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"I must recommend the acceptance of the Lecompton constitution," said Mr. Buchanan.

"I shall feel it my duty to oppose its acceptance."

"Allow me to remind you, Senator Douglas, that no Democrat ever yet differed from an Administration of his own party without being himself crushed. I refer you to the fate of Tallmadge and Rives under the administration of President Jackson.”

"Mr. President, allow me to remind you that General Jackson is dead." Mr. Douglas bows and leaves the White House. He keeps his word. He knows the slave power never will forgive him, but he also knows that unless he opposes the slave-holders in their attempts to force a hateful constitution upon the people of Kansas, he will endanger his own re-election to the Senate.

On the banks of the little river Marias-des-Cygnes (Marsh of the Swans), three miles from Missouri, settlers from the Free States were

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ploughing their fields. They never had taken part in any trouMay 19, bles between other people and the Missouri ruffians, but they did not want slaves in Kansas, and had voted to make it a Free State. Lawless men in Missouri were ever ready to shoot settlers from the Free States. Charles Hamilton, with a gang of twenty-seven, seized eleven of the men who had taken farms in the valley of Marias-desCygnes. "Make ready! Take aim! Fire!" the word of command. The rifles and revolvers flashed, and all but one were killed or wounded. The murderers fired once more, riddling the bodies with bullets, and then rode back to Missouri to gloat over the morning's work. It was their way of upsetting the popular sovereignty of Senator Douglas -their way of interpreting the meaning of the Constitution— their method of carrying slavery into Kansas.

The people of the Northern States were horrified when they heard of the cold-blooded massacre, and the peaceful Quaker poet, John G. Whittier, far away on the banks of the Merrimac, in Massachusetts, wrote these lines:

"A blush as of roses,

Where roses never grew ;
Great drops on the bunch-grass,
But not of the dew;

A taint in the sweet air

For wild bees to shun;

A stain that shall never

Bleach out with the sun."

Into Missouri with a company of men marched John Brown, not to

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commit murder, but with a far different object in view. The Supreme Court had decided that under the Constitution slavery might be estab lished in Kansas. Missourians were determined to force it upon the Territory. He would let the ruffians know that slaves had legs and could run away. He found fourteen who were ready to be free men. He started with them, bound for Iowa. "Three thousand dollars reward for the arrest of John Brown!" read the proclamation of the Governor of Missouri.

"Two hundred and fifty dollars reward!" read the proclamation of James Buchanan, President of the United States.

The Marshal of Missouri with a posse of men surrounded the logcabin occupied by Brown and his company, but the muzzles of rifles projected from the crevices between the logs.

"Come on, gentlemen, if you wish to." It was a pleasant voice, with no bravado in the tones.

But three thousand two hundred and fifty dollars was no temptation to advance. Night came, and John Brown and the slaves were on their way to Iowa. Never again would the fugitives call any man

master.

The disagreement of Douglas with President Buchanan upon the acceptance of the Lecompton constitution led Horace Greeley, editor of the New York "Tribune," and other men of the Eastern States, to think it would be good policy for the Republicans to support Douglas. Mr. Lincoln and his friends thought differently. They knew Mr. Douglas desired to be President of the United States, and that he was not opposing the acceptance of the Lecompton constitution from any noble principle. Mr. Herndon, Mr. Lincoln's law partner, thought it would be well for some one to let Mr. Greeley and other Eastern gentlemen know their advocacy of Douglas was doing much harm to the Republicans of Illinois, and he accordingly visited the Eastern States. In Boston he made the acquaintance of Theodore Parker, a Unitarian minister, who was making very earnest efforts to bring about the abolition of slavery, and who presented him with a copy of a speech which he had made. Herndon carried it to Springfield. Mr. Lincoln read it, and made a pencil mark against this sentence: "Democracy is direct self-government over all the people, for all the people, by all the people." (2)

It was a sentence to be remembered.

Times had changed in Illinois since that day when Abraham Lincoln entered the State driving an ox-team. Then the farmers reaped

their grain with a sickle, or gathered it with a cradle. In 1833 Obed Hussey invented a machine for reaping, and in 1834 Cyrus McCormick took out a patent for a similar machine. Mr. Manny, of Chicago, also

took out a patent, which McCormick claimed was an infringe1857. ment. Mr. Manny employed two able lawyers to defend his claim -- George Harding, of Philadelphia, who understood mechanics, and Abraham Lincoln, who was to take up the points of law involved. Mr. Reverdy Johnson, of Baltimore, regarded as one of the ablest lawyers in the country, was employed by Mr. McCormick. Mr. Lincoln prepared himself with great care, and was quite ready to meet Mr. Johnson in argument.

Judge McLean, of the Supreme Court, was to hear the case in Cincinnati. Mr. Lincoln reached that city and found that Mr. Manny had also engaged Edwin M. Stanton, of Pittsburg. The three lawyers met for consultation. Only two of them could be heard by the Court. Mr. Harding, by mutual consent, was to present the mechanical features of the invention. Who should present the legal points, Lincoln or Stanton? By custom it was Lincoln's right. He was prepared, Stanton was not. "You will speak, of course," said Stanton. "No, you," the courteous reply. "I will," the answer, and Mr. Stanton abruptly and discourteously left the room. He had taken a great dislike to Lincoln, who overheard him in an adjoining room say to a friend: "Where did such a lank creature come from? His linen duster is blotched on his back with perspiration and dust, so that you might use it for a map of the continent." (")

Mr. Lincoln felt the discourtesy. He had looked forward to the contest with keen zest, but Stanton had rudely pushed him aside and assumed superiority.

We have seen Mr. Lincoln, when clerk in Offut's store in New Salem, vanquishing Jack Armstrong in a wrestling match, and Jack from

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that day becoming a true and steadfast friend. It was Hannah May Armstrong, wife of Jack, who mended the clerk's clothing. He was ever welcomed to the Armstrong cabin. But Jack had died and Hannah was in trouble. To whom should she go but to the great-hearted friend, no longer reseating chairs or surveying land, but foremost among the lawyers of Illinois? It was a sad story. Her son William was in jail, accused of killing James T. Metzger. He went to a camp-meeting, drank too much whiskey, and quarrelled with Metzger.

A fatal blow was struck either by William or by a boon companion.

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