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CHAPTER IV.

CALLED TO THE PRESIDENTIAL CHAIR.

"The man whom Heaven appoints

To govern others should himself first learn
To bend his passions to the sway of reason."

THOMSON'S TANCRED AND SIGISMUNDA,

"Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward." 1 SAM. xvi. 13.

THE prepared man now moved toward the appointed place of labor. The hour of destiny struck in Chicago on the 18th of May, 1860, when the Republican National Convention met "in an immense building, which the people of Chicago had put up for the purpose, called the Wigwam. There were four hundred and sixty-five delegates. The city was filled with earnest men who had gathered to press the claims of their favorite candidates, and the halls and corridors of all the hotels swarmed and buzzed with an eager crowd, in and out of which darted or pushed or wormed their way the various leaders of party politics."

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Mr. Lincoln was then at his home in Springfield. With a not improper anxiety to hear the result of the Convention, he called at the telegraph-office, and there learned how the first and second ballots resulted. He then left, and, going to the office of the "State Journal," sat there quietly conversing with some friends, when a boy placed a note in his hand. It was the announcement of his

*Baymond's "Life of Lincoln."

nomination on the third ballot. He looked at it silently, while the friends around him shouted in triumph; and then, putting it into his pocket, with characteristic calmness he said, in his own peculiar way, "There is a little woman down at our house would like to hear this; I'll go down and tell her;" and immediately returned to his home.

The next day brought to Springfield the Committee appointed by the Convention to inform Mr. Lincoln of ficially of his nomination. They were escorted to his house by a large concourse of citizens. One who was present on that occasion, and will never forget that memorable visit to the plain, white, two-story wooden

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house, on the corner of two streets, where the unpretending nominee received his official visitors, stated to the writer of these pages that no refreshments were provided save iced-water; and that when citizens of

*C. C. Coffin, Esq.,-" Carleton," of the "Boston Journal."

Springfield, apprising Mr. Lincoln of the coming Committee, asked him to furnish them with wine, &c., as was customary, he refused, saying he never used liquors himself, and could not give them to others: they insisted on furnishing some themselves; but the noble man answered characteristically, "I will not permit my friends to do in my house what I will not do myself." So temperance principles triumphed, and those citizens could only "put the cup to their neighbors' lip" by taking them afterward to a hotel, where all who wished strong drink could be gratified.

The President of the Convention was spokesman for the Committee, and in a brief speech informed the host of his nomination. With an expression half sad, half dignified, Mr. Lincoln heard the words; and, after a short pause of reflection, he answered:

"MR. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMITTEE,

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"I tender to you, and through`you to the Republican National Convention, and all the people represented in it, my profoundest thanks for the high honor done me, which you now formally announce. Deeply and even painfully sensible of the great responsibility which is inseparable from this high honor, a responsibility which I could almost wish had fallen upon some one of the far more eminent men and experienced statesmen whose distinguished names were before the Convention, I shall, by your leave, consider more fully the resolutions of the Convention denominated the platform, and without any unnecessary or unreasonable delay respond to you, Mr. Chairman, in writing, not doubting that the platform will be found satisfactory, and the nomination gratefully accepted. And now I will not longer defer the pleasure of taking you and each of you by the hand."

As one incident of this interesting occasion, it is said that "tall Judge Kelly of Pennsylvania, who was one of the Committee, and who is himself a great many feet high, had meanwhile been eying Mr. Lincoln's lofty form with a mixture of admiration, and very likely jealousy this had not escaped Mr. Lincoln, and, as he shook hands with the judge, he inquired, 'What is your height?'-'Six feet three: what is yours, Mr. Lincoln?' 'Six feet four.'

"Then,' said the judge, 'Pennsylvania bows to Illinois. My dear man, for years my heart has been aching for a President that I could look up to, and I've found him at last, in a land where we thought there were none but little giants.'"*

On the 23d of the month, Mr. Lincoln replied formally, by letter, to the official announcement of his nomination, in these words:

"Hon. GEORGE ASHMUN.

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"Sir, I accept the nomination tendered me by the Convention over which you presided, of which I am formally apprised in a letter of yourself and others acting as a Committee of the Convention for that purpose. The declaration of principles and sentiments which accompanies your letter meets my approval, and it shall be my care not to violate it or disregard it in any part. Imploring the assistance of Divine Providence, and with due regard to the views and feelings of all who were represented in the Convention, to the rights of all the States and Territories and people of the nation, to the inviolability of the Constitution, and the perpetual union, harmony, and prosperity of all, I am most happy to co

*Raymond's "Life of Lincoln."

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operate for the practical success of the principles declared by the Convention.

"Your obliged friend and fellow-citizen,

"ABRAHAM LINCOLN."

The enthusiasm of the Republicans during the ensuing presidential campaign was very great, scarcely equalled even in the log-cabin days of "Tippecanoe and Tyler too;" and, as one after another of the Northern and Western States declared the Chicago nominee to be their choice, the wildest demonstrations of joy were exhibited in torch-light processions, illuminations, &c., all over the loyal portion of the country. The Quakers of Pennsylvania were moved from their position of "eminent gravity" on this occasion, and polled an overwhelming vote for the champion of liberty; and the Quaker poet — who stands second to none in America - told the triumph in tuneful numbers.*

The solid phalanx of earnest men who had resolved that freedom should reign in America formed a body of

*It was the privilege of the writer to prepare, as a portion of the street decorations on the premises of Mr. S. D. Herrick, on the occasion of a jubileo illumination in Beverly, Mass., one line of Whittier's poem, in gigantic lettering; viz., "For Lincoln goes in when the Quakers come out." The whole poem was read at a Republican meeting in Georgetown, Mass., and was as follows:

"Not vainly we waited, and counted the hours;

The buds of our hope have burst out into flowers.
No room for misgiving; no loop-hole of doubt:

We've heard from the Keystone! The Quakers are out!

The plot has exploded; we've found out the trick;
The bribe goes a-begging; the fusion won't stick:
When the Wide-Awake lanterns are shining about,
The rogues stay at home, and the true men come out!

The good State has broken the cords for her spun;
Her oil-springs and water won't fuse into one;

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