Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1860-05-31

Aohl eAC lOSAeiOA VI oA0altG4Aa III the
ranks of the Wing party. position
that was appropriately assigned him
by his unaffected modeSty sni humble
pretensionS. he soon became recog
nized anil acknowledged a champion
and leader. and his unvarying cour
tesy, good nature AMI genial manners.
united with an utter disintereste.lness
aud abnegation Of self, made him
universal favorite.
During his Legislative period he
continued his law studies, and, remov-
ing to Springfield, he opened an office
and engaged actively in practice
Business flowed in upon him, and he
rose rapidly to distinction in his pro-
fession. He displayed remarkable
ability as an advocate in jury trials.
and many OF his law arguments were
masterpieces of logical reasoning
There was no refined ar;ificiality in his
forensic efforts. They all bore the
stamp of masculine common sense:
and he had natural easy mode of H.
lustration that made the most obtruse
subjects appear plain. His success at
the bar, however, did not Withdraw
his attention from politics. For many
years he was the "whecl horse" of the
Wing party of Illinois, and was on
the election ticket in several PreSiden-
tial 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, traverSing the entire State OF
Illinois, and addressing the public
meetings daily until near the close of
the campaign. when becoming conv-
inced that his labors in that field
would be unavailing, he crossed over
into Indiana, AMI continued his efforts
up to the day of election. The con-
test of that year in Illinois was mainly
on the tariff question. Mr.. Lincolu,
on 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 the full vigor of his pow
ers. and was accounted the ablest de-
batter of his party. They stumped the
State together, or nearly so, making
speeches usually on alternate days at
each place. and each addressing large
audiences at great length, sometimes
four hours together. Mr.. Lincoln, In
these elaborate speeches, evinced a
thorough mastery of the principles of
political economy which underlle the
tariffquestion, and presented arguments
in favor of the protective policy with n
power AMI conclusiveness rarely
equaled, AMI at the same time in q
manner so lucid and familiar and so
we'll interspersed with happy illustra-
tons and opposite anecdotes, as to es-
tablish a reputation which he has
never siuce failed to maintain, as tn"
ablcst leader in the Whig and Repub-
lican ranks in the great West.
In 1916 he was elected to Congress,
and served out his term, and would
have been reelected had he not de-
clined to be candidate. He steadily
and earnestly opposed the annexation
of Texas, and labo:ed with all his
powers in behalf of the Wilmot Pro
viso. In the National Convention Of
1S4S, of which he was member, he
advocated the nomination OF General
TAYLOR, and sustained the nomination
/ bv an active canvass in Illinois and
Indiana.
From lS49 to 1854 Mr.. Lincoln was
engaged assiduously in the practice o.
his profession, and being deeply i'm
merseG in business, was beginning tC
lose his interest in politics, when the
schcming ambition and groveling self
ishncss ofan unscrupulous aspirant tc
the Presidency brought about the re-
peal Of the Missouri Compromise =
That act of baseness and perfidy
aroused the sleeping lion. and he pre-
pared for new efforts. He threw him
self at once into the contest which fol
lowed, and fought the battle of free
dom on the ground OF his former con
nicts in Illinois with more than hi
accustomed energy and zeal. Thos
who recoilect the tremendous battl
fought in Illinois that year, will aware
to Abraham Lincoln fully three
fourths of the ability and unwearyin;
labor which resulted in the might.
victory which gave Illinois her frs
Republican Legislature. and place
J, Lyman Trumbull in the Senate of tn
United States. The first and creates
of that year came off between Lincol
, and Douglas at Springfield, durin
the progress Of the State fair, in OC
tober. We remember the event a
/ vividly as though it transpired yes
1 terday; and in view of the prominenc
9 now given to the chief actor in th'
. exciting event, it can not fail to |
{ interesting to all.
, The affair came off on the 4th ia
n Of October, 1854. The State fair ha
been in progress two days, and til
S capital was full Of all manner of mel
The Nebraska bill had been passed o
: the previous 22d of May. Mr. Doug
: las had returned to Illinois TO meet q
( outraged constituency. He had mad
: fragmen.ary speech in Chicago, Il
{ people filling mp each hiatus in p
4 culiar and good na:ured way. Il
f called the people a mob-they call
: him a rowdy. The "mob" had Il
: best of it. both then and at the ele
d ton which succeeded. The notoriety
d all these events had stirred mp the po
: itics of the State from bottom to to
h Hundreds of politicians had met 1
NJ SDr,ppEall oxnootipoy n forruam n,