| [CHAPTER I.] | |
| BOYHOOD AND EARLY MANHOOD. | |
| Preliminary—Birth of Abraham Lincoln—Removal from Kentucky—At Work—Self Education—PersonalCharacteristics—Another Removal—Trip to New Orleans—BecomesClerk—Black Hawk War—Engages in Politics—Successive Elections to the Legislature—Anti-SlaveryProtest—Commences Practice as a Lawyer—Traits of Character—Marriage—Returnto Politics—Election to Congress | [13] |
| [CHAPTER II.] | |
| IN CONGRESS AND ON THE STUMP. | |
| The Mexican War—Internal Improvements—Slavery in the District of Columbia—PublicLands—Retires to Private Life—Kansas-Nebraska Bill—Withdraws in Favor of SenatorTrumbull—Formation of Republican Party—Nominated for U. S. Senator—OpeningSpeech of Mr. Lincoln—Douglas Campaign—The Canvass—Tribute to the Declarationof Independence—Result of the Contest | [19] |
| [CHAPTER III.] | |
| BEFORE THE NATION. | |
| Speeches in Ohio—Extract from the Cincinnati Speech—Visits the East—CelebratedSpeech at the Cooper Institute, New York—Interesting Incident | [34] |
| [CHAPTER IV.] | |
| NOMINATED AND ELECTED PRESIDENT. | |
| The Republican National Convention—Democratic Convention—Constitutional Union Convention—Ballotingsat Chicago—The Result—Enthusiastic Reception—Visit to Springfield—Addressand Letter of Acceptance—The Campaign—Result of the Election—SouthCarolina’s Movements—Buchanan’s Pusillanimity—Secession of States—ConfederateConstitution—Peace Convention—Constitutional Amendments—Terms of theRebels | [60] |
| [CHAPTER V.] | |
| TO WASHINGTON. | |
| The Departure—Farewell Remarks—Speech at Toledo—At Indianapolis—At Cincinnati—AtColumbus—At Steubenville—At Pittsburgh—At Cleveland—At Buffalo—At Albany—AtPoughkeepsie—At New York—At Trenton—At Philadelphia—At “IndependenceHall”—Flag Raising—Speech at Harrisburg—Secret Departure for Washington—Comments | [67] |
| [CHAPTER VI.] | |
| THE NEW ADMINISTRATION. | |
| Speeches at Washington—The Inaugural Address—Its Effect—The Cabinet—Commissionersfrom Montgomery—Extracts from A. H. Stephens’ Speech—Virginia Commissioners—Fallof Fort Sumter | [90] |
| [CHAPTER VII.] | |
| PREPARING FOR WAR. | |
| Effects of Sumter’s Fall—President’s Call for Troops—Response in the Loyal States—Inthe Border States—Baltimore Riots—Maryland’s Position—President’s Letter toMaryland Authorities—Blockade Proclamation—Additional Proclamation—CommentsAbroad—Second Call for Troops—Special Order for Florida—Military Movements | [108] |
| [CHAPTER VIII.] | |
| THE FIRST SESSION OF CONGRESS. | |
| Opening of Congress—President’s First Message—Its Nature—Action of Congress—ResolutionDeclaring the Object of the War—Bull Run—Its Effect | [117] |
| [CHAPTER IX.] | |
| CLOSE OF 1861. | |
| Election of the Rebels—Davis’ Boast—McClellan appointed Commander of Potomac Army—Proclamationof a National Fast—Intercourse with Rebels Forbidden—Fugitive Slaves—Gen.Butler’s Views—Gen. McClellan’s Letter from Secretary Cameron—Act of August6th, 1861—Gen. Fremont’s Order—Letter of the President Modifying the Same—Instructionsto Gen. Sherman—Ball’s Bluff—Gen. Scott’s Retirement—Army of the Potomac | [137] |
| [CHAPTER X.] | |
| THE CONGRESS OF 1861–62. | |
| The Military Situation—Seizure of Mason and Slidell—Opposition to the Administration—President’sMessage—Financial Legislation—Committee on the Conduct of the War—ConfiscationBill | [148] |
| [CHAPTER XI.] | |
| THE SLAVERY QUESTION. | |
| Situation of the President—His Policy—Gradual Emancipation—Message—Abolition ofSlavery in the District of Columbia—Repudiation of Gen. Hunter’s Emancipation Order—Conferencewith Congressmen from the Border Slave States—Address to the Same—MilitaryOrder—Proclamation under the Conscription Act | [171] |
| [CHAPTER XII.] | |
| THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN. | |
