The National tribune., 1900-02-08

DISiTlCb III 1874, ana inc 1EIihlleSS WlIfl
which he informed Baker of his own desire
TO be a candidate i'll 1916; when, for the only
time in his life, he was elected To that body.
In 1852, Richard Yates, of Jacksonville,
then recognized as one of the rising young
orators and statesmen Of the West was
elected to Congress for the second time from
the Springfield District Ii was during the
term following this election that the Kan
sas-Nebraska issue was precipitated upon
the country by Senator Douglas, in the
introduction of his bill for the repeal of the
Missouri Compromise: Yates, in obedi-
encc to his impulses, which were always on
the side of freedom, took strong ground
against the Notwithstanding the
fact that majority of his constituents,
though originally Wings, were strongly
conservative, as was generally the case with
people who were largely Of Kentucky and
Tennessee origin. In 1854, the Whig party,
which had been divided on the Kansas
Nebraska question, began TO manifest
symptoms OF disintegration; while the Re
publican party, though not yet known by
that name, began TO take form. At this
time was publishing a paper at Jackson
vile, Yates's home; and although from the
date of my connection with It, in 1852, it had
not been political paper, the introduction
of new issue soon led me to take decided
ground on the side of free territory. Lin
coin at once sprang into prominence as one
of the boldest, most vigorous and eloquent
opponents Of Mr.. Douglass measure, which
was construed as scheme to secure the
admission Of slavery into all the new Terri
tories of the United States. AT that time
his election to seat in Congress would prob
ably have been very grateful to his ambition
as well as acceptable in q pecuniary point of
view; and his prominence and ability had
already attracted the eyes Of the whole
State towards him in a special degree.
Having occasion to visit Springfield one
iDI- rufi n n colo nf. q.
candidate was under consideration among
the opponents Of the Kansas-Nebraska bill,
/ encountered Mr.. Lincoln on the street
between the railroad depot and the public
square. AS we walked along, the subject
of the choice of candidate for Congress to
succeed Yates came up, when / stated that
many of the old-line Wings and anti
Nebraska men in the western part of the
District were looking to him as an available
leader. While he seemed gratified by the
compliment he said: No; Yates has been a
true and faithful Representative. and
mated, and although he ran ahead Of his
ticket, yet so far had the disorganization of
the Wing party then progressed, and so
strong a foothOld had the pro-slavery senti-
ment obtained in the district. that he was
defeated by Maj. Thomas l.. Harris, of
Petersburg. whom he had defeated when he
first entered the field as a candidate four
years before. While it is scarcely probable
that Lincoln, if he had been a candidate
could have changed the result vet the prize
was one which he would then have con-
sidered worth contending for; and if the
nomination could have been rendered him
without doing injustice to his friend, he
would undoubtedly have cheerfully ac-
cepted it and thrown all the earnestness and
ability which he possessed into the contest.
This instance only illustrates feature of
his character which has so often been recog-
niZed and commented upon-hiS generosity
towards those among his political friends
who might be regarded as occupying tho
position of rivals"
CONTEST FOR THE UNITED STATES
SENATE IN 1S55-LINCOLN'S DEFEAT.
In November. 1854, Mr.. Lincoln was
elected Representative in the State Lcgis-
lature. But he did not serve. He had been
announced as a candidate from Springfield.
by Mr.. William Jayne, during his absence;
and much persuasion was needed to induce
him TO accept the nomination. 81 went to
see him" says Jayne, "in order 10 get his
! consent 10 run. This was at his house.
He was then the saddest man / ever saw
the gioomiest. He walked up and down
the floor, almost crying; and to all my
persuasions TO let his name stand in the
paper, he said: No, | can't. You don't
know all. say you don't begin 10 know
one-haif; and that's enough"
| Ills flOWcNST, WAS dIlOWeu 10 Sl1Tu,
and he was elected by about 600 ma jority.
But Mr.. Lincoln was extremely desirOus Of
/ succeeding Gen, James Shields, whose
term in the United States Senate expired
the following March. The Senate chamber
had long been the goal OF his ambition. He
summed up his feelings in a letter to Hon.
| y. Il. Judd, some Years after, saying: al
would rather have Il full term in the United
States Senate than the Presidency" He
| therefore resigned his seat in the Legis-
lature-the fact that the majority in both
houses was opposed to the Nebraska bill
allowing him to do 50 without injury to his
party. But the act was futile When the
| Legislature met, in February, 1855, TO make
choice of a Senator, n clique of anti Ne
braska Democrats held out so firmly against
the nomination of Lincoln that there was
danger of the Wings leaving their candidate
altogether, In this dilemma Mr.. Lincoln
/ was consulted. AS Mr.. Lamon describes
the incident: "He said. unhesitatingly.
You ought TO drop me and go for Trumbull;
| that is the only way you can defeat Matte
| son. Judge Logan came up about that time,
and insisted on running Lincoln still; but
the latter said: If you do, YOU will lose both
| Trumbull and myself; and think the cause.
i'll this case, is TO be preferred TO men, We
| adopted his suggestion, and took up Trum-
| bull and elected him, although it grieved us
| to the heart TO give up Mr.. Lincoln. This,
| think shows that Mr.. Lincoln was capable
| of sinking himself for the cause in which he
was engaged. 1t was with great bitterness
OF spirit that the Wings accepted this hard
| alternative. MANY of them acouSaJ fba