Lincoln. He whom he served with singleness of heart here, hath called him up higher, and henceforth his place is with the glorified, whose brows are illumined with the pure and holy light which proceeds from the throne of God. We could not if we would, and we would not if we could, attempt a political life of him whose loss we, as well as the nation, most deeply mourn. We have no fondness for the devious track of party politics, no desire to pander to so grovelling and base-born an ambition. But we have loved Abraham Lincoln as a child might love a father; we have confided in him, have trusted his sagacity, have honored his patriotism, have admired that sterling common sense which led him to judge so wisely, to act so honorably and justly, and to meet questions of such difficulty with such a wise and clear dis crimination. We desired to prepare this life of him, that we might exhibit him as he appeared and was, in all the relations of life, a man of the people, hardy, laborious, and self-reliant-a self-made man in the best sense of that title-studious, desirous ever to make up the deficiencies of education entailed by a frontier life, and of a rare teachable spirit; an honest, frank, manly man, one in whom his neighbors and friends could trust most implicitly; a pattern man in his fidelity to truth and principle and right. We have sought also to delineate him in his domestic and social relations, as a dutiful son, a kind and tender husband, a loving father, a genial and social friend, with a keen sense of humor, great conversational powers, and a fascinating way which, though his form was ungainly, won him the love of all who were thrown in his society. And it has been our aim also to depict him as he appeared in public life, a clear and lucid speaker, a skilful debater, who won the hearts of his audience to his own side, not by trick or subterfuge, but by his apt and effective way of "putting things;" clinching a point often by a telling illustration, which, however homely it might be, was never out of place; a statesman whose enlarged per ceptions and breadth of view took in all the bearings of the great questions which have agitated the public mind in the last five years; a man who, acting slowly, with calmness and great deliberation, never made a mistake in regard to a principle, and never indulged a thought of self, but always sought his country's good; a chief magistrate, who though reviled reviled not again, but with an almost angelic patience, sought to do good to those who despitefully used him; a diplomatist who believed that truth, honesty and frankness were better weapons for managing the intricate questions of our foreign policy, than deceit, duplicity, and "paltering in a double sense." And if some "good angel will guide our pencil while we draw," we would portray him also, as the Christian, in public and private life, seeking counsel from above, and amid all his weighty cares and his wearying burdens, looking to God for guidance, and devoutly acknowledging his indebtedness to him for every blessing. Having thus shown his character as it was in life, we would also venture, though with eyes bedimmed with tears, to draw aside the veil, and describe how the demon slavery, possessing the heart and firing the brain of the wretched assassin, led him to commit a deed which shall consign him to eternal infamy; and how, all over our land, and throughout christendom, at the tidings of his death, a wail of anguish went up to heaven from millions of stricken hearts, who had recognized in him the second founder of the Republic, the Emancipator, the one historic name which shall go down to posterity, linked in our country's history, with that of Washington. With such a purpose, we submit that there are ample reasons, as there is abundant room, for a new memoir of our martyred President ABRAHAM LINCOLN. CONTENTS. ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S BOYHOOD IN KENTUCKY. His Ancestry-Their Residence in Pennsylvania and Virginia-His Grandfather moves over into Kentucky-Is killed by an Indian- His widow settles in Washington County-His son, Thomas Lincoln, marries and locates near Hodgenville-Birth of Abraham ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S THIRTEEN YEARS IN INDIANA. Removal of the Lincoln Family to Spencer county, Indiana-Abra- ham as a Farm Boy-As a Marksman-The Death of his Mother- The second Marriage of his Father-Abraham's Education-His own Account, when President, of his Education-His love of Books The Story of the Damaged Book-His Voyage to New Orleans as a Flatboatman-Description of Early Times and Scenes LINCOLN IN ILLINOIS, AS A RAIL-SPLITTER, A CLERK, AND A VOLUNteer. Removal of the Family to Illinois-Abraham figures as a Rail-Splitter -As a Hunter-Another Removal of his Father-Abraham com- mences Life on his own Account-Makes a trip to New Orleans- Becomes a Clerk in a Country Store-Is elected a Captain of a Volunteer Company and serves in the Black Hawk War-Anecdote He becomes a candidate for the Legislature, but is defeated-Becomes a storekeeper and postmaster-Commences the study of law- Studies and practices surveying-Is elected to the Legislature- Re-elected for a second term-Defines his position on the subject of domestic slavery--Is elected for a third and fourth time, to the Legislature Is admitted to the practice of law-His character- istics as a lawyer-Thrilling incident of his law practice-His associates of the Springfield Bar-Enters warmly into the Presi- dential Canvass of 1840-Accepts, in 1842, the Whig nomination for Congress-Establishes his home at Springfield-His marriage. 70 MR. LINCOLN IN CONGRESS AND ON THE STUMP." Is sent to Congress in 1847-His record while there--Resumes the practice of Law-Enters warmly into the campaign of 1854- Measures swords with Douglas-Engages in the Presidential cam- paign of 1858-Is nominated for United States Senator-The cele- brated debates between Lincoln and Douglas-His tribute to the Declaration of Independence-Pen-portraits of Mr. Lincoln, during his campaign-Story, relating to the Harper's Ferry Invasion- Story of his duel with Hardin-Goes to Ohio, to aid in the canvass there-Extracts from his speeches-Gives a helping hand to the canvass in the Eastern States-His great Cooper Institute Speech |