the first favoring compensated emancipation of slaves in the District of Columbia and freedom for all children of slave mothers born in the District on or after January 1, 1850. Although the House refused to act favorably on this suggestion, this resolution may be regarded as the first step in the direction that culminated in the passing of the thirteenth amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery throughout the United States. The second resolution, presented in September, expressed sympathy with the cause of Hungarian freedom. Great enthusiasm for this attempt at self-determination had been aroused throughout the country by the visit of Kossuth, but Lincoln undoubtedly was not induced to support it from political expediency because it found favor with his constituents. Like Clay, Lincoln had a keen sense of justice and a passionate love of liberty and the resolutions, which were almost certainly written as well as presented by him, expressed the sincere feelings of the speaker. They read in part as follows:

"Resolved, That in their present glorious struggle for liberty, the Hungarians command our highest admiration and have our warmest sympathy.

"Resolved, That they have our most ardent prayers for their speedy triumph and final

Owing to political conditions Lincoln was not renominated for Congress, but during his single term he achieved a reputation, both on the floor and in committee, equaling that of many of the oldest members. Apparently he could always command a hearing and, although he was in the minority and most of the measures supported by him failed of passage, there is ample evidence that he was one of the most popular members of the Lower House. Curiously enough, one of his warmest admirers among his colleagues was Alexander H. Stephens, destined to become the vice president of the Confederacy.

During the summer of 1848, Lincoln visited

New York State and New England. A great admirer of John Quincy Adams he was appropriately appointed a member of the congressional delegation to accompany the body of the former president to its burial place in Massachusetts, and he delayed his return to Illinois in order to deliver a number of speeches in support of General Taylor. Henry J. Raymond, in Life and Public Service of Abraham Lincoln, published in 1865, says of this trip:

"The journals of the day note his presence at the Massachusetts State Convention, during his brief visit to New England, and speak in terms of the highest praise of an address delivered at New Bedford.”

Lincoln delivered an address at the state convention in Worcester, which was described in a local paper as "a truly masterly and convincing speech." In another paper it was characterized as "one of the best speeches ever heard in Worcester." On the evening of September 22, he spoke at Tremont Temple, Bos

ton, appearing on the same platform with William H. Seward, with whom, twelve years later, he engaged in the contest for the republican nomination for the presidency. On the way home Lincoln passed through Albany, where he met Thurlow Weed, Seward's campaign manager in 1860. He visited Niagara Falls, which made a strong appeal to his historical imagination.

The main significance of the congressional period, so far as this study is concerned, lies in the fact that it brought Lincoln in close personal touch with many of the whig leaders of the day and introduced him as a speaker to a larger and more varied audience than he had hitherto been able to command. During the early years of his political career Lincoln had developed into one of the leading politicians of Illinois. From now on he must be regarded as an important national figure.

CHAPTER III

1852-1858

DURING the interval between his leaving Washington, in 1849, and the repeal of the Missouri Compromise Act, in 1854, Lincoln devoted himself in the main to his law practice, which had suffered seriously from his political activity. On completing his term he had been offered the governorship of the Oregon Territory, but, apparently out of consideration for his wife and to his own ultimate advantage, he decided to remain in Springfield. The only formal address from this nonpolitical period that has been preserved is the "Eulogy on Henry Clay," delivered in the state house at Springfield, July 16, 1852. This is, also, the only important eulogy, with one exception, that Lincoln is known to have pronounced and the subject is especially appropriate, for in the