so happen that nobody else wishes to be elected, I could not refuse the people the right of sending me again. But to enter myself as a competitor of others, or to authorize any one so to enter me, is what my word and honor forbid."

Lincoln, after declining to be a candidate for reelection, entered heartily into the campaign for the election of General Taylor. In that behalf he made a campaign trip through New England which is of special interest here.

As to this, the Boston Advertiser reports:

"Mr. Lincoln has a very tall and thin figure, with an intellectual face, showing a searching mind and a cool judgment. He spoke in a clear and cool and very eloquent manner, carrying the audience with him in his able arguments and brilliant illustrations, only interrupted by warm and frequent applause. He began by expressing a real feeling of modesty in addressing an audience 'this side of the mountains, a part of the country where, in the opinion of the people of his section, everybody was supposed to be instructed and wise. But he had devoted his attention to the question of the coming presidential election, and was not unwilling to exchange with all whom he might meet the ideas to which he had arrived.' This passage gives some reason to suppose that, conscious of his powers, he was disposed to try them before audiences somewhat different from those to which he had been accustomed, and therefore, he had come to New England."

Lincoln also made a speech at Boston, which, according to the newspaper report, was "seldom equalled for sound reason, cogent argument and keen satire."

Three cheers were given for the "Lone Star" of Illinois, Lincoln being the only Whig member from that State.

All the reports of this campaign from the press and interviews by leading politicians of the day show that Lincoln had made a wonderful impression upon all his audiences, and that he appreciably advanced the cause of General Taylor as a presidential candidate.

Herndon records the fact that while making a speech at Dedham in that campaign where he had spoken only a half-hour, the following occurred:

"The bell that called to the steam cars sounded. Mr. Lincoln instantly stopped. 'I am engaged to speak at Cambridge to-night,' said he, 'and I must leave.' The whole audience seemed to rise in protest. 'Oh, no! go on! finish it!' was heard on every hand. One gentleman arose and pledged himself to take his horse and carry him across the country. But Mr. Lincoln was inexorable. 'I can't take any risks,' said he. 'I have engaged to go to Cambridge, and I must be there. I came here as I agreed, and I am going there in the same way.' A more disappointed audience was never seen; but Mr. Lincoln had fairly wakened it up, and it stayed through the afternoon and into the evening to listen to other speakers. We tried to get him to come again, but was impossible."

After this campaign Lincoln returned to Springfield, Illinois. Following the election, he returned again to Washington, where he remained until March 4, 1849, which closed his congressional career.

An interesting fact here appears. His prominence in the campaign of 1848, especially his defense of General Taylor personally as a fit man for President, led some of his friends to make some effort with the ad

ministration to procure for him a desirable presidential appointment.

It is said with a show of probability that the President tendered him the governorship of the territory of Oregon, as well as the choice of some other Western appointments. Acceptance would have required, however, his removal from Springfield. It is said that the decisive vote was finally cast by Mrs. Lincoln, and the country will never know how much it may be indebted to Mrs. Lincoln for this veto.

CHAPTER VII

LINCOLN THE LAWYER

ASIDE from a few military heroes, and one or two other notable exceptions, the lawyer has been the occupant of the White House from the birth of the nation until the present hour.

He has constituted the potential and generally the numerical majority in both houses of Congress; of necessity he has occupied the Federal bench to the exclusion of all other professions. And what has been true in the nation has been true in a more or less degree in most of the several States, so that, for good or ill, we have had very largely a government by lawyers.

For twenty-four years before becoming President Abraham Lincoln was engaged in the practice of law in both State and Federal courts at Springfield, Illinois. His preparation for his chosen profession should be of intense interest, not only to the layman but to his fellow lawyers as well.

His biographers generally agree that the first lawbook ever coming into his hands was the "Revised Statutes of Indiana," which he borrowed while living in Indiana from the township constable, one David Turnham.

This volume contained not only the statutes of Indiana but also the Constitution of Indiana, the Constitution of the United States, the Declaration of Independence, the Ordinance of 1787.

That he read and reread, studied, and literally devoured this book there can be no doubt.

The book itself, now treasured by Mrs. Emma Winters, of Brooklyn, the wife of a former librarian of the New York Law Institute, attests hard service.

Turnham himself is authority for the statement that this book had much to do with influencing the boy to study law as his chosen profession. We are not advised as to when this was, but it must have been some time prior to his majority.

Some biographers have made light of the influence of this volume on the mind of young Lincoln. But inasmuch as it was his perverse habit to devour practically every book that he could get his hands on, it is not improbable that this volume suffered the same fate.

One thing is quite sure, that the Declaration of Independence therein found became finally the warp and woof of all his political ideas and inspirations. This fact is more than confirmed in his many addresses, especially in his speech at Philadelphia, which will be referred to in the chapter of Lincoln's Interpretation of the Declaration of Independence.

The very scarcity of his books enhanced their value to him, and it is not difficult to presume that this book, at least upon constitutional law, State and federal, the Declaration of Independence, and the Ordinance of 1787 furnished much food for his hungry and precocious mind.

The next book he read was Blackstone, and this while clerking in the store for Offut, at New Salem, and also when a merchant on his own account in partnership with Berry.

Tradition at least records that some traveller came that way who had a surplus barrel of junk which he no longer cared to carry. He sold it to Lincoln for