AMERICAN NOTABILITIES.

LINCOLN JEFF DAVIS-STEPHENS-FREMONT-BEAUREGARD

M'CLELLAN-BANKS.

ALTHOUGH the prominent men of North and South have been considerably ill-used by the press recently, and made the subjects of newspaper paragraphs, more or less incorrect, we have not yet come across any comprehensive sketch of their lives which would enable readers to institute comparisons. We, therefore, think that at so interesting a period of the world's history, we need offer no apology for stringing together some half-dozen biographies, which, if they possess no other merit, have, at any rate, that of correctness. We will give the first rank to the President of the Federation, and place side by side with him Jeff Davis, and proceed in the same manner with a few other statesmen and warriors.

He

ABRAHAM LINCOLN is descended from an obscure and poor family, and from his earliest youth was compelled to trust to his own resources. progressed rapidly from one employment to another, from the lowest mechanical labours to those which demand the highest intellect-a transition certainly great, promoted by the nature of American institutions. Through the power of his mind and the strength of his will, unaided by arms or the chances and changes of revolution, he has raised himself to the highest dignity an American can obtain. Whatever may be our political views on this vexed question of protectionism versus slavery, we cannot refuse our respect to such a man as this.

Lincoln's forefathers were Quakers, and lived in Pennsylvania and Virginia. His grandfather, who removed from Virginia to Kentucky in 1782, was killed by the Indians two years later, while engaged in clearing his land. The president's father, Thomas Lincoln, also a poor man, married in 1806 Nancy Hanks, a Virginian. On February 12, 1809, their son Abraham was born to them, in Harding Co., Kentucky. In 1816 Thomas Lincoln migrated with his family to Indiana, and cleared a small farm in Spencer Co. His son Abraham, who was remarkably tall and powerful for his age, helped his father in felling the forest, and this hard work remained his occupation for the next ten years. Abraham only visited at rare intervals a school lately established in the vicinity, and the whole amount of his education did not exceed twelve months. Anything he knows he therefore acquired through his own industry, and was not indebted for it to teachers. At the age of nineteen Abraham made a trip to New Orleans in a flat boat, and about the same time his father lost his small farm through being security for a friend. The whole family thereupon proceeded to Illinois in 1830, where the father purchased some government land and started in the world afresh. His son Abraham helped to build the log hut, and split the fence rails required for the farm. In this task he wielded the axe with such strength and skill that he attained a great reputation among the backwoodsmen as rail-splitter, which has not yet died out, and has maintained his renown among the small farmers and labourers. Enterprising Abraham left his family scantily housed in 1831, and proceeded to Macon Co. (Illinois), where a Mr. Hawks gave him a job to make thirty thousand rails.

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AMERICAN NOTABILITIES.

the same time he formed the acquaintance of another man, who invited
him to build a flat boat. This boat, laden with corn and other provisions,
was intended to sail to New Orleans, down the Sangamon, Illinois, and
Mississippi rivers, where the cargo could be sold at considerable profit.
Lincoln built the boat, and then started in her as "captain." He reached
New Orleans in good condition, sold boat and cargo, and returned home
as deck-hand aboard a steamer. This speculation was several times re-
peated, and Lincoln was able to put by a few hundred dollars.
Lincoln next became book-keeper to the same man, who had a shop
In 1832 a volunteer company was formed
and mill at New Salem.
here, intended to march against the Indians, who had begun hostilities
Lincoln, to his great
under their redoubtable chief "Black Hawk."

surprise, was elected as captain, for he was already considered both an
energetic and cautious man. At a later date Abraham declared that this
appointment caused him greater pleasure than all the future successes of
his life. The campaign lasted three months, but we are unaware whether
Lincoln's company had an opportunity to distinguish itself. On his
return he was put forward by the Whigs as candidate for the state legis-
lature, but was beaten, because the majority of electors consisted of
democrats. Lincoln now went into trade, and started a shop at New
Salem, in partnership with another man. As the business did not succeed,
the partner proposed adding to it a spirit store, to which Lincoln strenu-
ously objected, because he has all his life been a teetotaller. The partner,
after a while, took the sole charge of the business, and utterly ruined it,
Lincoln not only losing all his savings, but being responsible for a debt
of eleven hundred dollars.

