The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-06-14

and passed the fret year in Macon county
IN active labor On farm, where be and a
fellow laborer (named Hanks SPLIT
THREE THOUSAND RAILS, in the
year 1880. II will be interesting to the
millions before whom be is now placed as
a candidate for the highest Office in the
gift of a free people, TO know that he once
managed a .fqtJoat on the Ohio river. The
anecdotes which he sometimes relates to
his friends, Of his maratime experiences
before the introduction Of steam on the
Western rivers, are indescribably laugna.
BILE. From Macon county he went to
New Salem, in what is now Menard coun.
ty, where he remained about year.
Then came the Black Hawk war a. conf
pany of volunteers was raised in New Sa-
lem and the surrounding country, and
young Lincoln was elected cap,aln--a
success which, he has since said, gave
him mora pleasure than he has ever since
enjoyed He served with credit during
the campaign, and became popular. Re.
turning to Saugamon county, he learned
the art Of surveying, and prosecuted that
profession until The financial crash of 837
destroyed the value Of real estate and ru-
ined the business---lhe result Of which
was that young Lincoln's Surveying appa-
ratus was sold on execution by the sher-
if. Nothing daunted by this turn. of ILL
luck he directed his attention to the law,
and borrowing few books from neigh
Dor, which he took from the office in the
evening and returned in the morning, lie
learned the rudiments Of the profession in
which he has since become so distinguish
ed. by tile light of fire place.
About this time the Wings ofhis coun-
ty conferred upon him nomination for
the Legislature. He was successful in
this and three succeeding elections, by
triumphant majorities. When member
of the Legislature he first gave indica-
tons of his superior powers as debater
and he increased. by frequent practice,
his natural faculty for. pubic speaking
lie improved industriously the oppcrtu'
mites that vera here offered of self cult.
vation. From the position Of a subaltern
in the ranks ,f the Wing party, posi-.
ton that was appropriately assigned him
by his unaffected modesty and humble
pretenslons, be soon became recognized
and acknowledged as champion and a
leader, and his unvarying courtesy, good
nature aud genial manners, united with
an utter disinterestedness and abnegation
of SELF made him universal favorie.
During his Legislative period he contin-
ued his law studies, and removing tc
Springfield, he opened an Office and en-
gagged actively in practice. Business flow
ed in upoh him, and be rose rapidly tc
distinction in his profession. lie displayed
remarkable ability as an advocate in jur!
trials, and many Of his law arguments
were masterpieces Of logical reasoning
There was no refined articiaIity in hi'
forensic efforts. They all bore the stamI
Of masculine common sense; and he had
natural easy mode of illustration that made
the most obsruce subjects appear plain
His success at the bar, however, did no
withdraw his attention from politics. Fo
many year he was the "wbeel horae" o
the Wing party of Illinois, and was OF
the election ticket in several Presidential
campaigns. At such times he canvasseC
the State with his usual vigor and ability
He was an ardent friend Of Henry Clay
and exertcd himself powerfully in lis be
half in 1914, traversing the entire Stat
of Illinois, and addressing the publi
meetings daily until near the close Of tn
campaign. when becoming convinced tha
his labors in that field would be unavail
ing, he crossed over into Indiana, and con
iinued his efforts up to the day of cleo
tion. The contest of that year in lllinoi
was mainly on the tariff question. MI
Lincoln, on the Whig side, and John Cal
houn, on the Democratic side, were til
heads of the opposing electoral tickets
Calhoun, late of Nebraska, now dead, wa
then in the full yigor of his powers, ant
was accounted the ablest debater Of hi
party. They stumpod the State together
or nea'ly so, making speeches usually o
alternate days at each place, and each ad
dressing largo audiences at great length
sometimes four hours together, MI
Lincoln, in these elaborate speeches
evinced thorough mastery ofthe princi
Piles Of political economy which underli
the tariff question, and presented argu
ments in favor of The protective polio
! with a power and conclusiveness rarel
equaled, and at the same time in man
ner so lucid and familiar and 80 well ir
tersperced with happy Illustrations an
opposite anecdotes, as TO establish reE
utation which he has never since failed
maintain, as the ablest leader in the Viii
and Republican ranks 10 the great West.
J In 1916, ho was elected to Congress-
and served out his termi and would hsv
been reelected had he not declined to b
: a candidate. He steadily and earnestl
} opposed the annexation Of Texas, and Ii
: bored with all his powers in behalf of th
: Wilmot Proviso. In the National Coz
vention of l848, Of which lie was a men
Der, he advocated the nomination Of Ger
4 eral Taylor, and sustained the nominatio
by an active canvass in Illinois and Ind
ana.
: From lS49 to 1854 Mr.. Lincoln wi
+ engaged assiduously in the practice of h
e profession, and being deeply immersed
8 business, was beginning to lose his inte
!, est in politics, when the scheming amb
); tion and groveling sel6shness of an u
scrupulous aspirant to the Presidenc
It brought about the repeal Of the Nilsson
: Compromise That act Of baseness al
!, !. perfdy aroused the sleeping lion. and