Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-06-22

Senlal .1anneTS, uultcu Win certain lofty
disinterestedness, and generous abnegalion Of
self, that made him universal favorite.
During bis legislative period, be studied law,
and removing to Springfield, he opened an of
fee and engaged actively in practice. Busi-
ness flowed in upon him, aud be rose rapidly to
distinction in bis profession. He displayed
remarkable ability as an advocate in jury trials,
and many of his law arguments were master
pieces Of logical reasoning. There was no
refined arti6ciality in his forensic Efforts
They all bore the stamp Of mascp&iaesc
sense; and he had natural, easy mode of il,
! ustratiop, that made the most abstrase sub
jects appear plain. His success at the bar,
however, did not withdraw his attention from
politics. For many years be was the "wheel.
horse" of the Wing party in the State of Hi
nois, aud was on the electoral ticket in several
/ Presidential campaigns. AT such times, he
canvassed the State with his usual vigor and
ability. lie was an ardent friend of Henry
Clay, aud excrted himself powerfully in his
behalf IN 1874, traversing the entire State of
Illinois, and addressing public meetings daily,
until near the close of the campaign, when
becoming convinced that his labors in field
would be unayailing, he crossed over into In
diana, and continued his efforts np to the day of
the election. The contest of that year in illi-
nois was mainly on tue question of the tariff.
Mr.. Lincoln on the Wing side, and John Cal
houn, on the Democratic side, we're the heads
CT the opposing electoral tickets. Calhoun,
late of Nebraska, now dead, was then 10 the
full vigor of his really great powers, and was
accounted the greatest debater of his party
They sfumped 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.
| Dir. Lincoln, 10 these elaborate speeches,
evinced a thorough mastery Of the principles
of political economy which underlie the tariff
question, and presented arguments in favor of
the protective policy with power and con-
elusIVeness rarely equallsd, aud at the same
time ia manner so lucid and familiar, and SO
we'll inierspersed with happy illustrations and
| opposite anecdotes as to secure the delighted
attention. of bis auditory
Mr. Lincoln has been consistent aud earn
est tariff man from the first hour of his enters
ing public life. lie is such from principle, and
from deeply rooted conviction of the wisdom
of lie protective policy; and whatever influence
he may hereafter exert upon the government
will be in favor of that policy.
In 1916 be was elected to Congress and
served out his term; and he would have been
reelected had he not declined to be u candI-
date. AS to the character of bis services, In
that body, my information does rot enable me
to speak particularly.
In the National Convention of 1913, of
which be was a member, he.advoted the nomi-
nation of Gen. Taylor, and sustained the nomi-
nation By an active and energetic canvass of
his own State. In 1852 he was equally eff
cent in his efforts for Gen. Scott, and was
| considered by the Wings of Illinois and the
Northwest as one of their abIest and wlsest
leaders.
From 1849 to 1854, Mr. Lincoln was en-
gagged assiduously in the practice of his pro-
fession, and being deeply immersed in business,
was beginning to lose bis interest in politics,
when the seheming ambition ana groveling
selfshness of an unscrupuous aspirant to the
Presidency brought about the repeal of the
Missouri Compromise. That act of baseness
aud perfdy aroused the sleeping lion and he
prepared for new efforts. He threw himself
at once into the contest that followed and
fought the battle of freedom on the ground of
his former conflicts in Illinois with more than
his accustomed energy and zeal. lie fully APP
precIated the Importance of the slavery issue,
and felt the force of the moral causes that
must influence the question, and he never fail
ed to appeal TO the moral sentiment of the
people IN aid Of the argument drawn from
political sources, and to illuminate his theme
with the lofty Inspirations of al eloquence,
pleading for the rights of humanity. A revo-
luton swept the State. For the first time a
majority of the Legislature of Illinois was OPP
posed to the Democratic administration of the
Federal government. They were not, however,
all Free-Soilers IN principle. A'small body of
anti-Nebraska Democrats Eeld the balance of
power. This circumstance gave occasion for
striking exhibition of Mr.. Lineoln's habitual
magnanimity. A United States Senator was to
be elected in place Of Gen. Shields, who had
yielded to the Influence Of his less scrupulous
colleague and against his own better Judgment
voted for the Kansas-Nebraska act. Mr. Lin
cola was the Admitted leader of the opposition
aud was universally regarded as their candl-
date for Senator. Governor Matteson was the
candidate eff the Nebraska Democrats and
Lyman Trumbull of the handful of Anti-Ne-
braska Democrats in the Legislature. The
election came on, and number of ballots
were taken, the almost united opposition voting
for Lincoln, but few Anti-Nebraska Demo-
Gratis for Trumbull. Mr.. Lincoln became ap
prehensiVe that those men would vote for and
elect MattesoD, and to prevent such consum-
nation he went personally to his friends and
by strong persuasion induced them to vote for
Trumbull. ae thus secured, by an act Of
generous self-sacrifce, triumph of the cause
of right, and an advocate of it on the floor of
the Senate, not inferior in earnest zeal for the
principles of Republicanism to any member OF
that body. 1t was not without difficulty, how
ever, that this object was accomplished. The
opposition throughout the State had with great
unanimity looked to Mr.. Lincoln to represent
] Illinois in the Senate, and was with great re-