VOLUME1。

INTRODUCTORY

ImmediatelyafterLincoln’sre—electiontothePresidency，inanoff—handspeech，deliveredinresponsetoaserenadebysomeofhisadmirersontheeveningofNovember10，1864，hespokeasfollows：

"Ithaslongbeenagravequestionwhetheranygovernmentnottoostrongforthelibertiesofitspeoplecanbestrongenoughtomaintainitsexistenceingreatemergencies。Onthispoint，thepresentrebellionbroughtourrepublictoaseveretest，andthePresidentialelection，occurringinregularcourseduringtherebellion，addednotalittletothestrain……Thestrifeoftheelectionisbuthumannaturepracticallyappliedtothefactsinthecase。Whathasoccurredinthiscasemusteveroccurinsimilarcases。Humannaturewillnotchange。Inanyfuturegreatnationaltrial，comparedwiththemenofthis，weshallhaveasweakandasstrong，assillyandaswise，asbadandasgood。Letusthereforestudytheincidentsinthisasphilosophytolearnwisdomfromandnoneofthemaswrongstobeavenged……

Nowthattheelectionisover，maynotallhavingacommoninterestreuniteinacommonforttosaveourcommoncountry？

Formyownpart，Ihavestrivenandshallstrivetoavoidplacinganyobstacleintheway。SolongasIhavebeenhere，Ihavenotwillinglyplantedathorninanyman’sbosom。WhileIamdeeplysensibletothehighcomplimentofare—electionanddulygrateful，asItrust，toAlmightyGodforhavingdirectedmycountrymentoarightconclusion，asIthinkfortheirowngood，itaddsnothingtomysatisfactionthatanyothermanmaybedisappointedorpainedbytheresult。"

Thisspeechhasnotattractedmuchgeneralattention，yetitisinapeculiardegreebothillustrativeandtypicalofthegreatstatesmanwhomadeit，alikeinitsstrongcommon—senseandinitsloftystandardofmorality。Lincoln’slife，Lincoln’sdeedsandwords，arenotonlyofconsuminginteresttothehistorian，butshouldbeintimatelyknowntoeverymanengagedinthehardpracticalworkofAmericanpoliticallife。ItisdifficulttooverstatehowmuchitmeanstoanationtohaveasthetwoforemostfiguresinitshistorymenlikeWashingtonandLincoln。

ItisgoodforeverymaninanywayconcernedinpubliclifetofeelthatthehighestambitionanyAmericancanpossiblyhavewillbegratifiedjustinproportionasheraiseshimselftowardthestandardssetbythesetwomen。

Itisaverypoorthing，whetherfornationsorindividuals，toadvancethehistoryofgreatdeedsdoneinthepastasanexcusefordoingpoorlyinthepresent；butitisanexcellentthingtostudythehistoryofthegreatdeedsofthepast，andofthegreatmenwhodidthem，withanearnestdesiretoprofittherebysoastorenderbetterserviceinthepresent。Intheiressentials，themenofthepresentdayaremuchlikethemenofthepast，andtheliveissuesofthepresentcanbefacedtobetteradvantagebymenwhohaveingoodfaithstudiedhowtheleadersofthenationfacedthedeadissuesofthepast。SuchastudyofLincoln’slifewillenableustoavoidthetwingulfsofimmoralityandinefficiency——thegulfswhichalwayslieoneoneachsideofthecareersalikeofmanandofnation。Ithelpsnothingtohaveavoidedoneifshipwreckisencounteredintheother。Thefanatic，thewell—meaningmoralistofunbalancedmind，theparlorcriticwhocondemnsothersbuthasnopowerhimselftodogoodandbutlittlepowertodoill——allthesewereasalientoLincolnastheviciousandunpatrioticthemselves。

Hislifeteachesourpeoplethattheymustactwithwisdom，becauseotherwiseadherencetorightwillbemeresoundandfurywithoutsubstance；andthattheymustalsoacthigh—mindedly，orelsewhatseemstobewisdomwillintheendturnouttobethemostdestructivekindoffolly。

Throughouthisentirelife，andespeciallyafterherosetoleadershipinhisparty，Lincolnwasstirredtohisdepthsbythesenseoffealtytoaloftyideal；butthroughouthisentirelife，healsoacceptedhumannatureasitis，andworkedwithkeen，practicalgoodsensetoachieveresultswiththeinstrumentsathand。Itisimpossibletoconceiveofamanfartherremovedfrombaseness，fartherremovedfromcorruption，frommereself—

seeking；butitisalsoimpossibletoconceiveofamanofmoresaneandhealthymind——amanlessundertheinfluenceofthatfantasticanddiseasedmorality(sofantasticanddiseasedastobeinrealityprofoundlyimmoral)whichmakesamaninthiswork—

a—dayworldrefusetodowhatispossiblebecausehecannotaccomplishtheimpossible。

InthefifthvolumeofLecky’sHistoryofEngland，thehistoriandrawsaninterestingdistinctionbetweenthequalitiesneededforasuccessfulpoliticalcareerinmodernsocietyandthosewhichleadtoeminenceinthespheresofpureintellectorpuremoraleffort。Hesays：

"……themoralqualitiesthatarerequiredinthehigherspheresofstatesmanship[arenot]thoseofaheroorasaint。Passionateearnestnessandself—devotion，completeconcentrationofeveryfacultyonanunselfishaim，uncalculatingdaring，adelicacyofconscienceandaloftinessofaimfarexceedingthoseoftheaverageofmen，areherelikelytoproveratherahindrancethananassistance。Thepoliticiandealsverylargelywiththesuperficialandthecommonplace；hisartisinagreatmeasurethatofskilfulcompromise，andintheconditionsofmodernlife，thestatesmanislikelytosucceedbestwhopossessessecondaryqualitiestoanunusualdegree，whoisintheclosestintellectualandmoralsympathywiththeaverageoftheintelligentmenofhistime，andwhopursuescommonidealswithmorethancommonability……Tact，businesstalent，knowledgeofmen，resolution，promptitudeandsagacityindealingwithimmediateemergencies，acharacterwhichlendsitselfeasilytoconciliation，diminishesfrictionandinspiresconfidence，areespeciallyneeded，andtheyaremorelikelytobefoundamongshrewdandenlightenedmenoftheworldthanamongmenofgreatoriginalgeniusorofanheroictypeofcharacter。"

TheAmericanpeopleshouldfeelprofoundlygratefulthatthegreatestAmericanstatesmansinceWashington，thestatesmanwhointhisabsolutelydemocraticrepublicsucceededbest，wastheverymanwhoactuallycombinedthetwosetsofqualitieswhichthehistorianthusputsinantithesis。AbrahamLincoln，therail—splitter，theWesterncountrylawyer，wasoneoftheshrewdestandmostenlightenedmenoftheworld，andhehadallthepracticalqualitieswhichenablesuchamantoguidehiscountrymen；andyethewasalsoageniusoftheheroictype，aleaderwhoroseleveltothegreatestcrisisthroughwhichthisnationoranyothernationhadtopassinthenineteenthcentury。

THEODOREROOSEVELT

SAGAMOREHILL，OYSTERBAY，N。Y。，September22，1905。

INTRODUCTORYNOTE

"Ihaveendured，"wroteLincolnnotlongbeforehisdeath，"agreatdealofridiculewithoutmuchmalice，andhavereceivedagreatdealofkindnessnotquitefreefromridicule。"OnEasterDay，1865，theworldknewhowlittlethisridicule，howmuchthiskindness，hadreallysignified。Thereafter，LincolnthemanbecameLincolnthehero，yearbyyearmoreheroic，untilto—day，withtheswiftpassingofthosewhoknewhim，hisfiguregrowseverdimmer，lessreal。Thisshouldnotbe。ForLincolntheman，patient，wise，setinahighresolve，isworthfarmorethanLincolnthehero，vaguelyglorious。Invaluableistheexampleoftheman，intangiblethatofthehero。

And，thoughitisnotforus，asforthosewhoinawedstillnesslistenedatGettysburgwithinspiredperception，toknowAbrahamLincoln，yetthereisforusanotherwaywherebywemayattainsuchknowledge——throughhiswords——utteredinallsinceritytothosewholovedorhatedhim。Cold，unsatisfyingtheymayseem，theseprintedwords，whilewecanyetspeakwiththosewhoknewhim，andlookintoeyesthatoncelookedintohis。Butintruthitisherethatwefindhissimplegreatness，hisgreatsimplicity，andthoughnomantriedlesssotoshowhispower，nomanhassoshownitmoreclearly。

ThusthesewritingsofAbrahamLincolnareassociatedwiththoseofWashington，Hamilton，Franklin，andoftheother"FoundersoftheRepublic，"notthatLincolnshouldbecomestillmoreofthepast，but，rather，thathewiththemshouldbecomestillmoreofthepresent。HoweverfaintandmythicalmaygrowthestoryofthatGreatStruggle，theleader，Lincoln，atleastshouldremainareal，livingAmerican。Nomatterhowclearly，howdirectly，Lincolnhasshownhimselfinhiswritings，weyetshouldnotforgetthosemenwhoseminds，fromtheirvariousview—points，haveilluminedforushischaracter。AsthisnationowesagreatdebttoLincoln，so，also，Lincoln’smemoryowesagreatdebttoanationwhich，asnoothernationcouldhavedone，hasbeenabletoappreciatehisfullworth。Amongthemanywhohavebroughtaboutthisappreciation，thoseonlywhoseestimateshavebeenplacedinthesevolumesmaybementionedhere。ToPresidentRoosevelt，toMr。SchurzandtoMr。Choate，theeditor，forhimself，forthepublishers，andonbehalfofthereaders，wishestoofferhissincereacknowledgments。

Thanksarealsodue，forvaluableandsympatheticassistancerenderedinthepreparationofthiswork，toMr。GilbertA。

Tracy，ofPutnam，Conn。，MajorWilliamH。Lambert，ofPhiladelphia，andMr。C。F。Gunther，ofChicago，totheChicagoHistoricalAssociationandpersonallytoitscapableSecretary，MissMcIlvaine，toMajorHenryS。Burrage，ofPortland，Me。，andtoGeneralThomasJ。Henderson，ofIllinois。

Forvariouscourtesiesreceived，theeditorisfurthermoreindebtedtotheLibrarianoftheLibraryofCongress；toMessrs。

McClure，Phillips&Co。，D。Appleton&Co。，Macmillan&Co。，Dodd，Mead&Co。，andHarperBrothers，ofNewYork；toHoughton，Mifflin&Co。，Dana，Estes&Co。，andL。C。Page&Co。，ofBoston；toA。C。McClurg&Co。，ofChicago；toTheRobertClarkeCo。，ofCincinnati，andtotheJ。B。LippincottCo。，ofPhiladelphia。

Itishardlynecessarytoaddthateveryefforthasbeenmadebytheeditortobringintothesevolumeswhatevermaterialmaythereproperlybelong，materialmuchofwhichiswidelyscatteredinpubliclibrariesandinprivatecollections。Hehasbeenfortunateinsecuringcertaininterestingcorrespondenceandpaperswhichhadnotbeforecomeintoprintinbookform。

Informationconcerningsomeofthesepapershadreachedhimtoolatetoenablethepaperstofindplaceintheirproperchronologicalorderintheset。Rather，however，thannottopresentthesepaperstothereaderstheyhavebeenincludedintheseventhvolumeoftheset，whichconcludesthe"Writings。"

October，1905，A。B。L。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN：

ANESSAYBYCARLSHURZ

NoAmericancanstudythecharacterandcareerofAbrahamLincolnwithoutbeingcarriedawaybysentimentalemotions。Wearealwaysinclinedtoidealizethatwhichwelove，——astateofmindveryunfavorabletotheexerciseofsobercriticaljudgment。Itisthereforenotsurprisingthatmostofthosewhohavewrittenorspokenonthatextraordinaryman，evenwhileconscientiouslyendeavoringtodrawalifelikeportraitureofhisbeing，andtoformajustestimateofhispublicconduct，shouldhavedriftedintomoreorlessindiscriminatingeulogy，paintinghisgreatfeaturesinthemostglowingcolors，andcoveringwithtendershadingswhatevermightlooklikeablemish。

Buthisstandingbeforeposteritywillnotbeexaltedbymerepraiseofhisvirtuesandabilities，norbyanyconcealmentofhislimitationsandfaults。Thestatureofthegreatman，oneofwhosepeculiarcharmsconsistedinhisbeingsounlikeallothergreatmen，willratherlosethangainbytheidealizationwhichsoeasilyrunsintothecommonplace。Foritwasdistinctlytheweirdmixtureofqualitiesandforcesinhim，oftheloftywiththecommon，theidealwiththeuncouth，ofthatwhichhehadbecomewiththatwhichhehadnotceasedtobe，thatmadehimsofascinatingacharacteramonghisfellow—men，gavehimhissingularpowerovertheirmindsandhearts，andfittedhimtobethegreatestleaderinthegreatestcrisisofournationallife。

Hiswasindeedamarvellousgrowth。ThestatesmanorthemilitaryherobornandrearedinalogcabinisafamiliarfigureinAmericanhistory；butwemaysearchinvainamongourcelebritiesforonewhoseoriginandearlylifeequalledAbrahamLincoln’sinwretchedness。HefirstsawthelightinamiserablehovelinKentucky，onafarmconsistingofafewbarrenacresinadrearyneighborhood；hisfatheratypical"poorSouthernwhite，"shiftlessandwithoutambitionforhimselforhischildren，constantlylookingforanewpieceoflandonwhichhemightmakealivingwithoutmuchwork；hismother，inheryouthhandsomeandbright，grownprematurelycoarseinfeatureandsouredinmindbydailytoilandcare；thewholehouseholdsqualid，cheerless，andutterlyvoidofelevatinginspirations……

Onlywhenthefamilyhad"moved"intothemalariousbackwoodsofIndiana，themotherhaddied，andastepmother，awomanofthriftandenergy，hadtakenchargeofthechildren，theshaggy—headed，ragged，barefooted，forlornboy，thensevenyearsold，"begantofeellikeahumanbeing。"Hardworkwashisearlylot。Whenamereboyhehadtohelpinsupportingthefamily，eitheronhisfather’sclearing，orhiredouttootherfarmerstoplough，ordigditches，orchopwood，ordriveoxteams；occasionallyalsoto"tendthebaby，"whenthefarmer’swifewasotherwiseengaged。

Hecouldregarditasanadvancementtoahighersphereofactivitywhenheobtainedworkina"crossroadsstore，"whereheamusedthecustomersbyhistalkoverthecounter；forhesoondistinguishedhimselfamongthebackwoodsfolkasonewhohadsomethingtosayworthlisteningto。Towinthatdistinction，hehadtodrawmainlyuponhiswits；for，whilehisthirstforknowledgewasgreat，hisopportunitiesforsatisfyingthatthirstwerewofullyslender。

Inthelogschoolhouse，whichhecouldvisitbutlittle，hewastaughtonlyreading，writing，andelementaryarithmetic。Amongthepeopleofthesettlement，bushfarmersandsmalltradesmen，hefoundnoneofuncommonintelligenceoreducation；butsomeofthemhadafewbooks，whichheborrowedeagerly。Thushereadandreread，AEsop’sFables，learningtotellstorieswithapointandtoarguebyparables；hereadRobinsonCrusoe，ThePilgrim’sProgress，ashorthistoryoftheUnitedStates，andWeems’sLifeofWashington。Tothetownconstable’shewenttoreadtheRevisedStatutesofIndiana。Everyprintedpagethatfellintohishandshewouldgreedilydevour，andhisfamilyandfriendswatchedhimwithwonder，astheuncouthboy，afterhisdailywork，crouchedinacornerofthelogcabinoroutsideunderatree，absorbedinabookwhilemunchinghissupperofcornbread。

Inthismannerhebegantogathersomeknowledge，andsometimeshewouldastonishthegirlswithsuchstartlingremarksasthattheearthwasmovingaroundthesun，andnotthesunaroundtheearth，andtheymarvelledwhere"Abe"couldhavegotsuchqueernotions。Soonhealsofelttheimpulsetowrite；notonlymakingextractsfrombookshewishedtoremember，butalsocomposinglittleessaysofhisown。Firsthesketchedthesewithcharcoalonawoodenshovelscrapedwhitewithadrawing—knife，oronbasswoodshingles。Thenhetransferredthemtopaper，whichwasascarcecommodityintheLincolnhousehold；takingcaretocuthisexpressionsclose，sothattheymightnotcovertoomuchspace，——astyle—formingmethodgreatlytobecommended。Seeingboysputaburningcoalonthebackofawoodturtle，hewasmovedtowriteoncrueltytoanimals。Seeingmenintoxicatedwithwhiskey，hewroteontemperance。Inverse—making，too，hetriedhimself，andinsatireonpersonsoffensivetohimorothers，——satiretherusticwitofwhichwasnotalwaysfitforearspolite。Alsopoliticalthoughtsheputuponpaper，andsomeofhispieceswereevendeemedgoodenoughforpublicationinthecountyweekly。

Thushewonaneighborhoodreputationasacleveryoungman，whichheincreasedbyhisperformancesasaspeaker，notseldomdrawinguponhimselfthedissatisfactionofhisemployersbymountingastumpinthefield，andkeepingthefarmhandsfromtheirworkbylittlespeechesinajocoseandsometimesalsoaseriousvein。Attherudesocialfrolicsofthesettlementhebecameanimportantperson，tellingfunny，stories，mimickingtheitinerantpreacherswhohadhappenedtopassby，andmakinghismarkatwrestlingmatches，too；forattheageofseventeenhehadattainedhisfullheight，sixfeetfourinchesinhisstockings，ifhehadany，andaterriblymuscularclodhopperhewas。Buthewasknownnevertousehisextraordinarystrengthtotheinjuryorhumiliationofothers；rathertodothemakindlyturn，ortoenforcejusticeandfairdealingbetweenthem。Allthismadehimafavoriteinbackwoodssociety，althoughinsomethingsheappearedalittleodd，tohisfriends。Farmorethananyofthem，hewasgivennotonlytoreading，buttofitsofabstraction，toquietmusingwithhimself，andalsotostrangespellsofmelancholy，fromwhichheoftenwouldpassinamomenttorollickingoutburstsofdrollhumor。Butonthewholehewasoneofthepeopleamongwhomhelived；inappearanceperhapsevenalittlemoreuncouththanmostofthem，——averytall，rawbonedyouth，withlargefeatures，dark，shrivelledskin，andrebellioushair；hisarmsandlegslong，outofproportion；cladindeerskintrousers，whichfromfrequentexposuretotherainhadshrunksoastosittightlyonhislimbs，leavingseveralinchesofbluishshinexposedbetweentheirlowerendandtheheavytan—coloredshoes；thenethergarmentheldusuallybyonlyonesuspender，thatwasstrungoveracoarsehomemadeshirt；theheadcoveredinwinterwithacoonskincap，insummerwitharoughstrawhatofuncertainshape，withoutaband。

Itisdoubtfulwhetherhefelthimselfmuchsuperiortohissurroundings，althoughheconfessedtoayearningforsomeknowledgeoftheworldoutsideofthecircleinwhichhelived。

Thiswishwasgratified；buthow？AttheageofnineteenhewentdowntheMississippitoNewOrleansasaflatboathand，temporarilyjoiningatrademanymembersofwhichatthattimestilltookprideinbeingcalled"halfhorseandhalfalligator。"

Afterhisreturnheworkedandlivedintheoldwayuntilthespringof1830，whenhisfather"movedagain，"thistimetoIllinois；andonthejourneyoffifteendays"Abe"hadtodrivetheoxwagonwhichcarriedthehouseholdgoods。Anotherlogcabinwasbuilt，andthen，fencingafield，AbrahamLincolnsplitthosehistoricrailswhichweredestinedtoplaysopicturesqueapartinthePresidentialcampaigntwenty—eightyearslater。

Havingcomeofage，Lincolnleftthefamily，and"struckoutforhimself。"Hehadto"takejobswheneverhecouldgetthem。"ThefirstofthesecarriedhimagainasaflatboathandtoNewOrleans。Theresomethinghappenedthatmadealastingimpressionuponhissoul：hewitnessedaslaveauction。"Hisheartbled，"

wroteoneofhiscompanions；"saidnothingmuch；wassilent；

lookedbad。Icansay，knowingit，thatitwasonthistripthatheformedhisopiniononslavery。Itrunitsironinhimthenandthere，May，1831。Ihaveheardhimsaysooften。"ThenhelivedseveralyearsatNewSalem，inIllinois，asmallmushroomvillage，withamill，some"stores"andwhiskeyshops，thatrosequickly，andsoondisappearedagain。Itwasadesolate，disjointed，half—workingandhalf—loiteringlife，withoutanyotheraimthantogainfoodandshelterfromdaytoday。Heservedaspilotonasteamboattrip，thenasclerkinastoreandamill；businessfailing，hewasadriftforsometime。Beingcompelledtomeasurehisstrengthwiththechiefbullyoftheneighborhood，andovercominghim，hebecameanotedpersoninthatmuscularcommunity，andwontheesteemandfriendshipoftherulinggangofruffianstosuchadegreethat，whentheBlackHawkwarbrokeout，theyelectedhim，ayoungmanoftwenty—

three，captainofavolunteercompany，composedmainlyofroughsoftheirkind。Hetookthefield，andhismostnoteworthydeedofvalorconsisted，notinkillinganIndian，butinprotectingagainsthisownmen，attheperilofhisownlife，thelifeofanoldsavagewhohadstrayedintohiscamp。

TheBlackHawkwarover，heturnedtopolitics。ThestepfromthecaptaincyofavolunteercompanytoacandidacyforaseatintheLegislatureseemedanaturalone。Buthispopularity，althoughgreatinNewSalem，hadnotspreadfarenoughoverthedistrict，andhewasdefeated。Thenthewretchedhand—to—mouthstrugglebeganagain。He"setupinstore—business"withadissolutepartner，whodrankwhiskeywhileLincolnwasreadingbooks。Theresultwasadisastrousfailureandaloadofdebt。

Thereuponhebecameadeputysurveyor，andwasappointedpostmasterofNewSalem，thebusinessofthepost—officebeingsosmallthathecouldcarrytheincomingandoutgoingmailinhishat。Allthiscouldnotlifthimfrompoverty，andhissurveyinginstrumentsandhorseandsaddleweresoldbythesherifffordebt。

Butwhileallthismiserywasuponhimhisambitionrosetohigheraims。Hewalkedmanymilestoborrowfromaschoolmasteragrammarwithwhichtoimprovehislanguage。AlawyerlenthimacopyofBlackstone，andhebegantostudylaw。

Peoplewouldlookwonderinglyatthegrotesquefigurelyinginthegrass，"withhisfeetupatree，"orsittingonafence，as，absorbedinabook，helearnedtoconstructcorrectsentencesandmadehimselfajurist。Atoncehegainedalittlepractice，pettifoggingbeforeajusticeofthepeaceforfriends，withoutexpectingafee。Judicialfunctions，too，werethrustuponhim，butonlyathorse—racesorwrestlingmatches，wherehisacknowledgedhonestyandfairnessgavehisverdictsundisputedauthority。Hispopularitygrewapace，andsoonhecouldbeacandidatefortheLegislatureagain。AlthoughhecalledhimselfaWhig，anardentadmirerofHenryClay，hiscleverstumpspeecheswonhimtheelectioninthestronglyDemocraticdistrict。Thenforthefirsttime，perhaps，hethoughtseriouslyofhisoutwardappearance。Sofarhehadbeencontentwithagarbof"Kentuckyjeans，"notseldomragged，usuallypatched，andalwaysshabby。Now，heborrowedsomemoneyfromafriendtobuyanewsuitofclothes——"storeclothes"fitforaSangamonCountystatesman；andthusadornedhesetoutforthestatecapital，Vandalia，totakehisseatamongthelawmakers。

Hislegislativecareer，whichstretchedoverseveralsessions——

forhewasthricere—elected，in1836，1838，and1840——wasnotremarkablybrilliant。Hedid，indeed，notlackambition。Hedreamedevenofmakinghimself"theDeWittClintonofIllinois，"

andheactuallydistinguishedhimselfbyzealousandeffectiveworkinthose"log—rolling"operationsbywhichtheyoungStatereceived"ageneralsystemofinternalimprovements"intheshapeofrailroads，canals，andbanks，——arecklesspolicy，burdeningtheStatewithdebt，andproducingtheusualcropofpoliticaldemoralization，butapolicycharacteristicofthetimeandtheimpatientlyenterprisingspiritoftheWesternpeople。Lincoln，nodoubtwiththebestintentions，butwithlittleknowledgeofthesubject，simplyfollowedthepopularcurrent。Theachievementinwhich，perhaps，hegloriedmostwastheremovaloftheStategovernmentfromVandaliatoSpringfield；oneofthosetriumphsofpoliticalmanagementwhichareapttobetheprideofthesmallpolitician’sstatesmanship。Onething，however，hedidinwhichhistruenatureasserteditself，andwhichgavedistinctpromiseofthefuturepursuitofhighaims。AgainstanoverwhelmingpreponderanceofsentimentintheLegislature，followedbyonlyoneothermember，herecordedhisprotestagainstaproslaveryresolution，——thatprotestdeclaring"theinstitutionofslaverytobefoundedonbothinjusticeandbadpolicy。"Thiswasnotonlytheirrepressiblevoiceofhisconscience；itwastruemoralvalor，too；foratthattime，inmanypartsoftheWest，anabolitionistwasregardedaslittlebetterthanahorse—thief，andeven"AbeLincoln"wouldhardlyhavebeenforgivenhisantislaveryprinciples，hadhenotbeenknownassuchan"uncommongoodfellow。"Buthere，inobediencetothegreatconvictionofhislife，hemanifestedhiscouragetostandalone，thatcouragewhichisthefirstrequisiteofleadershipinagreatcause。

Togetherwithhisreputationandinfluenceasapoliticiangrewhislawpractice，especiallyafterhehadremovedfromNewSalemtoSpringfield，andassociatedhimselfwithapractitionerofgoodstanding。Hehadnowatlastwonafixedpositioninsociety。Hebecameasuccessfullawyer，less，indeed，byhislearningasajuristthanbyhiseffectivenessasanadvocateandbythestrikinguprightnessofhischaracter；anditmaytrulybesaidthathisvividsenseoftruthandjusticehadmuchtodowithhiseffectivenessasanadvocate。Hewouldrefusetoactastheattorneyevenofpersonalfriendswhenhesawtherightontheotherside。Hewouldabandoncases，evenduringtrial，whenthetestimonyconvincedhimthathisclientwasinthewrong。Hewoulddissuadethosewhosoughthisservicefrompursuinganobtainableadvantagewhentheirclaimsseemedtohimunfair。

PresentinghisveryfirstcaseintheUnitedStatesCircuitCourt，theonlyquestionbeingoneofauthority，hedeclaredthat，uponcarefulexamination，hefoundalltheauthoritiesontheotherside，andnoneonhis。Personsaccusedofcrime，whenhethoughtthemguilty，hewouldnotdefendatall，or，attemptingtheirdefence，hewasunabletoputforthhispowers。

Onenotableexceptionisonrecord，whenhispersonalsympathieshadbeenstronglyaroused。Butwhenhefelthimselftobetheprotectorofinnocence，thedefenderofjustice，ortheprosecutorofwrong，hefrequentlydisclosedsuchunexpectedresourcesofreasoning，suchdepthoffeeling，androsetosuchfervorofappealastoastonishandoverwhelmhishearers，andmakehimfairlyirresistible。Evenanordinarylawargument，comingfromhim，seldomfailedtoproducetheimpressionthathewasprofoundlyconvincedofthesoundnessofhisposition。Itisnotsurprisingthatthemereappearanceofsoconscientiousanattorneyinanycaseshouldhavecarried，notonlytojuries，buteventojudges，almostapresumptionofrightonhisside，andthatthepeoplebegantocallhim，sincerelymeaningit，"honestAbeLincoln。"

Inthemeantimehehadprivatesorrowsandtrialsofapainfullyafflictingnature。Hehadlovedandbeenlovedbyafairandestimablegirl，AnnRutledge，whodiedintheflowerofheryouthandbeauty，andhemournedherlosswithsuchintensityofgriefthathisfriendsfearedforhisreason。Recoveringfromhismorbiddepression，hebestowedwhathethoughtanewaffectionuponanotherlady，whorefusedhim。Andfinally，moderatelyprosperousinhisworldlyaffairs，andhavingprospectsofpoliticaldistinctionbeforehim，hepaidhisaddressestoMaryTodd，ofKentucky，andwasaccepted。Butthentormentingdoubtsofthegenuinenessofhisownaffectionforher，ofthecompatibilityoftheircharacters，andoftheirfuturehappinesscameuponhim。Hisdistresswassogreatthathefelthimselfindangerofsuicide，andfearedtocarryapocket—knifewithhim；

andhegavemortaloffencetohisbridebynotappearingontheappointedweddingday。Nowthetorturingconsciousnessofthewronghehaddonehergrewunendurable。Hewonbackheraffection，endedtheagonybymarryingher，andbecameafaithfulandpatienthusbandandagoodfather。Butitwasnosecrettothosewhoknewthefamilywellthathisdomesticlifewasfulloftrials。Theerratictemperofhiswifenotseldomputthegentlenessofhisnaturetotheseveresttests；andthesetroublesandstruggles，whichaccompaniedhimthroughallthevicissitudesofhislifefromthemodesthomeinSpringfieldtotheWhiteHouseatWashington，addinguntoldprivateheart—

burningstohispubliccares，andsometimesprecipitatinguponhimincredibleembarrassmentsinthedischargeofhispublicduties，formoneofthemostpatheticfeaturesofhiscareer。

Hecontinuedto"ridethecircuit，"readbookswhiletravellinginhisbuggy，toldfunnystoriestohisfellow—lawyersinthetavern，chattedfamiliarlywithhisneighborsaroundthestoveinthestoreandatthepost—office，hadhishoursofmelancholybroodingasofold，andbecamemoreandmorewidelyknownandtrustedandbelovedamongthepeopleofhisStateforhisabilityasalawyerandpolitician，fortheuprightnessofhischaracterandtheoverflowingspringofsympathetickindnessinhisheart。

Hismainambitionwasconfessedlythatofpoliticaldistinction；

buthardlyanyonewouldatthattimehaveseeninhimthemandestinedtoleadthenationthroughthegreatestcrisisofthecentury。

Histimehadnotyetcomewhen，in1846，hewaselectedtoCongress。InacleverspeechintheHouseofRepresentativeshedenouncedPresidentPolkforhavingunjustlyforcedwaruponMexico，andheamusedtheCommitteeoftheWholebyawittyattackuponGeneralCass。MoreimportantwastheexpressionhegavetohisantislaveryimpulsesbyofferingabilllookingtotheemancipationoftheslavesintheDistrictofColumbia，andbyhisrepeatedvotesforthefamousWilmotProviso，intendedtoexcludeslaveryfromtheTerritoriesacquiredfromMexico。Butwhen，attheexpirationofhisterm，inMarch，1849，helefthisseat，hegloomilydespairedofeverseeingthedaywhenthecausenearesttohisheartwouldberightlygraspedbythepeople，andwhenhewouldbeabletorenderanyservicetohiscountryinsolvingthegreatproblem。NorhadhiscareerasamemberofCongressinanysensebeensuchastogratifyhisambition。

Indeed，ifheeverhadanybeliefinagreatdestinyforhimself，itmusthavebeenweakatthatperiod；forheactuallysoughttoobtainfromthenewWhigPresident，GeneralTaylor，theplaceofCommissioneroftheGeneralLandOffice；willingtoburyhimselfinoneoftheadministrativebureausofthegovernment。

Fortunatelyforthecountry，hefailed；andnolessfortunately，when，later，theterritorialgovernorshipofOregonwasofferedtohim，Mrs。Lincoln’sprotestinducedhimtodeclineit。

ReturningtoSpringfield，hegavehimselfwithrenewedzesttohislawpractice，acquiescedintheCompromiseof1850withreluctanceandamentalreservation，supportedinthePresidentialcampaignof1852theWhigcandidateinsomespiritlessspeeches，andtookbutalanguidinterestinthepoliticsoftheday。Butjustthenhistimewasdrawingnear。

Thepeacepromised，andapparentlyinaugurated，bytheCompromiseof1850wasrudelybrokenbytheintroductionoftheKansas—

NebraskaBillin1854。TherepealoftheMissouriCompromise，openingtheTerritoriesoftheUnitedStates，theheritageofcominggenerations，totheinvasionofslavery，suddenlyrevealedthewholesignificanceoftheslaveryquestiontothepeopleofthefreeStates，andthrustitselfintothepoliticsofthecountryastheparamountissue。SomethinglikeanelectricshockflashedthroughtheNorth。Menwhobutashorttimebeforehadbeenabsorbedbytheirbusinesspursuits，anddeprecatedallpoliticalagitation，werestartledoutoftheirsecuritybyasuddenalarm，andexcitedlytooksides。Thatrestlesstroubleofconscienceaboutslavery，whichevenintimesofapparentreposehadsecretlydisturbedthesoulsofNorthernpeople，brokeforthinanutterancelouderthanever。Thebondsofaccustomedpartyallegiancegaveway。AntislaveryDemocratsandantislaveryWhigsfeltthemselvesdrawntogetherbyacommonoverpoweringsentiment，andsoontheybegantorallyinaneworganization。

TheRepublicanpartysprangintobeingtomeettheoverrulingcallofthehour。ThenAbrahamLincoln’stimewascome。Herapidlyadvancedtoapositionofconspicuouschampionshipinthestruggle。This，however，wasnotowingtohisvirtuesandabilitiesalone。Indeed，theslaveryquestionstirredhissoulinitsprofoundestdepths；itwas，asoneofhisintimatefriendssaid，"theonlyoneonwhichhewouldbecomeexcited"；itcalledforthallhisfacultiesandenergies。Yetthereweremanyotherswho，havinglongandarduouslyfoughttheantislaverybattleinthepopularassembly，orinthepress，orinthehallsofCongress，farsurpassedhiminprestige，andcomparedwithwhomhewasstillanobscureanduntriedman。Hisreputation，althoughhighlyhonorableandwellearned，hadsofarbeenessentiallylocal。Asastump—speakerinWhigcanvassesoutsideofhisStatehehadattractedcomparativelylittleattention；butinIllinoishehadbeenrecognizedasoneoftheforemostmenoftheWhigparty。AmongtheopponentsoftheNebraskaBillheoccupiedinhisStatesoimportantaposition，thatin1856hewasthechoiceofalargemajorityofthe"Anti—Nebraskamen"intheLegislatureforaseatintheSenateoftheUnitedStateswhichthenbecamevacant；andwhenhe，anoldWhig，couldnotobtainthevotesoftheAnti—NebraskaDemocratsnecessarytomakeamajority，hegenerouslyurgedhisfriendstotransfertheirvotestoLymanTrumbull，whowasthenelected。Twoyearslater，inthefirstnationalconventionoftheRepublicanparty，thedelegationfromIllinoisbroughthimforwardasacandidateforthevice—presidency，andhereceivedrespectablesupport。Still，thenameofAbrahamLincolnwasnotwidelyknownbeyondtheboundariesofhisownState。ButnowitwasthislocalprominenceinIllinoisthatputhiminapositionofpeculiaradvantageonthebattlefieldofnationalpolitics。IntheassaultontheMissouriCompromisewhichbrokedownalllegalbarrierstothespreadofslaveryStephenArnoldDouglaswastheostensibleleaderandcentralfigure；andDouglaswasaSenatorfromIllinois，Lincoln’sState。Douglas’snationaltheatreofactionwastheSenate，butinhisconstituencyinIllinoisweretherootsofhisofficialpositionandpower。WhathedidintheSenatehehadtojustifybeforethepeopleofIllinois，inordertomaintainhimselfinplace；andinIllinoisalleyesturnedtoLincolnasDouglas’snaturalantagonist。

AsveryyoungmentheyhadcometoIllinois，LincolnfromIndiana，DouglasfromVermont，andhadgrownuptogetherinpubliclife，DouglasasaDemocrat，LincolnasaWhig。TheyhadmetfirstinVandalia，in1834，whenLincolnwasintheLegislatureandDouglasinthelobby；andagainin1836，bothasmembersoftheLegislature。Douglas，averyablepolitician，oftheagile，combative，audacious，"pushing"sort，roseinpoliticaldistinctionwithremarkablerapidity。InquicksuccessionhebecameamemberoftheLegislature，aState’sattorney，secretaryofstate，ajudgeonthesupremebenchofIllinois，threetimesaRepresentativeinCongress，andaSenatoroftheUnitedStateswhenonlythirty—nineyearsold。IntheNationalDemocraticconventionof1852heappearedevenasanaspiranttothenominationforthePresidency，asthefavoriteof"youngAmerica，"andreceivedarespectablevote。HehadfaroutstrippedLincolninwhatiscommonlycalledpoliticalsuccessandinreputation。ButithadfrequentlyhappenedthatinpoliticalcampaignsLincolnfelthimselfimpelled，orwasselectedbyhisWhigfriends，toanswerDouglas’sspeeches；andthusthetwowerelookedupon，inalargepartoftheStateatleast，astherepresentativecombatantsoftheirrespectivepartiesinthedebatesbeforepopularmeetings。Assoon，therefore，as，afterthepassageofhisKansas—NebraskaBill，DouglasreturnedtoIllinoistodefendhiscausebeforehisconstituents，Lincoln，obeyingnotonlyhisownimpulse，butalsogeneralexpectation，steppedforwardashisprincipalopponent。

ThusthestruggleabouttheprinciplesinvolvedintheKansas—

NebraskaBill，or，inabroadersense，thestrugglebetweenfreedomandslavery，assumedinIllinoistheoutwardformofapersonalcontestbetweenLincolnandDouglas；and，asitcontinuedandbecamemoreanimated，thatpersonalcontestinIllinoiswaswatchedwithconstantlyincreasinginterestbythewholecountry。When，in1858，Douglas’ssenatorialtermbeingabouttoexpire，LincolnwasformallydesignatedbytheRepublicanconventionofIllinoisastheircandidatefortheSenate，totakeDouglas’splace，andthetwocontestantsagreedtodebatethequestionsatissuefacetofaceinaseriesofpublicmeetings，theeyesofthewholeAmericanpeoplewereturnedeagerlytothatonepoint：andthespectacleremindedoneofthoselaysofancienttimestellingoftwoarmies，inbattlearray，standingstilltoseetheirtwoprincipalchampionsfightoutthecontestedcausebetweenthelinesinsinglecombat。

Lincolnhadthenreachedthefullmaturityofhispowers。Hisequipmentasastatesmandidnotembraceacomprehensiveknowledgeofpublicaffairs。Whathehadstudiedhehadindeedmadehisown，withtheeagercravingandthatzealoustenacitycharacteristicofsuperiormindslearningunderdifficulties。

Buthisnarrowopportunitiesandtheunsteadylifehehadledduringhisyoungeryearshadnotpermittedtheaccumulationoflargestoresinhismind。Itistrue，inpoliticalcampaignshehadoccasionallyspokenontheostensibleissuesbetweentheWhigsandtheDemocrats，thetariff，internalimprovements，banks，andsoon，butonlyinaperfunctorymanner。Hadheevergivenmuchseriousthoughtandstudytothesesubjects，itissafetoassumethatamindsoprolificoforiginalconceitsashiswouldcertainlyhaveproducedsomeutteranceuponthemworthremembering。Hissoulhadevidentlyneverbeendeeplystirredbysuchtopics。Butwhenhismoralnaturewasaroused，hisbraindevelopedanuntiringactivityuntilithadmasteredalltheknowledgewithinreach。AssoonastherepealoftheMissouriCompromisehadthrusttheslaveryquestionintopoliticsastheparamountissue，Lincolnplungedintoanarduousstudyofallitslegal，historical，andmoralaspects，andthenhismindbecameacompletearsenalofargument。Hisrichnaturalgifts，trainedbylongandvariedpractice，hadmadehimanoratorofrarepersuasiveness。Inhisimmaturedays，hehadpleasedhimselfforashortperiodwiththatinflated，high—flownstylewhich，amongtheuncultivated，passesfor"beautifulspeaking。"Hisinborntruthfulnessandhisartisticinstinctsoonovercamethataberrationandrevealedtohimthenoblebeautyandstrengthofsimplicity。Hepossessedanuncommonpowerofclearandcompactstatement，whichmighthaveremindedthosewhoknewthestoryofhisearlyyouthoftheeffortsofthepoorboy，whenhecopiedhiscompositionsfromthescrapedwoodenshovel，carefullytotrimhisexpressionsinordertosavepaper。Hislanguagehadtheenergyofhonestdirectnessandhewasamasteroflogicallucidity。Helovedtopointandenlivenhisreasoningbyhumorousillustrations，usuallyanecdotesofWesternlife，ofwhichhehadaninexhaustiblestoreathiscommand。Theseanecdoteshadnotseldomaflavorofrusticrobustnessaboutthem，butheusedthemwithgreateffect，whileamusingtheaudience，togivelifetoanabstraction，toexplodeanabsurdity，toclinchanargument，todrivehomeanadmonition。

Thenaturalkindlinessofhistone，softeningprejudiceanddisarmingpartisanrancor，wouldoftenopentohisreasoningawayintomindsmostunwillingtoreceiveit。

Yethisgreatestpowerconsistedinthecharmofhisindividuality。Thatcharmdidnot，intheordinaryway，appealtotheearortotheeye。Hisvoicewasnotmelodious；rathershrillandpiercing，especiallywhenitrosetoitshightrebleinmomentsofgreatanimation。Hisfigurewasunhandsome，andtheactionofhisunwieldylimbsawkward。Hecommandednoneoftheoutwardgracesoforatoryastheyarecommonlyunderstood。

Hischarmwasofadifferentkind。Itflowedfromtheraredepthandgenuinenessofhisconvictionsandhissympatheticfeelings。

Sympathywasthestrongestelementinhisnature。Oneofhisbiographers，whoknewhimbeforehebecamePresident，says：

"Lincoln’scompassionmightbestirreddeeplybyanobjectpresent，butneverbyanobjectabsentandunseen。Intheformercasehewouldmostlikelyextendrelief，withlittleinquiryintothemeritsofthecase，because，asheexpressedithimself，it`tookapainoutofhisownheart。’"Onlyhalfofthisiscorrect。Itiscertainlytruethathecouldnotwitnessanyindividualdistressoroppression，oranykindofsuffering，withoutfeelingapangofpainhimself，andthatbyrelievingasmuchashecouldthesufferingofothersheputanendtohisown。Thiscompassionateimpulsetohelphefeltnotonlyforhumanbeings，butforeverylivingcreature。Asinhisboyhoodheangrilyreprovedtheboyswhotormentedawoodturtlebyputtingaburningcoalonitsback，so，wearetold，hewould，whenamatureman，onajourney，dismountfromhisbuggyandwadewaist—deepinmiretorescueapigstrugglinginaswamp。

Indeed，appealstohiscompassionweresoirresistibletohim，andhefeltitsodifficulttorefuseanythingwhenhisrefusalcouldgivepain，thathehimselfsometimesspokeofhisinabilitytosay"no"asapositiveweakness。Butthatcertainlydoesnotprovethathiscompassionatefeelingwasconfinedtoindividualcasesofsufferingwitnessedwithhisowneyes。Astheboywasmovedbytheaspectofthetorturedwoodturtletocomposeanessayagainstcrueltytoanimalsingeneral，sotheaspectofothercasesofsufferingandwrongwroughtuphismoralnature，andsethismindtoworkagainstcruelty，injustice，andoppressioningeneral。

Ashissympathywentforthtoothers，itattractedotherstohim。

Especiallythosewhomhecalledthe"plainpeople"feltthemselvesdrawntohimbytheinstinctivefeelingthatheunderstood，esteemed，andappreciatedthem。Hehadgrownupamongthepoor，thelowly，theignorant。Heneverceasedtorememberthegoodsoulshehadmetamongthem，andthemanykindnessestheyhaddonehim。Althoughinhismentaldevelopmenthehadrisenfarabovethem，heneverlookeddownuponthem。Howtheyfeltandhowtheyreasonedheknew，forsohehadoncefeltandreasonedhimself。Howtheycouldbemovedheknew，forsohehadoncebeenmovedhimselfandpractisedmovingothers。Hismindwasmuchlargerthantheirs，butitthoroughlycomprehendedtheirs；andwhilehethoughtmuchfartherthanthey，theirthoughtswereeverpresenttohim。Norhadthevisibledistancebetweenthemgrownaswideashisriseintheworldwouldseemtohavewarranted。Muchofhisbackwoodsspeechandmannersstillclungtohim。Althoughhehadbecome"Mr。Lincoln"tohislateracquaintances，hewasstill"Abe"tothe"Nats"and"Billys"and"Daves"ofhisyouth；andtheirfamiliarityneitherappearedunnaturaltothem，norwasitintheleastawkwardtohim。HestilltoldandenjoyedstoriessimilartothosehehadtoldandenjoyedintheIndianasettlementandatNewSalem。Hiswantsremainedasmodestastheyhadeverbeen；hisdomestichabitshadbynomeanscompletelyaccommodatedthemselvestothoseofhismorehighbornwife；andthoughthe"Kentuckyjeans"apparelhadlongbeendropped，hisclothesofbettermaterialandbettermakewouldsitillsortedonhisgiganticlimbs。Hiscottonumbrella，withoutahandle，andtiedtogetherwithacoarsestringtokeepitfromflapping，whichhecarriedonhiscircuitrides，issaidtoberememberedstillbysomeofhissurvivingneighbors。Thisrusticityofhabitwasutterlyfreefromthataffectedcontemptofrefinementandcomfortwhichself—mademensometimescarryintotheirmoreaffluentcircumstances。ToAbrahamLincolnitwasentirelynatural，andallthosewhocameintocontactwithhimknewittobeso。Inhiswaysofthinkingandfeelinghehadbecomeagentlemaninthehighestsense，buttherefiningprocesshadpolishedbutlittletheoutwardform。Theplainpeople，therefore，stillconsidered"honestAbeLincoln"oneofthemselves；andwhentheyfelt，whichtheynodoubtfrequentlydid，thathisthoughtsandaspirationsmovedinasphereabovetheirown，theywereallthemoreproudofhim，withoutanydiminutionoffellow—feeling。ItwasthisrelationofmutualsympathyandunderstandingbetweenLincolnandtheplainpeoplethatgavehimhispeculiarpowerasapublicman，andsingularlyfittedhim，asweshallsee，forthatleadershipwhichwaspreeminentlyrequiredinthegreatcrisisthencomingon，——theleadershipwhichindeedthinksandmovesaheadofthemasses，butalwaysremainswithinsightandsympathetictouchofthem。

Heentereduponthecampaignof1858betterequippedthanhehadeverbeenbefore。Henotonlyinstinctivelyfelt，buthehadconvincedhimselfbyarduousstudy，thatinthisstruggleagainstthespreadofslaveryhehadright，justice，philosophy，theenlightenedopinionofmankind，history，theConstitution，andgoodpolicyonhisside。Itwasobservedthatafterhebegantodiscusstheslaveryquestionhisspeecheswerepitchedinamuchloftierkeythanhisformeroratoricalefforts。Whileheremainedfondoftellingfunnystoriesinprivateconversation，theydisappearedmoreandmorefromhispublicdiscourse。Hewouldstillnowandthenpointhisargumentwithexpressionsofinimitablequaintness，andflashoutraysofkindlyhumorandwittyirony；buthisgeneraltonewasserious，androsesometimestogenuinesolemnity。Hismasterlyskillindialecticalthrustandparry，hiswealthofknowledge，hispowerofreasoningandelevationofsentiment，disclosedinlanguageofrareprecision，strength，andbeauty，notseldomastonishedhisoldfriends。

Neitherofthetwochampionscouldhavefoundamoreformidableantagonistthaneachnowmetintheother。Douglaswasbyfarthemostconspicuousmemberofhisparty。Hisadmirershaddubbedhim"theLittleGiant，"contrastinginthatnicknamethegreatnessofhismindwiththesmallnessofhisbody。Butthoughoflowstature，hisbroad—shoulderedfigureappeareduncommonlysturdy，andtherewassomethinglion—likeinthesquarenessofhisbrowandjaw，andinthedefiantshakeofhislonghair。Hisloudandpersistentadvocacyofterritorialexpansion，inthenameofpatriotismand"manifestdestiny，"hadgivenhimanenthusiasticfollowingamongtheyoungandardent。Greatnaturalparts，ahighlycombativetemperament，andlongtraininghadmadehimadebaterunsurpassedinaSenatefilledwithablemen。Hecouldbeasforcefulinhisappealstopatrioticfeelingsashewasfierceindenunciationandthoroughlyskilledinallthebasertricksofparliamentarypugilism。Whilegenialandrollickinginhissocialintercourse——theidolofthe"boys"hefelthimselfoneofthemostrenownedstatesmenofhistime，andwouldfrequentlymeethisopponentswithanoverbearinghaughtiness，aspersonsmoretobepitiedthantobefeared。Inhisspeechopeningthecampaignof1858，hespokeofLincoln，whomtheRepublicanshaddaredtoadvanceastheircandidatefor"his"placeintheSenate，withanairofpatronizingifnotcontemptuouscondescension，as"akind，amiable，andintelligentgentlemanandagoodcitizen。"TheLittleGiantwouldhavebeenpleasedtopassoffhisantagonistasatalldwarf。HeknewLincolntoowell，however，toindulgehimselfseriouslyinsuchadelusion。Butthepoliticalsituationwasatthatmomentinacurioustangle，andDouglascouldexpecttoderivefromtheconfusiongreatadvantageoverhisopponent。

BytherepealoftheMissouriCompromise，openingtheTerritoriestotheingressofslavery，DouglashadpleasedtheSouth，butgreatlyalarmedtheNorth。HehadsoughttoconciliateNorthernsentimentbyappendingtohisKansas—NebraskaBillthedeclarationthatitsintentwas"nottolegislateslaveryintoanyStateorTerritory，nortoexcludeittherefrom，buttoleavethepeoplethereofperfectlyfreetoformandregulatetheirinstitutionsintheirownway，subjectonlytotheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates。"Thishecalled"thegreatprincipleofpopularsovereignty。"Whenaskedwhether，underthisact，thepeopleofaTerritory，beforeitsadmissionasaState，wouldhavetherighttoexcludeslavery，heanswered，"Thatisaquestionforthecourtstodecide。"Thencamethefamous"DredScottdecision，"inwhichtheSupremeCourtheldsubstantiallythattherighttoholdslavesaspropertyexistedintheTerritoriesbyvirtueoftheFederalConstitution，andthatthisrightcouldnotbedeniedbyanyactofaterritorialgovernment。

This，ofcourse，deniedtherightofthepeopleofanyTerritorytoexcludeslaverywhiletheywereinaterritorialcondition，anditalarmedtheNorthernpeoplestillmore。DouglasrecognizedthebindingforceofthedecisionoftheSupremeCourt，atthesametimemaintaining，mostillogically，thathisgreatprincipleofpopularsovereigntyremainedinforcenevertheless。Meanwhile，theproslaverypeopleofwesternMissouri，theso—called"borderruffians，"hadinvadedKansas，setupaconstitutionalconvention，madeaconstitutionofanextremepro—slaverytype，the"LecomptonConstitution，"refusedtosubmititfairlytoavoteofthepeopleofKansas，andthenreferredittoCongressforacceptance，——seekingthustoaccomplishtheadmissionofKansasasaslaveState。HadDouglassupportedsuchascheme，hewouldhavelostallfootholdintheNorth。Inthenameofpopularsovereigntyheloudlydeclaredhisoppositiontotheacceptanceofanyconstitutionnotsanctionedbyaformalpopularvote。He"didnotcare，"hesaid，"whetherslaverybevotedupordown，"buttheremustbeafairvoteofthepeople。ThushedrewuponhimselfthehostilityoftheBuchananadministration，whichwascontrolledbytheproslaveryinterest，buthesavedhisNorthernfollowing。Morethanthis，notonlydidhisDemocraticadmirersnowcallhim"thetruechampionoffreedom，"butevensomeRepublicansoflargeinfluence，prominentamongthemHoraceGreeley，sympathizingwithDouglasinhisfightagainsttheLecomptonConstitution，andhopingtodetachhimpermanentlyfromtheproslaveryinterestandtoforcealastingbreachintheDemocraticparty，seriouslyadvisedtheRepublicansofIllinoistogiveuptheiroppositiontoDouglas，andtohelpre—electhimtotheSenate。Lincolnwasnotofthatopinion。Hebelievedthatgreatpopularmovementscansucceedonlywhenguidedbytheirfaithfulfriends，andthattheantislaverycausecouldnotsafelybeentrustedtothekeepingofonewho"didnotcarewhetherslaverybevotedupordown。"ThisopinionprevailedinIllinois；buttheinfluenceswithintheRepublicanpartyoverwhichitprevailedyieldedonlyareluctantacquiescence，iftheyacquiescedatall，afterhavingmateriallystrengthenedDouglas’sposition。Suchwasthesituationofthingswhenthecampaignof1858betweenLincolnandDouglasbegan。

LincolnopenedthecampaignonhissideattheconventionwhichnominatedhimastheRepublicancandidateforthesenatorship，withamemorablesayingwhichsoundedlikeashoutfromthewatchtowerofhistory："Ahousedividedagainstitselfcannotstand。Ibelievethisgovernmentcannotendurepermanentlyhalfslaveandhalffree。IdonotexpecttheUniontobedissolved。

Idonotexpectthehousetofall，butIexpectitwillceasetobedivided。Itwillbecomeallonethingoralltheother。

