The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-05-24

Abraham LincoIn.--A sketch of his Life.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, the Republican
candidate for President, is native of
Kentucky, and was born ssof poor but
honest parents" February -, 1908,
and is therefore SO years of age-in
the prime of mature manhood. When
hewas but eight years of age, his father
removed his family to Indiana, where
young Abe grew up in pioneer life, in
ured to all the hardships and labors of
pioneer life, which made astrong- heart
ed and strong-framed man of him. He
never attended any higher institution
of learning than the common school
and the home Preside. When he was
twenty-one years of age, he removed
to Macon county, Illinois, and labored,
for a time on farm, and then it was
Gust thirty years ago) that he and
fellow laborer accomplished the feat Of
splitting in one year 10000 fence rails,
out of the "raw material in the woods,
in addition to the other equally difficult
labors. Among the "posts of honor I"
held by Mr.. Lincoln in his early years,
was that of Captain of an Ohio river
scow boat, and subsequently, Captain
of a brave company of volunteers in
the Black Hawk war, who did gallant
service in that bloody struggle. After
that, he went to Sangamon county,
where he now resides, and studied
practical surveying and became an
adept in his busidess, and by his manly
characteristics, became favorite of
the people of all that section of coun-
try. They elected him to the Legisla-
ture for four terms, as the Wing candi-
date, and then it was that his powers
as a debater and public speaker were
first developed, and he soon became
the leader of the Wing party of that
region. In connection with his legis-
lative duties, he assiduously persued
the study of the law, was admitted to
practice. and opened an Office in Spring
field. He soon rose to high rank in
his profession, of which he is now one
of the ablest members in the State.
Mr.. Lincoln, in the best days of the
old Wing party, was active ON the
stump. He did gallant services for
Henry Clay, when the Great Commo-
ner was candidate for President. He
was on the Wing Electoral Ticket in
several Presidential Campaigns. He
was delegate in the Wing National
Convention that nominated Gen. Tay-
lor for President, and stumped the
State for him. In 1S47 he was elected
a Member Of Congress and served his
constituency faithfully. He was in Con-
gress during the Wilmot Proviso ex-
element, and was one of the strongest
friends of that measure, and one of the
strongest opponents of the annexation
of Texas. He declined a re-nomina-
ton to Congress but next distinguish
ed himself on the stump, from 1849 to
1854, against Douglas and his Nebras-
ka-Kansas perfdy. He came down"
on both with sledge-hammer power
and eloquence. a:a
Mr.. Lincoln has always been RE-
PUBLICAN. Like Mr.. Seward, he was a
Republican years before the organize
ton of Republican party was thought
of. He has always been opposed to
Slavery extension, and has always been
in favor of measures for the internal
improvement and material develop
ment of the country-has alwaws been
the poor mans friend, and the peoples
champion. When the Republican
movement was first started, it was
quite natural, therefore, that he should
be one of the first to join it, and he did
join it heartily, and has been and is
now our Republican leader in Illinois.
His powerful debates with, and warm
opposition to Douglas, in the stump
Contest for the q. S. Senatorship in
1858, are fresh in the public mind. 1t
was the heavy blows and the consum-
mate power of argument of his speech
es in that exciting contest that gave to
Mr.. Lincoln national reputation, and
marked him as one of the strongest
Republican orators and leaders in the
Union. ..........
Thus briefly have we reviewed the
life of ABRAHAM LINCOLN, our candi-
date for President. He is the Peoples
man, and as such we confidently be-
lieve he will be elevated to the highest
office in our Nation of the World.
The Cincinnati Platform Swindle.
We commend the following extract
e. u