27 chapters
11 hour read
Selected Chapters
27 chapters
AUTHORS' PREFACE
AUTHORS' PREFACE
A generation born since Abraham Lincoln died has already reached manhood and womanhood. Yet there are millions still living who sympathized with him in his noble aspirations, who labored with him in his toilsome life, and whose hearts were saddened by his tragic death. It is the almost unbroken testimony of his contemporaries that by virtue of certain high traits of character, in certain momentous lines of purpose and achievement, he was incomparably the greatest man of his time. The deliberate
7 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
ABRAHAM LINCOLN CHAPTER I
ABRAHAM LINCOLN CHAPTER I
[Sidenote: 1780.] In the year 1780, Abraham Lincoln, a member of a respectable and well- to-do family in Rockingham County, Virginia, started westward to establish himself in the newly-explored country of Kentucky. He entered several large tracts of fertile land, and returning to Virginia disposed of his property there, and with his wife and five children went back to Kentucky and settled in Jefferson County. Little is known of this pioneer Lincoln or of his father. Most of the records belonging
26 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER II
[Sidenote: 1818.] By the time the boy Abraham had attained his seventh year, the social condition of Kentucky had changed considerably from the early pioneer days. Life had assumed a more settled and orderly course. The old barbarous equality of the earlier time was gone; a difference of classes began to be seen. Those who held slaves assumed a distinct social superiority over those who did not. Thomas Lincoln, concluding that Kentucky was no country for a poor man, determined to seek his fortun
24 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER III
[Sidenote: Roy. J. M. Sturtevant, "Address to Old Settlers of Morgan County."] [Sidenote: Thomas Buckles, of McLean County.] [Sidenote: J.C. Power, "Early Settlers of Sangamon County," p. 62.] [Sidenote: "Old Times in McLean County," p. 414.] [Illustration: GOOSE-NEST PRAIRIE, NEAR FARMINGTON ILLINOIS, WHERE THOMAS LINCOLN LIVED AND DIED.] The Lincolns arrived in Illinois just in time to entitle themselves to be called pioneers. When, in after years, associations of "Old Settlers" began to be fo
29 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER IV
During the latter part of "the winter of the deep snow," Lincoln became acquainted with one Denton Offutt, an adventurous and discursive sort of merchant, with more irons in the fire than he could well manage. He wanted to take a flat-boat and cargo to New Orleans, and having heard that Hanks and Lincoln had some experience of the river, he insisted on their joining him. John Johnston was afterwards added to the party, probably at the request of his foster-brother, to share in the golden profits
20 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER V
[Sidenote: 1832.] A new period in the life of Lincoln begins with the summer of 1832. He then obtained his first public recognition, and entered upon the course of life which was to lead him to a position of prominence and great usefulness. The business of Offutt had gone to pieces, and his clerk was out of employment, when Governor Reynolds issued his call for volunteers to move the tribe of Black Hawk across the Mississippi. For several years the raids of the old Sac chieftain upon that portio
16 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VI
[Sidenote: 1832.] The discharged volunteer arrived in New Salem only ten days before the August election, in which he had a deep personal interest. Before starting for the wars he had announced himself, according to the custom of the time, by a handbill circular, as a candidate for the Legislature from Sangamon County. [Footnote: We are aware that all former biographers have stated that Lincoln's candidacy for the Legislature was subsequent to his return from the war, and a consequence of his se
22 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VII
The election of Mr. Lincoln to the Legislature may be said to have closed the pioneer portion of his life. He was done with the wild carelessness of the woods, with the jolly ruffianism of Clary's Grove, with the petty chaffering of grocery stores, with odd jobs for daily bread, with all the uncouth squalor of the frontier poverty. It was not that his pecuniary circumstances were materially improved. He was still, and for years continued to be, a very poor man, harassed by debts which he was alw
21 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER VIII
[Sidenote: 1837.] On the 3rd of March, the day before the Legislature adjourned, Mr. Lincoln caused to be entered upon its records a paper which excited but little interest at the time, but which will probably be remembered long after the good and evil actions of the Vandalia Assembly have faded away from the minds of men. It was the authentic record of the beginning of a great and momentous career. The following protest was presented to the House, which was read and ordered to be spread on the
