The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-03-08
on as a wizard, and regarded with an awe

on as a wizard and regarded with an awe
suited to so mysterious a character.
Hard work and plenty Of it was the order
of the day, varied, indeed, by an occasional
bear hunt, and not unfrequent deer chase, OF
other wild sport. OF course when young
Lincoln came of age he was not scholar
He could read and write, and had some
knowledge of arithmetic, but that was about
all; and as yet, 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 ath-
letic, could WELD the axe, direct the plow, or
use the rife, as well as the best of his COM
peers, and was fully up to all the mysteries
of prairie farming and fully Injured to hard
| ship and toll. Since he arrived at age he
has not been to school. Whatever his ac-
quirsments are, they have been picked up
from time to time as opportunity occurred,
or as the pressure of some exigenoy de-
manded.
passed the first year in Macon county, in &C.
tive labor on farm. Then he got to New
Salem, at that time in Sangamon, now in
Menard county, where he remained about a
year as sort of clerk in a store. Then
came rhe Black Hawk war. A company of
volunteers was raised in New Salem and the
surrounding country, and 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 cred
it during the campaign, and became popular.
On his return in the fall of 1882, he was a
candidate for the. Legislature, and ran, hut
was beaten. This is the only time that he
has ever failed of an election by the people
when he has sought their suffrages. The
next and three succeeding biennial elections
he was elected to the Legislature, and served
with distinguished reputation in that body.
While member of the Legislature he first
gave indications Of his superior powers as a
debater, and he increased, by frequent prac-
tice, his natural faculty for public speaking.
His latent ambition was excited by success,
and he improved industriously the opportu-
mites that offered of self-cultivation. From
the Whig party, position which was appro-
priately assigned him by his unaffected mod
esty and humble pretensions, he soon became
recognized and acknowledged as champion
and leader aud his unvarying courtesy,
good nature and genial manners, united with
a certain lofty disinterestedness, and gene
raj abnegatoa of self, made him universal
favorite.
During his legislative period he studied
law, and removing to Springfield, he opened
an office and engaged actively in practice
Business flowed in upon him, and he rose
rapidly to distinction in his profession. He
displayed remarkable ability as an advocate
in jury trials, and many of his law argu-
ments were masterpieces of logical reason
ing. There was no refined artifciality in his
forensic efforts They all bore the stamp of
masculine common sense; and he had a nat
ural, easy mode Of illustration, that made
the most abstruse subjects appear plain
His success at the bar, however did not
withdraw his attention from politics. For
many years he was the s'wheel horse of the
Whig party in Illinois, and was on the elec-
toral ticket in several Presidential cam
paigns. At such times he canvassed the
State with his usual vigor and ability. He
was an ardent friend of Henry Clay, aud ex-
erted himself powerfully in his behalf in
1874, traversing the entire State Of Illinois,
and addressing public meetings daily until
near the close of the campaign, when becom-
ing convinced that his labors in that field
Indiana, and continued his efforts up to the
day of election. The contest of that year in
Illinois was mainly on the tariff question:
Mr.. Lincoln, on the Wing side, and John
Calhoun, on the Democratic side, were the
heads of the opposing electoral tickets
Calhoun, late of Nebraska, now dead, was
then in the full vigor of his really great
powers, and was accounted the ablest deba-
ter of his party. They stumpei the State to-
gether or nearly so, making speeches usual.
ly on alternate days at each place, and each
addressing large audiences at great length,
sometimes four hours together. Mr.. Lincoln,
in these elaborate speeches, evinced thor
ough mastery of the principles OF political
economy which underlie the tariff question,
and presented arguments in favor of the pro-
tective policy with power arl conclusive
ness rarely equaled, and at the same time in
a manner so lucid and familiar and so well
interspersei with happy illustrations and
Apostle anecdotes, as to secure the delighted
attention of his auditory.
Mr. Lincoln has been consistent and
entering public life. He is such from princi
pie, and from deeply rooted conviction Of
the wisdom Of protective policy; and what
ever influence he may hereafter exert upon
the government will be in favor of that
policy.
In 1916 he was elected to Congress, and
served out his term; and would have been
reelected had he not declined to be candi
date. As to the character of his services il
that body, my information does not enabl,
me to speak particularly. In the Nationa
Convention of 154S, of which he was mem
ber,@ he advocated the nomination Of Gene
raj Taylor, and sustained the nomination by
an active canvass of his own State. In lS5: