it was, and you will see the day when you will consider it the wisest thing I ever said."

His prophecy was completely fulfilled. The fact was, Mr. Lincoln was led "in a way that he knew not." A higher intelligence than mere human sagacity guided him in the right. That speech was one of the most marvellous productions in American annals, and it not only gave the keynote to his great senatorial contest with Mr. Douglas, but it settled the character and issue of the next presidential election, and finally sealed the doom of slavery in this country.

After the delivery of this speech Mr. Lincoln challenged Mr. Douglas to joint debates throughout the canvass. The latter accepted the challenge so far as to arrange for debates with the former in seven important places of the State. Mr. Douglas conducted his part of the affair with great pomp and noise, proceeding to his appointments on a chartered train accompanied with a band of music, and artillery to fire salutes, at a cost of fifty thousand dollars. On the other hand, Mr. Lincoln pursued his usual quict, unostentatious, and honest way; yet he won the victory every time. "To say that he was the victor, morally and intellectually, is simply to record the judgment of the world." "In this canvass he earned a reputation as a popular debater second to that of no man in America-certainly not second to that of his famous antagonist." At the close of one of his debates with Mr. Douglas, even after the latter had occupied thirty minutes in closing the discussion, the assembly was so thoroughly "enthused" by Mr. Lincoln's victorious effort, that they seized him, in their exuberance of joy, and bore him out of the hall to the hotel upon their shoulders, amidst cheers and shouts that made the welkin ring. In the popular vote he received a majority

of four thousand and eighty-five over Mr. Douglas; but owing to the unfair apportionment of the legislative districts, Mr. Douglas was returned to the United States Senate.

In one of these debates he paid one of the most eloquent tributes to the "Declaration of Independence (after having enunciated its principles) that ever fell from human lips; and he closed with these memorable words:

"You may do anything with me you choose, if you will but heed these sacred principles. You may not only defeat me for the senate, but you may take me and put me to death. While pretending no indifference to earthly honours, I do claim to be actuated in this contest by something higher than an anxiety for office. I charge you to drop every paltry and insignificant thought for any man's success. It is nothing; I am nothing; Judge Douglas is nothing. BUT DO NOT

DESTROY THAT IMMORTAL EMBLEM OF HUMANITY— THE DECLARATION OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE."

XXIII.

GOING UP HIGHER.

HE Republican State Convention of Illinois met at Decatur, May 9th, 1860, in a "Wigwam' erected for the purpose. Directly after the convention was organized, Governor Oglesby, the chairman, arose, and said, "I am informed that a distinguished citizen of Illinois, and one whom Illinois will ever delight to honour, is present, and I wish to move that this body invite him. to a seat on the stand." After a pause, as if to awaken curiosity, he called out the name in a much louder voice, ABRAHAM LINCOLN. Such a round of applause, cheer upon cheer, followed the announcement, as shook every board and joist of the wigwam. A rush, too, was made for the gentleman, who stood near the door, and he was actually taken up and borne through the dense crowd to the platform. The cheering was like the roar of the Hats were thrown up by the Chicago delegation,

sea.

as if hats were no longer useful.

The convention proceeded to business, and was fairly under way, when the chairman interrupted by saying: "There is an old Democrat outside, I understand, who has something to present to this convention."

Receive it! receive it!" responded several. "What is it? what is it?" cried out others.

"Let us have it," shouted another.

The convention voted to receive the Democrat, and in walked Mr. Lincoln's old friend, John Hanks, who

helped him to split the rails for his father's fifteen acre lot; the same Hanks who went with him to New Orleans for Offutt, and enlisted with him in the Black Hawk war. John bore on his shoulders two rails, from the lot he and Abe split, surmounted with a banner with this inscription :

"Two RAILS

FROM A LOT MADE BY ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND JOHN HANKS, IN THE SANGAMON BOTTOM, IN THE YEAR 1830."

Wild, tumultuous applause greeted the rails, and the scene became simply tempestuous and bewildering. The tumult subsided only to make way for another.

"A speech!" "Let's hear the rail-splitter!" "A speech!" "Old Abe must show his hand!" These and other demands were made in one incessant noisy clamour, lasting several minutes, until Mr. Lincoln arose, confused, blushing, yet smiling, and remarked,—

"Gentlemen, I suppose you want to know something about those things" (pointing to the rails). "Well, the truth is, John Hanks and I did make rails in the Sangamon Bottom. I don't know whether we made those rails or not; the fact is, I don't think they are a credit to the makers. But I do know this: I made rails then, and I think I could make better ones than these now."

Another storm of applause shook the wigwam for several minutes; and was followed by a resolution declaring “ Abraham Lincoln to be the first choice of the Republican party of Illinois for the Presidency.' The resolution was carried unanimously, amidst the wildest demonstrations.

Five thousand people attended this convention, among them many Democrats who were friends of Lincoln.

Other Democrats were there, who were not a little provoked at the course of John Hanks and others of their party. One of them accosted Mr. Lincoln, after the adjournment,—

"And so you're Abe Lincoln ?"

"That's my name, sir," answered Mr. Lincoln.

"They say you're a self-made man."

"Well, yes; what there is of me is self-made," replied Mr. Lincoln.

Wall," added the Democrat, after surveying him from head to foot, "all I've got to say is, that it was a darned bad job."

It should be said that, after Mr. Lincoln's senatorial contest with Mr. Douglas, particularly in 1859, he spoke by invitation in Kansas, Ohio, New York, and several of the New England States. His speeches were pronounced masterly. Cooper Institute was thronged to hear him in New York city, and he was introduced by the poet Bryant. The next morning the Tribune said, "No man ever before made such an impression on his first appeal to a New York audience."

While in New York two incidents transpired which show much of the man. He met an old acquaintance from Illinois in a mercantile establishment. "How have you fared since you left Illinois?" inquired Mr. Lincoln.

"I have made a hundred thousand dollars, and lost it all. And how is it with you, Mr. Lincoln ?"

"Oh, very well," Mr. Lincoln replied; "I have the cottage at Springfield, and about eight thousand dollars in money. If they make me vice-president with Seward, as some say they will, I hope I shall be able to increase it to twenty thousand; and that is as much as any man ought to want."

He stopped in New York over Sunday, and strolled