Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1905-02-10
LINCOLN
AND THE
Question OF Slavery.
BY GEORGE II. PICKARD.
[Copvright, 1905, by George H. Pickard. ]


Soon after reaching his majority, Abraham
Lincoln made two voyages down the Mlsslsslppi
river as far as New Orleans i'll hatboat. Ten
wears later, when his faculty of critical observ-
alton must have become considerably more
acute, he made third visit to the gulf states
I. has been found convenient by some OF his
biperaphers and not few post-belluin histo-
riaus 10 date Mr.. Lincon's CONVERSION to the
then novel and prescribed doctrines OF anti
slavery from that period. Specious as this
hypothesis may seem, there is no authentic
record that Lincoln himself ever confirmed it.
With mentality capable of absorbing the glst
of lie literary hoardings of the centuries, but
deuned all opportunity until long afterthe-period
at which most students have mastt red the es-
sentias of college education. Abraham Lin
coin, omniverous reader and logical reasoner,
in the long interval between his southern
journeys and his election to- congress, transform
ed himself into the foremost stciologlst OF
his age.
Before he was elected to congress, Mr.. Lin
coin served for several te1ns in the Illinois
state legislature, but did not refer, even Incl
dentally to the subject of slavery IN his
speeches. When he was sent to congress, he
proclaimed himself the militant apostle of the
an,-slavery agitation. Strong men had arrayed
themselves against the slave trade, and tervld
enthusiasts had proclaimed their willingness to
Weld their lives for its abolition. The new
congressman from the Sangamon district of
Illinois announced his intention to propose the
emancipation of the slaves of the District OF
Columbia. Such was the prevailing ten per OF
the time that congress declined absolutely to
consider the proposition, but Mr. Lincoln had
sounded the keynote of mighty apostolate.
He had shown his colors and Willingness to
follow them to the end. He was not invited to
become candidate for reelection. His polit'
fcal friends admired his courage and his intel
lsct, but SHE'D at his radicalism.
This hesitancy on the part OF his copstitu-
ency could not prevent Mr. Lincoln from be-
coming the most influential exponent of the
Wing party in the state. After his retu1n from
congress, he was in great demand as an orator
in every campaign. He became better known
than any other man in the state except Stephen
A. Douglas, and in the course of time, he set
tied down to a very large and lucrative law
practice. The repeal o. the Missouri compro-
mise awakened all the apparently dormant
energies of his nature. He forsook his exact
ing business, and at once assumed the leader
ship of the new party which arose IN the West
10 battle against the scheme OF the slave trade
10 organize the new territories under the pro-
slavery auspices. The designs of the pro-
slavery leaders were not congenial to the people
of the West, but they had powerful advocate
in the eloquent Douglas, and public sentiment
was in state of fckleness A new senator
was to be chosen in Illinois, aud it happened
that the Legislature elected during the heat Of
the discussion contained majority IN favor of
the principles which Lincoln had been advocat-
ing. The ardent reformer W he unanimous
cnoice of the members of his party, but four