Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1907-03-07

At thfs election Mr.. Douglas, was
made representative from Morgan
county, along with Colonel Hardin,
from whom he had the year before
taken the states attorneyship. The
event is notable principally because
Mr.. Douglas was nominated by con-
vention and not by the old system Of
self announcement, which, under the
influence Of eastern immigrants, like
himself, full Of party zeal and attached
to the customs of the places whence
they came, was gradually but surely
falling into disfavor. Mr.. Douglas
served only one session and then be-
came register Of the land Office at
Springfield. The next year he was
nominated for congress in the Peoria
district under the convention system,
and in the same year Colonel Stephen
son was nominated for governor IN tho
same way. The Wings were soon CON-
PEELED to adopt the device which they
saw marshaling the Democrats In
state Of complete discipline while they
themselves were disorganized by host
Of volunteer candidates and the opera
tons Of innumerable eliques and fac
tons. At first ut was considered
q Yankee contrivance," intended to
abr1dge the liberties Of the people, but
the Wing people" were as fond OF
victory, Offices and power as their en-
emies were, and in due time they took
very kindly to this effectual means Of
gaining them. A speech Of Ebenezer
Peck Of Chicago before great meet
ing Of the lobby during the special ses-
sion Of 1886 at Vandalia," being
production Of special ingenuity and
power, is supposed to have contributed
largely to the Introduction of the con-
vention system into the middle and
was then fervent Democrat, whom
the Wings delighted to malign as a Ca
madam monarchist but In after times
he was the fast and able friend Of
their great leader, Abraham Lincoln.
It was when the counters Of western
land offices were piled high with illu-
sorry bank notes in exchange for pub
lie lands and when 1t was believed that
the west was now at last about to
bound forward in a career Of unexam-
pied prosperity under the forcing proc
ess Of public improvements by the
states, with the aid and countenance
Of the federal government, that Mr.
Lincoln went up to attend the first ses-
sion Of the new legislature at Van
dalia. He was big with projects. His
real public service was just now about
to begin. In the previous legislature
he had been silent, observant, studious.
He had improved the opportunity so
we'll that of all men in this new body
of equal age in the service he was the
smartest parliamentarian and the cum
ningest ''log roller" He was fully de-
termined to identify himself conspicu-
ously with the "liberap' legislation in
contemplation and dreamed Of a fame
very different from that which he &C.
tually obtained as an antislavery lead
err It was about this time that he told
his friend Mr.. Speed that he aimed at
the great distinction Of being called
1.-The De Witt Clinton Of Illinois,"
Meetings with a view to this sort Of
legislation had been held In all or near
y all the counties in the state during
The preceding summer and fall. Hard
money, strict construction, no monop-
oly, antiprogressive Democrats were in
a sad minority. In truth, there was
little division Of parties about these
matters, which were deemed so essen
tial to the prosperity Of new state.
There was Mr.. Lincoln and there was
Mr.. Douglas in perfect unison as to
the grand object to be accomplished,
but MORALLY jealous as to which should
take the lead in accomplishing it.
Mr.. Lincoln served on the committee
on finance and was a most laborious
member, instant in season and out Of
season, for the great measures Of the
Wing party. 1t was to his individual
exertion that the Wings were indebted
in no small degree for the complete
success Of their favorite schemes at
this session.
1T was a maxim with many politi-
clans just to keep along even with the
humor Of the people. right or wrong"
and this maxim Mr.. Lincoln held then
in very high estimation. But the "hu-
NOR Of his constituents was not only
intensely favorable to the new scheme
Of internal improvements. 1t was
most decidedly their "humor' to have
the capital at Springfield and to make
a great man Of the legislator who
should take it there. Mr.. Lincoln was
doubtless thoroughly convinced that
the popular view Of all these matters
was the right one, but even If he had
been unhappily afflicted with individ-
ual scruples Of his own he would have
deemed it but simple duty to obey the
almost unanimous voice Of his con-
stituency. He thought he never could
serve them better than by giving them
just what they wanted and that to col