Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1860-09-25
Abraham Encoln's lntegrity-An Interesting
Story Of his Early Life.

A correspondent of the Portland Ore.
gonian sends This narraiive;-
To tie Editor Of the Oregoniau:
The following incident in the early
history of Mr.. Lincoln, now the Repub-
! icun candidate for President, illustrates
more fully than anything h II can be said
or done 'l0ic, his great integrity of char
acter. and his pecuia fitness in that res
pect for the office of President. /; shows
that he would take special care that not
dollar OF the peoples money should be
used improperly.
During the Presidency Of Gen. jack
son and while Mr.. Barry, of kentuch y, ,
was Postmaster General. Mr.. Lincoln
was Postmaster in the litle town OF New
Salem, IN Sangammon County, Illinois,
the Governments portion of the receipts
OF the office for the TWO y ars he held II
amounted 20 one hundred and fifty or Two
hundred dol.ors all Of which was per-
muted TO remain IN his hands, uncal!ed
for by the Postmaster General, for three
or four years after Mr.. Lincoln res signed
the office, and removed 10 Springfield,
where he now lives. In the mrantjme
Mr.. Kendall having succeeded Mr.. Bar
~ in the Post Office Department, sci
about relieving the Department from lis
pecuniary embarrassmsntS, by " picking
up the cruints" which Mr.. Barry had
thrown away as not wo-.h the trouble of
saving, and IN the fall Of 1884 or 1885,
drew on Mr.. Lincoln in favor of J mail
carrier, for the amount standing against
him on the books of the Dspa rlmen;-
The mail carrier enquired Of me for Mr.
Lincoln, at the same time showing me
the draft on him for near two hundred
dollars | felt that this would be large
sum for a poor man, like Mr.. Lincoln.
TO raise, on demand, aud on meeting him
offered 10 aid him If necessary. He
thanked me and said he did nui need as
sstance went to his room and returned
ia few minutes with a package in his
hand, containing money, aud on counting
II out, 1t was found to b. the exact amount
called for by the draft. and tie uery
money receirea by htnI four or frc yearS
prerl0uS.
During all this period, money was be-
ing loaned for three and five per cent.
per month, and Mr.. Lincoln was often
II oiil ludb4ltD 10 COlttIt Niltl WIS uuG Nun
sorely pressed for five dollars 10 pay IA
board bill. Besides il was then the 81
icy of the government 10 allow the banks
to use the peoples money for speculative
purposes, auI il was not thought wrong
or dlsreputabie for government officer
to use the moaey in his possession, pro-
rlded he had a reasonable prospect for
raising II when Il was wanted for dis
/ burSement. But Mr.. Iincoln thought il
was wrong to use what did not belong to
/ him, and his stern unbeuding integrity,
enabled him 10 resist not only the tempt
alton Of &" pinching poverty" but the all
powerful influence OF pubic sentiment.
/ Now. Mr. Editor. feel very sure that
when the people come to understand the
true character of Mr.. Lincoln, and reflect
upon the present laxity Of public morals
on the subject of using the public money,
and the grea, need there is of reform in
particular. will say of Abraham Lin
coin in November next, as was said of
old of the faitfui servant, by the Great
Judge of human nature" thou hast
been faithful over fee things" qrc
" 1e1H Dtahe thee TatIsr Orcf many
Lafayette. Oregon, July Is, 1860.