Reply #84: Mr. Lincoln, Mr. J [View All]

Was elected to the Illinois legislature as a Whig, and to the House of Representatives, as a Congressman from Illinois, as a Whig. He did involve himself in the early formation of the Republican Party, an amalgam of Free-Soil, Whig, and northern Democrat elements, and ran as a Republican for Senator from Illinois in 1858 against Judge Douglas, who won the contest in the legislature: it was during that campaign that the famous debates occured, and these made Mr. Lincoln a national figure, for the quality of his argumentation there, in terms of both forensics and "speechifying." Transcripts of these are available, and cannot be recommended too highly as an introduction to practical politics in this country: the people have not really changed all that much, nor has the art of moving them.

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"