President Jackson’s first term was nearing its close, and the Democratic party was preparing to reelect him.  The Whigs, on their part, had held their first national convention in December, 1831, and nominated Henry Clay to dispute the succession.  This nomination, made almost a year in advance of the election, indicates an unusual degree of political activity in the East, and voters in the new State of Illinois were fired with an equal party zeal.  During the months of January and February, 1832, no less than six citizens of Sangamon County announced themselves in the “Sangamo Journal” as candidates for the State legislature, the election for which was not to occur until August; and the “Journal” of March 15 printed a long letter, addressed “To the People of Sangamon County,” under date of the ninth, signed A. Lincoln, and beginning: 

“Fellow-citizens:  Having become a candidate for the honorable office of one of your representatives in the next general assembly of this State, in accordance with an established custom and the principles of true republicanism, it becomes my duty to make known to you, the people whom I propose to represent, my sentiments with regard to local affairs.”  He then takes up and discusses in an eminently methodical and practical way the absorbing topic of the moment—­the Whig doctrine of internal improvements and its local application, the improvement of the Sangamon River.  He mentions that meetings have been held to propose the construction of a railroad, and frankly acknowledges that “no other improvement that reason will justify us in hoping for can equal in utility the railroad,” but contends that its enormous cost precludes any such hope, and that, therefore, “the improvement of the Sangamon River is an object much better suited to our infant resources.”  Relating his experience in building and navigating his flatboat, and his observation of the stage of the water since then, he draws the very plausible conclusion that by straightening its channel and clearing away its driftwood the stream can be made navigable “to vessels of from twenty-five to thirty tons burden for at least one half of all common years, and to vessels of much greater burden a part of the time,” His letter very modestly touches a few other points of needed legislation—­a law against usury, laws to promote education, and amendments to estray and road laws.  The main interest for us, however, is in the frank avowal of his personal ambition.

“Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition.  Whether it be true or not, I can say, for one, that I have no other so great as that of being truly esteemed of my fellow-men by rendering myself worthy of their esteem.  How far I shall succeed in gratifying this ambition is yet to be developed.  I am young, and unknown to many of you.  I was born, and have ever remained, in the most humble walks of life.  I have no wealthy or popular relations or friends to recommend me.  My case is thrown exclusively upon the independent voters of the country, and if elected they will have conferred a favor upon me for which I shall be unremitting in my labors to compensate.  But if the good people in their wisdom shall see fit to keep me in the background, I have been too familiar with disappointments to be very much chagrined.”