The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-10-05
WHOLE NO., $50.
Abraham Lincoln's Integrity---An In
teresting Story Of his Early Life.


TO The Editor Of the Oregon,dn:
The following incident in the early bis
tory Of Mr. Lincoln now the Republican
candidate for President, illustrates moro
fully than anything that can he said or
done now, his great integrity Of character,
and his poculi r fitness In that respect
for the office of President. 1t shows that
he would take special caro- thai not q
dollar of the peoples money should be usOd
improperly.
During the Presidency Of Gen, Jackson,
and while Mr. Barry Of Kentucky was Post.
master in tho little town of New Salem, in
Sangamon county, Illinois, tho Governments
portion of tho receipts of tho Office for the
two years he held II, amounted to one hum
drod and fifty or two hundred dollars; all
of which was permitted to remain in his
hands, pncallcd for by tho Postmaster Cen
oral, for threo or four years after Mr.. Lin
coin resigned tho Office, and removed to
Springfield, wbero he now lives. In the
mean time, Mr.. Kendall, having succeeded
| Mr. Barry in the Post Office Department,
set about relieving tho party from its pecu-
mary embarrassment. "by picking up the
crumbs which Mr.. Barry had thrown away
as not worth the trouble of saving, and in
the fall Of 1894 or '35 drew on Mr.. Lincoln,
| 10 favor of mail carrier, for the amount
standing against him on tho books of the
/ Department. The mail carrier inquired OF
mo for Mr.. Lincoln, at the same time show
ing mo tho draft on him for near two hun
drod dollars. folt that this would be
largo sum for q poor man like Mr.. LiDcolR
to raise on demand, and on meeting him
offered to aid him il necessary, He Thanked
me, and said he did not need assistance {;
went to his room, aud returned in few
minutes with a package in his hand con-
tanning money, and on counting it it was
! found TO be the exact amount called for by
the draft, and The very money received by
hun four and fire years prericus.
/ During all this period money was being
loaned for three and five per cent per
month, and Mr.. Lincoln was often, from
inability to collect what was due him, sorely
pressed for Ave dollars to pay board bill.
Besides, it was then the policy Of the Gov
ornment to allow the banks to use the pee
pies money for speculative purposes, and
it was not thought wrong or disreputable for
a Government official to use the money in
his possession, provided he had a reasonable
prospect for raising it when it vas wanted
for disbursement But Mr.. Lincoln believed
it was wrong to use what did not belong 10
him, and his stern, unbending integrity en-
ablod him to resist, not only the temp tation
of "pinchiog poverty" but the oil pewerful
influence of public sentinoDt.
Now, Mr.. Editor, feel very sure that
whom the people come to understand the
truo character of Mr.. Lincoln, and reflect
upon the present laxity Of public morals ON
The subject of using tho public money, and
the great need there is of reform in this
,, particular, will say of Abraham Lincoln in
November next, as was said of old Of the
faithful servant, by the Great Judge Of hu-
man nature thou hast been faithful over
few things" we twill make thee ruler over
mapy." II.
Lafayette, July 18th, 1860.