Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1860-09-22
Abraham Lincoln's Integrity-An In
terestlng Story Of his Early Life.
a correspondent Of the Portland Or
eg0nadaa sends this narrative:

A correspondent Of the Portland Or
egora'aaa sends this narrative:
To the editor Of the Oregonian.
The following incident in the early
history Of Mr.. Lincoln, now the Repub-
lican candidate for President. illustrates
more fully than any thing that can be
said Or done now, his great integrity
Of character, and peculiar ftuess in
that respect for the Office of President.
1t 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 Kentucky
was Postmaster General, Mr. Lincoln
held the office Of Postmaster in the lit
tie town of New Salem, in Sangamon
Co., LII. The Governments portion Of
the receipts of' the office, for the two
years he held it, amounted to one hun
dred and fifty or two hundred dollars;
all of which was permitted to remain
IN his hands, uncalied for by the Post
master General, for three Or four years
after Mr.. lincoln resigned the office,
and removed to Springfield, where he
now lives.
In the meantime, Nr. Kendall hav-
ing succeed NJ. Barry in the Post Of
fee Department, set about relieving
the party from its present pecuniary
embarrassments, ''by picking up the
crunbs'' which MIR. Barry had thrown
away as not worth the trouble OF saw
lug, and in the fall Of 1884 or '55 drew
Oh NJ. Lincoln, liz favor of a mail car
rler, for the amount standing against
him on the books of the Department.
The mail carrier inquired of me for Mr..
Lincoln, at the same time showing me
draft on him for nearly two hundred
dollars. | felt that this would be a
large sum for a poor man like Mr.. Lin
coin to raise on demand, and on meet
ing him offered to aid him if necessary.
lie thanked me, and said he did not
need assistance; went to his room, and
returned in q few minutes with pack
age IN his hand containing money, and
OIL counting it out it was found to be
the exact amount called for by the
draft, d3ed the re7Y money received by
tim .5o'sr and .fro gears Ereciou8
During ;sii this period money WAS be-
ING loaned for three and five per cent.
per month, aud Mr.. Lincoln was often,
from inability to collect what WAS due
him, soreIy pressed for five dollars to
pay board bill Besides, it was then
the policy Of the Government to allow
the banks to use the peoples money
Tor speculative purposes, and it WAS
not thought wrong or dinrepntable for
q Government officer to use the money
in bis possession, provided he had q
reasonable prospect for raising it when
it was wanted for disbursement. But
.Ir. Lincoln believed ii was wrong to
use what did not belong to him, and
his stern, unben1ing integrity enabled
him to resist, not only the temptations
Of 'pinching poverty" bat the all pow
erful influence OF public sentiment.
Now, Mr. Editor, I feel very sure
that when the people come to under
stand the true character Of Mr.. Lincoln,
and reflect on the present laxity OF pub
lie morals Oh the subject OF using the
pnb!ic money, and the great need there
is Of reform in this particular, will say
Of Abraham Lincoln i'll November next.
as was said Of old Of the faithful servant,
by the Great Judge Of human nature
Thou hast been faithful over few
things, we will make thee ruler over
many" Il.
LAFAYETTE, July 16, 1860.