New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-02-07

he forsook farming and sought a position as q
clerk In a country store.
Whether Lincoln ever would have been heard
of had not the Black Hawk. war occurred about a
year after he vert to work at New Salem. Sanga-
mon county, remains a question. 1t need not
bother any one, however, because the war did
occur and Lincoln did go into it as a captain OF
volunteers.
This might be said to have been the turning
point In his career. Up to this time he had not
found himself. He was studying, but drifting. He
does not appear to have had any aim in life be-
You'd the ambition TO educate himself and to sue
coed.
Lincoln afterward said that his experience In
the Black Hawk war gave him greater pleasure
than anything that had occurred to him up to
that time. He Ind no opportunity to distinguish
himself in that little conflict, but he returned to
New Salem a man of more public Importance than
when he left it. He started a store, but it failed,
and the debts fell upon him. He was appointed
postmaster. the first federal office he ever held.
He ran for the Legislature, but was defeated. But
inc next election he ran again. and was elected
ana later returned for another term.
Law and Politics.
While he was keeping Il general store he began
the study of law. He once said that one of his
first books was Il copy of the laws of Indiana.
and tina. was about all the law he knew up to
that time.
1t WA while serving as a legislator in Illinois
that Lincoln first turned his attention to the blot
OF slavery, which he began to oppose with all his
might and influence. After he decided to retire
from the legislature he started to practice law.
having been licensed to practice in 1887. He re-
moved to Springfield, where the remainder Of his
days, until he went to Washington as president,
were mainly spent.
In 1916 he was elected to a seat In congress,
but. he 09plinpd realization and Saftlad down IN
the practice of his profession in Springfield.
Lincoln spent his spare time in the store of his
friend, Joshua Speed, which was the rendezvous
of many prominent men In that section. He was
famed for his stories and for his keenness in de-
bate. 1t was In this little general store that Lin.
coin first met Douglas In debate. Douglas was
regarded fur and wide as n little giant in debate.
and he remarked that the store was no place for
him to debate any question with Lincoln.
By this time Lincoln had become something of q
politician. His party was the Wing. He took q
lively interest in political affairs. and finally took
part on the Wing side in n joint debate with the
Democrats. Lincoln was the last speaker In that
debate, but his words took the deepest hold Of the
spectators and added greatly to his reputation.
1t was in Springfield that Lincoln married Mary
Todd, who, it is interesting to note, was also
sought in marriage by Douglas, who thus became
Lincoln's opponent in love as well as in politics,
but was beaten by him in both.
AS a lawyer Lincoln might have appeared lazy
10 those who did not understand his methods. He
disliked Office work and the drawing of legal pa
pers, but when a case had to be brought to the
attention of a jury or a court Lincoln was In hk
element. He was a born debater and stOry-tellef.
He knew how to get the jury in good humor and
how to make his point to them reach home.
He had the genius for putting the human touch to
all he did, and his hOmely SMILES and good stories
often went further than his opponents knowledge
of the law.
Apostle Of Abolition.
But It should not be imagined that Lincoln knew
no law, for that would be a mistake. He often
would sit up to the small hours of the night read.
ing law and studying a case, while his opponents
probably would be soundly sleeping. When he
went into court he was master Of his case, and
that goes a long way toward winning a verdict.
The practice of law was beginning to take a
firm hold on Lincoln to the exclusion Of politics
the Missouri Compromise was enacted. That
reused him, and from that time onward he was
strongly for the ~sbolition of slavery.
His position was known throughout the coun.
try, for he had st1nped the East for Taylor years
before, and the stories Of his quiet humor and
fund Of anecdOte had penetrated the East, conse.
uuently, when it was evident to the sountry that
stood on the eve OK a conflict between slavery
abolition, Lincoln was made the nominee of
the party that was firmly intrenched OF. the prin.
HDle OF no CuIupToHltSt VIII dNtlOlJETS. lie
nominated, and was enthusiastically elected
at the national election in 1860.
He had scarcely taken his seat when the war
burst upon the country. 1t was a trying time, and
no one suffered under it more than did Lincoln
himself. But he meant to do his duty, and, as
llways had been his habit, he did it tbc6. although
t was most unpleasant and most dii1cult.
When the war made its inroads into MANY
homes, Lincoln had an unpleasant defy to per-
form. He sympathized with the mothers left at
home and did what he could for their boys at the
front. He received the mothers at the White
House. talked things over with them, and nearly
Every one of them left feeling that her boy had a
'riend who looked after him although he was far
iway i'm an army corps doing his duty.
1t was this gentle character who was coldly
down just when the war vas at an end
md the country was getting reads 10 rejoice at
he glorious news The whole coyntry, South as
as North, mUurseG the loss, spr even In the
south, where the war rcd been naost disasrous,
he name of Lincoln was Coined Ia memory With
grand. human, just character. who was even
moro than man,