present counties of Sangamon, Mernard, Logan and Christian. Two Senators and seven members of the lower house, the entire Whig ticket, was elected, Lincoln receiving the highest vote on the ticket. It was during this canvass that he became more intimately acquainted with John T. Stuart, a brother officer in the Black Hawk war, afterwards a member of Congress. Major Stuart had during the canvass became warmly attached to Lincoln and formed an exalted opinion of his abilities; and pleased with his purposes and determination to achieve success he advised him to pursue, by every means and effort, the study of law. Lincoln informed him that he had made choice of that profession, but for the want of funds and books he was not making the progress he desired. Major Stuart was at that time engaged in the profession of law in Springfield and had an extensive and lucrative practice. He at once offered to loan Lincoln all the law books he required for his studies, and he accepted the offer with pleasure.

The canvass in this election was warmly contested. The parties in the county were closely divided, and although the field was new to Lincoln, he entered into the canvass with ardor and zeal that promised success. It was during this canvass that those peculiar characteristics of Lincoln, sociability, hilarity and companionship, were the more fully exhibited in public, and which made him so popular with the people. In those early days in Illinois it was customary for candidates for public favor to travel through their districts and address their fellow citizens in public, and also to call at the homes and dwellings of their constituents. For this latter mode of canvass Lincoln was peculiarly gifted. Under all circumstances he made himself pleasant and agreeable with all persons, with the rich or poor, in the stately mansion or log cabin. With, or in the first, he was respectful, deferential and sociable; in the other he was affable, agreeable and simple. It was in the family circle, around the fireside, no matter how humble and lowly, that Lincoln felt at home. He entered into a conversation with the father and mother relative to their hopes and prospects in life, the schools, farm, crops, stock. These, and other farm and family topics, were so pleasantly canvassed that they were made to feel that they had met a friend-one near as a brother. Soon the children would claim his attentiou, and on his knee or around his person they would be listening to his stories, while the mother would hear with pleasure that they were fine, beautiful children; that Willie was the image of his father, and Sarah, the most beautiful one, looked like her mother, and that she reminded him of a dear sister, a playmate of his youthful days. The distribution of some candy and nuts completed the picture. Those tender and simple interviews of Lincoln with the families he met, came from the natural impulses of his heart, to create kind feelings and thoughts

in others, and receive corresponding pleasure in return. Lincoln's experience in his early life had taught him that in the family circle, around the hearth stone, were realized and enjoyed the hopes, the aspirations and pleasures of our better natures, and that where the friend, the neighbor, or even the stranger, enters therein and partakes of our cheer and hospitality, and enjoys and gives out of his own good nature, thoughts, sentiments and feelings, in unison with our own aspirations and hopes, we feel that we have indeed met a friend. Herein was Lincoln's forte-his great success in securing the respect, confidence and support of his fellow citizens at the polls. His success in this direction was an enigma to his fellow candidates. They could not understand how he, homely and unpretending, could so universally secure the respect and esteem of the women and children. Frequently Lincoln and one of his opponents in the canvass would meet and spend the night at the same farm house. Both were greeted with the hospitality then so proverbial in the Western States. While supper is preparing, instead of repairing to the house to discuss the politics of the day, Lincoln proposes a walk over the farm. The stock is seen, the crops examined, and in all Lincoln takes a pleasure, which he communicates to his host. Supper being served, the men repair to the veranda, where the topics of the day are discussed. Soon they are joined by the mother and children. Now is Lincoln's opportunity. He calls one of the children to him and relates some of the incidents of his boyhood days; if a boy, how, with his dogs, he used to hunt the raccoons and wild cats, and set his traps for the wild turkeys; if a girl, he relates how, with his sister, he often went with her to gather in the woods, the wild berries and flowers; and then, turning to the mother, he would relate the trials and hardships of a frontier life in Indiana, and speak of the love and affection of a dear, departed mother, and his fond recollections of her blessed memory. This adaptation of Lincoln's nature to obtain and secure the respect and esteem of all classes of men and women, was the secret of his popularity and success. It was not superficial or assumed, but it was the natural feelings and impulses of his heart. He loved the farm and the farmers, because on the farm he was raised. He loved the children because he was child-like in manner and feelings. He loved the mothers because he had in remembrance the love and affection of a mother, and still retained the hallowed influences and fondness for a mother's tender instruction and regard.

The canvass having closed, and the election having been held, Lincoln returned to his work of surveying. When the labors of the day were ended the study of his books was resumed. He was able now to procure the law books he required, and, in the interval from labor, he applied himself closely and diligently to his law studies. When the period arrived for the meeting

of the Legislature, Lincoln laid aside his compass and law books and walked one hundred miles to Vandalia, the capital of the State.

Lincoln was now twenty-five years of age. He, and J. K. Dubois, member from the same county, were the two youngest members of the House. He was assigned by the Speaker to the Committee on Public Expenditures and Accounts, and occasionally, during the session, took part in the debates. He was noticed for his retiring modesty and demeanor; always ready, however, to assume responsibilities and labors when necessary; but his services were never offered or pressed unless he was satisfied that they were desired or would be accepted. The State was new, and, although rapidly settling up, was as yet imperfectly developed, and the duties of the members were more of work than talk. Lincoln was always at the post of duty, prompt and faithful to advance the interests and wishes of his constituents and in the discharge of all his duties. When the session closed he walked home and resumed his surveying and study of law.

