It was the custom for the candidates to appear at every gathering which brought the people out, and, if they had a chance, to make speeches.  Then, as now, the farmers gathered at the county-seat or at the largest town within their reach on Saturday afternoons, to dispose of produce, buy supplies, see their neighbors, and get the news.  During “election times” candidates were always present, and a regular feature of the day was listening to their speeches.  Public sales also were gatherings which they never missed, it being expected that after the “vandoo” the candidates would take the auctioneer’s place.

Lincoln let none of these chances to be heard slip.  Accompanied by his friends, generally including a few Clary’s Grove Boys, he always was present.  The first speech he made was after a sale at Pappsville.  What he said there is not remembered; but an illustration of the kind of man he was, interpolated into his discourse, made a lasting impression.  A fight broke out in his audience while he was on the stand, and observing that one of his friends was being worsted, he bounded into the group of contestants, seized the fellow who had his supporter down, threw him “ten or twelve feet,” mounted the platform, and finished the speech.  Sangamon County could appreciate such a performance; and the crowd that day at Pappsville never forgot Lincoln.

His appearance at Springfield at this time was of great importance to him.  Springfield was not at that time a very attractive place.  Bryant, visiting it in June, 1832, said that the houses were not as good as at Jacksonville, “a considerable proportion of them being log cabins, and the whole town having an appearance of dirt and discomfort.”  Nevertheless it was the largest town in the county, and among its inhabitants were many young men of education, birth, and energy.  One of these men Lincoln had become well acquainted with in the Black Hawk War—­Major John T. Stewart,[F] at that time a lawyer, and, like Lincoln, a candidate for the General Assembly.  He met others at this time who were to be associated with him more or less closely in the future in both law and politics, such as Judge Logan and William Butler.  With these men the manners which had won him the day at Pappsville were of no value; what impressed them was his “very sensible speech,” and his decided individuality and originality.

The election came off on August 6th.  The first civil office Lincoln ever held was that of clerk of this election.  The report in his hand still exists; as far as we know, it is his first official document.

Lincoln was defeated.  “This was the only time Abraham was ever defeated on a direct vote of the people,” say his autobiographical notes.  He had a consolation in his defeat, however, for in spite of the pronounced Democratic sentiments of his precinct, he received two hundred and seventy-seven votes out of three hundred cast.[G]

(Begun in the November number, 1895; to be continued.)