Eithertheopponentsofslaverywillarrestthefurtherspreadofit，andplaceitwherethepublicmindshallrestinthebeliefthatitisinthecourseofultimateextinction，oritsadvocateswillpushitforward，tillitshallbecomealikelawfulinalltheStates，——oldaswellasnew，NorthaswellasSouth。"ThenheproceededtopointoutthattheNebraskadoctrinecombinedwiththeDredScottdecisionworkedinthedirectionofmakingthenation"allslave。"Herewasthe"irrepressibleconflict"

spokenofbySewardashorttimelater，inaspeechmadefamousmainlybythatphrase。Iftherewasanynewdiscoveryinit，therightofprioritywasLincoln’s。Thisutteranceprovednotonlyhisstatesmanlikeconceptionoftheissue，butalso，inhissituationasacandidate，thefirmnessofhismoralcourage。Thefriendstowhomhehadreadthedraughtofthisspeechbeforehedelivereditwarnedhimanxiouslythatitsdeliverymightbefataltohissuccessintheelection。Thiswasshrewdadvice，intheordinarysense。Whileaslaveholdercouldthreatendisunionwithimpunity，themeresuggestionthattheexistenceofslaverywasincompatiblewithfreedomintheUnionwouldhazardthepoliticalchancesofanypublicmanintheNorth。ButLincolnwasinflexible。"Itistrue，"saidhe，"andIwilldeliveritaswritten……Iwouldratherbedefeatedwiththeseexpressionsinmyspeechheldupanddiscussedbeforethepeoplethanbevictoriouswithoutthem。"Thestatesmanwasrightinhisfar—

seeingjudgmentandhisconscientiousstatementofthetruth，butthepracticalpoliticianswerealsorightintheirpredictionoftheimmediateeffect。Douglasinstantlyseizeduponthedeclarationthatahousedividedagainstitselfcannotstandasthemainobjectivepointofhisattack，interpretingitasanincitementtoa"relentlesssectionalwar，"andthereisnodoubtthatthepersistentreiterationofthischargeservedtofrightennotafewtimidsouls。

Lincolnconstantlyendeavoredtobringthemoralandphilosophicalsideofthesubjecttotheforeground。"Slaveryiswrong"wasthekeynoteofallhisspeeches。ToDouglas’sglitteringsophismthattherightofthepeopleofaTerritorytohaveslaveryornot，astheymightdesire，wasinaccordancewiththeprincipleoftruepopularsovereignty，hemadethepointedanswer："Thentruepopularsovereignty，accordingtoSenatorDouglas，meansthat，whenonemanmakesanothermanhisslave，nothirdmanshallbeallowedtoobject。"ToDouglas’sargumentthattheprinciplewhichdemandedthatthepeopleofaTerritoryshouldbepermittedtochoosewhethertheywouldhaveslaveryornot"originatedwhenGodmademan，andplacedgoodandevilbeforehim，allowinghimtochooseuponhisownresponsibility，"

Lincolnsolemnlyreplied："No；God——didnotplacegoodandevilbeforeman，tellinghimtomakehischoice。Onthecontrary，Goddidtellhimtherewasonetreeofthefruitofwhichheshouldnoteat，uponpainofdeath。"Hedidnot，however，placehimselfonthemostadvancedgroundtakenbytheradicalanti—slaverymen。Headmittedthat，undertheConstitution，"theSouthernpeoplewereentitledtoaCongressionalfugitiveslavelaw，"

althoughhedidnotapprovethefugitiveslavelawthenexisting。

Hedeclaredalsothat，ifslaverywerekeptoutoftheTerritoriesduringtheirterritorialexistence，asitshouldbe，andifthenthepeopleofanyTerritory，havingafairchanceandaclearfield，shoulddosuchanextraordinarythingastoadoptaslaveconstitution，uninfluencedbytheactualpresenceoftheinstitutionamongthem，hesawnoalternativebuttoadmitsuchaTerritoryintotheUnion。Hedeclaredfurtherthat，whileheshouldbeexceedinglygladtoseeslaveryabolishedintheDistrictofColumbia，hewould，asamemberofCongress，withhispresentviews，notendeavortobringonthatabolitionexceptonconditionthatemancipationbegradual，thatitbeapprovedbythedecisionofamajorityofvotersintheDistrict，andthatcompensationbemadetounwillingowners。Oneveryavailableoccasion，hepronouncedhimselfinfavorofthedeportationandcolonizationoftheblacks，ofcoursewiththeirconsent。Herepeatedlydisavowedanywishonhisparttohavesocialandpoliticalequalityestablishedbetweenwhitesandblacks。OnthispointhesummeduphisviewsinareplytoDouglas’sassertionthattheDeclarationofIndependence，inspeakingofallmenasbeingcreatedequal，didnotincludethenegroes，saying："IdonotunderstandtheDeclarationofIndependencetomeanthatallmenwerecreatedequalinallrespects。Theyarenotequalincolor。ButIbelievethatitdoesmeantodeclarethatallmenareequalinsomerespects；theyareequalintheirrighttolife，liberty，andthepursuitofhappiness。"

WithregardtosomeofthesesubjectsLincolnmodifiedhispositionatalaterperiod，andithasbeensuggestedthathewouldhaveprofessedmoreadvancedprinciplesinhisdebateswithDouglas，hadhenotfearedtherebytolosevotes。Thisviewcanhardlybesustained。Lincolnhadthecourageofhisopinions，buthewasnotaradical。Themanwhoriskedhiselectionbydelivering，againsttheurgentprotestofhisfriends，thespeechabout"thehousedividedagainstitself"wouldnothaveshrunkfromtheexpressionofmoreextremeviews，hadhereallyentertainedthem。Itisonlyfairtoassumethathesaidwhatatthetimehereallythought，andthatif，subsequently，hisopinionschanged，itwasowingtonewconceptionsofgoodpolicyandofdutybroughtforthbyanentirelynewsetofcircumstancesandexigencies。ItischaracteristicthathecontinuedtoadheretotheimpracticablecolonizationplanevenaftertheEmancipationProclamationhadalreadybeenissued。

ButinthiscontestLincolnprovedhimselfnotonlyadebater，butalsoapoliticalstrategistofthefirstorder。The"kind，amiable，andintelligentgentleman，"asDouglashadbeenpleasedtocallhim，wasbynomeansasharmlessasadove。Hepossessedanuncommonshareofthatworldlyshrewdnesswhichnotseldomgoeswithgenuinesimplicityofcharacter；andthepoliticalexperiencegatheredintheLegislatureandinCongress，andinmanyelectioncampaigns，addedtohiskeenintuitions，hadmadehimasfar—sightedajudgeoftheprobableeffectsofapublicman’ssayingsordoingsuponthepopularmind，andasaccurateacalculatorinestimatingpoliticalchancesandforecastingresults，ascouldbefoundamongthepartymanagersinIllinois。

AndnowheperceivedkeenlytheuglydilemmainwhichDouglasfoundhimself，betweentheDredScottdecision，whichdeclaredtherighttoholdslavestoexistintheTerritoriesbyvirtueoftheFederalConstitution，andhis"greatprincipleofpopularsovereignty，"accordingtowhichthepeopleofaTerritory，iftheysawfit，weretohavetherighttoexcludeslaverytherefrom。Douglaswastwistingandsquirmingtothebestofhisabilitytoavoidtheadmissionthatthetwowereincompatible。

ThequestionthenpresenteditselfifitwouldbegoodpolicyforLincolntoforceDouglastoaclearexpressionofhisopinionastowhether，theDredScottdecisionnotwithstanding，"thepeopleofaTerritorycouldinanylawfulwayexcludeslaveryfromitslimitspriortotheformationofaStateconstitution。"LincolnforesawandpredictedwhatDouglaswouldanswer：thatslaverycouldnotexistinaTerritoryunlessthepeopledesireditandgaveitprotectionbyterritoriallegislation。InanimprovisedcaucusthepolicyofpressingtheinterrogatoryonDouglaswasdiscussed。Lincoln’sfriendsunanimouslyadvisedagainstit，becausetheanswerforeseenwouldsufficientlycommendDouglastothepeopleofIllinoistoinsurehisre—electiontotheSenate。

ButLincolnpersisted。"Iamafterlargergame，"saidhe。"IfDouglassoanswers，hecanneverbePresident，andthebattleof1860isworthahundredofthis。"TheinterrogatorywaspresseduponDouglas，andDouglasdidanswerthat，nomatterwhatthedecisionoftheSupremeCourtmightbeontheabstractquestion，thepeopleofaTerritoryhadthelawfulmeanstointroduceorexcludeslaverybyterritoriallegislationfriendlyorunfriendlytotheinstitution。Lincolnfounditeasytoshowtheabsurdityofthepropositionthat，ifslaverywereadmittedtoexistofrightintheTerritoriesbyvirtueofthesupremelaw，theFederalConstitution，itcouldbekeptoutorexpelledbyaninferiorlaw，onemadebyaterritorialLegislature。Againthejudgmentofthepoliticians，havingonlythenearestobjectinview，provedcorrect：DouglaswasreelectedtotheSenate。ButLincoln’sjudgmentprovedcorrectalso：Douglas，byresortingtotheexpedientofhis"unfriendlylegislationdoctrine，"forfeitedhislastchanceofbecomingPresidentoftheUnitedStates。Hemighthavehopedtowin，bysufficientatonement，hispardonfromtheSouthforhisoppositiontotheLecomptonConstitution；butthathetaughtthepeopleoftheTerritoriesatrickbywhichtheycoulddefeatwhattheproslaverymenconsideredaconstitutionalright，andthathecalledthattricklawful，thistheslavepowerwouldneverforgive。ThebreachbetweentheSouthernandtheNorthernDemocracywasthenceforthirremediableandfatal。

ThePresidentialelectionof1860approached。ThestruggleinKansas，andthedebatesinCongresswhichaccompaniedit，andwhichnotunfrequentlyprovokedviolentoutbursts，continuallystirredthepopularexcitement。WithintheDemocraticpartyragedthewaroffactions。ThenationalDemocraticconventionmetatCharlestononthe23dofApril，1860。AfterastruggleoftendaysbetweentheadherentsandtheopponentsofDouglas，duringwhichthedelegatesfromthecottonStateshadwithdrawn，theconventionadjournedwithouthavingnominatedanycandidates，tomeetagaininBaltimoreonthe18thofJune。Therewasnoprospect，however，ofreconcilingthehostileelements。ItappearedveryprobablethattheBaltimoreconventionwouldnominateDouglas，whilethesecedingSouthernDemocratswouldsetupacandidateoftheirown，representingextremeproslaveryprinciples。

