Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1860-04-05

and write, and had some knowledge of
arithmetic. bat that was about all ;and
as vet he had but little ambition TO
know more of what was TO be found in
books. His attainments otherwise
were not TO be despised. He had
grown to be six feet four inches in
stature, was active and athletic, could
WELD the axe. direct the plow. or use
the rifle, as well as the best of his
compeers, and was fully up to ell the
mysteries of the woods, and to the
deeper mysteries Of prairie farming.
and fully Injured to hardship and toll.
Since he arrived at age he has not
been to school. Whatever his ac-
quirements are, they have been picked
up from time to time as opportunity
occurred, or as the pressure of some
exigency demanded.
AT twenty-one he removed to Him
ois and passed the first year in Macon
County. in active labor on a farm
Then he got to New Salem. at that
time in Sangamon, now in Menard
County, where he remained about
year as sort of clerk in store. Then
came the Blackhawk war. A COM
pany Of volunteers was raised in New
Salem and the surrounding country;
young Lincoln was elected captain
a success which, he has since said,
gave him more pleasure than any he
has since enjoyed. He served with
credit during the campaign. and be-
came popular. On his return in the
Fall Of 1882, he was a candidate for
the legislature. and ran, but was beat
en-. This was the only time that he
has ever failed of an election by the
people when he has sought their suf-
frages. The next and three succeed
D ing elections he was elected TO the
: legislature and served with distin-
6 guished reputation in that body
d While member Of the Legislature he
first gave indications of his superior
q powers as a debater, and he increased,
: by frequent practice, his natural fac
ulty for public speaking. His latent
r ambition was excited by success, he
: improved industriously the opportuni-
). ties that offered of elf-cultivation.-
u From the position ofa subaltern in the
> ranks of the Wing party, a position
: which was appropriately assigned him
I by mis- unaffected modesty and humble
i Dretensions, he soon became recog-
O nized and acknowledged as a champi-
y on and leader, and his unvarying
y courtesy, good nature and general
d manners, united with a certain lofty
II disinterestedness, and general abnega-
II tion of self, made him a universal
le iavorite.
J. During his legislative period he
'f studied law, and removing to Spring
n field. he opened an office and engaged
n actively in practice. Business flowed
IS in upon him, and he rose rapidly to
ot distinction in his profession. He dis
he played remarkable ability as an advo.
y cate in jury trials, and many of his law
T arguments were masterpieces of logic
n al reasoning. There was no refined
D. artifciality in his forensic Efforts
They all bore the stamp of masculn,
Of common sense, and he had natural
N easy mode Of illustration, that mad,
is the most abstruse subjects appear plain
a. His success at the bar. however, die
st not withdraw his attention from poll
r, tics. For many years he was tn,
m wheel horse of the Whig party il
=, Illinois, and was on the electora
70 ticket in several Presidential cam
OF paigns. At the same time he canvass
as e: the State with his usual vigor ant
=
It. ability. lie was an ardent friend o
lie Henry Clay, and exerted himself pow
$, erfully in his behalf in 1874, travers
a. ing the entire State of Illinois, an,
q addressing public meetings daily un
e. til near the close of the campaign
OF when becoming convinced that his la
e, bors in that field would be unavailing
IN crossed over into Indiana, and contin
to ned his efforts up to the day Of tn
in election. The contest of that year i
w Illinois was mainly on the tariff ques
d. tion; Mr. Lincoln on the Whig side
in and John Calhoun, on the Democrat
d, ic side, were the heads Of the opposin
he electoral ticket. Calhoun, late OF Ne
in braska. now dead. was then in the ful
X. vigor Of his really great powers, an
n was accounted the greatest debater {
Il his party. They stumped the Stat
K together. or nearly so, making speech
Is. es usually on alternate days at eac
re place. and each addressing large aud
a ences at great length. sometimes for
n hours together. Mr.. Lincoln. in the:
he elaborate speeches. evinced thoroug
;" mastery of the principles of politics
economy which underlie the tari