In 1836 Lincoln was again a candidate for the Legislature on the following characteristic plat form: "1 go for all sharing the privilege of the Government who assist in bearing its burdens. Consequently. 1 go for admitting all whites to the rights of suffrage who pay taxes or bear arms. by no means excluding females." Lincoln stumped the district, and by his vigorous speeches won a Whig victory. In the Presidential contest of 1836 Lincoln was for Hugh L. White of Ten nessee. In the struggle of Jackson against the 'United States Bank and the shifting policy of 'tan Buren lie had no interest, but he heeded his duties as a legislator, and began that anti slavery record upon which so much of his fame will ever rest. The abolitionists were in the Highest activity. Garrison's Liberator was in tensely annoying to the upholders of slavery. President Jackson had at the close of 1835 invited the attention of Congress to the cir culation through the mails of what were then called 'inflammatory' documents. Henry Clay, Edward Everett, many of the Governors of the Northern States, and a large majority of the House of Representatives strenuously opposed the agitation of the slavery question; all peti tions to Congress on the subject were laid on the table without reading or debate, and all possible means were taken to prevent the discussion of the hateful subject. On the night of November 7, 1837, the Rev. Elijah 1'. Lovejoy was mobbed and shot dead at Alton, III., for persisting in publish ing an abolition newspaper.
At this juncture, when the Legislature was about to pass resolutions deprecating the anti slavery agitation, Lincoln presented his protest, to which he could get but one signer besides him self. Herein lie declares slavery to be founded on injustice and bad policy; but he avers that abolition agitation tends to increase slavery's evils; that Congress may not interfere with slavery in the States, though it might in the District of Columbia on the request of the people. This protest was meant to avoid extreme views; therefore no mention was made of slavery in the Territories, that point being covered by the Missouri Compromise, whh-li was then in full force. Lincoln was never extreme, and probably till the war began he saw no hour when lie would have altered a word in this protest.
When the State capital was removed to Spring field in 1839, Lincoln settled there. Two years before he had been licensed as an attorney, and being at the capital, he could attend both to his duties as a member of the Legislature and his law practice. llis business grew so rapidly that he took into partnership John T. Stuart, a promi nent Whig, who had been a good friend also in former years. Lincoln preferred to be the junior in the firm. Springfield was a village of about 1500 inhabitants, and Lincoln was not only poor, but he was in debt.
In 1840 Lincoln was an elector on the Harrison ticket, and made speeches in all parts of the State. But one-sided speeches were not suited to his temper; he preferred joint debate:, wherein he might employ his masterly skill at retort. A year earlier Lincoln had made the acquaintance of Mary, the daughter of the Hon. Robert S.
Todd, of Lexington, Ky., and a sister of the wife of Ninian W. Edwards. of Springfield, a dis tinguished lawyer. Through her comeliness and her wit the young lady had gained many admir ers. Sonic political papers were contributed by her to a local newspaper; and Lincoln. to shield her, assumed the responsibility, barely avoiding a duel. About six weeks afterward:, November 4, 1842, he married Miss Todd.
In 1844 Lincoln was once more an elector on the Clay (Whig) ticket. and in 1846 lie was elected to Congress by 1511 majority in a dis trict which two years before had given him only 914. When lie took his seat as Representative in the Thirtieth Congress, his great rival, Stephen A. Douglas, was in the Senate. Lincoln was put on the Committee of Post-Oflices and Post-Roads. Though opposed to the Mexican War, he voted for supplies to carry it on. In 1848 lie favored the nomination, by the Whigs, of Taylor for Presi dent, and made a strong speech in the House for that purpose, subsequently speaking in various parts of the country. In the second session of the Thirtieth Congress he made no special mark. His law partnership with Stuart ended April, 1841, when he united in practice with ex-Judge Stephen T. Logan, and soon afterwards formed a partner ship with his best friend, William II. Herndon. As a lawyer he spoke tellingly and often to the mirth of the courtroom. Many curious anecdotes are told of the great man as a story-teller, of his power, his energy, his oddities, and his gener osity. Though thousands of good stories un known to Lincoln pass current as having been told by him, it is true that few great statesmen were more capable than he of perceiving the kernel of a tale. He had also a ready and humorous wit, and was quick to follow a good parry with a well-aimed thrust.
When his term in Congress was over Lincoln wished to be Commissioner of the General Land Office. hut he did not get the appointment. He was offered the Governorship of Oregon Territory, but his wife declined to go there, and he would not accept. For two years after leaving Con gress he was not prominent. In 1850 he a nomination for Congress. July I, 1852, was selected at a meeting of citizens to deliver a eulogy on Henry Clay. The bill offered by Douglas, January 4, 1S54, to establish a Terri torial Government in Nebraska, reopened the anti-slavery war, and Lincoln was forced to take decided ground against spreading slaNery into the Territories. This he did at the State Fair at Springfield, Ill., in October. in a speech of great power. Lincoln had felt that his natural op ponent was Douglas and he seized eagerly this opportunity of refuting his arguments; Douglas recognized his opponent's strength and secured from him a truce from debating for that fall. In November, despite his positive declination, Lincoln was again elected to the Legislature. At the same time he was very desirous to succeed Shields (a Democrat) in the United States Sen ate; but Lyman Trumbull carried off the prize. During the Kansas excitement Lincoln's sympa thies were all in favor of the free-State side. but lie discountenanced the use of force.