The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-07-19
LiNcoLN's FIRST CANDIDACY.
In Sangumon River improvements
H. Fouud an Ouuorfuuffy

interest in politics; politics" meaning.
in that time and place not only who
was to be President or Governor, but
concerned itself with questions which
came rauch closer home to dwellers on
the frontier. internal improvements
as they were called-the building of
roads and clearing out of streams SO
that men and women who lived in re-
mote places might be able to travel
back and forth and carry on trade with
the rest of the wOrld-became a burn
ing question in Illinois. There was
in this need young Lincoln saw his OPP
portunity.
1t was by way of the Sangamon Riv
er that he entered politics. That uncer.
tain water-course had already twice
befriended him. He had floated on II
in fioodtime from his fathers cabin
into Springfield. A few weeks later its
rapidly falling waters landed him OF
the dam 81 Rutledge's Mill, introducing
him effectively if unceremoniously, &c
the inhabitants of New Salem. Now II
was again to play a Fart in his life
starting him on a political career that
ended caly in the White House. Surely
no insignificant stream has had great
err influence on the history of a famous
man. 1t was winding and sluggish
creek. eneumbered with driftwood and
choked by sand bars, but it flowed
through a country already filled with
ambitious settlers, where the roads were
atrociously bad, becoming in rainy sea-
sons wide seas of pasty black mud. and
remaining almost impossible for weeks
at a time. After a devious course the
Sangamon found its way into the Hi
nois River. and that in turn flowed
into the Mississippi. Most Of the set
tiers were too new TO the region tc
know what shallow. Improbable
stream the Sangamon really was; fol
the deep SHOWS of 1S30-31 and of the
following winter had supplied 1t with
an unusual volume of water 1t was
natural, therefore. that they should re.
gard il as the heaven-sent solution OF
their problem of travel and traffic with
the outside world. If it could only be
freed from driftwood, and its channe
Strengthened little, they felt sure Il
might be used for small steamboats, dur
ing large part Of the year.
The candidates for the Legislature
that summer staked their chances OF
success on the zeal they showed fol
..internal improvements" Lincoln was
only %. He had been in the county
barely nine months. Sangamon County
was then considerably larger than the
whole State of Rhode Island. and he
was of course familiar with only &
small part of 1t or its people; but he
felt that he did know the river. He
had sailed on it and had been ship
wrecked by it; he lad. moreover. beer
one of a party of men and boys, armed
with long-handled axes, who went oui
TO chop away distractions and meet {
small steamer that, few weeks
earlier, had actually forced its way III
from the Illinois River.
Following the usual custom, he an
nounced his candidacy in the loca
newspaper in letter dated March IS
addressed ITO the People of Sangamor
County" 1t was straightforward
manly statement Of his views on ques
tons of the day, written in as good
English as that used by the average
college-bred man of his years. The
larger part of it was devoted to argu
Rents for the improvement of the San
gst,on River. It's main interest for III
lies in the frank avowal of his persona
ambition that is contained in the clos
ing paragraph.
Every man is said to have his pecu
liar ambition" he wrote. Whether /
be true or not. can say. for one, thai
/ have no other so great as that of be
ing truly esteemed of my fellow men by
rendering myself worthy of their es
TEEN. How far shall succeed in graf
flying this ambition Is yet to be devcl
oped. l am young, and unknown ts
many of you. l was born. and have
ever remained, in the most humble
walks of life. have no wealthy OF
popular relations or friends to recon-
mend me. My case is thrown exclu
siyely upon the independent voters OF
the county; and IL elected, they will
have conferred favor upon me fol
which l shall be unremitting in my la
bors to compensate. But If the gooc
people in their wisdom shall see fit te
keep me in the background, have beer
200 familiar with disappointments to be
very much chagrined. From Heller
Nicoiay's 'vhe Boys Life of Abraham
lincoln in st. Nicholas.