In the spring of 1843 Lincoln was among the nominees proposed to represent the Sangamon district in Congress; but Col.  Edward D. Baker carried the delegation, and was elected.  In writing to his friend Speed, Lincoln treated the circumstance with his usual humor.  “We had,” he says, “a meeting of the Whigs of the county here last Monday to appoint delegates to a district convention.  Baker beat me, and got the delegation instructed to go for him.  The meeting, in spite of my attempt to decline it, appointed me one of the delegates; so that in getting Baker the nomination I shall be ‘fixed’ a good deal like a fellow who is made groomsman to the man who ‘cut him out’ and is marrying his own girl.”

On the 20th of September, 1843, the partnership between Lincoln and Judge Logan was dissolved; and the same day a new association was formed with William H. Herndon, a relative of one of Lincoln’s former friends of Clary Grove.  It is said that in spite of their close friendship Mr. Herndon could not understand it when Lincoln one day plunged up the office stairs and said, “Herndon, should you like to be my partner?” “Don’t laugh at me, Mr. Lincoln,” was the response.  Persistent repetition of the question could hardly gain a hearing; but at last Mr. Herndon said:  “Mr. Lincoln, you know I am too young, and I have no standing and no money; but if you are in earnest, there is nothing in this world that would make me so happy.”  Nothing more was said till the papers were brought to Herndon to sign.  The partnership of “Lincoln & Herndon” was a happy one, and continued until Lincoln became President, a period of nearly eighteen years.

The life of Henry Clay, which Lincoln read in his boyhood, had filled him with enthusiasm for the great Whig leader; and when the latter was nominated for the Presidency, in 1844, there was no more earnest adherent of his cause than the “Sangamon Chief,” as Lincoln was now called.  Lincoln canvassed Illinois and a part of Indiana during the campaign, meeting the chief Democratic speakers, and especially Douglas, in debate.  Lincoln had not at this time heard the “silvery-tongued orator” of Kentucky; but two years later the opportunity was afforded and eagerly embraced.  It is possible, as Dr. Holland remarks, that he “needed the influence of this visit to restore a healthy tone to his feelings, and to teach him that the person whom his imagination had transformed into a demigod was only a man, possessing the full measure of weaknesses common to men.  In 1846 Lincoln learned that Clay was to deliver a speech at Lexington, Kentucky, in favor of gradual emancipation.  This event seemed to give him an excuse for breaking away from his business and satisfying his desire to look his demigod in the face and hear the music of his eloquence.  He accordingly went to Lexington, and arrived there in time to attend the meeting.  On returning to his home from this visit he did not attempt to disguise his disappointment.