HOUGH HUNDREDS of portraits have been made, by painters and photographers (many to pass on, by copies, to future times), I have never seen one yet that in my opinion deserved to be called a perfectly good likeness; nor do I believe there is really such a one in existence. May I not say too, that as there is no entirely competent and emblematic likeness of Abraham Lincoln in picture or statue, there is not-perhaps cannot be any fully appropriate literary statement or summing-up of him yet in existence? WALT WHITMAN. L I. AUTOBIOGRAPHIC For Charles Lanman's Dictionary of Congress, 1858. "Born Feb. 12, 1809, in Hardin county, Kentucky. Education defective. it Profession, a lawyer. Have been a captain of volunteers in the Black Postmaster at a very small office. Four times a member of the Illinois Legislature. A. Lincoln. "If any personal description of me is thought desirable, may be said I am, in height, six feet four inches nearly; lean in flesh, weighing on an average one hundred and eighty pounds; dark complexion, with coarse black hair and gray eyes. No other marks or brands recollected.' "It seems as if the question whether my first name is 'Abraham' or 'Abram' will never be settled. It is 'Abraham' and if the letter of acceptance is not yet in print, you may, if you think fit, have my signature thereto printed 'Abraham Lincoln'."* 1 1860. 2 'To Hon. George Ashmun, Springfield, Ill., June 4, 1860. II. CONGRESSMAN Mr. Lincoln was elected as a whig to the Thirtieth Congress March 4, 1847 to March 3, 1849. He was the only Whig in the delegation from Illinois. Mr. Lincoln registered at Brown's or The Indian Queen Hotel, December 2, 1847.' He had been in Congress a full month when he engaged in correspondence relative to reelection. For reelection with Mr. Lincoln it was "Barkis is willin'," however, his constituents required more ardent wooing. The writers say Mr. Lincoln in Congress was inactive and drew little notice. Their statements are the reverse of the fact. Mr. Lincoln took quarters with Mrs. Ann G. Spriggs, widow of Benjamin. The house was in Carroll Row on First street between A and East Capitol streets; of the six, the fourth from A. At Mrs. Spriggs' were quartered a number of Congressmen of the same political principle. Of these was Joshua R. Giddings, the father of the abolitionists. Conferences there were held in furtherance of the cessation of slavery. At one, Mr. Lincoln presented a plan of emancipation in the District of Columbia by purchase from the slaveholders.' Of Mr. Lincoln's acquaintances, citizens of Washington, were Benjamin B. French and Nathan Sargent. Dr. Samuel C. Busey used his talent, which measured with the scriptural five talents, in writing local history in reminiscent form. To him, almost exclusively, is an |