A SHORT LIFE OF

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

CONDENSED FROM NICOLAY & HAY'S
ABRAHAM LINCOLN: A HISTORY

BY

JOHN G. NICOLAY

NEW YORK

The Century Co.

Copyright, 1902, by
THE CENTURY CO.

Published October, 1002

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES BY

THE DE VINNE PRESS, N. Y.

CONTENTS

I

E

457

N6554

1906

PAGE

Ancestry-Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks-Rock Spring

Farm-Lincoln's Birth - Kentucky Schools - The Journey to

Indiana-Pigeon Creek Settlement - Indiana Schools - Sally

Bush Lincoln

Sermons-Flatboat Voyage to New Orleans - The Journey to

Gentryville - Work and Books-Satires and

Illinois

3

II

Flatboat-New Salem - Election Clerk-Store and Mill - Kirk-

ham's "Grammar" "Sangamo Journal" - The Talisman

-Lincoln's Address, March 9, 1832 - Black Hawk War-

Lincoln Elected Captain - Mustered out May 27, 1832 - Re-

enlisted in Independent Spy Battalion - Finally Mustered out,

June 16, 1832 - Defeated for the Legislature - Blacksmith or

Lawyer?-The Lincoln-Berry Store-Appointed Postmaster,

May 7, 1833-National Politics

III

Appointed Deputy Surveyor-Elected to Legislature in 1834-

Campaign Issues-Begins Study of Law - Internal Improve-

ment System-The Lincoln-Stone Protest - Candidate for

Law Practice-Rules for a Lawyer-Law and Politics: Twin

Occupations-The Springfield Coterie - Friendly Help -

Anne Rutledge-Mary Owens

21

49

V

PAGE

Springfield Society - Miss Mary Todd - Lincoln's Engagement

-His Deep Despondency - Visit to Kentucky-Letters to

Speed-The Shields Duel - Marriage - Law Partnership with

Logan-Hardin Nominated for Congress, 1843 - Baker Nomi-

nated for Congress, 1844 - Lincoln Nominated and Elected,

1846

VI

First Session of the Thirtieth Congress - Mexican War- "Wil-

mot Proviso"- Campaign of 1848 - Letters to Herndon about

Young Men in Politics-Speech in Congress on the Mexican

War-Second Session of the Thirtieth Congress-Bill to Pro-

hibit Slavery in the District of Columbia - Lincoln's Recom-

mendations of Office-Seekers - Letters to Speed-Commis-

sioner of the General Land Office - Declines Governorship of

Oregon

VII

Repeal of the Missouri Compromise - State Fair Debate - Peoria

Debate - Trumbull Elected - Letter to Robinson - The

Know-Nothings-Decatur Meeting - Bloomington Conven-

tion-Philadelphia Convention - Lincoln's Vote for Vice-

President - Frémont and Dayton - Lincoln's Campaign

Speeches-Chicago Banquet Speech

VIII

Buchanan Elected President - The Dred Scott Decision -

Douglas's Springfield Speech, 1857 - Lincoln's Answering

Speech-Criticism of Dred Scott Decision - Kansas Civil War

-Buchanan Appoints Walker - Walker's Letter on Kansas-

The Lecompton Constitution - Revolt of Douglas

IX

The Senatorial Contest in Illinois - "House Divided against

Itself" Speech - The Lincoln-Douglas Debates-The Free-

port Doctrine-Douglas Deposed from Chairmanship of Com

61

76

94

108

CONTENTS

mittee on Territories - Benjamin on Douglas - Lincoln's

Popular Majority - Douglas Gains Legislature - Greeley, Crit-

tenden, et al. "The Fight Must Go On"-Douglas's South-

ern Speeches-Senator Brown's Questions-Lincoln's Warn-

ing against Popular Sovereignty-The War of Pamphlets -

Lincoln's Ohio Speeches - The John Brown Raid-Lincoln's

Comment

ix

PAGE

118

X

Lincoln's Kansas Speeches-The Cooper Institute Speech -

New England Speeches - The Democratic Schism - Senator

Brown's Resolutions - Jefferson Davis's Resolutions - The

Charleston Convention - Majority and Minority Reports-

Cotton State Delegations Secede - Charleston Convention

Adjourns-Democratic Baltimore Convention Splits - Breck

inridge Nominated - Douglas Nominated - Bell Nominated

by Union Constitutional Convention - Chicago Convention

Lincoln's Letters to Pickett and Judd - The Pivotal States-

Lincoln Nominated

136

XI

Candidates and Platforms-The Political Chances - Decatur

Lincoln Resolution - John Hanks and the Lincoln Rails-

The Rail-Splitter Candidate - The Wide-Awakes - Douglas's

Southern Tour - Jefferson Davis's Address - Fusion-Lin-

coln at the State House - The Election Result

XII

Lincoln's Cabinet Program - Members from the South-Ques-

tions and Answers - Correspondence with Stephens - Action

of Congress-Peace Convention - Preparation of the In-

augural-Lincoln's Farewell Address - The Journey to Wash-

ington-Lincoln's Midnight Journey

XIII

The Secession Movement South Carolina Secession - Buchan-

an's Neglect-Disloyal Cabinet Members - Washington Cen-

152

161