FELLOW-CITIZENS: Having become a candidate for the honorable
office of one of your Representatives in the next General Assembly of this
State, in accordance with an established custom and the principles of true
Republicanism, it becomes my duty to make known to you, the people whom I
propose to represent, my sentiments with regard to local affairs. Time and
experience have verified to a demonstration the public utility of internal
improvements. That the poorest and most thinly populated countries would be
greatly benefited by the opening of good roads, and in the clearing of
navigable streams within their limits, is what no person will deny. Yet it is
folly to undertake works of this or any other kind without first knowing that
we are able to finish them,—as half-finished work generally proves to be labor
lost. There cannot justly be any objection to having railroads and canals, any
more than to other good things, provided they cost nothing. The only objection
is to paying for them; and the objection arises from the want of ability to
pay.
With respect to the County of Sangamon, some more easy means
of communication than it now possesses, for the purpose of facilitating the
task of exporting the surplus products of its fertile soil, and importing
necessary articles from abroad, are indispensably necessary. A meeting has been
held by the citizens of Jacksonville and the adjacent country, for the purpose
of deliberating and inquiring into the expediency of constructing a railroad
from some eligible point on the Illinois River, through the town of
Jacksonville, in Morgan County, to the town of Springfield, in Sangamon County.
This is, indeed, a very desirable object. No other improvement that reason will
justify us in hoping for can equal in utility the railroad. It is a
never-failing source of communication between places of business remotely
situated from each other. Upon the railroad the regular progress of commercial
intercourse is not interrupted by either high or low water, or freezing
weather, which are the principal difficulties that render our future hopes of
water communication precarious and uncertain.
Yet, however desirable an object the construction of a
railroad through our country may be; however high our imaginations may be
heated at thoughts of it, — there is always a heart-appalling shock
accompanying the amount of its cost, which forces us to shrink from our
pleasing anticipations. The probable cost of this contemplated railroad is
estimated at $290,000; the bare statement of which, in my opinion, is
sufficient to justify the belief that the improvement of the Sangamon River is
an object much better suited to our infant resources.
Respecting this view, I think I may say, without the fear of
being contradicted, that its navigation may be rendered completely practicable
as high as the mouth of the South Fork, or probably higher, to vessels of from
twenty-five to thirty tons burden, for at least one half of all common years,
and to vessels of much greater burden a part of the time. From my peculiar
circumstances, it is probable that for the last twelve months I have given as particular
attention to the stage of the water in this river as any other person in the
country. In the month of March, 1831, in company with others, I commenced the
building of a flatboat on the Sangamon, and finished and took her out in the
course of the spring. Since that time I have been concerned in the mill at New
Salem. These circumstances are sufficient evidence that I have not been very
inattentive to the stages of the water. The time at which we crossed the
mill-dam being in the last days of April, the water was lower than it had been
since the breaking of winter in February, or than it was for several weeks
after. The principal difficulties we encountered in descending the river were
from the drifted timber, which obstructions all know are not difficult to be
removed. Knowing almost precisely the height of water at that time, I believe I
am safe in saying that it has as often been higher as lower since.
From this view of the subject it appears that my
calculations with regard to the navigation of the Sangamon cannot but be
founded in reason; but, whatever may be its natural advantages, certain it is
that it never can be practically useful to any great extent without being
greatly improved by art. The drifted timber, as I have before mentioned, is the
most formidable barrier to this object. Of all parts of this river, none will
require so much labor in proportion to make it navigable as the last thirty or
thirty-five miles; and going with the meanderings of the channel, when we are
this distance above its mouth we are only between twelve and eighteen miles
above Beardstown in something near a straight direction; and this route is upon
such low ground as to retain water in many places during the season, and in all
parts such as to draw two thirds or three fourths of the river water at all
high stages.
This route is on prairie-land the whole distance, so that it
appears to me, by removing the turf a sufficient width, and damming up the old
channel, the whole river in a short time would wash its way through, thereby
curtailing the distance and increasing the velocity of the current very
considerably, while there would be no timber on the banks to obstruct its
navigation in future; and being nearly straight, the timber which might float
in at the head would be apt to go clear through. There are also many places
above this where the river, in its zigzag course, forms such complete
peninsulas as to be easier to cut at the necks than to remove the obstructions
from the bends, which, if done, would also lessen the distance.
