Abraham Lincoln’s career as a lawyer covered a period of a quarter of a century, beginning about 1834 or ’35, and ending with his election to the Presidency, in November, 1860.  When he began his professional life he was an obscure and unpromising youth of twenty-five, with but little learning and fewer accomplishments, and without advantages of social influence or wealthy friends.  Step by step, with patient industry and unflinching determination, he climbed the ladder of professional advancement until he stood among the foremost lawyers of the West.  He had, indeed, won a national reputation; and when he laid aside his law books, a mature man of fifty, it was to enter upon the great honors and responsibilities of the Presidency of the American Republic.

Lincoln was devoted to his profession, and his success in it was earned by hard and constant application.  But his natural taste for politics led him to take a full share in the activities of political life.  He had already served a term in the Illinois Legislature (1834-35), and so well satisfied were his constituents that they renominated him for the succeeding term.  In the canvass which followed he distinguished himself as a stump-speaker; showing, by his tact and ability, by the skill and ingenuity with which he met his opponents in debate, by his shrewdness in attack and readiness in retort, how much he had profited by the training of the previous years.

An incident illustrating his ready wit and his keen insight into human nature occurred early in this campaign, at Springfield, where a public discussion was held between the opposing candidates.  An interesting version of this incident is given by Mr. Arnold:  “There lived at this time in the most pretentious house in Springfield a prominent citizen named George Forquer.  He had been long in public life, had been a leading Whig—­the party to which Lincoln belonged—­but had lately gone over to the Democrats, and had received from the Democratic administration an appointment to the lucrative post of Register of the Land Office at Springfield.  Upon his handsome new house he had lately placed a lightning-rod, the first one ever put up in Sangamon County.  As Lincoln was riding into town with his friends, they passed the fine house of Forquer, and observed the novelty of the lightning-rod, discussing the manner in which it protected the house from being struck by lightning.  In this discussion there were seven Whig and seven Democratic candidates for the lower branch of the Legislature; and after several had spoken it fell to Lincoln to close the arguments.  This he did with great ability.  Forquer, though not a candidate, then asked to be heard for the Democrats in reply to Lincoln.  He was a good speaker and well-known throughout the county.  His special task that day was to attack and ridicule the young man from Salem.  Turning to Lincoln, who stood within a few feet of him, he said:  ’This young man must be taken down, and I am truly sorry