Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1865-04-27
The Late Abraham Lincoln-His
Early Life and Public Character.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN was born on the 18th of
February, 1909, id Hardin County, Kentucky,
and died when 56 years, Q months and 8 days
old. Mr. Raymond, Of the New York Times,
says, in the opening chapter of his history OF
Mr.. Lincoln's Administration, which is the best
constructed of the many volumes written, of
Mr.. Lincoln's life and labors:
"His early life, like that of most Of the great
men whom our country has producedi was
spent in poverty and in toll At seven years
OF are he was sent to school to Mr.. Hazel,
carrying with him an old copy. of Dilworths s
spelling book, one of the three books that
formed the family library His father keenly
felt the disadvantages arising from his own
lack of education, and determined, ,in spite OF
difficulties almost inconceivable, to give his
son better facilities for study than he had him
self enjoyed. His mother was christian wo-
man. and desired earnestly that he should
learn to read the Bible" -. ..ls, ~.
| When Abraham Lincoln was eight years old,
his father moved to Spencer County, Indiana.
He leafted to read the Bible before his moth
er died, which event occurred when he was ten
years Of age. Mr.. Raymond says ..-. .
Z "Aftef awhile he learned to write. This
was an accomplishment which most of the
friendly neighbors thought unnecessary, but
his father quietly persisted, and the boy was
set down as prodigy when he wrote to an old
friend of his mothers, a travelling preacher
and begged him to come and preach a sermon
over his mothers grave Three months after
Parsons Elkins came and the friends assem-
bled, year after her death, to pay last trib-
ute of respect to one universally loved and re-
spected. Her sons share in securing the
presence of the clergyman was not unthen-
toned, and Abraham soon found himself
called upon to write letters for his neighbors.
"The father married second time, Miss
Sally Johnston, who proved an excellent moth
er to the step-son, and who now survives, to
take her share of the credit to which she is
entitled for her faithful care. In the course
of year or two a Mr.. Crawford, one Of the
settlers, opened school in his own cabin, and
Abraham'ss father improved the opportunity to
send him, in order that he might add some
knowledge of arithmetic to his reading and
writing With buckskn clothes, a raccoon-
skin cap and all old arithmetic, which had
been found somewhere for him, he commenced
his studies in the higher branches. y"
These particulars of the life of the Presi-
dent in his bcyhood are of great interest, as
they were undoubtedly derived from himself
The history of Mr. Lincoln's public life is
so familiar to all men, thut we need not re-
peat its points, though it may not now be su-
perHuous to say, that he owed Ills national rep
utation to his debates with Senator Douglas
in the memorable canvass Of the State OF IL
linois in 1858. Douglas was recognized as
the most formidable debater in stump con-
hict, in the country, and the Incompatible
temper, clear sighted views of public policy,
and exceedingly closely knit arguments with
which the Republican champion metthe Dem
ocratic giant, warmed his friends to enthHsi-
asm, and they Aooked to Chicago when the
Presidential Convention assembled there in
1860, animated by spirit in his behalf that
overcome all opposition.
Mr.. Lincoln has been accused of wanting in
personal dignity, and in an adequate sense OF
the responsibilities attaching to his position
But we may challenge the records of the lives
of our public men for anything in better taste
than his words of informal acceptance of the
nomination for the Presidency, addressed to
the committee sent from Chicago, to wait up
on him at his home in Springfield, Illinois,
He is said to have listened d the address of
the Committee with a degree Of grave digni-
ty, that almost wore the appearance of sad
ness" He replied
Mr.. Chairman, and Gentlemen Of the Com
mittee '.''"
II tender to you, and through you, to the
Republican National Convention, ard all the
people represented nit, my profoundestthanks
for the high honor done me, which you now
formally announce. Deeply, and even pain
fully sensible of the great responsibility which
is inseparable from this high honor-a respon-
sibility which could almost wish had fallen
upon some of the far more eminent men and
Experienced statesmen, whose distinguished
names were before the Convention, SHALL by
your leave, consider more fully the resolutions
of the Convention denominated the platform,
and, without any unnecessary and unreasona,
Bile delay, respond to you, Mr.. Chairman, in
writing, not doubling that the platform will
be found satisfactory, and the nomination
lgratefully accepted. And now will no long.
er defer the pleasure of taking you, and each
of you by the hand lA."
As to his manners and home habits, Judge
Dickson, of this city, who had unusual oppor.
tunities to know well of what he was speaking,
said IN public speech the night before the as
lsassination M t 's '.-- .i'# '.I
'i"He brought not TO the White House the
culture Of the college, nor the fastidiousness
Of the court but the homely virtues Of plain,
honest man. of the people-perfect simplicity
of character, integrity Of purpose, and unaf
fected dignity His manners have been the
theme, with his enemies, Of the most hagitious
, falsehood. ] had some acquaintance with him
before he became Psesident. know those
who knew him we'll at his home and elsewhere,
when he was private citizen; and neither
nor they ever heard him use vulgar word,
or saw him do anything that would have been
in the slightest degree offensive to the most
Ifastidious He often enlivened the converse.
ltion by an apt anecdote, oftener by the same
means exposed the fallacy Of an elaborate but
unsound argument; sometimes he INDUCED in
sallies Of wit, but, in one respect, he differed
from all professional wits have known; his
was keen weapon, but was never barbed OF
touched with poison--it left no sting behind. y
AS to the character of Mr.. Lincoln, as o
public man, we find in the London Spectator,
lof March rs, remarkable article, a portion
Of which we copy. Says the Spectator s.'h
1--WE all remember the animated eulogium
! on General Washington, which Lord Maeau-
lay passed parenthetically in his essay on
Hampden. II was when to the sullen tyrrany
Of Laud and Charles had succeeded the fierce
lconhict Of sects and factions, ambitious Of as.
|, cendancy or burning for revenge; it was when
the vices and Ignorance which the old tyranny
D. n -