The sun., 1891-05-31
4 FORGOTTEN CHAPTER or H1sron1


term OF service had left no impression on the
country. He had reached nearly to the ago OF
80 years without being known beyond the
boundaries OF Illinois. His estate the accu.
mutation OF twenty years Of professional In
dustry. comprised 50, 900 in money and cottage
at Springfield. Many OF his early contsmpo-
raries at the bar had surpassed him. and It ape
peared that his destiny. which could not bs
called either fortunate or happy, had been &C.
complishod.
His Senatorial campaign resulted in defeat,
which made the vsnouished tho victor. and no
Immediately assumed national prominence rs
politician and q political orator. Adroit OBJ
servers Of those mysterious impulses that d.
rect human affairs perceived his availability
in certain ntingencies as q Presidential can
didate. and the movement for his nomination
began to take shape carly In 1859. It 10 not
certain that these efforts at the outset were
encouraged by him. His aspirations were not
80 high. He was conscious Of his defcienciesin In
knowledge and experience. and was diffident
to the verge OF self-disparagement He hest.
tated to enter the arena Of debate which his
friends thought essential to enable him to
compete with Seward who was tho acknowl-
edged party leader, the idol Of the young Re-
publicans. and the most formidable candidate
for the Presidential nomination.
Tho Republicans Of Kansas Territory had
called convention to assemble at Osawatomie
on the 18th OF May. to effect formal orRaniza-
tion OF the party. and Mr.. Lincoln was invitedt to
bo present He accepted conditionally. but the
situation developed so rapidly in Illinois that
he was unable to attend. On the 10th Of that
month the Republicans OF that S'ate met at
Decatur, and he was announced with great en-
thusiasm as the :" rail-splitter candidate" for
the Presidency in 1860.
ho Wvop dnt Ca A. AT iH,,%lo P~ov
In July. adopted In October by popular vote.
and an election for State officers was held in
December. 1859. Tho canvass was animated.
though the re ult was foregone conclusion.
and again Mr.. Lincoln was urged By some OF his
Illinois frionds and acQuaintances who had set.
tied In the Territory to address the Republi-
cans upon national politics. This was the pro.
text. but In fact his appearance was intended
as demonstration to enable him to compete
with Seward for the delegation from Kansas In
the Presidential nominating convention.
He accepted the invitation. and the st. Joseph
Gazette Of Nov. so. 1859. noticed his arrival in
that city on the previous day. on route to tho
Territory TO make Republican speeches."
His first appearance was at the now extinct
city OF Ellwood. directly opposite st. Joseph.
on the Missouri River. Tho Free Press Of that
city. Dec. 8. 1859. says that large number Of
citizens gatheied at tho Great Western Hotel
to hear Mr.. Lincoln on the evening OF Dec. 1.
He was received with enthusiasm. He stated
the reasons why he was unable to make .
speech. and could only say few words to
those who came out to meet him the first time
he had placed his foot upon Kansas soil. He
said that 1t was possible the citizens OF Kansas
Terri ory had local questions regarding
land grants. and internal improve
mens, which were matters OF deeper interest
to them than the questions arising from
national politics. but OF these local interests
he knew nothing. and should say nothing.
They had. however. just adopted a State Con-
stitution, and it was probable that under that
their territorial existence would
soon cease. and they would como forward to
take their place In The brotherhood Of States
and act their part as q member OF the confed-
Grafton. Kansas would be free. but the same
questions which had existed hero in regard to
freedom or slavery would arise In regard to
other Territories. and they would have, to
take part in deciding them. People Of
ten asked. why mako such q fuss
about . few niggers." He said. II an
ever the question by asking what will
you do to dispose OF this question? Tho
slaves constitute one-seventh Of our entire
population. Wherever there 10 an element OF
this magnitude In Government 1t will be
talked about The general feeling in regard
to slavery has changed entirely since the early
days Of the republic. You may examine the
Articles OF Confederation In tho Convention
that framed the Constitution, and In the first
session Of Congress. and you will not find .
single man saying that slaveryis . good thing
They all believed 1t was an evil They prohib-
tied the African slave trade. Having thus
limited the extension and cut of its supply.
the fathers OF tho republic believed
that slavery would so n disappear. There
are only three clauses In the Consti-
tuition which refer to slavery. and In
neither Of these is the word slave or slavery
mentioned. The word is not used in the
clause prohibiting the African slave trade: 1t |
Is not used in the clause which includes slaves
In the basis OF representation: 1t is not used
IN the clause requiring the return Of fugitive
slaves. And yet In all the details OF the Con-
the question was discussed and
slaves and slavery talked about Now. why
was this word kent out OF that instrument. |
and SO carefully kept out that European. be
he ever so Intelligent. II not familiar
with our institutions. might read tho
Constitution over and over again and |
never learn that slavery existed In |
the United States. The reason ia this. Tho |
trainers OF the organic law believed that the |
would outlast slavery. and they |
did not want word there to tell future gener.
htlOub bNiSoCy ubu Ue0u lo&dlIZou lH
America. This Territory has had marked
history. No other Territory has ever had such
q history. There has boon strife aud blood
she'd here. Both parties have been guilty OF |
outrages. Mr.. Lincoln said he had his opn-
Ions as to the relative guilt Of the parties. but
he would not say who had been most to blame.
Ono fact was certain. There had boon loss Of |
ife destruction OF property; our national In
Ieresls had been retarded. Was this desirable
There Is q peaceable way OF settling these
questions. the way adopted by the Government
until recent period. The bloody code has
grown out OF the new policy In regard to the
government OF the Territories" In conclusion
Mr.. Lincoln adverted briefly to the Harper's
Ferry incident. He believed the attack OF
Brown wrong for two reasons. First. 1t was
violation OF law. and second. 1t was. as all such
attacks must be. futile. as far as any effect It
might have on tho extinction OF the great evil.
We have means provided for the expression
Of our belief In regard to slavery. 1t Is through
The ballot box. the peaceful method provided
BY the Constitution. John Brown has shown