A citizen of Buffalo has found among his papers an account of the
circumstances under which Abraham Lincoln made his maiden speech. It
was originally printed in the Springfield (Ill.) Republican, and is as
follows:
“The President of the United States made his maiden speech in Sangamon
County, at Pappsville (or Richland), in the year 1832. He was then a Whig
and a candidate for the Legislature of this State. The speech is sharp
and sensible. To understand why it was so short the following facts will
show: 1. Mr. Lincoln was a young man of 23 years of age and timid. 2. His
friends and opponents in the joint discussion had rolled the sun nearly
down. Lincoln saw it was not the proper time then to discuss the question
fully, and hence he cut his remarks short. Probably the other candidates
had exhausted the subjects under discussion. The time, according to
W. H. Herndon’s informant--who has kindly furnished this valuable
reminiscence for us--was 1832; it may have been 1831. The President lived
at the time with James A. Herndon, at Salem, Sangamon County, who heard
the speech, talked about it, and knows the report to be correct. The
speech, which was characteristic of the man, was as follows:
“‘Gentlemen, Fellow-Citizens: I presume you all know who I
am. I am humble Abraham Lincoln. I have been solicited by my
friends to become a candidate for the Legislature. My politics
are short and sweet, like an “old woman’s dance.” I am in
favor of a national bank. I am in favor of the international
improvement system and a high protective tariff. These are my
sentiments and political principles. If elected, I will be
thankful. If defeated, it will be all the same.’”