Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net * * * * * [Illustration: PRESIDENT LINCOLN AND HIS SON "TAD."] A SHORT LIFE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN CONDENSED FROM NICOLAY & HAY'S ABRAHAM LINCOLN: A HISTORY BY JOHN G. NICOLAY NEW YORK The Century Co. 1904 * * * * * _Published October, 1902_ THE DEVINNE PRESS. CONTENTS I Ancestry--Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks--Rock Spring Farm--Lincoln's Birth--Kentucky Schools--The Journey to Indiana--Pigeon Creek Settlement--Indiana Schools--Sally Bush Lincoln--Gentryville--Work and Books--Satires and Sermons--Flatboat Voyage to New Orleans--The Journey to Illinois II Flatboat--New Salem--Election Clerk--Store and Mill--Kirkham's "Grammar"--"Sangamo Journal"--The Talisman--Lincoln's Address, March 9, 1832--Black Hawk War--Lincoln Elected Captain--Mustered out May 27, 1832--Re-enlisted in Independent Spy Battalion--Finally Mustered out, June 16, 1832--Defeated for the Legislature--Blacksmith or Lawyer?--The Lincoln-Berry Store--Appointed Postmaster, May 7, 1833--National Politics III Appointed Deputy Surveyor--Elected to Legislature in 1834--Campaign Issues--Begins Study of Law--Internal Improvement System--The Lincoln-Stone Protest--Candidate for Speaker in 1838 and 1840 IV Law Practice--Rules for a Lawyer--Law and Politics: Twin Occupations--The Springfield Coterie--Friendly Help--Anne Rutledge--Mary Owens V Springfield Society--Miss Mary Todd--Lincoln's Engagement--His Deep Despondency--Visit to Kentucky--Letters to Speed--The Shields Duel--Marriage--Law Partnership with Logan--Hardin Nominated for Congress, 1843--Baker Nominated for Congress, 1844--Lincoln Nominated and Elected, 1846 VI First Session of the Thirtieth Congress--Mexican War--"Wilmot Proviso"--Campaign of 1848--Letters to Herndon about Young Men in Politics--Speech in Congress on the Mexican War--Second Session of the Thirtieth Congress--Bill to Prohibit Slavery in the District of Columbia--Lincoln's Recommendations of Office-Seekers--Letters to Speed--Commissioner of the General Land Office--Declines Governorship of Oregon VII Repeal of the Missouri Compromise--State Fair Debate--Peoria Debate--Trumbull Elected--Letter to Robinson--The Know-Nothings--Decatur Meeting--Bloomington Convention--Philadelphia Convention--Lincoln's Vote for Vice-President--Fremont and Dayton--Lincoln's Campaign Speeches--Chicago Banquet Speech VIII Buchanan Elected President--The Dred Scott Decision--Douglas's Springfield Speech, 1857--Lincoln's Answering Speech--Criticism of Dred Scott Decision--Kansas Civil War--Buchanan Appoints Walker--Walker's Letter on Kansas--The Lecompton Constitution--Revolt of Douglas IX