Volume 7 — TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Reading edition
CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER I. Birth.—His father and mother.—History of Thomas Lincoln and his family a necessary part of Abraham Lincoln's biography.—Thomas Lincoln's ancestors.—Members of the family remaining in Virginia.—Birth of Thomas Lincoln.—Removal to Kentucky.—Life in the Wilderness.—Lincolns settle in Mercer County.—Thomas Lincoln's father shot by Indians.—Widow and family remove to Washington County.—Thomas poor.—Wanders into Breckinridge County.—Goes to Hardin County.—Works at the carpenter's trade.—Cannot read or write.—Personal appearance.—Called "Linckhom," or "Linckhera."—Thomas Lincoln as a carpenter.—Marries Nancy Hanks.—Previously courted Sally Bush.—Character of Sally Bush.—The person and character of Nancy Hanks.—Thomas and Nancy Lincoln go to live in a shed.—Birth of a daughter.—They remove to Nolin Creek.—Birth of Abraham.—Removal to Knob Creek.—Little Abe initiated into wild sports.—His sadness.—Goes to school.—Thomas Lincoln concludes to move.—Did not fly from the taint of slavery.—Abraham Lincoln always reticent about the history and character of his family.—Record in his Bible... 1
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER II. Thomas Lincoln builds a boat.—Floats down to the Ohio.—Boat capsizes.—Lands in Perry County, Indiana.—Selects a location.—Walks back to Knob Creek for wife and children.—Makes his way through the wilderness.—Settles between the two Pigeon Creeks.—Gentry ville.—Selects a site.—Lincoln builds a half-faced camp.—Clears ground and raises a small crop.—Dennis Hanks.—Lincoln builds a cabin.—State of the country.—Indiana admitted to the Union.—Rise of Gentryville.—Character of the people.—Lincoln's patent for his land.—His farm, cabin, furniture.—The milk-sickness.—Death of Nancy Hanks Lincoln.—Funeral discourse by David Elkin.—Grave.—Tom Lincoln marries Sally Bush.—Her goods and chattels.—Her surprise at the poverty of the Lincoln cabin.—Clothes and comforts Abe and his sister.—Abe leads a new life.—Is sent to school.—Abe's appearance and dress.—Learning "manners"—Abe's essays.—Tenderness for animals.—The last of school.—Abe excelled the masters.—Studied privately.—Did not like to work.—Wrote on wooden shovel and boards.—How Abe studied.—The books he read.—The "Revised Statute of Indiana."—Did not read the Bible.—No religious opinions.—How he behaved at home.—Touching recital by Mrs. Lincoln.—Abe's memory.—Mimicks the preachers.—Makes "stump-speeches" in the field.—Cruelly maltreated by his father.—Works out cheerfully.—Universal favorite.—The kind of people he lived amongst.—Mrs. Crawford's reminiscences.—Society about Gentryville. —His step-mother.—His sister.—The Johnstons and Hankses.—Abe a ferryman and farm-servant.—His work and habits.—Works for Josiah Crawford.—Mrs. Crawford's account of him.—Crawford's books.—Becomes a wit and a poet.—Abe the tallest and strongest man in the settlement.—Hunting in the Pigeon Creek region.—His activity.—Love of talking and reading.—Fond of rustic sports.—Furnishes the literature.—Would not be slighted.—His satires.—Songs and chronicles.—Gentryville as "a centre of business."—Abe and other boys loiter about the village.—Very temperate.—"Clerks" for Col. Jones.—Abe saves a drunken man's life.—Fond of music.—Marriage of his sister Nancy.—Extracts from his copy-book.—His Chronicles.—Fight with the Grigs-bys.—Abe "the big buck of the lick."—"Speaking meetings" at Gentryville.—Dennis Hanks's account of the way he and Abe became so learned.—Abe attends a court.—Abe expects to be President.—Going to mill.—Kicked in the head by a horse.—Mr. Wood.—Piece on temperance.—On national politics.—Abe tired of home.—Works for Mr. Gentry.—Knowledge of astronomy and geography.—Goes to New Orleans.—Counterfeit money.—Fight with negroes.—Scar on his face. —An apocryphal story...........19
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER III. Abe's return from New Orleans.—Sawing planks for a new house.—The milk-sickness.—Removal to Illinois.—Settles near Decatur.—Abe leaves home.—Subsequent removals and death of Thomas Lincoln.—Abe's relations to the family.—Works with John Hanks after leaving home.—Splitting rails.—Makes a speech on the improvement of the Sangamon River.—Second voyage to New Orleans.—Loading and departure of the boat.—"Sticks" on New Salem dam.—Abe's contrivance to get her off.—Model in the Patent Office.—Arrival at New Orleans.—Negroes chained.—Abe touched by the sight.—Returns on a steamboat.—Wrestles with Daniel Needham.........73
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER IV. The site of New Salem.—The village as it existed.—The first store.—Number of inhabitants.—Their houses.—Springfield.—Petersburg.—Mr. Lincoln appears a second time at New Salem.—Clerks at an election.—Pilots a boat to Beardstown.—Country store.—Abe as "first clerk."—"Clary's Grove Boys."—Character of Jack Armstrong.—He and Abe become intimate friends.—Abe's popularity.—Love of peace.—Habits of study.—Waylaying strangers for information.—Pilots the steamer "Talisman" up and down the Sangamon.......85
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER V. Offutt's business gone to ruin.—The Black Hawk War.—Black Hawk crosses the Mississippi.—Deceived by his allies.—The governor's call for troops.—Abe enlists—Elected captain.—A speech.—Organization of the army.—Captain Lincoln under arrest.—The march.—Captain Lincoln's company declines to form.—Lincoln under arrest.—Stillman's defeat.—Wasting rations.—Hunger.—Mutiny.—March to Dixon.—Attempt to capture Black Hawk's pirogues.—Lincoln saves the life of an Indian.—Mutiny.—Lincoln's novel method of quelling it.—Wrestling.—His magnanimity.—Care of his men.—Dispute with a regular officer.—Reach Dixon.—Move to Fox River.—A stampede.—Captain Lincoln's efficiency as an officer.—Amusements of the camp.—Captain Lincoln re-enlists as a private.—Independent spy company.—Progress of the war.—Capture of Black Hawk.—Release.—Death.—Grave.—George W. Harrison's recollections.—Duties of the spy company.—Company disbanded.—Lincoln's horse stolen.—They start home on foot.—Buy a canoe.—Feast on a raft.—Sell the boat.—Walk again.—Arrive at Petersburg.—A sham battle........98
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VI. The volunteers from Sangamon return shortly before the State election.—Abe a candidate for the Legislature.—Mode of bringing forward candidates.—Parties and party names.—State and national politics.—Mr. Lincoln's position.—Old way of conducting elections.—Mr. Lincoln's first stump-speech.—"A general fight."—Mr. Lincoln's part in it.—His dress and appearance.—Speech at Island Grove.—His stories.—A third speech.—Agrees with the Whigs in the policy of internal improvements.—His own hobby.—Prepares an address to the people.—Mr. Lincoln defeated.—Received every vote but three cast in his own precinct....121
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VII. Results of the canvass.—An opening in business.—The firm of Lincoln & Berry.—How they sold liquor.—What Mr. Douglas said.—The store a failure.—Berry's bad habits.—The credit system.—Lincoln's debts.—He goes to board at the tavern.—Studies law.—Walks to Springfield for books.—Progress in the law.—Does business for his neighbors.—Other studies.—Reminiscences of J. Y. Ellis.—Shy of ladies.—His apparel.—Fishing, and spouting Shakspeare and Burns.—Mr. Lincoln annoyed by company.—Retires to the country.—Bowlin Greene.—Mr. Lincoln's attempt to speak a funeral discourse.—John Calhoun.—Lincoln studies surveying.—Gets employment.—Lincoln appointed postmaster.—How he performed the duties.—Sale of Mr. Lincoln's personal property under execution.—Bought by James Short.—Lincoln's visits.—Old Hannah.—Ah. Trent.—Mr. Lincoln as a peacemaker.—His great strength.—The judicial quality.—Acting second in fights.—A candidate for the Legislature.—Elected.—Borrows two hundred dollars from Coleman Smoot.—How they got acquainted.—Mr. Lincoln writes a little book on infidelity.—It is burnt by Samuel Hill........135
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER VIII. James Rutledge.—His family.—Ann Rutledge.—John McNeil.—Is engaged to Ann.—His strange story.—The loveliness of Ann's person and character.—Mr. Lincoln courts her.—They are engaged to be married.—Await the return of McNeil.—Ann dies of a broken heart.—Mr. Lincoln goes crazy.—Cared for by Bowlin Greene.—The poem "Immortality."—Mr. Lincoln's melancholy broodings.—Interviews with Isaac Cogdale after his election to the Presidency.—Mr. Herndon's interview with McNamar.—Ann's grave.—The Concord cemetery...159
CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER IX. Bennett Able and family.—Mary Owens.—Mr. Lincoln falls in love with her.—What she thought of him.—A misunderstanding.—Letters from Miss Owens.—Mr. Lincoln's letters to her.—Humorous account of the affair in a letter from Mr. Lincoln to another lady......172
CHAPTER X.
CHAPTER X. Mr. Lincoln takes his seat in the Legislature.—Schemes of internal improvement.—Mr. Lincoln a silent member.—Meets Stephen A. Douglas.—Log-rolling.—Mr. Lincoln a candidate for re-election.—The canvass.—"The Long Nine."—Speech at Mechanicsburg.—Fight.—Reply to Dr. Early.—Reply to George Forquer.—Trick on Dick Taylor.—Attempts to create a third party.—Mr. Lincoln elected.—Federal and State politics.—The Bank of the United States.—Suspension of specie payments.—Mr. Lincoln wishes to be the De Witt Clinton of Illinois.—The internal-improvement system.—Capital located at Springfield.—Mr. Lincoln's conception of the duty of a representative.—His part in passing the "system."—Begins his antislavery record.—Public sentiment against the Abolitionists.—History of antislavery in Illinois.—The Covenanters.—Struggle to amend the Constitution.—The "black code."—Death of Elijah P. Lovejoy.—Protest against proslavery resolutions.—No sympathy with extremists.—Suspension of specie payments.—Mr. Lincoln re-elected in 1838.—Candidate for Speaker.—Finances.—Utter failure of the internal-improvement "system."—Mr. Lincoln re-elected in 1840.—He introduces a bill.—His speech.—Financial expedients.—Bitterness of feeling.—Democrats seek to hold a quorum.—Mr. Lincoln jumps out of a window.—Speech by Mr. Lincoln.—The alien question.—The Democrats undertake to "reform" the judiciary.—Mr. Douglas a leader.—Protest of Mr. Lincoln and other Whigs.—Reminiscences of a colleague.—Dinner to "The Long Nine."—"Abraham Lincoln one of nature's noblemen."..........184
CHAPTER XI.
CHAPTER XI. Capital removed to Springfield.—Mr. Lincoln settles there to practise law.—First case.—Members of the bar.—Mr. Lincoln's partnership with John T. Stuart.—Population and condition of Springfield.—Lawyers and politicians.—Mr. Lincoln's intense ambition.—Lecture before the Springfield Lyceum.—His style.—Political discussions run high.—Joshua F. Speed his most intimate friend.—Scene in Speed's store.—Debate.—Douglas, Calhoun, Lamborn, and Thomas, against Lincoln, Logan, Baker, and Browning.—Presidential elector in 1840.—Stumping for Harrison.—Scene between Lincoln and Douglas in the Court-House.—A failure.—Redeems himself.—Meets Miss Mary Todd.—She takes Mr. Lincoln captive.—She refuses Douglas.—Engaged.—Miss Matilda Edwards.—Mr. Lincoln undergoes a change of heart.—Mr. Lincoln reveals to Mary the state of his mind.—She releases him.—A reconciliation.—Every thing prepared for the wedding.—Mr. Lincoln fails to appear.—Insane.—Speed takes him to Kentucky.—Lines on "Suicide."—His gloom.—Return to Springfield.—Secret meetings with Miss Todd.—Sudden marriage.—Correspondence with Mr. Speed on delicate subjects.—Relics of a great man and a great agony.—Miss Todd attacks James Shields in certain witty and sarcastic letters.—Mr. Lincoln's name "given up" as the author.—Challenged by Shields.—A meeting and an explanation.—Correspondence.—Candidate for Congressional nomination.—Letters to Speed and Morris.—Defeat.. 223
CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER XII. Mr. Lincoln a candidate for elector in 1844.—Debates with Calhoun.—Speaks in Illinois and Indiana.—At Gentryville.—Lincoln, Baker, Logan, Hardin, aspirants for Congress.—Supposed bargain.—Canvass for Whig nomination in 1846.—Mr. Lincoln nominated.—Opposed by Peter Cartwright.—Mr. Lincoln called a deist.—Elected.—Takes his seat.—Distinguished members.—Opposed to the Mexican War.—The "Spot Resolutions."—Speech of Mr. Lincoln.—Murmurs of disapprobation.—Mr. Lincoln for "Old Rough" in 1848.—Defections at home.—Mr. Lincoln's campaign.—Speech.—Passage not generally published.—Letter to his father.—Second session.—The "Gott Resolution."—Mr. Lincoln's substitute..............274
CHAPTER XIII.
CHAPTER XIII. Mr. Lincoln in his character of country lawyer.—Public feeling at the time of his death.—Judge Davis's address at a bar-meeting.—Judge Drummond's address.—Mr. Lincoln's partnership with John T. Stuart.—With Stephen. T. Logan.—With William H. Herndon.—Mr. Lincoln "a case-lawyer."—Slow.—Conscientious.—Henry McHenry's case.—Circumstantial evidence.—A startling case.—Mr. Lincoln's account of it.—His first case in the Supreme Court.—Could not defend a bad case.—Ignorance of technicalities.—The Eighth Circuit.—Happy on the circuit.—Style of travelling.—His relations.—Young Johnson indicted.—Mr. Lincoln's kindness.—Jack Armstrong's son tried for murder.—Mr. Lincoln defends him.—Alleged use of a false almanac.—Prisoner discharged.—Old Hannah's account of it.—Mr. Lincoln's suit against Illinois Central Railway Company.—McCormick Reaping Machine case.—Treatment by Edwin M. Stanton........311
CHAPTER XIV.
CHAPTER XIV. Mr. Lincoln not a candidate for re-election.—Judge Logan's defeat.—Mr. Lincoln an applicant for Commissioner of the Land Office.—Offered the Governorship of Oregon.—Views concerning the Missouri Compromise and Compromise of 1850.—Declines to be a candidate for Congress in 1850.—Death of Thomas Lincoln.—Correspondence between Mr. Lincoln and John Johnston.—Eulogy on Henry Clay.—In favor of voluntary emancipation and colonization.—Answer to Mr. Douglas's Richmond speech.—Passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill.—Mr. Lincoln's views concerning slavery.—Opposed to conferring political privileges upon negroes.—Aroused by the repeal of the Missouri Compromise.—Anti-Nebraska party.—Mr. Lincoln the leader.—Mr. Douglas speaks at Chicago.—At Springfield.—Mr. Lincoln replies.—A great speech.—Mr. Douglas rejoins.—The Abolitionists.—Mr. Herndon.—Determined to make Mr. Lincoln an Abolitionist.—They refuse to enter the Know-Nothing lodges.—The Abolitionists desire to force Mr. Lincoln to take a stand.—He runs away from Springfield.—He is requested to "follow up" Mr. Douglas.—Speech at Peoria.—Extract.—Slavery and popular sovereignty.—Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Douglas agree not to speak any more.—The election.—Mr. Lincoln announced for the Legislature by Wm. Jayne.—Mrs. Lincoln withdraws his name.—Jayne restores it.—He is elected.—A candidate for United-States Senator.—Resigns his seat.—Is censured.—Anti-Nebraska majority in the Legislature.—The balloting.—Danger of Governor Matteson's election.—Mr. Lincoln advises his friends to vote for Judge Trumbull.—Trumbull elected.—Charges of conspiracy and corrupt bargain.—Mr. Lincoln's denial.—Mr. Douglas imputes to Mr. Lincoln extreme Abolitionist views.—Mr. Lincoln's answer.............333
CHAPTER XV.
CHAPTER XV. The struggle in Kansas.—The South begins the struggle.—The North meets it.—The Missourians and other proslavery forces.—Andrew H. Reeder appointed governor.—Election frauds.—Mr. Lincoln's views on Kansas.—Gov. Shannon arrives in the Territory.—The Free State men repudiate the Legislature.—Mr. Lincoln's "little speech" to the Abolitionists of Illinois.—Mr. Lincoln's party relations.—Mr. Lincoln agrees to meet the Abolitionists.—Convention at Bloomington.—Mr. Lincoln considered a convert.—His great speech.—Conservative resolutions.—Ludicrous failure of a ratification meeting at Springfield.—Mr. Lincoln's remarks.—Plot to break up the Know-Nothing party.—"National" Republican Convention.—Mr. Lincoln receives a hundred and ten votes for Vice-President.—National Democratic Convention.—Mr. Lincoln a candidate for elector.—His canvass.—Confidential letter.—Imperfect fellowship with the Abolitionists.—Mr. Douglas's speech on Kansas in June, 1857.—Mr. Lincoln's reply.—Mr. Douglas committed to support of the Lecompton Constitution.—The Dred Scott Decision discussed.—Mr. Lincoln against negro equality.—Affairs in Kansas.—Election of a new Legislature.—Submission of the Lecompton Constitution to the people.—Method of voting on it.—Constitution finally rejected.—Conflict in Congress.—Mr. Douglas's defection.—Extract from a speech by Mr. Lincoln........366
CHAPTER XVI.
CHAPTER XVI. Mr. Douglas opposes the Administration.—His course in Congress.—Squatter sovereignty in full operation.—Mr. Lincoln's definition of popular sovereignty and squatter sovereignty.—Mr. Douglas's private conferences with Republicans.—"Judge Trumbull's opinion.—Mr. Douglas nominated for senator by a Democratic Convention.—Mr. Lincoln's idea of what Douglas might accomplish at Charleston.—Mr. Lincoln writing a celebrated speech.—He is nominated for senator.—A startling doctrine.—A council of friends.—Same doctrine advanced at Bloomington.—The "house-divided" speech.—Mr. Lincoln promises to explain.—What Mr. Lincoln thought of Mr. Douglas.—What Mr. Douglas thought of Mr. Lincoln.—Popular canvass for senator.—Mr. Lincoln determines to "kill Douglas" as a Presidential aspirant.—Adroit plan to draw him out on squatter sovereignty.—Absurdities of Mr. Douglas.—The election.—Success of Mr. Douglas.—Reputation acquired by Mr. Lincoln..................389
CHAPTER XVII.
CHAPTER XVII. Mr. Lincoln writes and delivers a lecture.—The Presidency.—Mr. Lincoln's "running qualities."—He thinks himself unfit.—Nominated by "Illinois Gazette."—Letter to Dr. Canisius.—Letter to Dr. Wallace on the protective tariff policy.—Mr. Lincoln in Ohio and Kansas.—A private meeting of his friends.—Permitted to use his name for the Presidency.—An invitation to speak in New York.—Choosing a subject.—Arrives in New York.—His embarrassments.—Speech in Cooper Institute.—Comments of the press.—He is charged with mercenary conduct.—Letter concerning the charge.—Visits New England.—Style and character of his speeches.—An amusing encounter with a clerical politician...421
CHAPTER XVIII.
CHAPTER XVIII. Meeting of the Republican State Convention.—Mr. Lincoln present.—John Hanks and the rails.—Mr. Lincoln's speech.—Meeting of the Republican National Convention at Chicago.—The platform.—Combinations to secure Mr. Lincoln's nomination.—The balloting.—Mr. Lincoln nominated.—Mr. Lincoln at Springfield waiting the results of the Convention.—How he received the news.—Enthusiasm at Springfield.—Official notification.—The "Constitutional Union" party.—The Democratic Conventions at Charleston and Baltimore.—The election.—The principle upon which Mr. Lincoln proposed to make appointments.—Mr. Stephens.—Mr. Gilmore.—Mr. Guthrie.—Mr. Seward.—Mr. Chase.—Mr. Bates.—The cases of Smith and Cameron.—Mr. Lincoln's visit to Chicago.—Mr. Lincoln's visit to his relatives in Coles County.—Apprehensions about assassination.—A visit from Hannah Armstrong... 444
CHAPTER XIX.
CHAPTER XIX. Difficulties and peculiarities of Mr. Lincoln's position.—A general review of his character.—His personal appearance and habits.—His house and other property.—His domestic relations.—His morbid melancholy and superstition.—Illustrated by his literary tastes.—His humor.—His temperate habits and abstinence from sensual pleasures.—His ambition.—Use of politics for personal advancement.—Love of power and place.—Of justice.—Not a demagogue or a trimmer.—His religious views.—Attempt of the Rev. Mr. Smith to convert him.—Mr. Bateman's story as related by Dr. Holland.—Effect of his belief upon his mind and character...........466
CHAPTER XX.
CHAPTER XX. Departure of the Presidential party from Springfield.—Affecting address by Mr. Lincoln to his friends and neighbors.—His opinions concerning the approaching civil war.—Discovery of a supposed plot to murder him at Baltimore.—Governor Hicks's proposal to "kill Lincoln and his men."—The plan formed to defeat the conspiracy.—The midnight ride from Harrisburg to Washington.—Arrival in Washington.—Before the Inauguration.—Inauguration Day.—Inaugural Address.—Mr. Lincoln's Oath.—Mr. Lincoln President of the United States.—Mr. Buchanan bids him farewell............505