Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-04-28

(which was probably prompted by the love
Kof adventure, was another trip to New
&0rIeans on board aatboat On his return
Sthe owner of the hatboat set up a store and
sbuilt mill, and employed young Lincoln
os his clerk, The enterprise was not very
successful, and at the end Of year the
! Sclerk found himself out of employment.
About the same time the Black Hawk war
commenced. Volunteers were called for,
8and MIR. Lincoln was made the captain of u
company, in which capacity, as in every
other, he acquitted himself we'll But
! there was no occasion for much fighting,
8and the volunteers were soon disbanded.
His comrades were, far the most part, glad
4 to return home but the war not being
2elosed, Mr. Lincoln again volunteered and
SERVED some months as private soldier
This was his first public service In 1882
he was candidate for the House of Rep
aresentatves of Illinois, and although not
Selected, the vote of his own precinct was in
A,he highest degree complimentary to MIN.
sOf two hundred and eighty-four votes lie
grcceived two hundred and seventy-seven,
Notwithstanding that the majority were of
Athc jackson party, and he was for Henry
AClay. Two years later, in 1884, he was for
the first time elected to the Legislature, re-
gceiving about two hundred more votes than
1 the other candidates of his party,
About this time Mr. Lincoln, like Wash
aington, became land surveyor, and ut the
same time commenced the study of law. He
twas quite successful as surveyor, and
made an independent living for some years.
zuntil the commercial crisis of S37 DESTROYED
the business of land speculation, and threw
him practically out of employment. The
consequence was that he was reduced to
great extremities, and was compelled toI
Asell his compass and chain. He then de-
voted himself to the practice of law. In|
1886 Mr.. Lincoln was second time elected
ito the Legislature, and, although still young,I
took leading part on the Wing side. IleI
was the strong friend of internal improve
lments, and for the policy of Henry Clay
The slavery question was then beginningI
ITO assume national Importance, and Mr.
Lincoln took ground against the extension|
Iof the system. March 3, 1887, he, in com
8pany with another Representative, Dan.
Stone, entered a protest on the journal
against the passage of certain pro-slaveryl
resolutions. The protest AYERS that "slaveryI
lisfounded both ininjustice and bad policy Il
In 1888 Mr.. Lincoln was again elected toI
the Legislature for two years. His party!
was in the minority in that body, but hel
received the Wing vote for Speaker, fact
(which shows the high rank he held amongE
his friends. Again he was elected to theI
Legislature in 1910, and besides was called
on to take leading part in canyassing inI
behalf of General Harrison for the Prcsi, |
Ideney. His integrity and talents, with
little aid from fortune, had raised him toE
the honorable distinction of being the leader
Iof the opposition in the State. He had ac-
lquired reputation as a debater, without re-
sorting to the arts of the demagogue; and
although in the minority, he contributed
largely asa legislator to advance the material
and moral welfare of the State.
In 1912, after he had established himselfI
as a-successful advocate, at Springfield, theS
seat of the State government, he marriedE
Miss Mary Todd, daughter Of the Hon
Robert S. Todd, He remained for fourE
years in private life, devoting himself toF
his profession, except that in lS4i he madeI
IAN active canvass as an elector for llenryE
|Clay as the Wing candidate for the Presi n
deney. Two years later he was elected toE
Congress from the Sangamon District, and L
served with ability and usefulness. At the
Iexpration of the term he again retired toE
private life, and gave his time to his pro (
lfession, until the question of the extensionE
'of slavery into Kansas and Nebraska againA
brought him before the public, He took
Strong ground against the extension of
slavery, and was active in the formation of
the Republican party.
In 1857 he canvassed the State of Illinois,
by invitation of his political friends, in
opposition to Senator Douglas, the under
standing being that, if the Republicans car
Iried the day, Mr.. Lincoln was to be MIR, \
Douglas successor. The vote was close.
The popular majority was with the Repub- h
icans, but the Democrats secured Il majority
of the members of the Legislature. ThisE
canvass was one of the most remarkable inE
the history of the country, and served toE
give national reputation to the futureS
President.
Mr. Douglas became his own Successor
and Mr.. Lincoln retired again to his privateA
pursuits, until in 1860 he was nominated 4
for the Presidency. His subsequent history
s known and read of all men, and we here
close our brief sketch of the career of one
of the most upright and sagacious rulers
that this or any other nation has been
blessed with.