CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

A glimpse into the law-office.-How Lincoln kept accounts

and divided fees with his partner.-Lincoln in the argument

of a case. The tribute of David Davis.-Characteristics

as a lawyer. One of Lincoln's briefs.-The Wright case.-

Defending the ladies.-Reminiscences of the circuit.-The

suit against the Illinois Central Railroad.—The Manny case.

-First meeting with Edwin M. Stanton.-Defense of Will-

iam Armstrong.-Last law-suit in Illinois.-The dinner at

Arnold's in Chicago.

PAGES

I-29

CHAPTER II.

Speech before the Scott Club.-A talk with John T. Stu-

art.-Newspapers and political literature.—Passage of the

Kansas-Nebraska bill.-The signs of discontent.—The arri-

val of Douglas in Chicago.-Speech at the State Fair.-The

answer of Lincoln.-The article in the Conservative.-Lin-

coln's escape from the Abolitionists.—Following up Doug-

las.-Breach of agreement by Douglas.-The contest in

the Legislature for Senator.-Lincoln's magnanimity.—

Election of Trumbull.-Interview with the Governor of

Illinois. The outrages in the Territories.-Lincoln's judi-

cious counsel.-A letter to Speed.-The call for the Bloom-

ington Convention.-Lincoln's telegram.-Speech at the

Convention. The ratification at Springfield.-The cam-

paign of 1856.-Demands for Lincoln.-The letter to the

Fillmore men.

30-58

CHAPTER III.

Growth of Lincoln's reputation.-His dejection.-Gree-
ley's letters.-Herndon's mission to the Eastern states.-

Interviews with Seward, Douglas, Greeley, Beecher, and

others. The letter from Boston.-The Springfield conven-

tion.-Lincoln nominated Senator.-The "house-divided-

against-itself" speech.-Reading it to his friends.—Their

comments and complaints.-Douglas's first speech in

Chicago. The joint canvass.--Lincoln and Douglas con-

trasted.-Lincoln on the stump.-Positions of Lincoln and

Douglas.-Incidents of the debate. The result.-More

letters from Horace Greeley.-How Lincoln accepted his

defeat.-A specimen of his oratory.

CHAPTER IV.

Detailed account of the campaign of 1858 by Horace

White.-Douglas's imposing entrance into Chicago.-His

opening speech.-Meetings at Beardstown, Havana, and

Lewiston.-Description of the two champions at Ottawa.—

The Dixon conference.—The Freeport debate and its im-

portant consequences.-Mr. Lincoln's minor meetings.-His

impressive speech at Edwardsville.—Increasing excitement

as the campaign proceeded.-Remarkable gatherings at

Charleston and Galesburg.-Debates at Quincy and Alton.

-The "Danites."-Senator Trumbull, Owen Lovejoy, Carl

Schurz, Frank P. Blair, and other participants.—The elec-

tion.

PAGES

59-87

88-132

CHAPTER V.

A glimpse of Lincoln's home.-Sunday in the office with

the boys. Mrs. Lincoln's temper.-Troubles with the serv-

ants. Letter to John E. Rosette.-What Lincoln did

when the domestic sea was troubled.-A retrospect.—Lin-

coln's want of speculation. His superstition.-Reading the

life of Edmund Burke.-His scientific notions.-Writing the

book against Christianity.-Recollections of Lincoln's views

by old friends.-Statement of Mrs. Lincoln.

CHAPTER VI.

Effect of the canvass of 1858 on Lincoln's pocket-book.—
Attempts to lecture.-On the stump with Douglas in Ohio.—

133-156

PAGES

Incidents of the Ohio canvass.-The dawn of 1860.-Presi-

dential suggestions.-Meeting in the office of the Secretary

of State. The Cooper Institute speech.-Speaking in New

England.-Looming up.-Preparing for Chicago.-Letters

to a friend.-The Decatur convention.-John Hanks bring-

ing in the rails.-The Chicago convention.-The canvass of

1860.-Lincoln casting his ballot.-Attitude of the clergy in

Springfield. The election and result.

CHAPTER VII.

Arrival of the office-seekers in Springfield.-Recollections

of a newspaper correspondent.-How Lincoln received the

cabinet-makers.-Making up the cabinet.-A letter from

Henry Wilson.-Visiting Chicago and meeting with Joshua

F. Speed.-Preparing the Inaugural address.-Lincoln's self-

confidence.-Separation from his step-mother.-Last days

in Springfield.—Parting with old associates.—Departure of

the Presidential party from Springfield. The journey to

Washington and efforts to interrupt the same. The investi-

gations of Allan Pinkerton.-The Inauguration.

CHAPTER VIII.

In the Presidential chair.-Looking after his friends.-

Settling the claims of David Davis.-Swett's letter.-The

visit of Herndon.-The testimony of Mrs. Edwards.-Let-

ter from and interview with Mrs. Lincoln.-A glimpse into

the White House.-A letter from John Hay.-Bancroft's

eulogy. Strictures of David Davis.-Dennis Hanks in

Washington.

157-178

179-207

208-230

CHAPTER IX.

The recollections of Lincoln by Joshua F. Speed.—An in-

teresting letter by Leonard Swett.

CHAPTER X.

Lincoln face to face with the realities of civil war.—
Master of the situation.—The distrust of old politicians.—

231-248

How the President viewed the battle of Bull Run.-An
interesting reminiscence by Robert L. Wilson.-Lincoln's
plan to suppress the Rebellion.-Dealing with McClellan
and Grant.-Efforts to hasten the Emancipation Proclama-
tion.-Lincoln withstands the pressure.-Calling the Cabinet
together and reading the decree.-The letter to the "Uncon-
ditional Union" men.-The campaign of 1864.—Lincoln and
Andrew Johnson nominated and elected.—The sensational
report of Judge Advocate General Holt.—Interesting state-
ments by David Davis and Joseph E. McDonald.—How
the President retained Indiana in the column of Republi-
can States. The letter to General Sherman.-The result of
the election. The second Inauguration.—The address.—
Military movements.-The surrender at Appomattox.—Lin-
coln visits the army in Virginia.—Entering Richmond.—The
end of the war and the dawn of peace.-Stricken down by
the assassin, John Wilkes Booth.-Details of the cruel deed.
-The President's death.-The funeral at the White House.
-Conveying the remains of the dead chieftain to Spring-
field. The tribute of Henry Ward Beecher.-The funeral
at Springfield.-The capture and death of Booth.—The
arrest, trial, and execution of his fellow conspirators.

CHAPTER XI.

The visit of Dr. Holland to Springfield.—What he learned
from Lincoln's neighbors.-Their contradictory opinions.—
Description by the author of Lincoln's person.- How he
walked. His face and head.-Cause of his melancholy.—
His perceptions. His memory and association of ideas.—
Concentration of thought.-The crucible of his analytical
mind. The secret of his judgment.-The faith of his opin-
ions and the firmness of his conclusions.-His belief in the
power of motive.-The four great elements of his character.
-His reason; his conscience; his sense of right; his love
of the truth.-A meek, quiet, unobtrusive gentleman.— His
humanity. Will power.-Want of interest in local affairs
and small things.-Love for his friends.—The combination
of characteristics.-His intense devotion to the truth.-His
weak points.-Cool and masterly power of statement.—

PAGES

249-291