efforts. He was most successful; and the house approved the glorious triumph of truth by loud house long-continued huzzas. Women waved their white handkerchiefs in token of their silent but heartfelt consent. Every man felt that the speech was unanswerable—that no human power could overthrow it, or trample it under foot.”

Mr. Lincoln followed Douglas to Peoria and other places, and was equally triumphant in his replies to the advocate of slavery. The result was a complete political revolution in the State. The Democrats had been in power in Illinois ever since their party was organized. But now their power was broken, and a Whig legislature was elected, Lincoln being among its members. A press of business, however, compelled him to resign before taking his seat. Many Democrats voted with the Whigs, because they were opposed to forcing slavery upon Kansas and Nebraska.

This new Whig Legislature had to elect a United States Senator, and Mr. Lincoln was the Whig candidate, Lyman Trumbull the anti-Kansas-Nebraska Democratic candidate, and General James Shields the Douglas party candidate. After several undecisive ballots, the Democrats dropped General Shields and took up Governor Matheson, who had not committed himself to either side of the great question; and Matheson came within three votes of an election. At this juncture an effort was made to unite the friends of Lincoln and Trumbull upon one of them. Here the remarkable magnanimity of Lincoln’s nature came to the rescue, showing how much more he cared for the principle at issue than he did for himself.

“Withdraw my name and support Trumbull,” urged Lincoln; “we shall be whipped if you don’t.”

“Never, never!” protested one and another.

“Four votes only will make Matheson senator, and we must not risk another ballot,” urged Lincoln, with still more earnestness.

“Impossible,” answered one. “We cannot do it,” said another.

Lincoln grew determined over the danger of losing in the contest, and straightening himself up to his full height as he was wont under great emotion:—

“It must be done!” he shouted.

The Whigs yielded, though several of them wept at the necessity; and the united effort made Trumbull senator. But to the Whigs of Illinois Lincoln never appeared so truly great as he did after that act of superior magnanimity. No man in the State or country rejoiced more heartily over the triumph than Mr. Lincoln.

In 1856 the Republican party of Illinois was organized at Bloomington, and the foremost man in its organization was Abraham Lincoln. With one of his ablest speeches on that occasion he fired all hearts Mr. Scripps says: “Never was an audience more completely electrified by human eloquence. Again and again during the progress of its delivery they sprang to their feet and upon the benches, and testified by long continued shouts and the waving of hats how deeply the speaker had wrought upon their minds and hearts.”

From the organization of the Republican party, Mr. Lincoln was not only the first Republican in Illinois, but also in all the Western States; and a month later, at the National Republican convention to nominate a candidate for President, his name was brought forward for the Vice-Presidency. On the informal ballot he received one hundred and ten votes, and Mr. Dayton two hundred and fifty-nine. This complimentary vote was secured without Mr. Lincoln’s knowledge. He was attending court at Urbana in his own State. The newspaper report that reached Urbana said, “Lincoln received one hundred and ten votes.”

“Is that our Lincoln?” inquired one of the lawyers.