,1934 THE TROW PRESS NEW YORK LETTERS AND ADDRESSES OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN [From an address to the people of Sangamon county, Illinois, at New Salem, 9 March 1832. Lincoln's first public speech.] Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition. Whether it be true or not, I can say, for one, that I have no other so great as that of being truly esteemed of my fellow-men, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem. How far I shall succeed in gratifying this ambition is yet to be developed. am young, and unknown to many of you. I was born, and have ever remained, in the most humble walks of life. I have no wealthy or popular relations or friends to recommend me. My case is thrown exclusively upon the independent voters of the country; and, if elected, they will have conferred a favor upon me for which I shall be unremitting in my labors to compensate. But, if the good people in their wisdom shall see fit to keep me in the background, I have been too familiar with disappointments to be very much chagrined. [Letter to the editor of the Sangamon Journal, New Salem, 13 June 1836.] To the Editor of the " Journal": In your paper of last Saturday I see a communication, over the signature of "Many Voters," in which the candidates who are announced in the "Journal" are called upon to "show their hands.” Agreed. Here's mine. I go for all sharing the privileges of the government who |