An elegantly dressed young Virginian assured Lincoln that he had done a
great deal of hard manual labor in his time. Much amused at this solemn
declaration, Lincoln said:
“Oh, yes; you Virginians shed barrels of perspiration while standing off
at a distance and superintending the work your slaves do for you. It is
different with us. Here it is every fellow for himself, or he doesn’t
get there.”
“BUTCHER-KNIFE BOYS” AT THE POLLS.
When young Lincoln had fully demonstrated that he was the champion
wrestler in the country surrounding New Salem, the men of “de gang” at
Clary’s Grove, whose leader “Abe” had downed, were his sworn political
friends and allies.
Their work at the polls was remarkably effective. When the “Butcherknife
boys,” the “huge-pawed boys,” and the “half-horse-half-alligator men”
declared for a candidate the latter was never defeated.