in hard and incessant labor, under a burden of care and anxiety that were making him an old man before his time, the term for which mr. lincoln was elected president passed slowly away. and the question came to the nation, “who shall be our next president? shall it be the man who has led us thus far through the wilderness, or shall we make choice of another leader?”

there was a difference of opinion. some were in favor of general fremont, many favored mr. chase, the secretary of the treasury, and there is no doubt that both of these two eminent men wished for the office. mr. lincoln, too, wished to be re-elected, not, i am sure, because power was sweet, but because he wished to carry out to the end the mighty work which it had been given to him to do. he knew that mr. chase desired{270} to succeed him, but it did not make him less friendly; nor when it devolved upon him to appoint a successor to chief-justice taney, did it prevent him from conferring upon his chief rival that high office. he considered mr. chase, of all men, most fit to fill the position, and that with him was the paramount consideration.

however politicians may have differed with regard to the presidency, the people were with mr. lincoln. they had learned to trust him, and the politicians were obliged to acquiesce in their choice. he was nominated, and duly elected, and the country breathed more freely. it was an assurance that the war would proceed till the rebellion was crushed out, and the restoration of the union was now looked upon, under god, as certain.

during the campaign, senator sherman, of ohio, in a speech at sandusky, gave this rough but accurate sketch of mr. lincoln and his claims to support. it was addressed to a western audience, and doubtless produced a powerful impression:

“i know old abe,” said the senator, “and i tell you there is not, at this hour, a more patriotic{271} or a truer man living than that man abraham lincoln. some say he is an imbecile; but he not only held his own in his debates with douglas, whose power is admitted, and whom i considered the ablest intellect in the united states senate, but got a little the better of him. he has been deliberate and slow, but when he puts his foot down it is with the determination and certainty with which our generals take their steps; and, like them, when he takes a city he never gives it up. this firm old man is noble and kind-hearted. he is a child of the people. go to him with a story of woe, and he will weep like a child. this man so condemned works more hours than any president that ever occupied the chair. his solicitude for the public welfare is never-ceasing. i differed from him at first myself, but at last felt and believed that he was right, and shall vote for this brave, true, patriotic, kind-hearted man. all his faults and mistakes you have seen; all his virtues you never can know. his patience in labor is wonderful. he works far harder than any man in erie county. at the head of this great nation—look at it! he has all the bills to sign passed by congress. no one can be appointed to{272} any office without his approval. no one can be punished without the judgment receives his signature, and no one pardoned without his hand. this man—always right, always just—we propose to re-elect now to the presidency.”