PUBLISHER'S NOTE This edition is published under a special arrangement with THE CENTURY Co., publishers of the complete works of ABRAHAM LINCOLN and owners of copyright material relating to MR. LINCOLN 1.56300.45.4.5 COPYRIGHT 1903 BY HOWARD WILFORD BELL HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY GIFT OF 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. I 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 |