Table of Contents Descriptions

PART I.

CHAPTER I.

Ancestry of Abraham Lincoln—Their Residence in Pennsylvania and Virginia— His Grandfather Crosses the Alleghanies to join Boone and his Associates— "The Dark and Bloody Ground "—His Violent Death— His Widow Settles in Washington County— Thomas Lincoln, his Son, Marries and Locates near Hodgonville— Birth of Abraham Lincoln— LaRue County— Early Life and Training in Kentucky.....9

CHAPTER II.

Removal from Kentucky— An Emigrant Journey— The Forests of Southern Indiana— New Home— Indiana in 1816— Slavery and Free Labor— Young Lincoln at His Work— His Schools and Schoolmasters— Self-Education— A Characteristic Incident— Acquaintance with River Life— His First Trip to New Orleans as a Flatboatman— Death of His Mother— His Father's Second Marriage— Recollections of an Early Settler — Close of an Eventful Period in Young Lincoln's History.....21

CHAPTER III.

The French Settlements— The North-West— The Advance of Emigration— Four Great States Founded— North and South in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois— Sentiments of Southern Emigrants— The First Emigrations— A Coincidence of Dates— Mordecai and Josiah Lincoln— Removal to Illinois—Settlement on the Sangamon, in Macon County— Locality Described— Abraham Lincoln Engaged in Splitting Rails— Removal of His Father— He Settles in Coles County— Abraham Lincoln makes another Trip as a Flatboatman— Becomes Clerk in a Store on His Return— Postmaster at New Salem.....30

CHAPTER IV.

Breaking Out of the Black Hawk War—The Invasion of 1831— The Rock-river Country Threatened— Prompt Action of Gov. Reynolds— Retreat of Black Hawk— Treaty of 1804— Bad Faith of the Indians— Invasion of 1832— Volunteers Called For— Abraham Lincoln one of a Company from Menard County— He is chosen Captain— Rendezvous at Beardstown— Hard Marches across the Country to Oquawka, Prophetstown, and Dixon— Expected Battle Avoided by the Enemy— Discontent among Volunteers— They are Disbanded— Captain Lincoln Remains, Volunteering for Another Term of Service— Skirmishing Fights— Arrival of New Levies— Encounter at Kellogg's Grove— Black Hawk at Four Lakes_He Retreats— Battle on the Wisconsin— Hastens Forward to the Mississippi— Battle of Bad-ax—End of Lincoln's First Campaign— Autobiographic Note.....37

CHAPTER V.

A New Period in Mr. Lincoln's Life— His Political Opinions— Clay and Jackson— Mr. Lincoln a Candidate for Representative— Election in 1834— Illinois Strongly Democratic— Mr. Lincoln as a Surveyor— Land Speculation Mania— Mr. Lincoln's First. Appearance in the Legislature— Banks and Internal Improvements— Whig Measures Democratically Botched— First Meeting of Lincoln with Douglas— The Latter Seeks an Office of the Legislature, and Gets it.— Mr. Lincoln Re-elected in 1836— Mr. Douglas also a Member of the House— Distinguished Associates— Internal Improvements Again— Mr. Lincoln's Views on Slavery- The Capital Removed to Springfield— The New Metropolis— Revulsion of 1837— Mr. Lincoln Chosen for a Third Term— John Calhoun, of Lecompton Memory— Lincoln the Whig Leader, and Candidate for Speaker— Close Vote— First Session at Springfield— Lincoln Re-elected in 1840—Partisan Remodeling of the Supreme Court— Lincoln Declines Further Service in the Legislature— His Position as a Statesman at the Close of this Period— Tribune of the People.....47

CHAPTER VI.

Mr. Lincoln's Law Studies—His Perseverance under Adverse Circumstances-Licensed to Practice in 1836—His Progress in his Profession—His Qualities as an Advocate—A Romantic and Exciting Incident in his Practice—Reminiscence of his Early Life—Secures an Acquittal in a Murder Case, in Spite of a Strong-Popular Prejudice Against the Prisoner— Affecting Scene— Mr. Lincoln Removes to Springfield in 1837— Devotes Himself to his Profession, Giving up Political Life— His Marriage— Family of Mrs. Lincoln— Fortunate Domestic Relations—His Children and their Education— Denominational Tendencies— Four Year's Retirement.....62

CHAPTER VII.

Mr. Lincoln's Devotion to Henry Clay— Presidential Nominations of 1844— The Campaign in Illinois— Mr. Lincoln makes an Active Canvass for Clay— John Ca'honn the Leading Polk Elector— The Tariff Issue Thoroughly Discussed— Method of Conducting the Canvass—Whigs of Illinois in a Hopeless Minority-Mr. Lincoln's Reputation as a Whig Champion—Renders Efficient Service in Indiana— Mr. Clay's Defeat, and the Consequences— Mr. Lincoln a Candidate for Congressman in 1846—President Polk's Administration—Condition of the Country— Texas Annexation, the Mexican War, and the Tariff— Political Character of the Springfield District— Lincoln Elected by an Unprecedented Majority— His Personal Popularity Demonstrated.....68

CHAPTER VIII.

