The Every-day Life of Abraham Lincoln | Page 4

Tilt with Douglas--Lincoln Facing a Mob--His Physical Courage--Lincoln as Duellist--The Affair with General Shields--An Eye-Witness' Account of the Duel--Courtship and Marriage

CHAPTER VI
Lincoln in National Politics--His Congressional Aspirations--Law-Partnership of Lincoln and Herndon--The Presidential Campaign of 1844--Visit to Henry Clay--Lincoln Elected to Congress--Congressional Reputation--Acquaintance with Distinguished Men--First Speech in Congress--"Getting the Hang" of the House--Lincoln's Course on the Mexican War--Notable Speech in Congress--Ridicule of General Cass--Bill for the Abolition of Slavery--Delegate to the Whig National Convention of 1848--Stumping the Country for Taylor--Advice to Young Politicians--"Old Abe"--A Political Disappointment--Lincoln's Appearance as an Officer Seeker in Washington--"A Divinity that Shapes Our Ends"

CHAPTER VII
Lincoln again in Springfield--Back to the Circuit--His Personal Manners and Appearance--Glimpses of Home-Life--His Family--His Absent-Mindedness--A Painful Subject--Lincoln a Man of Sorrows--Familiar Appearance on the Streets of Springfield--Scenes in the Law-Office--Forebodings of a "Great of Miserable End"--An Evening Whit Lincoln in Chicago--Lincoln's Tenderness to His Relatives--Death of His Father--A Sensible Adviser--Care of His Step-Mother--Tribute From Her

CHAPTER VIII
Lincoln as a Lawyer--His Appearance in Court--Reminiscences of a Law-Student in Lincoln's Office--An "Office Copy" of Byron--Novel Way of Keeping Partnership Accounts--Charges for Legal Services--Trial of Bill Armstrong--Lincoln before a Jury--Kindness toward Unfortunate Clients--Refusing to Defend Guilty Men--Courtroom Anecdotes--Anecdotes of Lincoln at the Bar--Some Striking Opinions of Lincoln as a Lawyer

CHAPTER IX
Lincoln and Slavery--The Issue Becoming More Sharply Defined--Resistance to the Spread of Slavery--Views Expressed by Lincoln in 1850--His Mind Made Up--Lincoln as a Party Leader--The Kansas Struggle--Crossing Swords with Douglas--A Notable Speech by Lincoln--Advice to Kansas Belligerents--Honor in Politics--Anecdote of Lincoln and Yates--Contest for the U.S. Senate in 1855--Lincoln's Defeat--Sketched by Members of the Legislature

CHAPTER X
Birth of the Republican Party--Lincoln One of Its Fathers--Takes His Stand with the Abolitionists--The Bloomington Convention--Lincoln's Great Anti-Slavery Speech--A Ratification Meeting of Three--The First National Republican Convention--Lincoln's Name Presented for the Vice-Presidency--Nomination of Fremont and Dayton--Lincoln in the Campaign of 1856--His Appearance and Influence on the Stump--Regarded as a Dangerous Man--His Views on the Politics of the Future--First Visit to Cincinnati--Meeting with Edwin M. Stanton--Stanton's First Impressions of Lincoln--Regards Him as a "Giraffe"--A Visit to Cincinnati

CHAPTER XI
The Great Lincoln-Douglas Debate--Rivals for the U.S. Senate--Lincoln's "House-Divided-against-Itself" Speech--An Inspired Oration--Alarming His Friends--Challenges Douglas to a Joint Discussion--The Champions Contrasted--Their Opinions of Each Other--Lincoln and Douglas on the Stump--Slavery the Leading Issue--Scenes and Anecdotes of the Great Debate--Pen-Picture of Lincoln on the Stump--Humors of the Campaign--Some Sharp Rejoinders--Words of Soberness--Close of the Conflict

CHAPTER XII
A Year of Waiting and Trial--Again Defeated for the Senate--Depression and Neglect--Lincoln Enlarging His Boundaries--On the Stump in Ohio--A Speech to Kentuckians--Second Visit to Cincinnati--A Short Trip to Kansas--Lincoln in New York City--The Famous Cooper Institute Speech--A Strong and Favorable Impression--Visits New England--Secret of Lincoln's Success as an Orator--Back to Springfield--Disposing of a Campaign Slander--Lincoln's Account of His Visit to a Five Points Sunday School

CHAPTER XIII
Looking towards the Presidency--The Illinois Republican Convention of 1860--A "Send-Off" for Lincoln--The National Republican Convention at Chicago--Contract of the Leading Candidates--Lincoln Nominated--Scenes at the Convention--Sketches by Eye-Witnesses--Lincoln Hearing the News--The Scene at Springfield--A Visit to Lincoln at His Home--Recollections of a Distinguished Sculptor--Receiving the Committee of the Convention--Nomination of Douglas--Campaign of 1860--Various Campaign Reminiscences--Lincoln and the Tall Southerner--The Vote of the Springfield Clergy--A Graceful Letter to the Poet Bryant--"Looking up Hard Spots"

CHAPTER XIV
Lincoln Chosen President--The Election of 1860--The Waiting-Time at Springfield--A Deluge of Visitors--Various Impressions of the President-Elect--Some Queer Callers--Looking over the Situation with Friends--Talks about the Cabinet--Thurlow Weed's Visit to Springfield--The Serious Aspect of National Affairs--The South in Rebellion--Treason at the National Capital--Lincoln's Farewell Visit to His Mother--The Old Sign, "Lincoln & Herndon"--The Last Day at Springfield--Farewell Speech to Friends and Neighbors--Off for the Capital--The Journey to Washington--Receptions and Speeches along the Route--At Cincinnati: A Hitherto Unpublished Speech by Lincoln--At Cleveland: Personal Descriptions of Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln--At New York City: Impressions of the New President--Perils of the Journey--The Baltimore Plot--Change of Route--Arrival at the Capital

CHAPTER XV
Lincoln at the Helm--First Days in Washington--Meeting Public--Men and Discussing Public Affairs--The Inauguration--The Inaugural Address--A New Era Begun--Lincoln in the White House--The First Cabinet--The President and the Office-Seekers--Southern Prejudice against Lincoln--Ominous Portents, but Lincoln not Dismayed--The President's Reception Room--Varied Impressions of the New President--Guarding the White House

CHAPTER XVI
Civil War--Uprising of the Nation--The President's First Call for Troops--Response of the Loyal North--The Riots in Baltimore--Loyalty of Stephen A. Douglas--Douglas's Death--Blockade of Southern Ports--Additional War Measures--Lincoln Defines the Policy of the Government--His Conciliatory Course--His Desire to Save Kentucky--The President's First Message to Congress--Gathering of Troops in Washington--Reviews and Parades--Disaster at Bull Run--The President Visits the Army--Good Advice to an Angry Officer--A Peculiar Cabinet Meeting--Dark Days for Lincoln--A "Black Mood" in the White House--Lincoln's Unfaltering Courage--Relief in Story-Telling--A Pretty Good Land Title--"Measuring up" with Charles Sumner--General Scott "Unable as a Politician"--A Good Drawing-Plaster--The New York Millionaires who Wanted a Gunboat--A Good Bridge-Builder--A Sick Lot of Office-Seekers

CHAPTER XVII
Lincoln's Wise Statesmanship--The Mason and Slidell Affair--Complications with England--Lincoln's "Little Story" on the Trent Affair--Building of