Lincoln saw that as a common labourer he would never be able to dis-
charge the debt, and this circumstance urged him to seek a higher and
more profitable profession. Misfortunes, instead of crushing him, only
aroused all his mental faculties. He was appointed postmaster of New
As he was too poor
Salem, and at the same time began studying law.

to buy books, he borrowed them from a lawyer living near; he fetched in
the evening the work he wished to study, and took it home again early
the next morning, as his kind friend might want to use it during the day.
For such exertions not only great strength of mind, but also a physical
"At that time,"
constitution such as Lincoln possessed, was required.

as his great political opponent once said at a popular meeting, "he was
an unequalled runner, and conquered everybody in wrestling. At horse-
races and boxing-matches in the neighbourhood he was usually elected
president, and performed his duties with a dignity and impartiality beyond
all praise." In spite of his nocturnal studies, he also resolved to become
a field-surveyor. He obtained a government job, laid in a chain, compass,
and a useful work on surveying, and set about the task, while not becoming
untrue to his higher object. In 1834 he was elected to the legislature of
New Salem, and was re-elected in 1836, 1838, and 1840. He was
attached to the Whig party, and distinguished himself by his simple,
clear, and persuasive oratory.

In 1836, Lincoln had received permission to practise, and in the follow-
ing year removed to Springfield, the capital of Illinois, where he opened
an office in partnership with Major F. Stuart. About this time he married
a Kentucky woman, a plain industrious housewife, who has borne him

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several children. He rapidly attained a legal position; but in spite of his large practice he did not withdraw from politics, and remained for many years a prominent leader of the Whig party in Illinois. Through his industry and modest style of living he had also become a prosperous man. He was frequently selected by the Whigs as an elector, and in this quality he, in 1844, was a great partisan of Henry Clay, gaining him many votes in Illinois and a part of Indiana. The democrat Polk, however, gained the victory. In 1846, Lincoln was sent to congress, and in 1847 took his seat in the House of Representatives. Here he showed himself a decided anti-slavery man, and supported all the petitions and motions directed against the peculiar institution. For the same reason he opposed the annexation of Texas, but voted for the Loan Bill, which enabled government to defray the expenses of the Mexican war. In 1848 he was a member of the Whig National Convention, and a zealous partisan of General Taylor. In 1849 he was candidate for the senatorship, but was defeated by General Shields, in consequence of the democratic party having the upper hand in Illinois.

Until 1854, Lincoln remained quiet, but then again entered the political arena by helping to carry the election of Mr. Trumbull to the senate in the place of Shields. This was effected under the most critical circumstances. On the occasion of the Nebraska-Kansas Bill, Senator Douglas, of Illinois, had managed to effect the repeal of a clause in the Missouri compromise of 1820, which had stipulated that slavery should be excluded from the territory to the north of 36 deg. 30 min. of latitude. In the place of this clause the principle had been established that henceforth, in each territory, the people would be at liberty to regulate their own affairs, including slavery, under the condition that the Federal legislature was not assailed. This was, in reality, opening the way for slavery all over the Union, but the arrogant conduct of the Southerners after the abrogation of this clause led to a great change in the formation of American parties, which was destined to have mighty consequences for Lincoln's political career. The democratic party, who originally defended the liberty of the people against aristocratic assaults, and had retained the upper hand, with but few exceptions, in the Union since Jefferson's election, had in the course of years grown the mere instrument of the Southern slave party, and had become demoralised and broken up. In 1854 a large and powerful party was formed against it in the North and North-West, which received the name of the republican, and in the course of time included all who were inclined to protest against the encroachments of slavery, and the selfishness and terrorism of the Southerners. The new party proposed to bring the power of the Federal government and the rights of the several states into a proper relation— that is to say, authorise government to check the further extension of slavery and the predominance of the Southern States. The party also declared itself opposed to the proposed attacks on Cuba, Mexico, and Central America, which were only intended to spread slavery. The Republican National Convention in 1856 selected Colonel Fremont as candidate for the presidency, and the republicans of Illinois carried Lincoln's election as vice-president. But the fear of a dissolution of the Union, which the Southern States threatened, robbed the republican party of a great number of votes in the Northern States, and the election of Buchanan, a democrat, was carried through. In June, 1858, Lincoln

was put up by the Illinois Whigs as candidate for the presidency, while the democrats worked for the election of Douglas. Both candidates made a tour through the state, and often appealed to the people at the same place and from the same platform. This struggle, in which Lincoln openly declared himself opposed to slavery and the policy of the Southern States, was carried on by both sides with great zeal and talent, and excited general interest. Douglas, however, eventually gained the day, while Lincoln had the advantage that his name acquired great popularity for the future. In May, 1860, the Republican Convention at Chicago selected Lincoln as candidate for the presidency, and all the world knows the result and its consequences.

Lincoln is a man of almost gigantic stature, and measures six feet four inches. His body is not stout and muscular so much as thin: his arms are long, but not out of proportion to his height. He walks along slowly and thoughtfully, with his head bent forward, and his hands on his back. He attaches little importance to his dress, and, though always cleanly, he does not follow the fashions. In his manners he is simple and cordial, and in society he tells anecdotes with considerable success. His politeness is sincere, and never calculated or offensive, and he greets his friend with a warm shake of the hand and a still more pleasant smile. His features reveal a marked character, but they are not good: his hair is black and thin, his head well proportioned, his nose Roman, his mouth broad, and his complexion swarthy.