15 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER IX
Mr. Lincoln had made thus far very little money—nothing more, in fact, than a subsistence of the most modest character. But he had made some warm friends, and this meant much among the early Illinoisans. He had become intimately acquainted, at Vandalia, with William Butler, who was greatly interested in the removal of the capital to Springfield, and who urged the young legislator to take up his residence at the new seat of government. Lincoln readily fell in with this suggestion, and accompanied
16 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER X
CHAPTER X
During all the years of his service in the Legislature, Lincoln was practicing law in Springfield in the dingy little office at the corner of the square. A youth named Milton Hay, who afterwards became one of the foremost lawyers of the State, had made the acquaintance of Lincoln at the County Clerk's office and proposed to study law with him. He was at once accepted as a pupil, and his days being otherwise employed he gave his nights to reading, and as his vigils were apt to be prolonged he fur
21 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XI
The foregoing letter brings us to the consideration of a remarkable passage in Lincoln's life. It has been the cause of much profane and idle discussion among those who were constitutionally incapacitated from appreciating ideal sufferings, and we would be tempted to refrain from adding a word to what has already been said if it were possible to omit all reference to an experience so important in the development of his character. [Illustration: FAC-SIMILE OF THE MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE OF ABRAHAM L
19 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XII
An incident which occurred during the summer preceding Mr. Lincoln's marriage, and which in the opinion of many had its influence in hastening that event, deserves some attention, if only from its incongruity with the rest of his history. This was the farce—which aspired at one time to be a tragedy—of his first and last duel. Among the officers of the State Government was a young Irishman named James Shields, who owed his post as Auditor, in great measure, to that alien vote to gain which the De
12 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIII
In the letter to Stuart which we have quoted, Lincoln announced his intention to form a partnership with Judge Logan, which was soon carried out. His connection with Stuart was formally dissolved in April, 1841, and one with Logan formed which continued for four years. It may almost be said that Lincoln's practice as a lawyer begins from this time. Stuart, though even then giving promise of the distinction at which he arrived in his profession later in life, was at that period so entirely devote
29 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XIV
In the months that remained of his term, after the election of his successor, President Tyler pursued with much vigor his purpose of accomplishing the annexation of Texas, regarding it as the measure which was specially to illustrate his administration and to preserve it from oblivion. The state of affairs, when Congress came together in December, 1844, was propitious to the project. Dr. Anson Jones had been elected as President of Texas; the republic was in a more thriving condition than ever b
25 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XV
CHAPTER XV
The Thirtieth Congress organized on the 6th of December, 1847. Its roll contained the names of many eminent men, few of whom were less known than his which was destined to a fame more wide and enduring than all the rest together. It was Mr. Lincoln's sole distinction that he was the only Whig member from Illinois. He entered upon the larger field of work which now lay before him without any special diffidence, but equally without elation. Writing to his friend Speed soon after his election he sa
26 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVI
When Congress came together again in December, there was such a change in the temper of its members that no one would have imagined, on seeing the House divided, that it was the same body which had assembled there a year before. The election was over; the Whigs were to control the Executive Department of the Government for four years to come; the members themselves were either reflected or defeated; and there was nothing to prevent the gratification of such private feelings as they might have be
18 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVII
In that briefest of all autobiographies, which Mr. Lincoln wrote for Jesse Fell upon three pages of note-paper, he sketched in these words the period at which we have arrived: "From 1849 to 1854, both inclusive, I practiced law more assiduously than ever before … I was losing interest in politics, when the repeal of the Missouri Compromise aroused me again." His service in Congress had made him more generally known than formerly, and had increased his practical value as a member of any law firm.
