snatched up by the police, in accordance with the law then in force concerning free negroes from other States, and thrown into confinement. Subsequently he was brought out and tried. Of course, he was fined, and, the boat having left, he was sold, or was in immediate danger of being sold, to pay his fine and expenses. Mr. Lincoln was very much moved, and requested Mr. Herndon to go over to the State House and inquire of Governor Bissell, if there was not something he could do to obtain possession of the negro. Mr. Herndon made the inquiry, and returned with the report that the Governor regretted to say that he had no legal or constitutional right to do anything in the premises. Mr. Lincoln rose to his feet in great excitement, and exclaimed: "By the Almighty, I'll have that negro back soon, or I'll have a twenty years' agitation in Illinois, until the Governor does have a legal and constitutional right to do something in the premises." He was saved from the latter alternative-at least in the direct form which he proposed. The lawyers sent money to a New Orleans correspondent-money of their own-who procured the negro, and returned him to his mother.

In 1854 Lincoln was nominated for the State Legislature, but refused to accept the proffered honor. His name, however, was presented to the people, and he was elected. But, feeling that he had earned a higher honor than this, he refused to take his seat. One of the duties of this session was to elect a United States Senator to succeed General Shields, the colleague of Douglas. Lincoln ardently desired the position, and once, in speaking of it, said that he had rather have one full term in the Senate than the

Presidency. His prospects seemed good to secure the coveted honor, but, through certain unexpected complications, his election became doubtful, and he magnanimously withdrew his name in favor of Judge Trumbull, who was immediately elected. When consulted in the dilemma, he said: "You ought to drop me and go for Judge Trumbull, that is the only way you can defeat Mathison (the Democratic candidate)." Judge Logan came up and insisted on making one more effort to secure Lincoln's election; but the latter said: "If you do, you will lose both Trumbull and myself, and I think the cause in this case is to be preferred to men." This was certainly a rare instance of political self-sacrifice.

CHAPTER IX

AT the Bloomington Convention Mr. Lincoln was called upon to make a speech. It proved to be the inauguration speech of the new party in Illinois, and in it he advanced to higher political ground than he had ever done before. He seemed like one inspired as he gave utterance to the grandest political truths, and made close application of them to the condition of the country.

One of the delegates says: "Never was an audience more completely electrified by human eloquence. Again and again, during this speech, the audience sprang to their feet, and by long continued cheers expressed how deeply the speaker had affected them." Herndon characterizes this speech as the grand effort of his life.

The movement, thus enthusiastically inaugurated, gathered strength rapidly, and the young, but vigorous party soon became a recognized power in the State. Lincoln had been one of the ruling spirits of the old Whig party, and he now became the recognized leader of the Republican party, its great defender in the furious onslaughts made upon it, and its champion in the aggressive fight it was about to make upon the old parties.

In the following national campaign, the first in which the Republican party had figured, his services

were in great demand. Earnest requests to speak upon the principles of the party came to him from every district in Illinois, from Indiana, Ohio, Iowa and Wisconsin, and so far as possible he accepted the invitations.

At one of the meetings, which he was addressing, an old Democrat arose from his seat and strode away, driving his cane viciously into the ground at every step, exclaiming: "He's a dangerous man, a dangerous man! He makes you believe what he says in spite of yourself."

The Republicans generally believed that Fremont would be elected, but Lincoln did not share in this confidence. He was too clear-sighted, and realized too fully the strength of the opposition, to be thus deceived by a false hope. During the campaign he said to Mr. Noah Brooks, a Chicago Journalist : "Don't be discouraged if we don't carry the day this year. We can't do it, that's certain, but we shall sooner or later elect our President. I feel confident of that."

The event proved the truth of his forecast. Although the new party made a gallant fight, its ticket was defeated, and Buchanan was elected President. The closeness of the contest so alarmed the slave-holders that they began, even then, to perfect their plans for a revolution in the event of a Republican victory at the next national election. In this they were materially aided by the weakness of the President who, though no doubt desirous of maintaining the Union intact and upholding the Constitution, yet found himself powerless in the hands of the slave element.

Lincoln, since the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, had become recognized as the champion of the anti-slavery element in Illinois. Even before the formation of the new party, he had ably and persistently opposed the measure as ill-advised and revolutionary. His opinions were always freely expressed on the subject both publicly and privately, and were well sustained by logical argument.

Nor

When Douglas returned from Washington, after the passage of the bill, he found himself, more than once, compelled to defend his policy to his constituents, who were generally indignant at his course. was he lacking in the ability to do this. Fresh from the Halls of Congress, where he had carried the bill by his fiery eloquence and power of logical reasoning, in the face of an opposition led by such masters of debate as Sumner, Chase and Seward, flushed with victory, and more than ever confident of his ability to overcome opposition, he appeared before great audiences in Illinois eager to hear his vindication from his own lips.

Soon after his return to Chicago, the State Fair opened in Springfield, and he was invited to address the assembled crowds upon the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. His task was a difficult one, for the majority of the audience were hostile to the measure. Incited by the adverse sentiment, he made a masterly address. He gave an historical review of the whole situation, and presented, in their most plausible form, the arguments by which he had won his victory in the Senate.

Lincoln was present and listened intently, and, at the close of the address, it was announced that he