New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-19
"HONEsT OLD ABE"

people of the Northwest are wont 10 desighhte 'uo
man whom the Republican Convention at Chicago
Yesterday. on the third ballot, and by majority
which instantly became unanimity, selected as
our standard bearer in the great contest now open
ing for the redemption of the Federal Government
from the corruption weakness, and degradation
into which long Democratic predominance has
brought it. This rude designation, invented by
unerring popular instinct, expresses the entire and
confident affection which the heart of the masses
feels for Mr.. LINCOLN wherever he is known; it
declares the popular certainty that his is nature
of sterling stuff, which may always be relied upon
for perfect integrity and constant fidelity to duty
Tn one respect, however, it is not to be taken as
literal description: Mr.. LINCOLN is not an old pan
either in years or in character. On the contrary,
he is still in the full vigOr and bloom of manly
maturity.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN was born in Hardin County,
Kentucky, February ~, 1909, and is now 81
years DID, He is very probably of the race OF
the Massachusetts Lincons, though his
parents were of Quaker stock, that migrated
from Pennsylvania to Virginia, whence his
grandfather removed in 1872 to Kentucky, and
was there surprised and killed by Indians while at
work on his clearing. Like most pioneers, he left
his family poor; and his son also died prematurely,
al;
Abraham. then six years old. The family re-
moved soon after to Southern Indiana, where
Abraham grew to the stature of SIX feet and some
inches but enjoyed scarcely better opportunities Tor
instruction than in Kentucky. Probably six months
in all of the rudest sort of schooling comprehends
the whole of his technical education. He was in
turn farm laborer, common workman in a saw
mill, and boatman on the Wabash and Mississippi
rivers. Thus hard work and plenty of it, the
rugged experiences of aspiring poverty, the wild
sports and rude games of newly and thinly peo-
pied forest region-the education born of the log
cabin, the rifle, the Ak, and the plow, combined
with the reflections of an original and vigorous
mind, eager in the pursuit of knowledge by every
available means, and developing character of
equal resource and frmness-made him the man
he has since proved himself
At q, he pushed further West into Illinois,
which has for the last thirty years been his home,
living always near and for some years past in
Springfield, the State Capital He worked on
farm as hired man his first year in Illinois; the
next year he was a clerk in a store; then voun-
teered for the Black Hawk war, and was chosen
candidate for the Legislature; he was
chosen the next, and served four sessions with emf
nent usefulness and steadily increasing reputation;
studied law, meantime and took his place at the
bar; was early recognized as most effective and
convincing advocate before the People of Wing
principles and the Protective policy, and of their
illustrious embodiment, Henry Clay; was
Wing candidate for Elector in nearly or quite
every Presidential contest from 1886 to 1852 in
elusive; was chosen to the XXXth Congress from the
Central District of Illinois in 1896 and served to it's
close, but was not candidate for reelection; and
in 1s49 measurably withdrew from politics and de-
voted himself to the practice of his profession until
the Nebraska Iniquity of 1854 called him again
into the political arena. He was the candi-
date of the Wings for u. S. Senator before the
Legislature chosen that year; but they were not
majority of the body; he declined and urged his
friends to support Judge Trumbul, the candidate
IF the anti-Nebraska Democrats, who was thus
Elected.
In the gallant and memorable Presidential con.
est of 1856, Mr.. LNCOLN's name headed the |
Fremont Electoral Ticket of Illinois. In 1853, |
re was unanimously designated by the Re-
publican State Convention to succeed Mr. Doug.
as in the Senate and thereupon canvassed the
state against Mr. d. with an ability in which
ogic, art, eloquence, and thorough good ma
ure were alike conspicuous, and which gave
Jim national reputation. Mr.. Douglas secured
predOminance in the Legislature and was elected,
hough Mr.. LINCOLN bad the larger popular vote
o that if the question had been decided by the
lsjority Of the people, the champion of squatter
sovereignty and of Indifference as regards Slavery
xtensicn would not now be Senator from
illinois.
AS Presidential candidate, Mr., LINCOLN en-.