| President’s War Order—Reason for the Same—Results in West and South-west—Armyof the Potomac—Presidential Orders—Letter to McClellan—Order for Army Corps—TheIssue of the Campaign—Unfortunate Circumstances—President’s Speech at UnionMeeting—Comments—Operations in Virginia and Maryland—In the West and South-west | [181] |
| [CHAPTER XIII.] | |
| FREEDOM TO MILLIONS. | |
| Tribune Editorial—Letter to Mr. Greeley—Announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation—Suspensionof the Habeas Corpus in certain Cases—Order for Observance of theSabbath—The Emancipation Proclamation | [190] |
| [CHAPTER XIV.] | |
| LAST SESSION OF THE THIRTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS. | |
| Situation of the Country—Opposition to the Administration—President’s Message | [199] |
| [CHAPTER XV.] | |
| THE TIDE TURNED. | |
| Military Successes—Favorable Elections—Emancipation Policy—Letter to Manchester(Eng.) Workingmen—Proclamation for a National Fast—Letter to Erastus Corning—Letterto a Committee on Recalling Vallandigham | [226] |
| [CHAPTER XVI.] | |
| LETTERS AND SPEECHES. | |
| Speech at Washington—Letter to Gen. Grant—Thanksgiving Proclamation—Letter Concerningthe Emancipation Proclamation—Proclamation for Annual Thanksgiving—DedicatorySpeech at Gettysburg | [242] |
| [CHAPTER XVII.] | |
| THE THIRTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS. | |
| Organization of the House—Different Opinions as to Reconstruction—Provisions for Pardonof Rebels—President’s Proclamation of Pardon—Annual Message—ExplanatoryProclamation | [263] |
| [CHAPTER XVIII.] | |
| PROGRESS. | |
| President’s Speech at Washington—Speech to a New York Committee—Speech in Baltimore—Letterto a Kentuckian—Employment of Colored Troops—Davis’ Threat—GeneralOrder—President’s Order on the Subject | [275] |
| [CHAPTER XIX.] | |
| RENOMINATED. | |
| Lieut. Gen. Grant—His Military Record—Continued Movements—Correspondence with thePresident—Across the Rapidan—Richmond Invested—President’s Letter to a GrantMeeting—Meeting of Republican National Convention—The Platform—The Nomination—Mr.Lincoln’s Reply to the Committee of Notification—Remarks to Union LeagueCommittee—Speech at a Serenade—Speech to Ohio Troops | [285] |
| [CHAPTER XX.] | |
| RECONSTRUCTION. | |
| President’s Speech at Philadelphia—Philadelphia Fair—Correspondence with Committeeof National Convention—Proclamation of Martial Law in Kentucky—Question of Reconstruction—President’sProclamation on the Subject—Congressional Plan | [298] |
| [CHAPTER XXI.] | |
| PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF 1864. | |
| Proclamation for a Fast—Speech to Soldiers—Another Speech—“To Whom it may Concern”—ChicagoConvention—Opposition Embarrassed—Resolution No. 2—McClellan’sAcceptance—Capture of the Mobile Forts and Atlanta—Proclamation for Thanksgiving—Remarkson Employment of Negro Soldiers—Address to Loyal Marylanders | [314] |
| [CHAPTER XXII.] | |
| RE-ELECTED | |
| Presidential Campaign of 1864—Fremont’s Withdrawal—Wade and Davis—Peace and WarDemocrats—Rebel Sympathizers—October Election—Result of Presidential Election—Speechto Pennsylvanians—Speech at a Serenade—Letter to a Soldier’s Mother—Openingof Congress—Last Annual Message | [325] |
| [CHAPTER XXIII.] | |
| TIGHTENING THE LINES. | |
| Speech at a Serenade—Reply to a Presentation Address—Peace Rumors—Rebel Commissioners—Instructionsto Secretary Seward—The Conference in Hampton Roads—Result—ExtraSession of the Senate—Military Situation—Sherman—Charleston—Columbia—Wilmington—FortFisher—Sheridan—Grant—Rebel Congress—Second Inauguration—Inaugural—EnglishComment—Proclamation to Deserters | [350] |
| [CHAPTER XXIV.] | |
| IN RICHMOND. | |
| President Visits City Point—Lee’s Failure—Grant’s Movement—Abraham Lincoln inRichmond—Lee’s Surrender—President’s Impromptu Speech—Speech on Reconstruction—ProclamationClosing Certain Ports—Proclamation Relative to Maritime Rights—SupplementaryProclamation—Orders from the War Department—The Traitor President | [362] |
| [CHAPTER XXV.] | |