Meanwhile，thenationalRepublicanconventionassembledatChicagoonthe16thofMay，fullofenthusiasmandhope。Thesituationwaseasilyunderstood。TheDemocratswouldhavetheSouth。Inordertosucceedintheelection，theRepublicanshadtowin，inadditiontotheStatescarriedbyFremontin1856，thosethatwereclassedas"doubtful，"——NewJersey，Pennsylvania，andIndiana，orIllinoisintheplaceofeitherNewJerseyorIndiana。ThemosteminentRepublicanstatesmenandleadersofthetimethoughtofforthePresidencywereSewardandChase，bothregardedasbelongingtothemoreadvancedorderofantislaverymen。Ofthetwo，Sewardhadthelargestfollowing，mainlyfromNewYork，NewEngland，andtheNorthwest。CautiouspoliticiansdoubtedseriouslywhetherSeward，towhomsomephrasesinhisspeecheshadundeservedlygiventhereputationofarecklessradical，wouldbeabletocommandthewholeRepublicanvoteinthedoubtfulStates。Besides，duringhislongpubliccareerhehadmadeenemies。ItwasevidentthatthosewhothoughtSeward’snominationtoohazardousanexperimentwouldconsiderChaseunavailableforthesamereason。Theywouldthenlookroundforan"available"man；andamongthe"available"menAbrahamLincolnwaseasilydiscoveredtostandforemost。HisgreatdebatewithDouglashadgivenhimanationalreputation。

ThepeopleoftheEastbeingeagertoseetheheroofsodramaticacontest，hehadbeeninducedtovisitseveralEasterncities，andhadastonishedanddelightedlargeanddistinguishedaudienceswithspeechesofsingularpowerandoriginality。AnaddressdeliveredbyhimintheCooperInstituteinNewYork，beforeanaudiencecontainingalargenumberofimportantpersons，wasthen，andhaseversincebeen，especiallypraisedasoneofthemostlogicalandconvincingpoliticalspeechesevermadeinthiscountry。ThepeopleoftheWesthadgrownproudofhimasadistinctivelyWesterngreatman，andhispopularityathomehadsomepeculiarfeatureswhichcouldbeexpectedtoexerciseapotentcharm。NorwasLincoln’snameasthatofanavailablecandidatelefttothechanceofaccidentaldiscovery。

ItisindeednotprobablethathethoughtofhimselfasaPresidentialpossibility，duringhiscontestwithDouglasforthesenatorship。AslateasApril，1859，hehadwrittentoafriendwhohadapproachedhimonthesubjectthathedidnotthinkhimselffitforthePresidency。TheVice—Presidencywasthenthelimitofhisambition。ButsomeofhisfriendsinIllinoistookthematterseriouslyinhand，andLincoln，aftersomehesitation，thenformallyauthorized"theuseofhisname。"Thematterwasmanagedwithsuchenergyandexcellentjudgmentthat，intheconvention，hehadnotonlythewholevoteofIllinoistostartwith，butwonvotesonallsideswithoutoffendinganyrival。A

largemajorityoftheopponentsofSewardwentovertoAbrahamLincoln，andgavehimthenominationonthethirdballot。Ashadbeenforeseen，DouglaswasnominatedbyonewingoftheDemocraticpartyatBaltimore，whiletheextremeproslaverywingputBreckinridgeintothefieldasitscandidate。AfteracampaignconductedwiththeenergyofgenuineenthusiasmontheantislaverysidetheunitedRepublicansdefeatedthedividedDemocrats，andLincolnwaselectedPresidentbyamajorityoffifty—sevenvotesintheelectoralcolleges。

TheresultoftheelectionhadhardlybeendeclaredwhenthedisunionmovementintheSouth，longthreatenedandcarefullyplannedandprepared，brokeoutintheshapeofopenrevolt，andnearlyamonthbeforeLincolncouldbeinauguratedasPresidentoftheUnitedStatessevenSouthernStateshadadoptedordinancesofsecession，formedanindependentconfederacy，framedaconstitutionforit，andelectedJeffersonDavisitspresident，expectingtheotherslaveholdingStatessoontojointhem。Onthe11thofFebruary，1861，LincolnleftSpringfieldforWashington；having，withcharacteristicsimplicity，askedhislawpartnernottochangethesignofthefirm"LincolnandHerndon"

duringthefouryearsunavoidableabsenceoftheseniorpartner，andhavingtakenanaffectionateandtouchingleaveofhisneighbors。

ThesituationwhichconfrontedthenewPresidentwasappalling：

thelargerpartoftheSouthinopenrebellion，therestoftheslaveholdingStateswaveringpreparingtofollow；therevoltguidedbydetermined，daring，andskillfulleaders；theSouthernpeople，apparentlyfullofenthusiasmandmilitaryspirit，rushingtoarms，someofthefortsandarsenalsalreadyintheirpossession；thegovernmentoftheUnion，beforetheaccessionofthenewPresident，inthehandsofmensomeofwhomactivelysympathizedwiththerevolt，whileotherswerehamperedbytheirtraditionaldoctrinesindealingwithit，andreallygaveitaidandcomfortbytheirirresoluteattitude；allthedepartmentsfullof"Southernsympathizers"andhoneycombedwithdisloyalty；

thetreasuryempty，andthepubliccreditatthelowestebb；thearsenalsillsuppliedwitharms，ifnotemptiedbytreacherouspractices；theregulararmyofinsignificantstrength，dispersedoveranimmensesurface，anddeprivedofsomeofitsbestofficersbydefection；thenavysmallandantiquated。Butthatwasnotall。ThethreatofdisunionhadsooftenbeenresortedtobytheslavepowerinyearsgonebythatmostNorthernpeoplehadceasedtobelieveinitsseriousness。But，whendisunionactuallyappearedasasternreality，somethinglikeachillsweptthroughthewholeNortherncountry。Acryforunionandpeaceatanypriceroseonallsides。Democraticpartisanshipreiteratedthiscrywithvociferousvehemence，andevenmanyRepublicansgrewafraidofthevictorytheyhadjustachievedattheballot—box，andspokeofcompromise。Thecountryfairlyresoundedwiththenoiseof"anticoercionmeetings。"Expressionsoffirmresolutionfromdeterminedantislaverymenwereindeednotwanting，buttheywereforawhilealmostdrownedbyabewilderingconfusionofdiscordantvoices。Eventhiswasnotall。PotentinfluencesinEurope，withanill—concealeddesireforthepermanentdisruptionoftheAmericanUnion，eagerlyespousedthecauseoftheSouthernseceders，andthetwoprincipalmaritimepowersoftheOldWorldseemedonlytobewaitingforafavorableopportunitytolendthemahelpinghand。

Thiswasthestateofthingstobemasteredby"honestAbeLincoln"whenhetookhisseatinthePresidentialchair，——

"honestAbeLincoln，"whowassogood—naturedthathecouldnotsay"no"；thegreatestachievementinwhoselifehadbeenadebateontheslaveryquestion；whohadneverbeeninanypositionofpower；whowaswithouttheslightestexperienceofhighexecutiveduties，andwhohadonlyaspeakingacquaintancewiththemenuponwhosecounselandcooperationhewastodepend。

Norwashisaccessiontopowerundersuchcircumstancesgreetedwithgeneralconfidenceevenbythemembersofhisparty。Whilehehadindeedwonmuchpopularity，manyRepublicans，especiallyamongthosewhohadadvocatedSeward’snominationforthePresidency，sawthesimple"Illinoislawyer"takethereinsofgovernmentwithafeelinglittleshortofdismay。Theoratorsandjournalsoftheoppositionwereridiculingandlampooninghimwithoutmeasure。Manypeopleactuallywonderedhowsuchamancoulddaretoundertakeataskwhich，ashehimselfhadsaidtohisneighborsinhispartingspeech，was"moredifficultthanthatofWashingtonhimselfhadbeen。"

ButLincolnbroughttothattask，asidefromotheruncommonqualities，thefirstrequisite，——anintuitivecomprehensionofitsnature。WhilehedidnotindulgeinthedelusionthattheUnioncouldbemaintainedorrestoredwithoutaconflictofarms，hecouldindeednotforeseealltheproblemshewouldhavetosolve。Heinstinctivelyunderstood，however，bywhatmeansthatconflictwouldhavetobeconductedbythegovernmentofademocracy。Heknewthattheimpendingwar，whethergreatorsmall，wouldnotbelikeaforeignwar，excitingaunitednationalenthusiasm，butacivilwar，likelytofantouncommonheattheanimositiesofpartyeveninthelocalitiescontrolledbythegovernment；thatthiswarwouldhavetobecarriedonnotbymeansofaready—mademachinery，ruledbyanundisputed，absolutewill，butbymeanstobefurnishedbythevoluntaryactionofthepeople：——armiestobeformedbyvoluntaryenlistments；largesumsofmoneytoberaisedbythepeople，throughrepresentatives，voluntarilytaxingthemselves；trustofextraordinarypowertobevoluntarilygranted；andwarmeasures，notseldomrestrictingtherightsandlibertiestowhichthecitizenwasaccustomed，tobevoluntarilyacceptedandsubmittedtobythepeople，oratleastalargemajorityofthem；andthatthiswouldhavetobekeptupnotmerelyduringashortperiodofenthusiasticexcitement；butpossiblythroughwearyyearsofalternatingsuccessanddisaster，hopeanddespondency。Heknewthatinordertosteerthisgovernmentbypublicopinionsuccessfullythroughalltheconfusioncreatedbytheprejudicesanddoubtsanddifferencesofsentimentdistractingthepopularmind，andsotopropitiate，inspire，mould，organize，unite，andguidethepopularwillthatitmightgiveforthallthemeansrequiredfortheperformanceofhisgreattask，hewouldhavetotakeintoaccountalltheinfluencesstronglyaffectingthecurrentofpopularthoughtandfeeling，andtodirectwhileappearingtoobey。

Thiswasthekindofleadershipheintuitivelyconceivedtobeneededwhenafreepeopleweretobeledforwardenmassetoovercomeagreatcommondangerundercircumstancesofappallingdifficulty，theleadershipwhichdoesnotdashaheadwithbrilliantdaring，nomatterwhofollows，butwhichisintentuponrallyingalltheavailableforces，gatheringinthestragglers，closingupthecolumn，sothatthefrontmayadvancewellsupported。ForthisleadershipAbrahamLincolnwasadmirablyfitted，betterthananyotherAmericanstatesmanofhisday；forheunderstoodtheplainpeople，withalltheirlovesandhates，theirprejudicesandtheirnobleimpulses，theirweaknessesandtheirstrength，asheunderstoodhimself，andhissympatheticnaturewasapttodrawtheirsympathytohim。

Hisinauguraladdressforeshadowedhisofficialcourseincharacteristicmanner。Althoughyieldingnothinginpointofprinciple，itwasbynomeansaflamingantislaverymanifesto，suchaswouldhavepleasedthemoreardentRepublicans。Itwasrathertheentreatyofasorrowingfatherspeakingtohiswaywardchildren。Inthekindliestlanguagehepointedouttothesecessionistshowilladvisedtheirattemptatdisunionwas，andwhy，fortheirownsakes，theyshoulddesist。Almostplaintively，hetoldthemthat，whileitwasnottheirdutytodestroytheUnion，itwashissworndutytopreserveit；thattheleasthecoulddo，undertheobligationsofhisoath，wastopossessandholdthepropertyoftheUnitedStates；thathehopedtodothispeaceably；thatheabhorredwarforanypurpose，andthattheywouldhavenoneunlesstheythemselvesweretheaggressors。Itwasamasterpieceofpersuasiveness，andwhileLincolnhadacceptedmanyvaluableamendmentssuggestedbySeward，itwasessentiallyhisown。ProbablyLincolnhimselfdidnotexpecthisinauguraladdresstohaveanyeffectuponthesecessionists，forhemusthaveknownthemtoberesolvedupondisunionatanycost。ButitwasanappealtothewaveringmindsintheNorth，anduponthemitmadeaprofoundimpression。Everycandidman，howevertimidandhalting，hadtoadmitthatthePresidentwasboundbyhisoathtodohisduty；thatunderthatoathhecoulddonolessthanhesaidhewoulddo；thatifthesecessionistsresistedsuchanappealasthePresidenthadmade，theywerebentuponmischief，andthatthegovernmentmustbesupportedagainstthem。ThepartisansympathywiththeSoutherninsurrectionwhichstillexistedintheNorthdidindeednotdisappear，butitdiminishedperceptiblyundertheinfluenceofsuchreasoning。Thosewhostillresisteditdidsoattheriskofappearingunpatriotic。

