"Another meeting was called, and at this second meeting a number
of citizens, not members of the legislature, from the central and
northern parts of the State, among them my father, were present
by invitation. The meeting was long protracted, and earnest in its
deliberations. Every argument that could be thought of was used to
induce Mr. Lincoln to yield his objections and unite with his friends,
and thus secure the removal of the capital to his own city; but
without effect. Finally, after midnight, when everybody seemed
exhausted with the discussion, and when the candles were burning low
in the room, Mr. Lincoln rose amid the silence and solemnity which
prevailed, and, my father said, made one of the most eloquent and
powerful speeches to which he had ever listened. And he concluded his
remarks by saying, 'You may burn my body to ashes, and scatter them
to the winds of heaven; you may drag my soul down to the regions of
darkness and despair to be tormented forever; but you will never get
me to support a measure which I believe to be wrong, although by doing
so I may accomplish that which I believe to be right.' And the meeting
adjourned."
[Illustration: STUART AND LINCOLN'S LAW OFFICE.
From a photograph loaned by Jesse W. Weik. The law office of Stuart
and Lincoln was in the second story of the building occupied at the
time the photograph was made by "Tom Dupleaux's Furniture Store."
Hoffman's Row, as this group of buildings was called, was used as a
court-house at that date, 1837. The court-room was in the lower story
of the two central buildings.]
If Lincoln did not support measures which he considered doubtful, he
did, now and then, "tack a provision" on a bill to please a friend, as
the following letter, hitherto unpublished, shows:[3]
"SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, _August 5, 1837_.
"DEAR SIR:
"Mr. Edwards tells me you wish to know whether the act to
which your town incorporation provision was attached passed
into a law. It did. You can organize under the general
incorporation law as soon as you choose.
"I also tacked a provision on to a fellow's bill, to authorize
the relocation of the road from Salem down to your town, but
I am not certain whether or not the bill passed. Neither do I
suppose I can ascertain before the law will be published--if
it is a law. Bowling Green, Bennett Abell, and yourself are
appointed to make the change.
"No news. No excitement, except a little about the election of
Monday next. I suppose, of course, our friend Dr. Henry stands
no chance in your 'diggings.'
"Your friend and honorable servant,
"A. LINCOLN."
"JOHN BENNETT, ESQ.
As was to be expected, the Democrats charged that the Whigs of
Sangamon had won their victory by "bargain and corruption." These
charges became so serious that, in an extra session called in the
summer of 1837, a few months after the bill passed, Lincoln had a
bitter fight over them with General L.D. Ewing, who wanted to keep
Vandalia as the capital. "The arrogance of Springfield," said General
Ewing, "its presumption in claiming the seat of government, is not
to be endured; the law has been passed by chicanery and trickery; the
Springfield delegation has sold out to the internal improvement men,
and has promised its support to every measure that would gain a vote
to the law removing the seat of government."
Lincoln answered in a speech of such severity and keenness that
the House believed he was "digging his own grave;" for Ewing was a
high-spirited man who would not hesitate to answer by a challenge. It
was, in fact, only the interference of their friends which prevented
a duel at this time between Ewing and Lincoln. This speech, to many of
Lincoln's colleagues, was a revelation of his ability and character.
"This was the first time," said General Linder, "that I began to
conceive a very high opinion of the talents and personal courage of
Abraham Lincoln."
[Illustration: A STAGE-COACH ADVERTISEMENT, 1834.
This advertisement appeared in the "Sangamo Journal" in April, 1834,
and held a place in the paper through the next three years. As
the "Four Horse Coach" ran through Sangamon town and New Salem, it
doubtless had Lincoln as a passenger now and then, but not often,
probably, for the fare from New Salem to Springfield was one dollar
and twenty-five cents, and walking, or riding upon a borrowed horse,
must generally have been preferred by Lincoln to so costly a mode of
travelling.]
A few months later the "Long Nine" were again attacked, Lincoln
specially being abused. The assailant this time was a prominent
Democrat, Mr. J.B. Thomas. When he had ended, Lincoln replied in
a speech which was long known in local political circles as the
"skinning of Thomas."