The twin King of Brentford, JEFFERSON DAVIS, was born in Kentucky on June 3, 1808. When very young, he followed his father, a planter, to Mississippi, at that time a territory, and not formed into a state until 1817. After receiving a good education, Davis, at the age of sixteen, went as cadet to the war academy of West Point, which he quitted four years later with the rank of sub-lieutenant in the United States army. On his request to be actively employed, he was sent to the west, and placed under the orders of Colonel Zachary Taylor, afterwards general and president in 1849. In the skirmishes that daily took place with the Indians, Davis distinguished himself so greatly, that, on the formation of a new regiment of dragoons, he was appointed its lieutenant-colonel. The illustrious Indian chief, Black Hawk," a fanatic enemy of the Americans, was taken prisoner in this campaign, and was affected by such an admiration for Davis, that he formed a warm friendship for the young officer, and declared that for his sake he would give up his enmity for the whites. This friendship was only interrupted by the death of Black Hawk.

In 1835, Davis left the army and settled on a cotton-plantation in Mississippi, where he devoted himself zealously, not only to the cultivation of the ground, but also to political and social studies. In 1843 he turned his attention to practical politics, and formed the democratic party. In 1844 he was nominated presidential elector for Mississippi, and made a tour on behalf of Polk. Davis, who was obliged constantly to speak, rendered himself so remarkable by the graceful style and manly force of his oratory that his fellow-citizens elected him in the following year their representative in congress. A few years previously he had married Zachary Taylor's daughter, and under the orders of that general he was now once again to distinguish himself on the battle-field. When the war with Mexico broke out, in 1846, Davis sent in his resignation as member of congress to place himself at the head of the Mississippi Volunteer Rifles,

who had elected him their colonel. At the storming of Monterey, Davis was one of the negotiators who settled the terms of the capitulation with the Mexicans. The Americans also owed their success at the battle of Buena Vista in a great measure to his heroic efforts, and the courage with which he inspired his men. Although wounded in the beginning of the action, Davis remained on horseback until the defeat of the Mexicans was completed.

In July, 1847, the period for which Davis's regiment had to serve was concluded, and he led it back to Mississippi. Polk wished to appoint him brigadier-general of volunteers, but Davis declined the offer, because he thought that such an appointment on the part of the government of the Union would be an encroachment on the rights of the state. Colonel Davis had gained an honourable name on the battle-field, but less honourable was the part he played in the settlement of the financial affairs of his native state. The state had contracted a debt out of all proportion to its scanty revenue, which had been incurred through supporting badly-managed banks, especially the Planter's Bank, for whose advantage the state sold bonds, which it was unable to redeem. Davis stepped forward as a zealous adviser of the repudiation of these bonds, but the Legislative Assembly rejected the proposal almost unanimously, and passed a declaration that "some financial scheme for the payment of the bonds and the restoration of the state credit" should be devised. This most desirable scheme was not invented, however, and hence recourse was had to the repudiation so strongly recommended by Davis.

In 1848, Davis was elected as senator, and devoted his attention principally to military matters, but showed himself a warm defender of slavery, and strove to limit as far as possible the Federal authority over the several states. In 1851, he resigned his seat in the senate, in order to stand for the governorship of his native state, but was defeated by his opponent, Foote, candidate of what was called the Union party, and he retired for a time into private life. In 1852, Davis did the democratic party, or Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee, a great service, by helping to carry Pierce's election. When the latter moved into the White House, in 1853, he therefore appointed Davis Secretary of War. In the cabinet of this weak president he was the most influential member, and governed not only the president, but most of his colleagues; Marcy, who was at the head of the foreign affairs, was almost the only one who managed to keep aloof from his influence. In his important position, Davis most energetically promoted the interests of the slave states, and proved himself a zealous opponent of the Abolitionists. Under Buchanan's presidency, Davis was again a member of the senate, and when, in January, 1861, the state of Mississippi announced its secession from the Union, Davis returned home. A few weeks after, the congress of the seceded states elected him president of the Confederation at Montgomery, in Alabama. On February 16, he was invested with his new dignity, which, according to the constitution of the Confederation, he will hold for six years.

By those of his own party, Davis is described as a man as gentle as he is earnest, possessing all the physical and social qualities that please the world. When he speaks, his voice is clear, his expression fiery, and his demeanour dignified. In his writings he manages to defend the cause of the slave states with practised and attractive sophistry.