The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-03-15

he fOrSOOk farming and sought position as a
clerk in country store.
Whether Lincoln ever would t!a=e been heard
of had not the Black Hawk war occurred about a
year after he went to work at New Salem, Sanga-
mon county, remains question. 1t need not
bother any one, however, because the did
occur and Lincoln did 20 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 studying, but drifting. He
does not appear to have had any aim in life be-
yond the ambition to educate himself and to sue
coed.
Lincoln afterward said that his experience in
the Black Hawk gave him greater pleasure
than anything that had occurred TO him up to
that time He had no opportunity to distinguish
himself in that little conflict, but he returned to
New Salem a man of more pEblic Importance than
when he left it. He started a store but it failed
and the debts fell upon him. He appointed
postmaster the first federal office he held
lie ran for the legislature, but defeated. But
the next election he ran again, and was elected
and later returned for another term.
Law and Politics
While NJ was keeping a general store he began
the study of law He once said that one of his
first books was copy of the laws of Indiana.
and that was about all the law he knew up to
that time.
1t was while serving as legislator in Illinois
that Lincoln first turned his attention 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
moved to Springfield, where the remainder of his
days, until he went to Washington president,
were mainly spent
In 1916 he elected to seat in congress,
but he declined reelection and settled down to
the practic" of his profession in Springfield
Lincoln spent his spare time in the store of his
friend, Joshua Speed, which the rendezvous
of many prominent 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 far and wide 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
politician. His party was the Wing. He took
lively interest in political affairs and finally took
part the Wing side in a 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, 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 Il lawyer Lincoln might have appeared lazy
to those who did not understand his methods. He
disliked office work and the drawing of legal pa
pers, but when case had to be brought to the
attention of jury or court Lincoln was in his
element. He born debater and story-teller.
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 homey 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 mistake He often
would sit up to the small hours of the night read
ing law and studying case while his opponents
would be soundy sleeping. When he |
went into court he was master of his case, and |
thut goes long way toward winning verdict.
The practice of law beginning to take a
firm hold Lincoln to the exclusion of politics |
when the Missouri Compromise was enacted. That
ro1sed him. and from that time onward he was
strongly for the abolition of slavery.
His position was known throughout the coun
tr7, for he had stumped the East for Taylor years
before, and the stories of his quiet humor and
fund of anecdote had penetrated the East conse-
orently, when it evident to the country that
il stood the eve Of conflict between slavery
ard abolition, Lincoln was made the nominee of
the party that firmly intrenched on the prin-
ciDle Of compromise with Shareholders He
WIS 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 trying time and
nu one suffered under it more than did Lincoln
h,aself But he meant to do his duty and as
ways had been his habit, he did it then although
it was most unpleasant and most difficult
tShen the made its inroaGs into many
hornes Lincoln had unpleasant duty to per-
form He sympathized with the mothers left at
hone and did what he could for their boys at the
frcat He received the mothers at the White
HC1se, talked things over with them, and nearly
every one of then left feeling that her boy had
Frisnd who looked after him although he was far
away in an army corps doing his duty
it was this gentle character who was colby
stl.lck down just when the war was at an end
ana the country getting ready to rejoice at
h, glorious news. The whole country, South as
veI as North, mourned the loss, for even In the
South, where the war had been most disastrous
he Iame of Lincoln was joines In memory with
gland, human. just character, who was even
more than man.