The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-04-08
Mr.. LINO0LNis PERSONAL CHARAO-
TER,


coins personal character and training
is taken from a speech made in the
House of Representatives on the 10Th
March last, by Mr.. Arnold, of Illinois,
who for twenty years has enjoyed an
intimate acquaintance with the Presi- /
dent
Let us see what had been his train /
ing for bis great work. II was not the /.
training of the schools it was better
II was struggle with difficulties
among the people He had the foul@
dation of perfect integrity, truth. can
dor, sobiicty, sclf-cOntrol, self-reliance.
modesty With clear Judgment, sound
common sense, shrewd knowledge of
human nature he is the most Amcri-
can OF Americans He has served n
single term in Congress, but his edu-
cation, his preparation, was among the
people, in humble and bomely posi-
lions; flatboat-man rail-splitter a
surveyor, member of the legislature
IN a frontier State, II lawyer in the log
courthouse of the West While he
had no university schooling, few, if
any, have had better training to de-
yelop and strengthen his intellectual
powers than he. This may seem
strange but let me explain, and its
truth VIII, l think, be conceded
He was trained at the bar in
school whore giants were his compel
itors, and he bore off the crown.
"Some twenty years ago there gath
cred around the plain pine tables Of
the frontier courthouse of central Illi-
nois a very remarkable combination Of
men Among them, and concedcdly
their leader, was Abraham Lincoln
Stephen A. Douglas, his great political
rival; Lyman Trumbull, chairman Of
the Judiciary Committee of the Senate;
f. d. Baker the able, the eloquent
senator soldier, and MARTYR of liberty;
General James Shields, who won
high reputation at Washington and on
the battlehelds of Mexico; General
John }. Hardin, an able and eloquent
lawyer, who fell on the bloody field of
Buena Vista James 4. McD0ugal. the
present senator from California; VII
liam A. Richardson, present senator
from Illinois, and General John A Nc
Clelnand, now in the field. Besides
these was the late Governor Bissell.
whose manly vindication of the brave
ry of the Illinois volunteers in Mexico
against the aspersions of Jefferson Da-
Wis, Will be well remembered; Il vindi-
cation which resulted in challenge
/ from the traitor Davis, which was ac-
/ cepted by Bissell, but from which Da-
Wis backed down, it is said, under the
advice Of General Taylor These men,
Of national reputation, and others
equally able, but whose pursuits have
been confined at home were the COM
petitors with Lincoln These were the
men in contest with whom Abraham
Lincoln was trained for the terrible
ordeal through which he is passing.
The contest between Lincoln and
Douglas, in 1856, was the most remark
able in American history They were
the acknowledged leaders, each of his
party Both, men of great and marked
individuality of character The prize
was the senatorship OF the great State
of Illinois, and the success of the re-
publican or democratic party. Doug
las had the additional stimulant of the
Presidency in view These trained
leaders met, at designated places, and
in the presence of immense crowds of
people debated the great questions at
issue.
Douglas went through this cam
paign like a conqUering hero. He had
his special train Of cars, his band of
music, his body guard of devoted
friends, a cannon carried on the train,
the firing from which announced his
approach to the place of meeting.
Such n canvass involved, necessarily,
very large expenditures, and it has
been said that Douglas did not eXpend
less than $4,000 in this canvass.
Some idea of the plain, simple, frugal
habits of Mr.. Lincoln may be gathered,
when | tell you that at its close, hay
ing occupied several months Mr. Lin
coin said, with the idea, apparently,
that he had been somewhat extraya-
giant, Il do not believe / have spent "A
cent less than five hundred dollars III
this canvass,
His course upon the slavery ques-
ton has shown his love of freedom, his
sagacity and his wisdom. From the
beginning he has believed that the re-
bellion would dig the grave of slavery
He has allowed the suicide of slavery
to be consummated by the Shareholders
themselves. Many have blamed him
for going TOO fast in his anti-slavery
measures more, think, have blamed
him for going too slow, of which
have been one. History, perhaps, will
. give him credit for acting with great
and wise discretion. The calm, intel
hgent, philosophical adolitionist of the
old world uniniluenced by the pas
sions which surround and color oui
judgments send across the ocean con
graduation and admiration on the sue
cess and wisdom of his course. The
three leading features of his admins
tration on the subject of slavery are
81 His proclamation of emancipa-
ton.
-. The employment of negroes as
soldiers.
%. The amnestyproclamation; max
ing liberty the cornerstone of recon