Page images
PDF
EPUB

STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS.

77

oft-repeated political victories, his life has gone into history as one of disappointment and failure-failure which he deeply and bitterly felt during the last few months of his life.

The history of the past is strewn with such wrecks. Every generation presents examples to prove beyond cavil the fact that HONESTY, TRUTH, JUSTICE, and the other virtues enjoined by the Savior, are absolutely essential to a life that can, in any true sense, be either successful or happy.

CHAPTER X.

THE PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST.

N the spring of 1860, Mr. Lincoln received pressing invitations to visit and address the people in New York and New England. He accepted the call, and was heartily welcomed in several Eastern cities. In Cooper Institute, New York city, he delivered his last and perhaps most brilliant political address as a citizen, and one which, perhaps more than any other event, fixed the hearts of the people upon him as their choice for the next President.

During his stay in that city, he started out one Sabbath morning alone, and wandered into a mission Sabbath-school. The teacher, in describing the incident, says: "Our Sunday-school in the Five Points was assembled one Sabbath morning, a few months since, when I noticed a tall and remarkable-looking man enter the room

THE FIVE POINTS MISSION.

79

and take a seat among us. He listened with fixed attention to our exercises, and his countenance manifested such genuine interest that I approached him, and suggested that he might be willing to say something to the children. He accepted the invitation with evident pleasure, and, coming forward, began a simple address, which at once fascinated every little hearer and hushed the room to silence. His language was strikingly beautiful, and his tones musical, with intensest feeling. The little faces around would droop into sad conviction as he uttered sentences of warning, and would brighten into sunshine as he spoke cheerful words of promise. Once or twice he attempted to close his remarks, but the imperative shout, Go on!' 'O, do go on!' would compel him to resume. As I looked upon the gaunt and sinewy frame of the stranger, and marked his powerful head and determined features, now touched into softness by the impressions of the moment, I felt an irrepressible curiosity to know something more about him, and as he was quietly leaving the room, I begged to know his name. He courteously replied, 'It is Abraham Lincoln, from Illinois.""

6

On the 16th day of May the Republican Na

tional Convention met at Chicago, Illincis. The two most prominent candidates were William H. Seward, of New York, and Mr. Lincoln, and great efforts were made by the friends of each to secure the nomination of their candidate. Mr. Seward had thus far in his life been an able, tolerably consistent, and very eloquent friend of freedom. He was recognized as the most accomplished and capable statesman in the Republican ranks; his friends were, therefore, numerous and confident of the result. On the first ballot he had nearly double the number of votes that were cast for Mr. Lincoln, but not a majority of all the votes cast. On the second ballot, those who had before cast their ballots for Mr. Chase, Mr. Wade, and others, combined upon Mr. Lincoln, and he was nominated for the Presidency. The result was hailed throughout the whole North with the wildest demonstrations of joy. In November he was elected by great majorities in every Northern State, his vote in the electoral college being 180 to 123.

The slaveholding States had not only anticipated this result, but did indirectly what they could to secure it, intending to make it a pretext for rebellion. No sooner was the result

SLAVERY IN ARMS.

81

announced than the slave States at once began the most vigorous preparations for war. In December South Carolina seceded, and seized upon Fort Moultrie, in Charleston harbor. During January the other States lying upon the Gulf (except Texas, which followed the first day of the next month), seceded, and seized upon the forts and arsenals within their limits; and on the 9th of February the rebel government was organized at Montgomery, Alabama, by the election of Jefferson Davis as President. War was inevitable, and the weak and corrupt old politician James Buchanan, then President, permitted every influence of his high office to be used by his traitorous officials in strengthening the rebel cause and in preparing to overthrow the Government.

Mr. Lincoln foresaw the tremendous ordeal through which he was called to pass as the President of the nation, but calmly awaited, at his home in Springfield, till the time should come when his work was to begin. He had foreseen it clearly before his election, and relied upon the almighty arm of God with implicit confidence, and with the humble dependence of a little child. In a most serious conversation with

« PreviousContinue »