At this period a sorrowful and affecting incident occurred in Lincoln's history. Some time previous to his first election to the Legislature, Lincoln had formed an affectionate and ardent attachment for a young lady, Miss Anna R., of New Salem, member of a family highly honored and respected. She was pleasing in her manners, address and appearance, accomplished and intelligent, home-like in her tastes and disposition, and would have made Lincoln a suitable, agreeable and pleasant companion for life. Their attachment was mutual. Their union was deferred for a time until Lincoln could provide a home suitable for the wife of his choice. His election to the Legislature, and future prospects, held out the hope that soon their fondest desires would be realized. The present, to them, was happiness-the future full of hope and promise. Soon after Lincoln's return from the Legislature Miss R., his affianced, was taken seriously ill. Her disease soon took the form of quick consumption, and in a few days, after all that could be done by physicians, parents, lover, brother and friends, she quietly passed away, as a flower smitten by the untimely frost. To one of Lincoln's temperament, confiding, ardent and endearing, this severe and irreparable affliction came with all the bitterness and hopelessness which follows the sudden destruction of our most cherished hopes and anticipations. Following this sad bereavement came those seasons of sorrow and depression of spirits which had been observed frequently since the death of his mother and sister, and which now seemed to be augmented, and which followed him several years of his life. In those sad and mournful manifestations of an overruling Providence, was exhibited a lovely trait in Lincoln's character-his intense and devoted love.

CHAPTER VII.

ELECTION TO THE LEGISLATURE-EARLY ANTI-SLAVERY RECORD.

In 1836 Lincoln was again nominated and elected to the Legislature. This canvass throughout the State was warmly contested by both parties, and resulted in the success of the Whig ticket in Lincoln's district, and in the election of a Legislature whose members have never been excelled for ability, and the prominence they afterwards attained on the pages of their State's history. The members from Sangamon county, two Senators and seven members of the Lower House, were so remarkable for their altitude, that they were called "the long nine"-no one of the members was less than six feet in height, and Lincoln was the tallest of the number, and before the close of session he became the tallest in influence and popularity.

Of the members associated with Lincoln in this Legislature may be mentioned: James Semple, James Shields, Stephen A. Douglas, W. A. Richardson, afterwards United States Senators; John A. McClanard, Robt. Smith, John Hogan, J. J. Harden and John T. Stewart, since members of Congress; J. R. Dubois, Ninnian Edwards, Newton Cloud, John Moore, Wm. McMurtry, W. F. Linder, and others since distinguished in the history of their State. That Lincoln thus early in life and Legislative experience, and with the most talented and ablest men of his State, should have attained so prominent a position in the Legislature, shows a remarkable evidence of ability and popularity.

The State during the two previous years had increased rapidly in population and prosperity. Many questions of legislation were ably debated and acted upon, one of which was the adoption of a general system of internal improvements for the State at large, and one was the removal of the capital of the State from Vandalia to Springfield. The friends of the first measure could not succeed without the aid and votes of the members. from Sangamon county, and they refused to support the first measure unless the removal of the capital was made a part of the proposed measure. The labors and in

fluence of Lincoln in effecting the removal of the capital by connecting it with the first measure, gave him much credit as a legislator, and for himself as well as for the other members from his county, it was considered by their constituents as a master stroke of policy, and added much to their reputation and popularity. This session of the Legislature was also noted as being the period when Stephen A. Douglas first made his entry into public life. He was a Democratic member from Morgan county, the youngest member of the House, twenty-three years of age, and at once took his stand as a leader of the Democratic party. Lincoln and Douglas here first met as the leading representatives of different political parties. Here, during this session, they commenced that political and intellectual discussion of policy and principle which outlined the road to political preferment and renown which each proposed to pursue, not anticipating the struggle in which they were to engage in after years, which was to lead one, after years of political labor and toil, to hopes and anticipations unrealized and prostrated, and the other to the realization of his loftiest desires and aspirations for fame and renown.

At this period and proceeding, the larger portion of the immigration to Illinois, was from the border slave states. The question of the rights of the slave-holders, as they claimed them, had never up to this time been agitated or disputed. The prevailing sentiment of the people was in favor of slavery, or in favor of the claims of the slave-holders, as they held their legal and constitutional rights. The Democratic party was unanimously pro-slavery, and the anti-slavery sentiment among the Whigs was very weak and of no practical political force. The Abolitionists were despised by the Democrats and disowned by the Whigs. Both parties were strong in their professed regard for the constitution, and claimed before the public that the constitution protected the institution of African slavery in all its different phases as claimed by the slave-holders.

At this period, however, the agitation of the question of slavery in the Eastern States by the Abolitionists, was beginning to excite interest and inquiry in the public mind in the Western States, and as the avowed principles of the Abolition party were then so unpopular in the West, the Democrats, having a large majority in the Legislature, introduced in that body, resolutions of a strong pro-slavery character, for political effect, and for the purpose of affixing the stigma of Abolitionism on all who would not endorse them. The principle embraced in the resolutions offered by the Democrats, was that Congress had no power under or by the constitution to regulate or interfere with the institution of slavery in the States, Territories or District of Columbia. No united effort was made against the adoption