Forgive me, if from present things I turn urn. Nature, they say, doth dote, For him her Old-World moulds aside she threw, And, choosing sweet clay from the breast With stuff untainted shaped a hero new, true. How beautiful to see Once more a shepherd of mankind indeed, Who loved his charge, but never loved to lead; One whose meek flock the people joyed to be, Not lured by any cheat of birth, But by his clear-grained human worth, And brave old wisdom of sincerity! In that sure-footed mind's unfaltering skill, That bent like perfect steel to spring again and thrust. His was no lonely mountain-peak of mind, Thrusting to thin air o'er our cloudy bars, A sea-mark now, now lost in vapors blind; Broad prairie rather, genial, level-lined, Fruitful and friendly for all human-kind, Yet also nigh to heaven and loved of loftiest stars. Nothing of Europe here, Or, then, of Europe fronting mornward still, Ere any names of Serf and Peer Could Nature's equal scheme deface And thwart her genial will; Here was a type of the true elder race, And one of Plutarch's men talked with us face to face." I praise him not; it were too late; And some innative weakness there must be In him who condescends to victory Such as the Present gives, and cannot wait, Safe in himself as in a fate. So always firmly he: He knew to bide his time, And can his fame abide, Still patient in his simple faith sublime, Great captains, with their guns and drums, But at last silence comes; These all are gone, and, standing like a tower, Our children shall behold his fame, The kindly-earnest, brave, foreseeing man, Sagacious, patient, dreading praise, not blame, New birth of our new soil, the first American. CONTENTS Announcement of Candidacy for Legislature Speech in Legislature on the State Bank Address on the Perpetuation of our Political Note: "Were I President" Letter to William H. Herndon Speech in Congress on Military Heroes PAGE 22 23 25 27 29 40 42 43 44 46 46 EXTRACTS (Continued) Notes for Lecture on Niagara Falls Notes for Law Lecture Eulogy of Henry Clay Notes on Government Speech on Repeal of Missouri Compromise Letter to Joshua F. Speed Speech at First Republican Convention Speech in Frémont Campaign Speech at Republican Banquet in Chicago Speech Accepting Nomination for Senator Speech at Springfield on Douglas's Presiden Speech at Edwardsville Debate with Douglas at Jonesboro Letter to H. D. Sharpe Letter to Jefferson Dinner Committee of Boston Letter to M. W. Delahay Letter to Dr. Theodore Canisius Letter to Samuel Galloway Speech at Columbus EXTRACTS (Continued) Speech at Cincinnati Address at Wisconsin Agricultural Fair Lecture on Discoveries, Inventions, and Improvements. Speech at Cooper Union PAGE 83 89 95 96 104 Speech at Hartford Speech at New Haven 108 III Letter to O. H. Browning. Note to Major Ramsey First Annual Message to Congress Letter to General Hunter 134 136 136 140 |