Two years had nearly elapsed since he was defeated for the legislature, and, having received so flattering a vote on that occasion, it was entirely natural that he should determine to try a second chance.  Four new representatives were to be chosen at the August election of 1834, and near the end of April Lincoln published his announcement that he would again be a candidate.  He could certainly view his expectations in every way in a more hopeful light.  His knowledge had increased, his experience broadened, his acquaintanceship greatly increased.  His talents were acknowledged, his ability recognized.  He was postmaster and deputy surveyor.  He had become a public character whose services were in demand.  As compared with the majority of his neighbors, he was a man of learning who had seen the world.  Greater, however, than all these advantages, his sympathetic kindness of heart, his sincere, open frankness, his sturdy, unshrinking honesty, and that inborn sense of justice that yielded to no influence, made up a nobility of character and bearing that impressed the rude frontiersmen as much as, if not more quickly and deeply than, it would have done the most polished and erudite society.

Beginning his campaign in April, he had three full months before him for electioneering, and he evidently used the time to good advantage.  The pursuit of popularity probably consisted mainly of the same methods that in backwoods districts prevail even to our day:  personal visits and solicitations, attendance at various kinds of neighborhood gatherings, such as raisings of new cabins, horse-races, shooting-matches, sales of town lots or of personal property under execution, or whatever occasion served to call a dozen or two of the settlers together.  One recorded incident illustrates the practical nature of the politician’s art at that day: 

“He [Lincoln] came to my house, near Island Grove, during harvest.  There were some thirty men in the field.  He got his dinner and went out in the field where the men were at work.  I gave him an introduction, and the boys said that they could not vote for a man unless he could make a hand.  ‘Well, boys,’ said he, ‘if that is all, I am sure of your votes.’  He took hold of the cradle, and led the way all the round with perfect ease.  The boys were satisfied, and I don’t think he lost a vote in the crowd.”

Sometimes two or more candidates would meet at such places, and short speeches be called for and given.  Altogether, the campaign was livelier than that of two years before.  Thirteen candidates were again contesting for the four seats in the legislature, to say nothing of candidates for governor, for Congress, and for the State Senate.  The scope of discussion was enlarged and localized.  From the published address of an industrious aspirant who received only ninety-two votes, we learn that the issues now were the construction by the general government of a canal from Lake Michigan to the Illinois River, the improvement of the Sangamon River, the location of the State capital at Springfield, a United States bank, a better road law, and amendments to the estray laws.