Itmustnotbesupposed，however，thatLincolnatoncesucceededinpleasingeverybody，evenamonghisfriends，——evenamongthosenearesttohim。Inselectinghiscabinet，whichhedidsubstantiallybeforeheleftSpringfieldforWashington，hethoughtitwisetocalltohisassistancethestrongmenofhisparty，especiallythosewhohadgivenevidenceofthesupporttheycommandedashiscompetitorsintheChicagoconvention。Inthemhefoundatthesametimerepresentativesofthedifferentshadesofopinionwithintheparty，andofthedifferentelements——formerWhigsandformerDemocrats——fromwhichthepartyhadrecruiteditself。Thiswassoundpolicyunderthecircumstances。Itmightindeedhavebeenforeseenthatamongthemembersofacabinetsocomposed，troublesomedisagreementsandrivalrieswouldbreakout。ButitwasbetterforthePresidenttohavethesestrongandambitiousmennearhimashisco—

operatorsthantohavethemashiscriticsinCongress，wheretheirdifferencesmighthavebeencomposedinacommonoppositiontohim。Asmembersofhiscabinethecouldhopetocontrolthem，andtokeepthembusilyemployedintheserviceofacommonpurpose，ifhehadthestrengthtodoso。Whetherhedidpossessthisstrengthwassoontestedbyasingularlyrudetrial。

Therecanbenodoubtthattheforemostmembersofhiscabinet，SewardandChase，themosteminentRepublicanstatesmen，hadfeltthemselveswrongedbytheirpartywheninitsnationalconventionitpreferredtothemforthePresidencyamanwhom，notunnaturally，theythoughtgreatlytheirinferiorinabilityandexperienceaswellasinservice。ThesorenessofthatdisappointmentwasintensifiedwhentheysawthisWesternmanintheWhiteHouse，withsomuchofrusticmannerandspeechasstillclungtohim，meetinghisfellow—citizens，highandlow，onafootingofequality，withthesimplicityofhisgoodnatureunburdenedbyanyconventionaldignityofdeportment，anddealingwiththegreatbusinessofstateinaneasy—going，unmethodical，andapparentlysomewhatirreverentway。Theydidnotunderstandsuchaman。EspeciallySeward，who，asSecretaryofState，consideredhimselfnexttotheChiefExecutive，andwhoquicklyaccustomedhimselftogivingordersandmakingarrangementsuponhisownmotion，thoughtitnecessarythatheshouldrescuethedirectionofpublicaffairsfromhandssounskilled，andtakefullchargeofthemhimself。Attheendofthefirstmonthoftheadministrationhesubmitteda"memorandum"toPresidentLincoln，whichhasbeenfirstbroughttolightbyNicolayandHay，andisoneoftheirmostvaluablecontributionstothehistoryofthosedays。InthatpaperSewardactuallytoldthePresidentthatattheendofamonth’sadministrationthegovernmentwasstillwithoutapolicy，eitherdomesticorforeign；thattheslaveryquestionshouldbeeliminatedfromthestruggleabouttheUnion；thatthematterofthemaintenanceofthefortsandotherpossessionsintheSouthshouldbedecidedwiththatview；thatexplanationsshouldbedemandedcategoricallyfromthegovernmentsofSpainandFrance，whichwerethenpreparing，onefortheannexationofSanDomingo，andbothfortheinvasionofMexico；thatifnosatisfactoryexplanationswerereceivedwarshouldbedeclaredagainstSpainandFrancebytheUnitedStates；thatexplanationsshouldalsobesoughtfromRussiaandGreatBritain，andavigorouscontinentalspiritofindependenceagainstEuropeaninterventionbearousedallovertheAmericancontinent；thatthispolicyshouldbeincessantlypursuedanddirectedbysomebody；thateitherthePresidentshoulddevotehimselfentirelytoit，ordevolvethedirectiononsomememberofhiscabinet，whereuponalldebateonthispolicymustend。

ThiscouldbeunderstoodonlyasaformaldemandthatthePresidentshouldacknowledgehisownincompetencytoperformhisduties，contenthimselfwiththeamusementofdistributingpost—

offices，andresignhispowerastoallimportantaffairsintothehandsofhisSecretaryofState。Itseemsto—dayincomprehensiblehowastatesmanofSeward’scalibrecouldatthatperiodconceiveaplanofpolicyinwhichtheslaveryquestionhadnoplace；apolicywhichrestedupontheutterlydelusiveassumptionthatthesecessionists，whohadalreadyformedtheirSouthernConfederacyandwerewithsternresolutionpreparingtofightforitsindependence，couldbehoodwinkedbackintotheUnionbysomesentimentaldemonstrationagainstEuropeaninterference；apolicywhich，atthatcriticalmoment，wouldhaveinvolvedtheUnioninaforeignwar，thusinvitingforeigninterventioninfavoroftheSouthernConfederacy，andincreasingtenfolditschancesinthestruggleforindependence。ButitisequallyincomprehensiblehowSewardcouldfailtoseethatthisdemandofanunconditionalsurrenderwasamortalinsulttotheheadofthegovernment，andthatbyputtinghispropositiononpaperhedeliveredhimselfintothehandsoftheverymanhehadinsulted；for，hadLincoln，asmostPresidentswouldhavedone，instantlydismissedSeward，andpublishedthetruereasonforthatdismissal，itwouldinevitablyhavebeentheendofSeward’scareer。ButLincolndidwhatnotmanyofthenoblestandgreatestmeninhistorywouldhavebeennobleandgreatenoughtodo。HeconsideredthatSewardwasstillcapableofrenderinggreatservicetohiscountryintheplaceinwhichhewas，ifrightlycontrolled。Heignoredtheinsult，butfirmlyestablishedhissuperiority。Inhisreply，whichheforthwithdespatched，hetoldSewardthattheadministrationhadadomesticpolicyaslaiddownintheinauguraladdresswithSeward’sapproval；thatithadaforeignpolicyastracedinSeward’sdespatcheswiththePresident’sapproval；thatifanypolicywastobemaintainedorchanged，he，thePresident，wastodirectthatonhisresponsibility；andthatinperformingthatdutythePresidenthadarighttotheadviceofhissecretaries。Seward’sfantasticschemesofforeignwarandcontinentalpoliciesLincolnbrushedasidebypassingthemoverinsilence。Nothingmorewassaid。Sewardmusthavefeltthathewasatthemercyofasuperiorman；thathisoffensivepropositionhadbeengenerouslypardonedasatemporaryaberrationofagreatmind，andthathecouldatoneforitonlybydevotedpersonalloyalty。Thishedid。Hewasthoroughlysubdued，andthenceforthsubmittedtoLincolnhisdespatchesforrevisionandamendmentwithoutamurmur。ThewarwithEuropeannationswasnolongerthoughtof；

theslaveryquestionfoundinduetimeitsproperplaceinthestrugglefortheUnion；andwhen，atalaterperiod，thedismissalofSewardwasdemandedbydissatisfiedsenators，whoattributedtohimtheshortcomingsoftheadministration，LincolnstoodstoutlybyhisfaithfulSecretaryofState。

Chase，theSecretaryoftheTreasury，amanofsuperbpresence，ofeminentabilityandardentpatriotism，ofgreatnaturaldignityandacertainoutwardcoldnessofmanner，whichmadehimappearmoredifficultofapproachthanhereallywas，didnotpermithisdisappointmenttoburstoutinsuchextravagantdemonstrations。ButLincoln’swaysweresoessentiallydifferentfromhisthattheyneverbecamequiteintelligible，andcertainlynotcongenialtohim。Itmight，perhaps，havebeenbetterhadtherebeen，atthebeginningoftheadministration，somedecidedclashbetweenLincolnandChase，astherewasbetweenLincolnandSeward，tobringonafullmutualexplanation，andtomakeChaseappreciatetherealseriousnessofLincoln’snature。But，asitwas，theirrelationsalwaysremainedsomewhatformal，andChaseneverfeltquiteateaseunderachiefwhomhecouldnotunderstand，andwhosecharacterandpowersheneverlearnedtoesteemattheirtruevalue。Atthesametime，hedevotedhimselfzealouslytothedutiesofhisdepartment，anddidthecountryarduousserviceundercircumstancesofextremedifficulty。

NobodyrecognizedthismoreheartilythanLincolnhimself，andtheymanagedtoworktogetheruntilneartheendofLincoln’sfirstPresidentialterm，whenChase，aftersomedisagreementsconcerningappointmentstooffice，resignedfromthetreasury；

and，afterTaney’sdeath，thePresidentmadehimChiefJustice。

Therestofthecabinetconsistedofmenoflesseminence，whosubordinatedthemselvesmoreeasily。InJanuary，1862，LincolnfounditnecessarytobowCameronoutofthewaroffice，andtoputinhisplaceEdwinM。Stanton，amanofintenselypracticalmind，vehementimpulses，fiercepositiveness，ruthlessenergy，immenseworkingpower，loftypatriotism，andseverestdevotiontoduty。Heacceptedthewarofficenotasapartisan，forhehadneverbeenaRepublican，butonlytodoallhecouldin"helpingtosavethecountry。"ThemannerinwhichLincolnsucceededintamingthisliontohiswill，byfranklyrecognizinghisgreatqualities，bygivinghimthemostgenerousconfidence，byaidinghiminhisworktothefullofhispower，bykindlyconcessionoraffectionatepersuasivenessincasesofdifferingopinions，or，whenitwasnecessary，byfirmassertionsofsuperiorauthority，bearsthehighesttestimonytohisskillinthemanagementofmen。Stanton，whohadenteredtheservicewithratherameanopinionofLincoln’scharacterandcapacity，becameoneofhiswarmest，mostdevoted，andmostadmiringfriends，andwithnoneofhissecretarieswasLincoln’sintercoursemoreintimate。Totakeadvicewithcandidreadiness，andtoweighitwithoutanyprideofhisownopinion，wasoneofLincoln’spreeminentvirtues；buthehadnotlongpresidedoverhiscabinetcouncilwhenhiswasfeltbyallitsmemberstobetherulingmind。