White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1860-06-21

Salem and the surrounding country, ant
young Lincoln was elected captain,
success which, he has since said, CAV,
him more pleasure than he has ever sine,
enjoyed. He served with credit durins
the campaign, and became popular. Re
turning 70 Sangamon county. he learned
the art Of surveying. and prosecuted thai
profession until the financial crash o.
1887 destroyed the value of real estate
and ruined the business--the result o.
which was that Young Lincoln's survey.
ing apparatus was sold on an execution
by the sheriff. Nothing daunted by this
turn Of i'll luck, he directed his attention
to the law, and borrowing a few books
from a neighbor, which be took from the
Office in the evening and returned in the
morning, he learned the rudiments of the
profession in which he has since become
so distinguished, By tie light of a fire
place I -a ..
About this time the Wings of his
county conferred upon him the nomina-
ton for the Legislature. He was sue
cessful in this and three succeeding cleo
lions. by triumphant majorities. While
a member of the Legislature he first gave
indications Of his superior powers as de-
batter. and he increased, by frequent 2rac-
tice, his natural faculty for public speak
ing. He improved industriously the op.
portunities that were offered of sslf.culti-
walton. From the position of q subaltern
in the Wing party, position that was
appropriately assigned him by his .uuaf.
fected modesy and humble prttensions,
he soon became recognized and acknowl-
edged as a champion and a leader, and
his unvarying courtesy, good nature and
genial manners, united with an utter dis
interestedness and abnegation of self, m ade
him universal favorite.
Dnring his legislative period he con-
tinued his law stndies. and removing to
Springfield, he opened an Office and en-
gagged actively in practice. Business
flowed in upon him, and he rose rapidly
to distinction in his profession. He dis
played remarkable ability as an advocate
in jury trials. and many of his law argl
ments were master pieces of logical rea
soning. There was no refined artifciality
in his forensic efforts. They all bore the
stamp of masculine common sense /: and
he had a natural. easy mode of illustra-
ton, and made the most abstruse subjects
appear plain. His success at the bar,
however, did not withdraw his attention
from politics. For many years he was
the "wheel horse" Of the Wing party of
Illinois, and was on the electoral ticket
In several Presidential campaigns. At
such times he canvassed the State with
his usual vigor and ability. He was an
ardent friend of Henry Clay, and exerted
himself powerfully in his behalf in 1874,
trsversing the entire State Of Illinois, and
addressing public meetings daily until
near the close of the campaign, when be-
coming convinced that his labors in that
field would be unavailing, he crossed over
into Indiana, and continued his efforts up
to the day of election. The contest of
that year in Illinois was mainly on the
tariff question. Mr.. Lincoln. en- the
Wing side. and John Calhoun, on the
Democratic side, were the heads of the
opposing ELECTORAL tickets. Calhoun,
late of Nebraska, now dead, was then in
full vigor of his powers, and was &C.
counted the ablest debater of his parts
They stumped the State together, or near
ly so. making speeches, usually on alter
nate days at each place, and each ad-
dressing largo audiences at great length.
sometimes four hours together. MIR. Lin
coin, in these elaborate speeches, evinced
a thorough mastery of the principles of
political economy, which underlie the
tariff question, and presented arguments
in favor of the protective policy - a
power and conclnsiveness rarely equaied,
and at the same time in manner SO lu-
cid and familiar, and so well interpreted
with happy illustration and opposite an
ecdotes, as to establish reputation which
he has never since failed to maintain, as
the ablest leader in the Wing and RePub-
lican ranks in the great West.
In 1916 he was elected to Congress,
and served ont his term, and would have
been reelected had be not declined to be
a cadidste. He steadily aud earnestly
opposed the annexation of Texas, and Ia
bored with all his powers in behalf OF the
Wilmot Proviso, In the National Con-
vention Of which he was a member, he
advocated the nomination of General
Taylor, and sustained the nomination by
an active canvass in Illinois aud Indiana.
From 1S49 to 1854 Mr.. Lincoln was
engaged assiduously in the practice of his
profession, and being deeply immersed
in business. was beginning to lose his in
tsrest in politics. when the scheming am
bition- and groveling sel6shness OF an un-
aspirant to the Presidency
brought about the repeal of the Mis-
souri, Compromise. That act Of bassness
and per6dity aroused the sleeping lion.
and he prepared for new efforts. He
threw himself at once into the contest that
and fought the battle Of freedom
on the ground of his former conflicts in
Illinois with more than his accustomed
energy and zeal. Those who recollect
The tremendous battle fought in Illinois
that year will award to Abraham Lin
coin, fully three-fourths Of the ability and
labor which resulted in the
mighty victory which gave Illinois her
Inst Republican Legislature. and placed
Lyman Trumbull in the Senate Of the
United States. Tha first and greatest de-
oate of that wear came of between Lin. V