Ancestors Birth-Early Surroundings-Removal to Indiana - Edu- cation Occupation-Settled in Illinois - Black Hawk War - Hu- Entrance into Public Life - Election to State Legislature — Presi- Private Life-1854- The Nebraska Bill Agitation in Illinois — Posi- tion of Mr. Lincoln - Speech at Peoria - Anti-Nebraska Convention Republican Convention - Preparations at Chicago - The Wigwam- Enthusiasm Organization Speech of the President - Nomina- Return Home State Legislature Election to the United States Sen- ate Admission of Oregon - Compromise of 1850 Compromise of 1850- Mr. Hamlin's Votes-The Nebraska Bill-Abandonment of the Democratic Party- United States Senate The Lecompton Contest-Mr. Hamlin's Posi- Nomination as Vice-President - Mr. Hamlin's Experience fits him for the position-Acceptance of Nomination-Public Serenade at Wash APPENDIX. Ohio and Kentucky, or the Two Systems-Speech at Cincinnati National Politics and the Republican Party — Speech at New York, The Illinois Senatorial Canvass INTRODUCTORY. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, by its National Nominating Convention, at Chicago, on Friday, May 18, placed before the American people these two, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, of Illinois, and HANNIBAL HAMLIN, of Maine, the latter one of the United States Senators from that State, as its candidates for PResident and VICE-PRESIDENT of this Republic. The nominations have additional interest at this particular period. Besides the fact that they are thus made the standard-bearers of the most vigorous political organization in the nation, there is also to be taken into account the manifold dissensions of their adversaries, which would seem to point the way to a certain Republican victory at the election in November next. ABRAHAM LINCOLN, of Illinois, is a genuine scion of the "Westland," and may therefore fairly be regarded as a representative man. Born on the "dark and bloody ground" of Kentucky, he was "raised" in Illinois, being brought to that then Territory at a period when the foot of the white man had barely begun to tread its magnificent prairies. With very limited opportunities of receiving an education, but much of that genial humor and quick sense of observation and appreciation, which is especially characteristic of our Western Pioneers, Abraham Lincoln stands to-day not only a representative of the early Western stock, the hunter, farmer, and pioneer, but an admirable example of what energy and ability can do for a man honestly using them in honorable pursuits. Not only in character but in person, is Abraham Lincoln a type of the West. Tall and loose-jointed, with large bones, the person of the future Hoosier President will attract attention everywhere. |