before and with whom he was to sustain an almost life-long political conflict.  He also had occasion to show his courage and presence of mind in rescuing from a mob his distinguished friend, Col.  E.D.  Baker, afterwards a Senator of the United States.  “Baker was speaking in a large room,” says Mr. Arnold, “rented and used for the court sessions, and Lincoln’s office was in an apartment over the court-room, communicating with it by a trap-door.  Lincoln was in his office listening to Baker through the open trap-door, when Baker, becoming excited, abused the Democrats, many of whom were present.  A cry was raised, ‘Pull him off the stand!’ The instant Lincoln heard the cry, knowing a general fight was imminent, his athletic form was seen descending from above through the opening of the trap-door, and, springing to the side of Baker, and waving his hand for silence, he said with dignity:  ’Gentlemen, let us not disgrace the age and country in which we live.  This is a land where freedom of speech is guaranteed.  Baker has a right to speak.  I am here to protect him, and no man shall take him from this stand if I can prevent it.’  Quiet was restored, and Baker finished his speech without further interruption.”

A similar occurrence, happening about the same period, is detailed by General Linder:  “On a later occasion, when Colonel Baker and myself were both battling together in the Whig cause, at a convention held in Springfield, I made a speech at the State House, which I think now, looking back at it from this point, was the very best I ever made in my life.  While I was addressing the vast assembly some ruffian in the galleries flung at me a gross personal insult accompanied with a threat.  Lincoln and Colonel Baker, who were both present and were warm personal and political friends of mine, anticipating that I might be attacked when I left the State House, came upon the stand a little while before I concluded my speech and took their station on each side of me.  When I was through, and after my audience had greeted me with three hearty cheers, each took one of my arms, and Lincoln said to me:  ’Linder, Baker and I are apprehensive that you may be attacked by some of those ruffians who insulted you from the galleries, and we have come up to escort you to your hotel.  We both think we can do a little fighting, so we want you to walk between us until we get you to your hotel.  Your quarrel is our quarrel and that of the great Whig party of this nation.  Your speech upon this occasion is the greatest that has been made by any of us, for which we wish to honor and defend you.’  This I consider no ordinary compliment, coming from Lincoln, for he was no flatterer nor disposed to bestow praise where it was undeserved.  Colonel Baker heartily concurred in all he said, and between those two glorious men I left the stand and we marched out of the State House through our friends, who trooped after us evidently anticipating what Lincoln and Baker had suggested to me, accompanying us to my hotel.”