The National tribune., 1899-12-28
EVERYDAY LIFE OF
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
tContinned from first page. J


ton that fate shall permit the world to know.
This task. gratitude to our fathers. justice
to ourselves, duty to posterity. all impera-
lively require us faithfully to perform.
"How, then, shall we perform it? At
what point shall we expect the approach of
danger? Shall we expect some trans
atlantic military giant to step the ocean and
crush us at blow? Never! All the armies
of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with
all the treasure of the earth (our own ex-
cepted) in their military chest, with Bona
parte for commander, could not, by force
take drink from the Ohio, or make attack
on the Blue Ridge, in trial of a thousand
years! At what point, then, is the ap-
proach Of danger to be expected? Ianswer,
if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst
ourselves. 1t cannot come from abroad.
If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves
be its author and finisher. AS Nation of
free men, we must live through all time, or
die by suicide. hope | am not over-wary;
but, if | am not, there is even now some
thing of ill-omen amongst VI. l mean the
Increasing disregard for law which per-
vades the country, the growing disposition
to substitute the wild and furious passions
III iSu VI oObci JubS, vi tiIc Soui e''
and the worse than savage mobs for the
executive ministers of Justice This dis
position is awfully fearful in any COM
munity: and that it now exists in ours,
though grating to our feelings to admit it,
it would be a violation of truth and an in
suit to our intelligence to deny. Accounts
Of outrages committed by mobs form the
everyday news of the times. They have
pervaded the country from New England
to louisiana; they are neither peculiar to
the eternal SHOWS of the former, nor the
burning sun of the latter. They are not the
creature of climate; neither are they con-
fined to the slave-holding or non-slave--
holding States. Alike they spring up
among the pleasure-hunting masters of
Southern slaves and the order-loving citi
zens of the land of steady habits. What
ever their course may be, it is common to
the whole country. Here, then, is one
point at which danger may be expected.
The question recurs, How shall we fortify
against it? The answer is simple. Let
every American. every lover of liberty,
every well -wisher to his posterity. swear by
the blood of the Revolution, never to vio-
late in the least particular the laws Of the
COuUtly, anu never VI tOleTdte
ton by others. AS the patriots of ''76' did
to the support of the Declaration of indie
pendence, 50 to the support OF the Consti-
tuition and the Laws, let every American
pledge his life, his property and his SACRED
honor; let every man remember that to
violate the law is 10 trample on the blood OF
his father. and ITO tear the charter Of his
own and his chiliren's liberty. Let rever-
ence for the LAWS BE breathed by every
American mother TO the lispng babe that
prattles on her lap. Let it be taught i'll
schools, in SeniiuarieS, and in colleges.
Let it be written1n primers, spelling books,
and in almanacS Let 1t be preached from
the pulpit. proclaimed i'll Legislative halls.
and enforced in courts Of justice. And. IN
snort, let 1t become the political religion of
tile Nation.
PRo-SLAvERY SENTIMENT IN ILLINOIS.
During the years Of Lncoln's service III
n EegIslature-ul Illinois. the Democratic
party was strongly dominant throughout
the State. The feeling on the subject OF
slavery was decidedly in sympathy with
the South. iarge percentage of the
settlers III the southern aud middle portions
of Illinois were from the States III winch
slave labor WAS sustained, and although |
the Dissemination not 10 permit the institu-
ton 10 obtain Il foothpld IN tine new ON
monwealth was general, the people were
opposed 10 any action WGlch should alect |
its condition where II was already eStlD- |
li5hed During the sessions Of lS3 ~ |
resolutions Oi All eNt-e le prO-SiaverN char |
acter We're carried through the Legislature
by the Democratic party. The aIrn lod the
measure was 10 prevent the AbJiItlOnisiS !
from obtaining a fDotnold IN the state. |
Mr.. Lincoln could not conSc!enlIOilSiy sup |
port the resolutions. nor hold his peace con |
cernng them. he did not shrink fro II the !
issue, but at the hazard of losing his poiIt- |
cal popularity and the gratifying prospects ,
that were opening before IN il. he drew up Il 4
protest against the UNJUST enactment and
had it entered upon the Journal of the |
House. Only one OF the hundred isepre- |
sentatlveS IN the House al tins time had the |
courage 10 sign ii with him. The prese,lta- !
ton OF thus document was one of the many |
honest acts OF MIR. Lncolns course. The |
protest was as follows:
MARCH 3, 1897.
"'The following protest was presented to
the House, which was read, and Ordered 10 |
be spread on the journals, la wit;
RESOLUTIONS upon the subject of do |
meStic slavery having passed both |
branches of the General Assembly at Is |
present session. the undersigned hereby |
protest against the Massage of the same
They believe that the institution Of |
slavery Is founded on both injustice and bad |
policy; but that the pronulgation OF aboli- |
ton doctrines tends rather TO increase than |
abate its evils.
Ihey believe that the Congress OF the
United States has no power. under the
Constitution. 10 interfere with the institu-
ton Of slavery in the different States.
"Ihey believe that the Congress Of the |
United States has the power, under the
Constitution, 10 abolish slavery in the Dis
trict of Columbia, but that the power ougii; |
not to be exercised, unless at the request of
the people of the District.
~The difference between these opinions
and those contained in the said resolutions,
is their reason for entering this protest.
'dSigned) DAN STONE,
"a. LINCOLN,
Representatives from the County of
Sangamon.'
CONTEST WITH GEN. EWING.
The great financial panic which swept
over the country in 1887, rendered expedi-
ent an extra session of the Legislature,
which was called together in July. Gen
Lee ID. Ewing had been elected 10 this
session from Fayette County. for the ex-
press purpose of repeating the law removing
the Capital from Vandalia to Springfield |
Gen. Ewing was" says Mr.. Linder, "a
man of considerable notorety, popularity,
and talents. He had been member of |
fr,,, III