The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-05-10

10 throw him twice II succession, caused
no Giminution in the admiration and
pride his men felt in their captain
muscle and pyovcss. They declared that
unfair advantage had been taken of
their champion; that Thompson had
been guilty of fopl tactics, and that, III
the language Of the sporting arena, il
was dog fall LlnColn's magnani-
nous action, however, IN according his
opponent credit for fair dealing in the
face of the widespread and adverse crit.
cism that prevailed, only strengthened
him in the esteem of all
The term for which the vol lnteers
had enlisted had now expired, and the
majority, firing of the service, the nov
city OF which had worn off, and longing
for the comforts and good cheer of their
homes refused either 90 re-enlist or rem
der further service. They turned their
faces homeward. each with his appetite
for military glory well satiated. But the
war was nut over. and the mighty Black
Hawk was still east of the Mississippi
A few remained and re-eulisted. Among
them was Lincoln This time, eschew-
ing the responsibility Of captaincy and
TO avoid the possible embarrassment of
dragging about camp wooden sword
he entered the company of Elijah Hes
as a dignifed private.
1t has pleased some Of Mr.. Lincoln
biographers 70 attribute this re-enlist-
ment 10 pure patriotism on his part and
q conscientious desire to serve his conn
try From the standpoint of sentiment
that is a comfortable view TO take OF it,
but | have strong reason 10 believe that
Mr. Lincoln never entertained such seri-
Gus notions Of the campaign. In fact,
may say that my information comes
from the best authority to be had in the
matter-the soldier himself MIR. Lin
coin had no home He had cut loose
from his parents. from the Hankses and
the Johnstons; he left behind him no
anxious wife and children, and no chair
before a warm feside remained vacant
FOR him. Il was out Of work, he said
to me once, and there being 10 danger
of more fighting could do nothing bet
ter than enlist again ~
Return to New salem.
After his discharge from this last and
brief period Of service, along with the
remainder of the Sangamon county sol
diers, lie departed from the scenes Of re-
cent hostilities for New Salem again.
His soldier days had ended, and he re-
turned now TO enter upon far different
career However much in later years he
may have pretended TO ridicule the dis
asters Of the Black Hawk war or the
part he took in it, yet | believe he was
rather proud of it, after all. When con-
gress, along in the ffties, granted him
land warrant, he was greatly pleased.
He located it on some land III Iowa and
declared TO me one day that he would
die seized Of that land and although the
tract never yielded him anything he
never. so far as my knowledge extends,
parted with its ownership.
The return of the Black Hawk war
riors TO New Salem occurred in the
month Of August, but short time be-
fore the general election. A new legisla-
ture was TO he chosen, and as Lincoln
had declared 10 his comrades in the
army he would, and in obedience to the
ELUSIVE declaration of principles which
he had issued over his signature in
March, before he went 10 the war, he
presented himself TO the people of his
newly adopted county as a candidate for
the legislature
On the stump.
The election being near at hand, only
few days remained for his canvass
One who was with him at the time, de-
scribing his appearance, says: He wore
mixed jeans coat, claw hammer style,
short III the sleeves and bobtail-in
fact, it was 80 short III the tail he could
not sit OH it-tiax and tow linen panta-
looms and straw hat. | think he wore
a vest, but do not remember how it
looked. He wore pot metal boots. His
maiden effort onthe stump was speech
OH the occasion of a public sale at Papps-
vile, village / / miles west of Spring
field. After the sale was over and speech
making had begun a fight-a general
fight, as one of the bystauders relates
-ensued, and Lincoln, noticing one of
his friends about to succumb TO the en-
ergetic attack of an Infatuated ruffian,
interposed to prevent it He did SO most
effeotually. Hastily descending from
the rude platform, he edged his way
through tie crowd, and Selling the bully
by the neck and seat Of his trousers
threw him by means of his strength and
long arms, as one witness stoutly in
sists, "l2 feet away" Returning to the
stand and throwing aside his hat, he in
augurated his campaign with the fol-
lowing brief but juicy declaration:
Fellow citizens. | presume you all
know who am. ! am humble Abraham
Lincoln. have been solicited by many
friends to become a candidate for the
Legislature. My politics are short and
sweet, like the old woman's dance.
am in favor of a national bank. | am in
favor of the internal improvement sys-
tenn and a high protective tariff. These
are my sentiments and political princi-
pies. If elected, shall be thankful; if
not, il will be all the same -
Drawing Down the Disease.
At the very outset of the war sundry
wise men from New York urged Mr.
Lincoln TO keep away Confederate ar