The Thirtieth Congress—Its Political Character— The Democracy in a Minority in the House— Robert C. Winthrop Elected Speaker— Distinguished Members in both Houses— Mr. Lincoln takes his Seat as a Member of the House, and Mr. Douglas for the first time as a Member of the Senate, at the same Session— Mr. Lincoln's Congressional Record that of a Clay and Webster Whig— The Mexican War—Mr. Lincoln's Views on the Subject— Misrepresentations— Not an Available Issue for Mr. Lincoln's Opponents—His Resolutions of Inquiry in Regard to the Origin of the War— Mr. Richardson's Resolutions Indorsing the Administration— Mr. Richardson's Resolutions for an Immediate Discontinuance of the War— Are Voted Against by Mr. Lincoln— Resolutions of Thanks to Gen. Taylor—Mr. Henley's Amendment, and Mr. Ashmun's Addition thereto—Resolutions Adopted without Amendment— Mr. Lincoln's First Speech in Congress, on the Mexican War— Mr. Lincoln on Internal Improvements— A Characteristic Campaign Speech— Mr. Lincoln on the Nomination of Gen. Taylor; the Veto Power; National Issues; President and People; Wilmot Proviso; Platforms; Democratic Sympathy for Clay; Military Heroes and Exploits; Cass a Progressive; Extra Pay ; the Whigs and the Mexican War; Democratic Divisions— Close of the Session— Mr. Lincoln on the Stump— Gen. Taylor's Election— Second Session of the Thirtieth Congress— Slavery in the District of Columbia— The Public Lands— Mr. Lincoln as a Congressman— He Retires to Private life.....72

CHAPTER IX.

Mr. Lincoln in Retirement for Five Years— Gen. Taylor's Administration— The Slavery Agitation of 1850— The Compromise of Clay and Fillmore— The "Final Settlement" of 1852— How, and by Whom it was Disturbed— Violation of the Most Positive Pledges— The Kansas-Nebraska Bill— Douglas, the Agitator— Popular Indignation and Excitement— Mr. Lincoln Takes part in the Canvass of 1854— Great Political Changes— The Anti-Nebraska Organization— Springfield Resolutions of 1854— Results of the Election— A Majority of Congressmen and of the Legislature Anti-Nebraska— Election of United States Senator to Succeed Gen. Shields— Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Trnmbull— A Magnanimous Sacrifice— Mr. Trumbull Elected.....119

CHAPTER X.

The Republican Party Organized— Their Platform Adopted at Bloomington— The Canvass of 1856— Mr. Lincoln Sustains Fremont and Dayton— His Active Labors on the Stump— Col. Bissell Elected Governor of Illinois— Mr. Buchanan Inaugurated— His Kansas Policy— Mr. Douglas Committed to it in June, 1857— John Calhoun his Special Friend— The Springfield Speech of Douglas— Mr. Lincoln's Reply.....127

CHAPTER XI.

The Lecompton Struggle— The Policy of Douglas Changed— He Breaks with the Administration and Loses Caste at the South— Republican Sympathies— Douglas Falters, but Opposes the English Bill— Passage of that Measure— Democratic State Convention of Illinois— Douglas Indorsed, and Efforts for his Re-election Commenced— The Democratic Bolt— Meeting of the Republican State Convention in June— Mr. Lincoln Named as the First and Only Choice of the Republicans for Senator— His Great Speech Before the Convention at Springfield— Doug¬las and Lincoln at Chicago— Speeches at Bloomington and Springfield— Unfair ness of the Apportionment Pointed Out by Mr. Lincoln— He Analyzes the Douglas Programme— Seven Joint Debates— Douglas Produces a Bogus Platform, and Propounds Interrogatories — "Unfriendly Legislation"— Lincoln Fully Defines his Position on the Slavery Question— Result of the Canvass— The People for Lincoln; the Apportionment for Douglas— Public Opinion......141

CHAPTER XII.

Mr. Lincoln in Ohio— His Speech at Columbus— Denial of the Negro Suffrage Charge— Troubles of Douglas with his "Great Principle"— Territories not States— Doctrines of the Fathers— His Cincinnati Speech"— Shooting Over the Line"— What the Republicans Mean to Do— Plain Questions to the Democracy— The People Above Courts and Congress— Uniting the Opposition— Eastern Tour— The Cooper Institute Speech— Mr. Bryant's Introduction— What the Fathers Held— What will Satisfy the Southern Democracy— Counsels to the Republicans— Mr. Lincoln Among the Children.....182

CHAPTER XIII.

The Republican National Convention at Chicago— The Charleston Explosion— "Constitutional Union" Nominations— Distinguished Candidates Among the Republicans— The Platform— The Ballotings— Mr. Lincoln Nominated— Unparalleled Enthusiasm— The Ticket Completed with the Name of Senator Hamlin— Its Reception by the Country— Mr. Lincoln's Letter of Acceptance— Result of the Canvass— His Journey to Washington— Speeches at Springfield and Iiidianopolis.....190