[8] W. H. Herndon, who was for many years the law-partner of Abraham Lincoln, in a letter to me, written not long after the murder of his old friend, earnestly asserted his opinion that the late President was a greater man than General Washington, founding his opinion on the greater difficulties which he subdued.--C. G. L. [9] “Abraham’s poverty of books was the wealth of his life.”--J. G. HOLLAND. [10] Lamon, p. 54. [11] Holland and Lamon. [12] _Vide_ Ripley and Dana’s “Cyclopædia;” also, article from the Boston “Commercial Advertiser,” cited by Lamon. [13] Raymond, “Life and Public Services of Abraham Lincoln,” p. 25. [14] Mr. Lincoln “spoke forgetfully” on this occasion. Owing to the drunkenness and insubordination of his men, which he could not help, he was once obliged to carry a wooden sword for two days.--Lamon, p. 104. On a previous occasion, he had been under arrest, and was deprived of _his sword_ for one day, for firing a pistol within ten steps of camp.--_Ibid._, p. 103. [15] Holland, p. 53. [16] Holland passes over the wisdom or unwisdom of these measures without comment. According to Ford (“History of Illinois”) and Lamon, the whole state was by them “simply bought up and bribed to support the most senseless and disastrous policy which ever crippled the energies of a growing country.” It is certain that, in any country where the internal resources are enormous and the inhabitants intelligent, enterprising, and poor, such legislation will always find favour. [17] His biographies abound in proof of this. “He believed that a man, in order to effect anything, should work through organisations of men.”--Holland, p. 92. It is very difficult for any one not brought up in the United States to realise the degree to which this idea can influence men, and determine their whole moral nature. [18] It is a matter of regret that, when Lincoln, long after, went to see his idol and ideal, he was greatly disappointed in him.--Holland, p. 95. Lamon denies this visit, but does not disprove it. [19] Lamon, p. 275, says there can be no doubt that Mr. Lincoln _would_ have cheerfully made such a dishonourable and tricky agreement, but inclines to think he did not. It is very doubtful whether the compact, if it existed at all, was not made simply for the purpose of excluding the Democrats. [20] Holland, p. 82. A picayune is six cents, or 3d. [21] There were no free schools in South Carolina until 1852, and it was a serious crime to teach a negro to read. [22] Arnold, “History of Lincoln,” p. 33.