Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1860-07-12

ll ot EECH OF Hsai
HON. Il. b. WASHBURNE, Of iii,
Delirered in the u. S, House Of Representatives.
e.i,ae II May 25th, 1860. s'H
IL PERSONAL HISTORY AND PUBLIC RECORD

The House being in Committee of the
Whole on the State of the Union
Mr.. WAsHBURSs, Of Illinois. said:7gs
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: The Republican party.
through lis proper organization, has placed
in nomination for President of the United
States, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, of Illinois,
The people, who will be called upon to
pass upon that nomination. have right to
inquire into the life, the character. and the
political opinions, of the man who is COM
mendcd to their suffrages for the highest
Office in their gift. The State which / in
part represent on this floor, having been
honored by this nomination, | como here
to-day TO speak of the personal and politi-
cal history OF the candidate. l have known
Mr., Lincoln well fortwenty years have
known him in private life. have known
him at the bar. and have associated with
him in every political contest in our State
since the advent Of '.Tippecanoe AMI Tyler
too" in 1910. While may speak with
the accents ofa strong personal friendship.
shall speak with the frankness of CON
scious truth, and, | trust, without .exag-
H. ..-...r
Springing from the, humblest ranks in
life, and unaided by the advcntitious sup
ports of family or wealth. Mr.. Lincoln has
reached his present exalted position by the
strength OF his will. the power of his intel
lect. and the honesty Of his heart. He was
born in Hardin county, Kentucky. Februa-
ry -, 1908; his family removed to Spencer
county, Inliana. in 1916. where he passed.
his boyhood amid the roushest hariships
and the most trying experiences of frontier
life. Without schools. and almost with
out books, he spent his time amid the wild
romantic scenes of the border, alternating
the hard labors Of the farm by the sport
Of the huntsman. OF fine physical dcvel-
opmcnt, witha vigorous intellect, quick
intelligence, ready wit, and genial charac-
ter. he gave carly evidences of the superb
ority le has since attained. His first adj
vent iato the great world. from the COM
parative scclusion Of his frontier home, was
down the Wabash and Ohio rivers in
charge Of fat-Joat. of a class known to
all old river men of the West as broad
horns" These boats, laden with the pro-
stream until a market was found for the
cargo; anil when that was disposed of, the
boat itself was sold. and those in charge
made their way back. in the best manner
they could, to their homes y great many
persons now living have heard Mr. Lincoln
relate with inimitable effect, the anecdotes
of his experience of that portion of his
life.
In 1880, Mr.. Lincoln cmigrated to that
State. with which his great name has now
become historically connected. He pass
ell the first year in Macon county, and ac-
lively laborel on farm. where he and fel
low -laborcr by the name of John Hanks
split three thousand rails. This portion
of the history of Mr.. Lincoln's life gave
rise to the incident in the late Republican
State Convention at Decatur. in Macor
county, which awakened the intenscst en-
thusasm Of that vast concourse of citizen.
from all parts Of the State. Mr.. Lincolr
was present as spectator in that Conven.
vcniion, and was invited to take a scat up.
on the platform. When he hal taken his
seat. it was announced to the Conve ntior
that John Hunks. an old Democrat who hat
grown gray in the service of that party
desired to make contribution to the Con
vention; AMI the offer being accepted. forth
with two old-time fence rails, decorate
with flags anl strcamers. were borne thro
the crowd into the Convention. bearing
the inscriptions: