Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln

T

H E Lincoln story is ever fresh. It springs eternal from the deep current

of human tribute that wells up to do homage to man's achievement in the

realm of the moral and spiritual. Tha t is why the obscure birth of a boy in a rude

frontier log cabin was destined to unfold a chronicle that has become a heritage for the

ages. So it is tha t the massive seated figure enshrined in the white temple in

the Nation's Capital looks down silently but movingly upon the pilgrims who

come to feel the atmosphere of man's true greatness.

This was the man who split rails in frontier clearings, guided flatboats over the

streams of the prairies and on the bosom of the Father of Waters, ate meagre

lunches of cheese and crackers in gloomy despair in a barren law office, traveled

the circuit and there enlisted law on the side of justice, cheered the countryside

with a fund of humor, matched in skill and force of argument the advocates of

antiquity in the historic debates with Douglas, treed the slaves, spoke the First

and Second Inaugurals and the Gettysburg Address, and held in his hands un-

broken at last the ties that bound together a people and made a nation.

Lincoln, in the year before his death, told a friend tha t he had never read an

entire novel in his lite. This same man could carry a volume of Euclid in his

pocket for months as his constant companion. He was ever concerned with and

engrossed in realities; yet his instinct of interpreting human nature in terms o '

fable was as rich as Aesop's. His language matched the Anglo-Saxon of Shake-

speare and the beauty and simplicity of the Old Testament. He was a patient,

canny politician. He was self-reliant. The resources within himself were large

and ample. He listened with courteous patience to the thoughts of others, but

in the end the independence of his own judgment resolved the decision.

Any search tor the fountains of Lincoln's greatness must deal with his astonish-

ing power over words. His mental processes worked with fine precision in re-

solving the shadowy substance of thought into durable expression. No one with

discernment can sit down and read through Lincoln's collected works, speech by

speech, letter by letter, document by document, without knowing that here was

a man who had mastered the language of his race.

Lincoln was only a little past 56, although he looked years older, when death

came. There is every evidence that his moral, spiritual, and intellectual powers

were still developing. The Second Inaugural was given to the world only by a

margin of six weeks. One is left to speculate upon the what might have been.

Had the assassin's hand been stayed, continued manifestations of political wisdom

and additional exalted classics of the Elnglish tongue surely would have had their

birth in this man's mind and would have matured to become earthly realities,

enriching the heritage of our people and all mankind.

It is the purpose of this book to bring together a few of the more important and

significant passages of Lincoln's letters, speeches, and state document7s, togetherwith firsthand observations and appraisals of the man by some of those who saw

him with contemporary eyes as he moved from day to day through the varied

experiences that destiny had ordained for him. The illustrations are intended to

supplement and illuminate the text and are themselves contemporary historical

documents.

ROY EDGAR APPLEMAN.

Region One Headquarters, National Park Service,

Richmond, Virginia.

February 23, 1942.

CONTENTS

Page

1. AUTOBIOGRAPHY 1

2. TH E MOTHER OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 2

3. HI S PHYSICAL STRENGTH 3

4. ANN RUTLEDGE 3

5. ADVICE TO A YOUNG FRIEND 5

6. BEFRIENDING A SOLDIER'S WIDOW 6

7. "You SHALL G O T O WORK " 8

8. THA T NAME "ABE " 9

9. LINCOLN IN HIS LAW OFFICE 9

10. JUDGE DAVIS APPRAISES LINCOLN, THE LAWYER .. . 10

11. LINCOLN INTERPRETS THE DECLARATION OF INDE-

PENDENCE 12

12. "A HOUSE DIVIDED " 13

13. POWER OF MEMORY 14

14. LINCOLN, THE SPEAKER 14

15. TH E LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE : PROLOGUE TO DES -

TINY 16

16. A REPUBLICAN LEADER DEFINES THE SLAVERY ISSUE. . 19

17. SLAVERY AND THE SOUTH 20

18. "AN D THIS , TOO , SHALL PASS AWAY " 21

19. A T COOPER INSTITUTE 21

20. A MAN' S HANDS 22

21. A LITTLE GIRL SUGGESTS WHISKERS 23

22. "HER E I HAVE LIVED " 26

23. "TH E MYSTIC CHORDS OF MEMORY " 26

24. " I WOULD SAVE TH E UNION " 27

25. TH E EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION TAKES FORM . . 31

26. O N SHAKESPEARE 32

27. "BLESSINGS OF FRUITFUL FIELDS " 32

28. BIXBY LETTER OF CONDOLENCE 35

29. LINCOLN WRITES TO A GENERAL 35

30. GRANT MEET S LINCOLN. 36

31. A MAN' S NEE D OF HUMOR 37

32. TH E PRESIDENT TAKES A HAND 38

33. DEDICATION OF A SOLDIERS' NATIONAL CEMETERY .. . 39

34. A STATESMAN SPEAKS 40

35. A STEPMOTHER'S RECOLLECTION 43

36. MR . HERNDON'S LINCOLN 43

37. A PRIVATE SECRETARY RECALLS LINCOLN'S WHIT E

HOUSE HABITS 47

38. "WIT H MALICE TOWARD NONE " 47

39. H E BELONGS TO THE AGES 48

40. WAL T WHITMAN SUMS U P LINCOLN

ILL U STRATIO NS

Page

FULL STANDING PORTRAIT OF LINCOLN, 1864 ... . Frontispiece

TRADITIONAL LINCOLN BIRTHPLACE CABIN 4

DOOR AND WINDOW OF BIRTHPLACE CABIN 4

OLD PHOTOGRAPH OF BIRTHPLACE CABIN 4

FULL STANDING PORTRAIT OF LINCOLN, ABOUT 1860 .. . 7

LINCOLN HOME AT SPRINGFIELD 11

LINCOLN LAW OFFICE AT SPRINGFIELD 11

STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS 17

ABRAHAM LINCOLN AT TIM E OF DEBATES WITH DOUGLAS 17

PALM OF LINCOLN'S LEF T HAND. Folk Cast 24

BACK OF LINCOLN'S LEF T HAND. Folk Cast 24

RIGHT HAN D OF LINCOLN. Folk Cast 24

GRACE BEDELL LETTER TO LINCOLN 25

CURRIER & IVES CARTOON: TH E NATIONAL GAME. THRE E

"OUTS " AND ON E "RUN. " ABRAHAM WINNING THE

BALL 28

MRS . MARY TODD LINCOLN 30

LINCOLN AT TIM E OF COOPER INSTITUTE SPEECH 30

HESLER CAMPAIGN PHOTOGRAPH OF LINCOLN, 1860 ... . 30

CARPENTER PAINTING, "TH E FIRST READING OF THE

EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION" 33

FIRST PAGE OF MANUSCRIPT OF GETTYSBURG ADDRESS . . 41

ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND TAD 46

ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN. Sketch by Berghaus. 50

DERRINGER BOOTH USED IN SHOOTING LINCOLN 50

FORD THEATRE. Sketch by Berghaus 51

LAST PHOTOGRAPH OF LINCOLN

Among the several full standing portraits of Lincoln, this one has captured better

perhaps than any other the commanding dignity of the man, an intangible quality that

can befell rather than described. This portrait was made in Washington on February 9,

1864, by Mathew Brady. Reproduced from a rare print in the Library of Congress.

Among the several full standing portraits of Lincoln, this one has captured better

perhaps than any other the commanding dignity of the man, an intangible quality that

can befell rather than described. This portrait was made in Washington on February 9,

1864, by Mathew Brady. Reproduced from a rare print in the Library of Congress.

was absolutely nothing to excite ambition for education. Of course, when I came

of age I did not know much. Still, somehow, I could read, write, and cipher to the

rule of three, but that was all. I have not been to school since. The little ad-

vance I now have upon this store of education, I have picked up from time to time

under the pressure of necessity.

I was raised to farm work, which I continued till I was twenty-two. At twenty-

two I came to Illinois, Macon County. Then I got to New Salem, at that time in

Sangamon, now in Menard County, where I remained a year as a sort of clerk in a

store. Then came the Black Hawk war; and I was elected a captain of volunteers,

a success which gave me more pleasure than any I have had since. I went the

campaign, was elated, ran for the legislature the same year (1832), and was

beaten—the only time I ever have been beaten by the people. The next and three

succeeding biennial elections I was elected to the legislature. I was not a candi-

date afterward. During this legislative period I had studied law, and removed to

Springfield to practise it. In 1846 I was once elected to the lower House of Con-

gress. Was not a candidate for reelection. From 1849 to 1854, both inclusive,

practised law more assiduously than ever before. Always a Whig in politics: and

generally on the Whig electoral tickets, making active canvasses. I was losing

interest in politics when the repeal of the Missouri compromise aroused me again.

What I have done since then is pretty well known.

If any personal description of me is thought desirable, it may be said I am,

in height, six feet four inches, nearly; lean in flesh, weighing on an average one

hundred and eighty pounds; dark complexion, with coarse black hair and grey

eyes. No other marks or brands recollected.

LINCOLN TO J. W. FELL, DECEMBER 20, 1859.

2. TH E MOTHER OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Nancy Hanks Lincoln, the mother of Abraham, died in 1818. She was probably

35 years old. Neither the time nor place of her birth is definitely known. Hers were

the short and simple annals of the poor. Only a few obscure people had ever known

Nancy Hanks Lincoln. It was not until 30 years after her death that her son reached

sufficient fame to cause anyone to inquire after his mother. By that time nearly all

of the few people who had known or seen this woman in life had died or disappeared.

Only one or two remained to give their scanty recollections of Abraham's mother.

Among them was William Wood, an industrious and reliable man, who moved from

Kentucky to Indiana in 1809. He settled in Perry County in a region that sub-

sequently became part of Spencer County at a place that later proved to be one and a

half miles north of the Indiana home of the-Lincolns. For over 2 years Wood knew

Nancy Hanks Lincoln and was her neighbor in that then sparsely settled region. He

sat up all of one night with Mrs. Lincoln during the period of her final illness. The

testimony given below is an excerpt from a statement Wood made to William Herndon

in 1865 when he was 82 years of age.

was absolutely nothing to excite ambition for education. Of course, when I came

of age I did not know much. Still, somehow, I could read, write, and cipher to the

rule of three, but that was all. I have not been to school since. The little ad-

vance I now have upon this store of education, I have picked up from time to time

under the pressure of necessity.

I was raised to farm work, which I continued till I was twenty-two. At twenty-

two I came to Illinois, Macon County. Then I got to New Salem, at that time in

Sangamon, now in Menard County, where I remained a year as a sort of clerk in a

store. Then came the Black Hawk war; and I was elected a captain of volunteers,

a success which gave me more pleasure than any I have had since. I went the

campaign, was elated, ran for the legislature the same year (1832), and was

beaten—the only time I ever have been beaten by the people. The next and three

succeeding biennial elections I was elected to the legislature. I was not a candi-

date afterward. During this legislative period I had studied law, and removed to

Springfield to practise it. In 1846 I was once elected to the lower House of Con-

gress. Was not a candidate for reelection. From 1849 to 1854, both inclusive,

practised law more assiduously than ever before. Always a Whig in politics: and

generally on the Whig electoral tickets, making active canvasses. I was losing

interest in politics when the repeal of the Missouri compromise aroused me again.

What I have done since then is pretty well known.

If any personal description of me is thought desirable, it may be said I am,

in height, six feet four inches, nearly; lean in flesh, weighing on an average one

hundred and eighty pounds; dark complexion, with coarse black hair and grey

eyes. No other marks or brands recollected.

LINCOLN TO J. W. FELL, DECEMBER 20, 1859.

2. TH E MOTHER OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Nancy Hanks Lincoln, the mother of Abraham, died in 1818. She was probably

35 years old. Neither the time nor place of her birth is definitely known. Hers were

the short and simple annals of the poor. Only a few obscure people had ever known

Nancy Hanks Lincoln. It was not until 30 years after her death that her son reached

sufficient fame to cause anyone to inquire after his mother. By that time nearly all

of the few people who had known or seen this woman in life had died or disappeared.

Only one or two remained to give their scanty recollections of Abraham's mother.

Among them was William Wood, an industrious and reliable man, who moved from

Kentucky to Indiana in 1809. He settled in Perry County in a region that sub-

sequently became part of Spencer County at a place that later proved to be one and a

half miles north of the Indiana home of the-Lincolns. For over 2 years Wood knew

Nancy Hanks Lincoln and was her neighbor in that then sparsely settled region. He

sat up all of one night with Mrs. Lincoln during the period of her final illness. The

testimony given below is an excerpt from a statement Wood made to William Herndon

in 1865 when he was 82 years of age.

The two views at top and left are of the

traditional Lincoln birthplace cabin pre-

served in the Memorial Building at

Abraham Lincoln National Historical

Park, near Hodgenville, Ky. The date

of the older photograph of the cabin at the

lower right is unknown, but it probably

was taken 50 or more years ago.

moral, and his object, whatever any may think ot the deception which he practiced

in changing his name, entirely praiseworthy.

He prospered in business and, pending his engagement with Ann, he revealed

his true name, returned to Ohio [actually New York] to relieve his parents from

their embarrassments, and to bring the family with him to Illinois. On his return

to Ohio, several years having elapsed, he found his father in declining health or

dead, and perhaps the circumstances ot the family prevented his immediate return

to New Salem. At all events he was absent two or three years.

In the meantime Mr. Lincoln paid his addresses to Ann, continued his visits and

attentions regularly, and those resulted in an engagement to marry, conditional to

an honorable release from the contract with McNamar. There is no kind of doubt

as to the existence ot this engagement. David Rutledge urged Ann to consum-

mate it, but she refused until such time as she could see McNamar, inform him of

the change in her feelings, and seek an honorable release. Mr. Lincoln lived in the

village, McNama r did not return, and in August 1835 Ann sickened and died.

The effect upon Mr. Lincoln's mind was terrible; he became plunged in despair,

and many of his friends feared tha t reason would desert her throne. His

extraordinary emotions were regarded as strong evidence of the existence ot the

tenderest relations between himself and the deceased.

My sister was esteemed the brightest mind ot the family, was studious, devoted

to her duties of whatever character, and possessed a remarkably amiable and

lovable disposition. She had light hair and blue eyes.

R. B. RUTLEDGE TO HERNDON', OCTOBER 1866.

The tacts are William Berry first courted Ann and was rejected; afterwards

Samuel Hill; then John McNamar, which resulted in an engagement to marry at

some future time. He, McNamar, left the county on business, was gone some

years; in the meantime and during McNamar's absence, Mr. Lincoln courted Ann

and engaged to marry her, on the completion ot the study ot law. In this I am

corroborated by James McRutledge, a cousin about her age, and who was in her

confidence. He says in a letter to me just received: " Ann told me once in coming

from a camp meeting on Rock Creek, tha t engagements made too far ahead some-

times failed, tha t one had tailed (meaning her engagement with McNamar), and

gave me to understand tha t as soon as certain studies were completed she and

Lincoln would be married."

R. B. RUTLEDGE TO HERNDON, NOVEMBER 21, 1866.

5. ADVICE TO A YOUNG FRIEND

In 1848, while serving in Washington as a Congressman from Illinois, Lincoln

received a letter from his young law partner, William H. Herndon, complaining of some

fancied grievances he held against certain Illinois personages. The following excerpt

from Lincoln's reply discloses not only his sound advice to young Herndon but reveals

something of his own character as well.

The way for a young man to rise is to improve himself every way he can, never

suspecting that anybody wishes to hinder him. Allow me to assure you that

suspicion and jealousy never did help any man in any situation. There may some-

times be ungenerous attempts to keep a young man down; and they will succeed,

too, if he allows his mind to be diverted from its true channel to brood over the

attempted injury. Cast about, and see if this feeling has not injured every person

you have ever known to fall into it.

Now, in what I have said, I am sure you will suspect nothing but sincere friend-

ship. I would save you from a fatal error. You have been a laborious, studious

young man. You are far better informed on almost all subjects than I have ever

been. You cannot fail in any laudable object, unless you allow your mind to be

improperly directed. I have somewhat the advantage of you in the world's

experience, merely by being older; and it is this that induces me to advise.

LINCOLN TO HERNDON, JULY 10, 1848.

6. BEFRIENDING A SOLDIER'S WIDO W

William H. Herndon tells of a stirring scene in which Lincoln s righteous indigna-

tion was thoroughly aroused.

I once saw Mr. Lincoln look more than a man; he was inspired by the occasion.

There was a man living here by the name of Erastus Wright; he was, his business

rather was, to obtain pensions for the soldiers of the Revolution's heirs, widows,

etc., the soldiers of 1812's widows, heirs, etc. An old revolutionary soldier's widow

applied to Wright, about 1849-50 to get her pension, which amounted to about

$400. Wright made out the papers, got the pension, and charged the poor widow

$200, half of what he got. The poor old woman came into our office quite blind,

deaf, and on crutches, and stated to Mr. Lincoln her case. Lincoln at once

sympathized with the woman and said: "Wright shall pay you back $100 or more."

Lincoln went and saw Wright in person. Wright refused to refund. The old

woman commenced suit, Lincoln giving security for costs. The case finally got

before the jury with all the facts of the case fully told. Lincoln loomed up,

rose up to be about nine feet high, grew warm, then eloquent with feelings, then

blasting as with a thunderbolt the miscreant who had robbed one that helped the

world to liberty, to Wright's inalienable rights. Lincoln was inspired if man was

ever inspired. The jury became indignant and would have torn Wright up,

mobbed in a minute, burst into tears at one moment and then into indignation

the next. The judge and spectators did the same, according to the term that

Lincoln gave his eloquence. The jury made Wright disgorge all except about $50.

HERNDON TO JESSE W. WEIK, NOVEMBER 12, 1885.

This photograph gives a clear impression of Lincoln's physical proportions. It

probably was made in I860 and is his earliest full length portrait. A print of this

photograph was found in 1931 in the effects of Henry Kirk Brown, famous sculptor

and friend of Lincoln. Reproduced from a photograph in the possession of the L. C.

Handy Studios, Washington, D. C.

"7- You SHALL GO TO WORK"

As his station in life slowly improved over that of his poor relatives, Lincoln was

frequently called upon for assistance. He always displayed a keen interest in the

welfare of those who had been close to him in his youth, especially his stepmother, and

gave liberally to their aid from his limited means. The following letter to his step-

brother, however, shows that he was not to be imposed upon in this respect. It also

bespeaks a regard for the dignity and value of labor that is in the best American

tradition.

Dear Johnston: Your request for eighty dollars I do not think it best to comply

with now. At the various times when I have helped you a little you have said to

me,"We can get along very well now"; but in a very short time I find you in the

same difficulty again. Now, this can only happen by some defect in your conduct.

What that defect is, I think I know. You are not lazy, and still you are an idler.

I doubt whether, since I saw you, you have done a good whole day's work in any

one day. You do not very much dislike to work, and still you do not work much,

merely because it does not seem to you that you could get much for it. This

habit of uselessly wasting time is the whole difficulty; it is vastly important to you,

and still more so to your children, that you should break the habit. It is more

important to them, because they have longer to live, and can keep out of an idle

habit before they are in it, easier than they can get out after they are in.

You are now in need of some money; and what I propose is, that you shall go

to work, "tooth and nail," for somebody who will give you money for it. Let

father and your boys take charge of your things at home, prepare for a crop, and

make the crop, and you go to work for the best money wages, or in discharge of

any debt you owe, that you can get; and, to secure you a fair reward for your labor,

I now promise you, that for every dollar you will, between this and the first of May,

get for your own labor, either in money or as your own indebtedness, I will then

give you one other dollar. By this, if you hire yourself at ten dollars a month,

from me you will get ten more, making twenty dollars a month for your work.

In this I do not mean you shall go off to St. Louis, or the lead mines, or the gold

mines in California, but I mean for you to go at it for the best wages you can get

close to home in Coles County. Now, if you will do this, you will be soon out of

debt, and, what is better, you will have a habit that will keep you from getting in

debt again. But, if I should now clear you out of debt, next year you would be

just as deep in as ever.. You say you would almost give your place in heaven for

seventy or eighty dollars. Then you value your place in heaven very cheap, for

I am sure you can, with the offer I make, get the seventy or eighty dollars for

four or five months' work. You say if I will furnish you the money you will deed

me the land, and, if you don't pay the money back, you will deliver possession.

Nonsense! If you can't now live with the land, how will you then live without it?

You have always been kind to me, and I do not mean to be unkind to you. On

the contrary, if you will but follow my advice, you will find it worth more than

eighty times eighty dollars to you.

LINCOLN TO JOHN D. JOHNSTON, JANUARY 2, 1851.

8. THA T NAME "ABE "

The instances were no doubt rare when Mr. Lincoln in mature years was addressed

as "Abe." Lincoln had dignity. His presence imperceptibly restrained a cheap

familiarity. One can sense this about the man from some of his photographs. Two

contemporaries and close friends of Abraham Lincoln discuss how people of his day

addressed him.

But although I have heard of cheap fellows, professing that they were wont to

address him as "Abe, " I never knew of any one who ever did it in my presence.

Lincoln disdained ceremony, but he gave no license for being called "Abe. " His

preference was being called "Lincoln" with no handle at all. I don't recollect of

his applying the prefix " Mr. " to any one. When he spoke to Davis, he called him

"Judge, " but he called us all on the circuit by our family names merely, except

Lamon, whom every one called "Hill. " We spoke of him as " Uncle Abe," but

to his face we called him "Lincoln. " This suited him; he very much disliked to

be called "Mr . President." This I knew, and I never called him so once. He

didn't even like to be called "Mr. " He preferred plain "Lincoln. "

HENRY C. WHITNEY, Life on the Circuit with Lincoln.

In all my journeyings with him I never heard any person call him "Abe, " not

even his partner, Herndon. There was an impalpable garment of dignity about

him which forbade such familarity. I have read pretended conversations with him

in books and newspapers where his interlocutors addressed him as Abe this or Abe

that, but I am sure that all such colloquies are imaginary.

HORACE WHITE, The Lincoln and Douglas Debates.

9. LINCOLN IN HI S LAW OFFICE

Much of the valuable Herndon material on Lincoln is in the form of letters Herndon

wrote to Jesse W. Weik when the latter was collaborating in the preparation of the

work commonly known as Herndon s Lincoln. The following excerpt from one such

letter gives an intimate glimpse into the Lincoln and Herndon law office in Springfield.

It also is a valuable comment on the man Lincoln. The second selection, a recollection

of Whitney's, discloses the extraordinary fiscal and accounting arrangement that

existed in the Lincoln and Herndon partnership.

As I said to you, a law office is a dry place. There is nothing in it but work and

toil. Mr. Lincoln's habit was to get down to his office about 9 a. m., unless he was

out on the circuit, which was about six or eight months in the year. Our office never