''Abe'' Lincoln's Yarns and Stories - University of Macau Library

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Yarns and Stories, by Alexander K. McClure 392John Calhoun was at that time surveyor of Sangamon county. He had beena lawyer and had noticed the studious Lincoln. Needing an assistant heoffered the place to Lincoln. The average young man without any regularemployment and hard-pressed for means to pay his board as Lincoln was,would have jumped at the opportunity, but a question of principle wasinvolved which had to be settled before Lincoln would accept. Calhoun wasa Democrat and Lincoln was a Whig, therefore Lincoln said, "I will take theoffice if I can be perfectly free in my political actions, but if my sentimentsor even expression of them are to be abridged in any way, I would not haveit or any other office."With this understanding he accepted the office and began to study books onsurveying, furnished him by his employer. He was not a naturalmathematician, and in working out his most difficult problems he soughtthe assistance of Mentor Graham, a famous schoolmaster in those days,who had previously assisted Lincoln in his studies. He soon became acompetent surveyor, however, and was noted for the accurate way in whichhe ran his lines and located his corners.Surveying was not as profitable then as it has since become, and the youngsurveyor often had to take his pay in some article other than money. Oneold settler relates that for a survey made for him by Lincoln he paid twobuckskins, which Hannah Armstrong "foxed" on his pants so that the briarswould not wear them out.About this time, 1833, he was made postmaster at New Salem, the firstFederal office he ever held. Although the postoffice was located in a store,Lincoln usually carried the mail around in his hat and distributed it topeople when he met them.A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE.The following year Lincoln again ran for the Legislature, this time as anavowed Whig. Of the four successful candidates, Lincoln received thesecond highest number of votes.
Yarns and Stories, by Alexander K. McClure 393When Lincoln went to take his seat in the Legislature at Vandalia he was sopoor that he was obliged to borrow $200 to buy suitable clothes and upholdthe dignity of his new position. He took little part in the proceedings,keeping in the background, but forming many lasting acquaintances andfriendships.Two years later, when he was again a candidate for the same office, therewere more political issues to be met, and Lincoln met them withcharacteristic honesty and boldness. During the campaign he issued thefollowing letter:"New Salem, June 13, 1836."To the Editor of The Journal:"In your paper of last Saturday I see a communication over the signature of'Many Voters' in which the candidates who are announced in the journal arecalled upon to 'show their hands.' Agreed. Here's mine:"I go for all sharing the privileges of the government who assist in bearingits burdens. Consequently, I go for admitting all whites to the right ofsuffrage who pay taxes or bear arms (by no means excluding females)."If elected, I shall consider the whole people of Sangamon my constituents,as well those that oppose as those that support me."While acting as their Representative, I shall be governed by their will onall subjects upon which I have the means of knowing what their will is; andupon all others I shall do what my own judgment teaches me will bestadvance their interests. Whether elected or not, I go for distributing theproceeds of the sales of public lands to the several States to enable ourState, in common with others, to dig canals and construct railroads withoutborrowing money and paying the interest on it."If alive on the first Monday in November, I shall vote for Hugh L. White,for President.
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