| THE LAST ACT. | |
| Interview with Mr. Colfax—Cabinet Meeting—Incident—Evening Conversation—Possibilityof Assassination—Leaves for the Theatre—In the Theatre—Precautions for theMurder—The Pistol Shot—Escape of the Assassin—Death of the President—PledgesRedeemed—Situation of the Country—Effect of the Murder—Obsequies at Washington—BorneHome—Grief of the People—At Rest | [374] |
| [CHAPTER XXVI.] | |
| THE MAN. | |
| Reasons for His Re-election—What was Accomplished—Leaning on the People—StatePapers—His Tenacity of Purpose—Washington and Lincoln—As a Man—Favorite Poem—Autobiography—HisModesty—A Christian—Conclusion | [382] |
| [APPENDIX.] | |
| Mr. Lincoln’s Speeches in Congress and Elsewhere, Proclamations, Letters, etc., notincluded in the Body of the Work. | |
| Speech on the Mexican War, (In Congress, Jan. 12, 1848) | [391] |
| Speech on Internal Improvements, (In Congress, June 20, 1848) | [403] |
| Speech on the Presidency and General Politics, (In Congress, July 27, 1848) | [417] |
| Speech in Reply to Mr. Douglas, on Kansas, the Dred Scott Decision, and the Utah Question, (At Springfield, June 26, 1857) | [431] |
| Speech in Reply to Senator Douglas, (At Chicago, July 10, 1858) | [442] |
| Opening Passages of his Speech at Freeport | [459] |
| Letter to Gen. McClellan | [464] |
| Letter to Gen. Schofield Relative to the Removal of Gen. Curtis | [466] |
| Three Hundred Thousand Men Called For | [466] |
| Rev. Dr. McPheeters—President’s Reply to an Appeal for Interference | [468] |
| An Election Ordered in the State of Arkansas | [470] |
| Letter to William Fishback on the Election in Arkansas | [471] |
| Call for Five Hundred Thousand Men | [471] |
| Letter to Mrs. Gurney | [473] |
| The Tennessee Test Oath | [474] |
[LIFE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.]
[CHAPTER I.]
BOYHOOD AND EARLY MANHOOD.
Preliminary—Birth of Abraham Lincoln—Removal from Kentucky—At Work—Self Education—Personal Characteristics—Another Removal—Trip to New Orleans—Becomes Clerk—Black Hawk War—Engages in Politics—Successive Elections to the Legislature—Anti-Slavery Protest—Commences Practice as a Lawyer—Traits of Character—Marriage—Return to Politics—Election to Congress.
The leading incidents in the early life of the men who have most decidedly influenced the destinies of our republic, present a striking similarity. The details, indeed, differ; but the story, in outline, is the same—“the short and simple annals of the poor.”
Of obscure parentage—accustomed to toil from their tender years—with few facilities for the education of the school—the most struggled on, independent, self-reliant, till by their own right hands they had hewed their way to the positions for which their individual talents and peculiarities stamped them as best fitted. Children of nature, rather than of art, they have ever in their later years—amid scenes and associations entirely dissimilar to those with which in youth and early manhood, they were familiar—retained somewhat indicative of their origin and training. In speech or in action—often in both—they have smacked of their native soil. If they have lacked the grace of the courtier, ample compensation has been afforded in the honesty of the man. If their address was at times abrupt, it was at least frank and unmistakable. Both friend and foe knew exactly where to find them. Unskilled in the doublings of the mere politician or the trimmer, they have borne themselves straight forward to the points whither their judgment and conscience directed. Such men may have been deemed fit subjects for the jests and sneers of more cultivated Europeans, but they are none the less dear to us as Americans—will none the less take their place among those whose names the good, throughout the world, will not willingly let die.
Of this class, pre-eminently, was the statesman whose life and public services the following pages are to exhibit.