The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-06-01

which was that young Lincolns surveying
apparatus was sold on execution by the shcr-
i'd. Nothing dsunted by this turn Of III
luck, he directed his attention to the law,
and borrowing few books from neighbor:
which he took from the Office In the evening
and returned In the morning, he learned the
rudimcnts of the professionin which he has
since become 50 distinguished, BY the light ef
q Fireplace.
About this time the whig Of his county
, conferred upon him nomination for the
Legislature. lie was successful In this and
three succeeding elections, by triumphant
majoritiss. While member Of the Legisla.
ture he first gave indications Of his superior
powers as debatsr, and %e increased, by
frequent practice, his natural faculty for
4 public Speaking. fle improved Industrious
" the opportunities that were here offered OF
self-cuitivation. frum the position Of n sub
altern in the ranks Of the Wing party, o po-
sition that was appropriately assigned him
BY his unaffected modesty and humble pre-
tensions, he soon became recognized and ac-
knowledged as q champion'and q leader. and
his unvarying courtesy, good naturc and gen.
ial manners, united with an utter disinter-
cstcdncss and abncgation Of self, made him
universal hvoritc.
During his legislative period he continued
his law studies, and removing to Springfield,
he opened an Office and engaged actively In
practice. business flowed in upon him, and
he rose rapidly to distinction in bis profess
ion. lie displayed remarkable ability as an
advocate in jury trials, and many Of his law
arguments were masterpieces of logical rea-
soning. There was no refined artiiieiality IN
his forensic efforts. They all bore tho stamp
of masculine common sense and he had o
natural easy mode Of illustration, that made
the most abstrusc subjects appear plain. Ills
success at the bar, however, did not with
draw his attention from politics. For many
wears he was the "whcel horse" Of the Wing
pirty of Illinois, and was on the electoral
ticket in several Presidential campaigns. At
such times he canvassed the State with his
usual ygor and ability. lie was an ardent
friend of Henry Clay, and c1crtcd him
self powerfully in his behalf In 1874,
trayersing the entire State of Illinois, and
addressing public meetings daily until near
the Gloss of the campaign, when becoming
convinced that his labors in that field would
be unavailing, he crossed over into Indiana,
and continued his efforts up to the day oi
election. The contest of that year In Him
ois was mainly on the tariff question. Mr..
Lincoln, on the Whig side, and John CAL
houn. on the Democrat side, were the heads
of the opposing electoral tickets. Calhoun,
late of Nobrlska, now dead, was then in the
full ygor of his powers, and was accounted
the ablest dcbater of his party. They
stumpcd the State together, or nearly so.
making speeches usually on alternate days,
at each place, and each addressing largo au-
diences at great length, sometimes four hours
together. Mr.. Lincoln, In these elaborate
speeches, eyinced thorough mastery OF tho
principles Of political economy which under
lie the tariff question, and presented arSu-
ments in favor Of the protective policy with
power and conclusiycness rarely cqnalcd.
and at the same time in q manner so lucid
and familiar and 80 well intersperscd with
happy illustrations and Apostle anecdotes,
rs 10 establish reputation which no has
never since failed to maintain, rs the nblest
leader in the Whig and Republican ranks In
the great West.
In 1916 no was elected to Congress, and
served out his term, and would have been rc-
elected had he not declined to be candidate.
lie steadily and earnestly opposed the annex
alton of Texas, and labored with oil his pow
ers in behalf of the Wimot proviso. In the
National Convention Of 1913, Of which he
was member. he advocated the nomination
of General Taylor, and sustained the nomi.
nation by an active canvass in Illinois and
Indiana.
From lS49 to 1854 Mr.. Lincoln was On.
gagged assiduously in the practice of his pro-
it=sion, and being deeply immersed In bust.
ness, was beginning to lose his interest in
politics, when the schcming ambition and
eroyclling sel6shncss of an INSCRIPTIONS as
pirant to the Presidency brought about the
repeal OF the Missouri Compromise. That act
of baseness and perfdy aroused the sleeping
lion, and he prepared for new Efforts. lie
threw himself at once into the contest that
followed, and fought the battle of freedom
on the ground of his former conflicts In lili-
nois with more than his accustomed energy
and zeal. Those who rccollcct the tremen.
lous battle Tough. in Illinois that year, will
award to ABRAHAM LINCOLN fully three fourths
of the ability and unwearying labor which
resulted in the, mighty victory which gave
Illinois her first Republican Legislature.
and placed LYMAN TRrNBuLL In the Senate OF
the United States. The first und greatest
debate of that year came of between LINCOLN
and DoroI-,s ut Springfield, during tho pro-
gress of the State fair in October. Wercmcm-
Der the event as vividly as though 1t trans
pired Yesterday, md in view Of the promi-
nencc now given To the chief actor In that
exciting event, 1t cannot fail to be interest
ing t6all.
The affair came OF on the fourth day Of
October, 1854. The State fair had been In
progress two days, and the capital was full
of nil manner of men. The Nebraska bill
had been PASSED ON the previous twsnty-scc-
and or Nav. Mr.. Douglas had returned to
Illinois 10 meet an outraged constituency
IJe had made fragmcntary speech In Chi
caro. the people filling up each hiatus In n
nocuiiar aud good humored way. lie called
ihc ncople mob-they called him rowdy.
Tn. ..,nob" had the bert Of It, both then and
nj the election which succeeded. The noto-
riety of all these events had stirred up tho
politics of the State from bottom 10 top
Hundreds Of politicians had met ut Spring.
field expecting o tournament of an unusual
character Douglas, Brecsc, Krrner, Lin
coin, Trumbull, Matteson, Yat,s, Codding,
John Calhoun, (of tho order Of tho Candle
Box.) John NJ. Palmer, tho whole house OF
the McConnells. Singleton, (known To- lame
in the Mormon War; Thomas l.. Harris, and
a host ,,f others. Several speeches were
made before. and several after, the passage
between I,yooI.y and DorGIAs, but that was
Justly held as The event Of the season.
We do not remember whether challenge
to debate passed between the friends Of the
sneaker or not. but there was q perfectly am
icable understanding between Lincoln and
Douglas, that the former should speak two
or three hours and the latter in reply in just
as little or as much time as he chose. Mr..
Lincoln tok'th stand at two o'clock-a
large crowd in attendance, and Mr.. Douglas
seated on small platform In front Of the
Il l. IT,. C.-S n L.. r q .