The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-07-19

worth something; and | now contribute
mine, which may be worth nothing. At all
events, it will mislead nobody, and there
fore will do no harm. | would not borrow
money. | am against an overwhelming,
crushing system. Suppose that, at each
session, Congress shall first determine hOU
much money can, for that year, be spared for
improvements, then apportion that sum to
the most important objects So far, all is
easy; but how shall we determine which
are the most important? On this question
comes the collision of interests. shall be
slow to acknowledge that yolr harbor or
your river is more important than mine, and
Uice UersG. To clear this difficulty, let US
have that same statistical information
which the gentleman from Ohio Mr.. Vim
ton suggested at the beginning OF this SEES
sion. In that information we shall have
stern, unbending basis of tactS-a basis IN
no wise subject to whim, caprice, or local
interest. The prelimited amount of means
will save US from doing too much, and the
statistics will save US from doing what we
do in ,Crong places. Adopt and adhere to
this course, and, it seems TO me, the difficult
ty is cleared. - Congressional Globe, UOL. 10
page 700.
On the passage of the river and harbor
bill by the House, August II, 1888, Mr..
Liucolns name is found in the affirmative.
Congressional Globe, UoE. 1e, page 1062.)
The tariff question was not up in Con-
gress during Mr.. Lincoln's term of service,
but he nevertheless had an opportunity of
putting himself upon the record in favor of
protecting the great interests Of American
labor.
Hon. Andrew Stewart, of Pennsylvania,
called Tariff Andy" on the 10Th day of
June, 1848, asked leave to introduce the
following resolution
"ResoLUed That the Committe of Ways
and Means be instructed to inquire into the
expediency of reporting bill increasing
the duties on foreign Injuries of all kinds,
and on such foreign manufactures as are
now coming into ruinous competition with
American labor"
Upon the question being taken, Mr.. Lin
coin Uoted in the q6frmatfve Congregational
Globe, UoL 10, page 852.)
Mr.. Lincoln was an early and consistent
advocate of the doctrine of slavery prohibit
ton in the Territories, and of the power of
Congress over them. He voted for the
amendment to the Oregon bill, which ex-
tended the ordinance of 1887 over Oregon
Territory, and for the bill thus amended
Congressional Globe, vol. le, page 1920
Such is the record made by Mr.. Lincoln
on all the important matters before Congress
while he was a member Though serving
his constituents with ability and fidelity,
and to the entire satisfaction of his friends,
he declined q denomination, preferring the
quiet pursuit Of his profession, and the en-
joyments of private life, to the blandish-
ments of Office and the turmoil of political
strife. Yet, such was his interest in politi-
aol tforo and 6aatfu di.l ha fpaI ba
importance to The country of the success of
the principles he upheld that he actively
participated in the Presidential contest of
1852.
The repeal of the Missouri compromise,
in 1854, called Mr.. Lincoln again into the
field of politics, and he threw himself into
the great contest of that year, with all the
energy of his character and the power of his
will. Stamping the State in all directions,
and speaking to immense audiences, he
awakened the people to the aggressive
character of that legislation, and called on
them to rebuke that ruthless hand "
which dared to break down that sacred COM
promise, and which, in the words of Senator
Douglas, ''was akin to the Constitution,
and canonizei in the hearts of the Amerl-
can people"
Upon the Legislature elected that year de-
volved the duty of electing an United States
Senator, in the place of General Shields
who had voted for the Kansas Nebraska
bill. The Wings and Anti. Nebraska De-
mocrat5 constituted a majority of both
branches of that Legislature, but fiye-sixths
of this majority had been Wings, and Mr.
Lincoln was their first choice for Senator.
The Anti-Nebraska Democrats presented
Judge Trumbull as q candidate, and Mr.
Lincoln finding after the balloting COM
menced that the continuance of his name
before the joint Convention might result in
the election of the Nebraska Democratic cam
dIdate, magnanimously withdrew from the
contest, and earnestly entreated his friends
to elect Judge Teumbull, an Anti-Nebraska
Democrat whose subsequent career in the
Senate has been marked by great ability,
and by strict fidelity to the convictions OF
those who elected him.
In 1856, the Republican party in Illinois
was fully inaugurated as State organiza-
ton at the Bloomington Convention, held in
May of that year. Mr.. Lincoln was present
at that Convention, and gave the weight
and influence of his great name to the es-
Enlistment of that party, and to a bold and
emphatic declaration of princiE les. His
speech upon that occasion was one of the
most mastery efforts of his life, and carried
conviction to all minds, stirring up the
Convention to the highest pitch of enthusi-
asm, and nerving every man with resolute
determination. He was placed on the Re-
Republican electoral ticket as an elector at
large, associated with Frederic Hecker, the
German patriot and orator, who had fought
for liberty in his native land, and whose
eloquence awakened in the hearts of his
countrymen the highest emotions of patri-
otism.
In that campaign Mr.. Lincoln again can
vassed the State, laboring with great ear
nestness and zeal; and it could truly be said
of him,
Ono dangers daunted, and no labors tired
Though Mr.. Buchanan carried the State, yet
the entire Republican State ticket was
elected.
Great interest was centered in the election
of 1s58-the Legislature to be elected was
to name a successor to Judge Douglas in the
Senate OF the United States The Repub-