16 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XVIII
CHAPTER XVIII
We shall see in the course of the present work how the life of Abraham Lincoln divides itself into three principal periods, with corresponding stages of intellectual development: the first, of about forty years, ending with his term in Congress; the second, of about ten years, concluding with his final campaign of political speech- making in New York and in New England, shortly before the Presidential nominations of 1860; and the last, of about five years, terminating at his death. We have thus
23 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XIX
CHAPTER XIX
The long contest in Congress over the compromise measures of 1850, and the reluctance of a minority, alike in the North and the South, to accept them, had in reality seriously demoralized both the great political parties of the country. The Democrats especially, defeated by the fresh military laurels of General Taylor in 1848, were much exercised to discover their most available candidate as the presidential election of 1852 approached. The leading names, Cass, Buchanan, and Marcy, having been l
25 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XX
CHAPTER XX
The repeal of the Missouri Compromise made the slavery question paramount in every State of the Union. The boasted finality was a broken reed; the life-boat of compromise a hopeless wreck. If the agreement of a generation could be thus annulled in a breath, was there any safety even in the Constitution itself? This feeling communicated itself to the Northern States at the very first note of warning, and every man's party fealty was at once decided by his toleration of or opposition to slavery. W
12 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XXI
CHAPTER XXI
[Sidenote: 1854.] To follow closely the chain of events, growing out of the repeal of the Missouri Compromise at Douglas's instigation, we must now examine its effect upon the political fortunes of that powerful leader in his own State. The extreme length of Illinois from north to south is 385 miles; in geographical situation it extends from the latitude of Massachusetts and New York to that of Virginia and Kentucky. The great westward stream of emigration in the United States had generally foll
35 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XXII
CHAPTER XXII
[Sidenote: May 30, 1854.] The passage of the Nebraska bill and the hurried extinction of the Indian title opened nearly fifteen million acres of public lands to settlement and purchase. The whole of this vast area was yet practically tenantless. In all of Kansas there were only three military posts, eight or ten missions or schools attached to Indian reservations, and some scores of roving hunters and traders or squatters in the vicinity of a few well-known camping stations on the two principal
16 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XXIII
CHAPTER XXIII
As the event proved, the invasion of border ruffians to decide the first election in Kansas had been entirely unnecessary. Even without counting the illegal votes, the pro-slavery candidate for delegate was chosen by a plurality. He had held the office of Indian Agent, and his acquaintance, experience, and the principal fact that he was the favorite of the conspirators gave him an easy victory. Governor Reeder issued his certificate of election without delay, and Whitfield hurried away to Washin
19 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XXIV
CHAPTER XXIV
[Sidenote: "House Journal Kansas Territory," 1855. p. 30; "Council Journal," 1855, p. 253.] The bogus Legislature adjourned late on the night of the 30th of August, 1855. They had elaborately built up their legal despotism, commissioned trusty adherents to administer it, and provided their principal and undoubted partisans with military authority to see that it was duly executed. Going still a step further, they proposed so to mold and control public opinion as to prevent the organization of any
13 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XXV
CHAPTER XXV
Out of the antagonistic and contending factions mentioned in the last two chapters, the bogus Legislature and its Border-Ruffian adherents on the one hand, and the framers and supporters of the Topeka Constitution on the other, grew the civil war in Kansas. The bogus Legislature numbered thirty-six members. These had only received, all told, 619 legal bond fide Kansas votes; but, what answered their purposes just as well, 4408 Missourians had cast their ballots for them, making their total const
22 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
VOLUME TWO
VOLUME TWO
ABRAHAM LINCOLN ( Frontispiece ) From an ambrotype taken for Marcus L. Ward (afterwards Governor of New Jersey) in Springfield, Ill., May 20, 1860, two days after Mr. Lincoln's nomination. GENERAL JOHN W. GEARY From a photograph taken, in 1866, by Draper and Husted. MILLARD FILLMORE From a daguerreotype. CHARLES SUMNER From a daguerreotype. ROGER B. TANEY From a daguerreotype. SAMUEL NELSON From a photograph. ROBERT J. WALKER From a daguerreotype. FREDERICK P. STANTON From a photograph by Brad
59 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter