The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-06-06

i ty, in active labor on farm, where he
and fellow laborer, (named Hanks, J
split three thousand rails in the year,
1880. 1t will be interesting to the mil
| lions before whom he is now placed as a
candidate for the highest Office in the
gift of free people, to know that he
once managed a fat-boat on the Ohio Riv-
er. The anecdotes which he sometimes
relate to his friends of his maratime ex-
periences, before the introduction OF
steam on the western rivers, are inde-
scribably laugbable. From Macon coun-
ty he went to New Salem, in what is now
Menard County, where he remained
about year. Then came the Black
Hawk War. A company of volunteers
was raised in New Salem, and the sur
rounding country, and young Lincoln
was elected captain-a success which, he
has since said, gave him more pleasure
than he has ever since enjoyed. He
served with credit during the campaign,
and became popular. Returning to San
CANON county, he learned the art of sur
veying, and prosecuted that profession
until the financial crash of 1887 destroy
ed the value of real estate and ruined the
business-the result of which was that
young Lincoln's surveying apparatus was
sold on execution by the sheriff. No
thing daunted by this turn of i'll luck,
he directed his attention to the law, and
borrowing few books from neighbor,
which he took from the office in the even
ing and returned in the morning, he
learned the rudiments of the profession
in which he has since become so distin-
guished, by the light Of a Fireplace
About this time the Wings of his coun-
ty conferred upon him a nomination for
the Legislature. He was successful in
this and three succeeding elections, by
triumphant majolities. While a member
of the Legislature he first gave indications
of his superior powers as debater, and
he increased, by frequent practice. his
natural faculty for public speaking. He
improved industriously the opportunities
that were here offered of self cultivation.
From the position of subaltern in the
ranks of the Whig party, position that
was appropriately assigned him by his
unaffected modesty and humble preten-
sions, he soon became recognized and
acknowledged as champion and a lead
er, and his unvarying good nature and
genial manners. united with an utter dis
interestedness and abnegalion of self,
made him universal favorite.
During his Legislative period he con.
tinued his law studies, and removing to
Springfield, he opened an office and en-
gagged actively in practice. Business
flowed in upon him, and he rose rapidly
to distinction in his profession. He dis
played remarkable ability as an advocate
in jury trials, and many of his law argu-
ments were master pieces of logical rea-
soning There was no refined artificiali-
ty in his forensic efforts. They all bore
the stamp of masculine common sense /;
and he had natural. easy mode of illus
tration, that made the most abstruse sub
jects appear plain. His success at the bar,
however, did not withdraw his attention
from politics. For many years he was
the wheel-horse" of the Wing party OF
Illinois, and was on the electoral ticket in
several Presidential campaigns. AT such
| times he canvassed the State with his
usual vigor and ability. He was an ar
dent friend Of Henry Clay, and exerted
himself powerfully in his behalf in 1914,
traversing the entire State of Illinois,
and addressing public meetings daily un-
til near the close of the campaign. when
becoming convinced that his labors in
that field would be unavailing, he cross
ed over into Indiana, and continued his
efforts up TO the day of election. The
contest of that year in Illinois was main
ly on the tariff question. Mr.. Lincoln,
! on the Whig side. and John Calhoun, on
the Democratic side, were the heads ol
the opposing electoral tickets. Calhoun,
late of Nebraska. now dead, was then in
the full vigor Of his powers, and was ac-
counted the ablest debater Of his party.
They stumped the state together, or nearly
SO, making speeches usually on alternate
days at each place. and each addressing
large audiences at grea. length, sometimes
four hours together. Mr.. Lincoln, in
these elaborate speeches, evinced thor
ough mastery Of the principles of polit-
cal economy which underle the tariff
question. and presented arguments in ia
vor of the protective policy with::a power
and conclusiveness rarely equaled, and AT
the same time in a manner so lucid and
familiar and so well interspersed with
happy illustrations and opposite anec.
dotes. as to establish reputation which
he has never since failed to maintain. AS
the ablest leader in the Wing and Repub.
hcan ranks in the great West.
In 1916 he was elected to Congress,
and served out his term, and would have
been re elected had he not declined to be
a candidate He steadily and earnestly
opposed the annexation of Texas, and Ia.
bored with all his powers in behalf OF
the Wilmot Proviso. In the National
Convention Of l848, of which he was &
member, he advocated the nomination oi
Gen. Taylor, and sustained the nomina'
ton by an active canvass in Illinois and
Indiana.
From 1916 to 1854. Mr.. Lincoln wa:
engaged assiduously in the practice o
his profession, aud being deeply INNER
sed in business, was beginning to lose
t his interest in politics, when the schem
ing ambition and groveling selhshness o