White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1860-06-28

MA 10 Virgins, whence his grandfather
removed in 1912 to Kentucky, AM
was there surprised and killed by indians
while at work on bis clearing. Lik,
\ most pioneers, he left his family poor
and his son also died prematurely, leav.
ing a widow and several children, inclu.
ding Abraham, then six years old. Tn,
family removed soon after to Southern
Indiana, where Abraham grew to the
stature of Blk feet and some inches, but
enjoyed scarcely better opportunities fol
instruction thsn in Kentucky. Probably
six months in all Of the rudest sort o.
schooling comprehends the whole of hi,
technical education. He was in turn 6
! farm laborer, a common workman in q
sawmill, and a boatman on the Wabash
and Mississippi rivers. Thus hard work
and plenty of it, the rugged experiences
of aspiring poverty, the wild sports and
rude games of newly and thinly peo-
pied forest region-the education born OF
the log cabin, the rife, the axe, and the
pillow, combined with the reflections of an
original and vigorous mind, eager in the
pursuit of knowledge by every available
means, and developing q character Of
equal resource and frmness-made him
the man he has since proved himself.
At 81, he pushed farther West into
Illinois, which has for the last thirty
years been his home. living always near
and for some years past in Springfield,
the State Capital. He worked on farm
as hired man his first year in Illinois
the next year he was clerk in a store
then volunteered for the Black Hawk
war, and was chosen a captain by his
company the next year he was an un-
successful candidate for the Legislature ;
he was chosen the next, and served four
sessions with eminent usefulness and stea-
Oily increasing reputation; studied law,
meantime, and took his place at the bar ;
was early recognized as most effective
and convincing advocate before the Peo-
pie of Wing principles and the Protective
policy, and of their illustrious embodi-
ment, Henry Clay f.; was Wing candi-
date for Elcctor in nearly or quite every
Presidential contest from 1886 to 1852
inclusive was chosen to XXXth Con-
gress from the Central District of Hi
nois in 1916, and served to its close, but
WAS not candidate for reelection and
in 1S49 measurably withdrew from poll
tics and devoted himself to his profession
until the Nebraska Iniquity of 1854 call
ed him again into the political arena
He was the candidate of the Wings for
United States Senator before the Legisls.
ture chosen that year, but they were not a
majority of the body so he declined and
urged his friends to support Judge Trum
bull, the candidate of the anti-Nebraska
Democrats, who was thus elected.
In the gallant and memorable Presi-
Dental contest of 1856, Mr.. Lincoln's
name headed the Fremont Electoral
Ticket of Illinois. In 1858, he was
unanimously designated by the Republic
can State Convention to succeed Mr..
Douglas in the Senate, and thereupon
canvassed the State against Mr.. d. with
an ability in which logic, art, eloquence,
and thorough good nature were alike
conspicuous, and which gave him a ma
tional reputation. Mr.. Douglas secured
a predominance in the Legislature and
was elected, though Mr.. Lincoln had the
larger popular vote, so that if the ques-
ton had been decided by the majority OF
the reople, the champion of Squatter
Sovereignty and of indifference as regards
Slavery extension would not now be
Senator from Illinois.
As Presidential candidate. Mr.. Lin
coin enjoys peculiar advantages. While
his position as a Republican renders him
satisfactory to the most jealous member
of the party, the moderation of his char.
acter, and the conservative tendencies OF
his mind, long approved and well known
of all men in public life, commend him
to every section of the OPPOSITION
There is no good reason why Americans
and Wings, and in short all who are IN
spired rather by patriotism than by par
ty feeling, should not rally to his support.
Republicans and Conservatives, those
who dread the extension Of Slavery, and
those who dread the progress of Admin
istrative and Legislative Corruption may
be assured that in him both these evils
will End stern and immovable antago-
mist and an impossible barrier. at the
same time, as Man of the People, rails
ed by his own genius and integrity from
the humblest to the highest position, hay
ing made for himself an honored name as
q lawyer, an advocate. popular orator,
a statesman and Man, the industrious
and intelligent masses of the country
may well hail his nomination with a
swelling tide of enthusiasm, Of which the
wild and prolonged outbursts at Chicago
yesterday are the fitting prelude and be-
ginning. s-
We need hardly say that the election
of Mr.. Lincoln, though it cannot be ac-
complished without arduous and persistent
efforts, is eminently thing that ran Be
done. The disruption of the Democratic
party, now perhaps less likely to be re-
paired than before his nomination, the
fact that he was put forward BY one OF
the doubtful States, Illinois, and nomina-
ted in great measure by votes from two
others, namely. Pennsylvania and New
Jersey, the universal desire of the country
to settle the vexatious Slavery question
in accordance with the views of the Faith.
ers-all these are powerful in behalf OF
the Chicago ticket. But. as we said, Ell
forts ynust be made. The organization