Wilson Lumpkin and Joseph H. Lumpkin were politically opposed.  The former was an especial friend of Dooly; the latter, of William H. Crawford.  Mr. Crawford, soon after Lumpkin’s admission to the Bar, returned to his home, near Lexington, and gave his countenance and support to him, and at the same time his bitterest opposition to the political aspirations of his brother.  The forensic abilities of young Lumpkin were winning for him in the State a proud eminence.  His exalted moral character, studious habits, and devotion to business attracted universal observation and general comment.  He had been from his birth the favorite of all his acquaintances, for the high qualities of his head and heart—­the model held up by mothers for the example of their sons.  Scarcely any boy in the county was ever reprimanded for a wild frolic or piece of amusing mischief, who was not asked, “Why can’t you be like Joe Lumpkin?”

All this favoritism, however flattering, did not spoil him, as is too frequently the case with precocious youth.  His ambition had fixed a lofty mark, and he availed himself of this universal popularity to reach it; at the same time, he left no effort neglected to deserve it, and maintain it, once acquired.

The State was teeming with young men of talent, scarcely a county without at least one of great promise.  Lumpkin saw and knew the rivalry would be fierce, and success only to be obtained by superior abilities and eminent attainments.  The Legislature was the first step to fame, and political fame then the most desired and the most sought.  Party was rancorous in its spirit, producing intense excitement, pervading every bosom, male and female, to the extremes of the State—­an excitement which so stamped itself upon the hearts of the entire people as to endure, and to mark their character and opinions even until to-day.

Lumpkin was very decided in his opinions, and open in their expression, yet there was none of that empoisoned bitterness in these expressions so characteristic of political aspirants in that day.  Such was alien to his kindly nature; and if it had not been, there were other causes to estop him from any such indulgence.  His family was large.  There were eight brothers; only one of these was younger than himself; these were about equally divided in political sentiment, and they, at least some of them, less amiable or less considerate than himself.  He was the favorite of all, and was continually in communication with all of them, and was really the moderator of the family, and the healer of its feuds.  At this time, too, the deep morality of his nature was growing into piety, and this sentiment was mellowing from his heart even the little of unkindness that had ever found a place there.