What the cost of this work would be, I am unable to say. It
is probable, however, that it would not be greater than is common to streams of
the same length. Finally, I believe the improvement of the Sangamon River to be
vastly important and highly desirable to the people of the county; and, if
elected, any measure in the legislature having this for its object, which may
appear judicious, will meet my approbation and receive my support.
It appears that the practice of loaning money at exorbitant rates
of interest has already been opened as a field for discussion; so I suppose I
may enter upon it without claiming the honor, or risking the danger which-may
await its first explorer. It seems as though we are never to have an end to
this baneful and corroding system, acting almost as prejudicially to the
general interests of the community as a direct tax of several thousand dollars
annually laid on each county for the benefit of a few individuals only, unless
there be a law made fixing the limits of usury. A law for this purpose, I am of
opinion, may be made without materially injuring any class of people. In cases
of extreme necessity, there could always be means found to cheat the law; while
in all other cases it would have its intended effect. I would favor the passage
of a law on this subject which might not be very easily evaded. Let it be such
that the labor and difficulty of evading it could only be justified in cases of
greatest necessity.
Upon the subject of education, not presuming to dictate any
plan or system respecting it, I can only say that I view it as the most
important subject which we as a people can be engaged in. That every man may
receive at least a moderate education, and thereby be enabled to read the
histories of his own and other countries, by which he may duly appreciate the
value of our free institutions, appears to be an object of vital importance,
even on this account alone, to say nothing of the advantages and satisfaction
to be derived from all being able to read the Scriptures, and other works both
of a religious and moral nature, for themselves.
For my part, I desire to see the time when education — and
by its means, morality, sobriety, enterprise, and industry — shall become much
more general than at present, and should be gratified to have it in my power to
contribute something to the advancement of any measure which might have a
tendency to accelerate that happy period.
With regard to existing laws, some alterations are thought
to be necessary. Many respectable men have suggested that our estray laws, the
law respecting the issuing of executions, the road law, and some others, are
deficient in their present form, and require alterations. But, considering the
great probability that the framers of those laws were wiser than myself, I
should prefer not meddling with them, unless they were first attacked by
others; in which case I should feel it both a privilege and a duty to take that
stand which, in my view, might tend most to the advancement of justice.
But, fellow-citizens, I shall conclude. Considering the
great degree of modesty which should always attend youth, it is probable I have
already been more presuming than becomes me. However, upon the subjects of
which I have treated, I have spoken as I have thought. I may be wrong in regard
to any or all of them; but, holding it a sound maxim that it is better only
sometimes to be right than at all times to be wrong, so soon as I discover my
opinions to be erroneous, I shall be ready to renounce them.
Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition. Whether it
be true or not, I can say, for one, that I have no other so great as that of
being truly esteemed of my fellow-men, by rendering myself worthy of their
esteem. How far I shall succeed in gratifying this ambition is yet to be developed.
I am young, and unknown to many of you. I was born, and have ever remained, in
the most humble walks of life. I have no wealthy or popular relations or
friends to recommend me. My case is thrown exclusively upon the independent
voters of the country; and, if elected, they will have conferred a favor upon
me for which I shall be unremitting in my labors to compensate. But, if the
good people in their wisdom shall see fit to keep me in the background, I have
been too familiar with disappointments to be very much chagrined.
Your friend and
fellow-citizen,
A. Lincoln.
New Salem, March
9, 1832.
_______________
* Lincoln was just past his twenty-third year when he
indited this address to the people of Sangamon County. Though defeated in the
effort to become a member of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, his
address, distributed in the form of a hand-bill, aroused great interest and
enthusiasm among his fellow-citizens. It is worth passing mention to note that
this defeat for the Illinois Legislature was the only one Lincoln ever suffered
by direct vote of the people.
SOURCE: John G. Nicolay and John Hay, Complete Works of Abraham Lincoln, Biographical Edition, Volume 1,
p. 1-9
