The deep impression which the Mary Owens affair made upon Lincoln is further shown by one of the concluding phrases of his letter to Mrs. Browning:  “I have now come to the conclusion never again to think of marrying.”  But it was not long before a reaction set in from this pessimistic mood.  The actual transfer of the seat of government from Vandalia to Springfield in 1839 gave the new capital fresh animation.  Business revived, public improvements were begun, politics ran high.  Already there was a spirit in the air that in the following year culminated in the extraordinary enthusiasm and fervor of the Harrison presidential campaign of 1840, that rollicking and uproarious party carnival of humor and satire, of song and jollification, of hard cider and log cabins.  While the State of Illinois was strongly Democratic, Sangamon County was as distinctly Whig, and the local party disputes were hot and aggressive.  The Whig delegation of Sangamon in the legislature, popularly called the “Long Nine,” because the sum of the stature of its members was fifty-four feet, became noted for its influence in legislation in a body where the majority was against them; and of these Mr. Lincoln was the “tallest” both in person and ability, as was recognized by his twice receiving the minority vote for Speaker of the House.

Society also began organizing itself upon metropolitan rather than provincial assumptions.  As yet, however society was liberal.  Men of either wealth or position were still too few to fill its ranks.  Energy, ambition talent, were necessarily the standard of admission; and Lincoln, though poor as a church mouse, was as welcome as those who could wear ruffled shirts and carry gold watches.  The meetings of the legislature at Springfield then first brought together that splendid group of young men of genius whose phenomenal careers and distinguished services have given Illinois fame in the history of the nation.  It is a marked peculiarity of the American character that the bitterest foes in party warfare generally meet each other on terms of perfect social courtesy in the drawing-rooms of society; and future presidential candidates, cabinet members, senators, congressmen, jurists, orators, and battle heroes lent the little social reunions of Springfield a zest and exaltation never found—­perhaps impossible—­amid the heavy, oppressive surroundings of conventional ceremony, gorgeous upholstery, and magnificent decorations.

It was at this period also that Lincoln began to feel and exercise his expanding influence and powers as a writer and speaker.  Already, two years earlier, he had written and delivered before the Young Men’s Lyceum of Springfield an able address upon “The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions,” strongly enforcing the doctrine of rigid obedience to law.  In December, 1839, Douglas, in a heated conversation, challenged the young Whigs present to a political discussion.  The challenge was immediately taken up, and the public of Springfield listened with eager interest to several nights of sharp debate between Whig and Democratic champions, in which Lincoln bore a prominent and successful share.  In the following summer, Lincoln’s name was placed upon the Harrison electoral ticket for Illinois, and he lent all his zeal and eloquence to swell the general popular enthusiasm for “Tippecanoe and Tyler too.”