Randolph County journal., 1860-09-27
Abrl " am LircOir's Integrity
An kafersetinS Story Of hls
Elrsy Life


Early Life.
A correspondent of the Portland
Oregonian sends this narrative:
To tie Editor Of the Oregonian'
The following incident in the early
history of Mr.. Lincoln, now the Re-
publican candidate for President, IL
illustrates more fully than any thing
that can be said or done now. his great
integrity of character, and his peculiar
fitness in that respec. for the office OF
President. 1t shows that he would
take special care that not dollar of
the peoples money should be used i'm
properly.
During the Presidency of Gen.
jackson, and while Mr.. Barry of Ken
tucky was Postmaster in the little
town of New Salem, in Sangamon
county, LII. the Governments portion
of the receipts Of the office for the two
years he held it, amounted to one hum
dred and fifty or two hundred dollars;
all of which was permitted to remain
in his hands, uncalled for Ivy the Post
master General, for three or four years
after MIR. Lincoln resigned the office
and removed to Springfield, where h.
now lives. In the mean time, Mr..
Kendall, having succeeded Mr.. Barry
in the Post Office Department, set
about relieving the party from it's pee
uniary embarsssments, "by picking
up the crumbs" which Mr.. Barry had
thrown away as not worth the trouble
OF saving, and in the fall of 1884 or
80 drew on Mr.. Lincoln. in favor OF a
mail carrier, for the amount standing
against him on the books of the De.
partment. The mail carrier manfred
of me for Mr. Lincoln. ut the same
time showing me tine draft on him for
near two hundred dollars. | felt that
this would be large sum for poor
man like Mr. Lincoln 10 raise on de-
rnand. and on meeting him offered to
aid him it necessary. lie thanked me,
and said he did not need assistance
went to his room, and returned in n
few minutes with package in his hanl
containing money. and on counting il
it was found to be the exact amount
called for by the draft. and the very
money received by him four AMI five
years previous.
During all this period money was
was being loaned for three ami five
per cent per month, and Mr.. Lincoln
was of:en. from inability To collect
what was due him sorely pressed for
five dollars to pay a board bill. Be-
sides. it was then thu policy of the
Government to allcw the banks to use
the peoples money for speculative pur.
poses and it was not thonghtwrong oil
disreputable for a Government officer
to use the money in his possession
provided he had reasonable prespec.
. for raising it when IL was wanted foi
. disbursement. But Mr.. Lincoln believ,
ed it was wrong to use what did no
belong TO him, and his stern, unbend
ing integrity enabled him TO resist
not only the temptation of "pinchine
, poverty" but the all powreful inau
, ence of public sentiment.
Now. Mr.. Editor. feel very sur,
, that when the people come to under
stand the true character of NJ. Lin
coin, and reflect upon the present lax
ity of public morals on the subject o
using the public money, and the grea
need there is Of reform in this rar,icu
/ lar, will say of Abraham Lincoln il
, November next. as was said of old o
| the faithful servant. by the Grea
Judge OF hnman nature-"thou has
: been faithful over few things" W,
, will make the ruler over many
! - III.
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