A SHORT LIFE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

CONTENTS

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CHAPTER I


Ancestry—Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks—Rock Spring Farm—Lincoln's
Birth—Kentucky Schools—The Journey to Indiana—Pigeon Creek
Settlement—Indiana Schools—Sally Bush Lincoln—Gentryville—Work and
Books—Satires and Sermons—Flatboat Voyage to New Orleans—The Journey
to Illinois

CHAPTER II


Flatboat—New Salem—Election Clerk—Store and Mill—Kirkham's
"Grammar"—"Sangamo Journal"—The Talisman—Lincoln's Address, March 9,
1832—Black Hawk War—Lincoln Elected Captain—Mustered out May 27,
1832—Re-enlisted in Independent Spy Battalion—Finally Mustered out,
June 16, 1832—Defeated for the Legislature—Blacksmith or Lawyer?—The
Lincoln-Berry Store—Appointed Postmaster, May 7, 1833—National Politics

CHAPTER III


Appointed Deputy Surveyor—Elected to Legislature in 1834—Campaign
Issues—Begins Study of Law—Internal ImprovementS ystem—The
Lincoln-Stone Protest—Candidate for Speaker in 1838 and 1840

CHAPTER IV


Law Practice—Rules for a Lawyer—Law and Politics: Twin
Occupations—The Springfield Coterie—Friendly Help—Anne Rutledge—Mary Owens

CHAPTER V


Springfield Society—Miss Mary Todd—Lincoln's Engagement—His Deep
Despondency—Visit to Kentucky—Letters to Speed—The Shields
Duel—Marriage—Law Partnership with Logan—Hardin Nominated for
Congress, 1843—Baker Nominated for Congress, 1844—Lincoln Nominated
and Elected, 1846

CHAPTER VI


First Session of the Thirtieth Congress—Mexican War—"Wilmot
Proviso"—Campaign of 1848—Letters to Herndon about Young Men in
Politics—Speech in Congress on the Mexican War—Second Session of the
Thirtieth Congress—Bill to Prohibit Slavery in the District of
Columbia—Lincoln's Recommendations of Office-Seekers—Letters to
Speed—Commissioner of the General Land Office—Declines Governorship of
Oregon

CHAPTER VII


Repeal of the Missouri Compromise—State Fair Debate—Peoria
Debate—Trumbull Elected—Letter to Robinson—The Know-Nothings—Decatur
Meeting—Bloomington Convention—Philadelphia Convention—Lincoln's Vote
for Vice-President—Frémont and Dayton—Lincoln's Campaign
Speeches—Chicago Banquet Speech

CHAPTER VIII


Buchanan Elected President—The Dred Scott Decision—Douglas's
Springfield Speech, 1857—Lincoln's Answering Speech—Criticism of Dred
Scott Decision—Kansas Civil War—Buchanan Appoints Walker—Walker's
Letter on Kansas—The Lecompton Constitution—Revolt of Douglas

CHAPTER IX


The Senatorial Contest in Illinois—"House Divided against Itself"
Speech—The Lincoln-Douglas Debates—The Freeport Doctrine—Douglas
Deposed from Chairmanship of Committee on Territories—Benjamin on
Douglas—Lincoln's Popular Majority—Douglas Gains Legislature—Greeley,
Crittenden et al.—"The Fight Must Go On"—Douglas's Southern
Speeches—Senator Brown's Questions—Lincoln's Warning against Popular
Sovereignty—The War of Pamphlets—Lincoln's Ohio Speeches—The John
Brown Raid—Lincoln's Comment

CHAPTER X


Lincoln's Kansas Speeches—The Cooper Institute Speech—New England
Speeches—The Democratic Schism—Senator Brown's Resolutions—Jefferson
Davis's Resolutions—The Charleston Convention—Majority and Minority
Reports—Cotton State Delegations Secede—Charleston Convention
Adjourns—Democratic Baltimore Convention Splits—Breckinridge
Nominated—Douglas Nominated—Bell Nominated by Union Constitutional
Convention—Chicago Convention—Lincoln's Letters to Pickett and
Judd—The Pivotal States—Lincoln Nominated

CHAPTER XI


Candidates and Platforms—The Political Chances—Decatur Lincoln
Resolution—John Hanks and the Lincoln Rails—The Rail-Splitter
Candidate—The Wide-Awakes—Douglas's Southern Tour—Jefferson Davis's
Address—Fusion—Lincoln at the State House—The Election Result

CHAPTER XII


Lincoln's Cabinet Program—Members from the South—Questions and
Answers—Correspondence with Stephens—Action of Congress—Peace
Convention—Preparation of the Inaugural—Lincoln's Farewell
Address—The Journey to Washington—Lincoln's Midnight Journey

CHAPTER XIII


The Secession Movement—South Carolina Secession—Buchanan's
Neglect—Disloyal Cabinet Members—Washington Central Cabal—Anderson's
Transfer to Sumter—Star of the West—Montgomery Rebellion—Davis and
Stephens—Corner-stone Theory—Lincoln Inaugurated—His Inaugural
Address—Lincoln's Cabinet—The Question of Sumter—Seward's
Memorandum—Lincoln's Answer—Bombardment of Sumter—Anderson's
Capitulation

CHAPTER XIV


President's Proclamation Calling for Seventy-five Regiments—Responses
of the