llot. The
function of the politician, therefore, is one of continuous watchfulness
and activity, and he must have intimate knowledge of details if he would
work out grand results. Activity in politics also produces eager
competition and sharp rivalry. In 1839 the seat of government was
definitely transferred from Vandalia to Springfield, and there soon
gathered at the new State capital a group of young men whose varied
ability and future success in public service has rarely been
excelled--Douglas, Shields, Calhoun, Stuart, Logan, Baker, Treat,
Hardin, Trumbull, McClernand, Browning, McDougall, and others.

His new surroundings greatly stimulated and reinforced Mr. Lincoln's
growing experience and spreading acquaintance, giving him a larger share
and wider influence in local and State politics. He became a valued and
sagacious adviser in party caucuses, and a power in party conventions.
Gradually, also, his gifts as an attractive and persuasive campaign
speaker were making themselves felt and appreciated.

His removal, in April, 1837, from a village of twenty houses to a "city"
of about two thousand inhabitants placed him in striking new relations
and necessities as to dress, manners, and society, as well as politics;
yet here again, as in the case of his removal from his father's cabin to
New Salem six years before, peculiar conditions rendered the transition
less abrupt than would at first appear. Springfield, notwithstanding its
greater population and prospective dignity as the capital, was in many
respects no great improvement on New Salem. It had no public buildings,
its streets and sidewalks were unpaved, its stores, in spite of all
their flourish of advertisements, were staggering under the hard times
of 1837-39, and stagnation of business imposed a rigid economy on all
classes. If we may credit tradition, this was one of the most serious
crises of Lincoln's life. His intimate friend, William Butler, related
to the writer that, having attended a session of the legislature at
Vandalia, he and Lincoln returned together at its close to Springfield
by the usual mode of horseback travel. At one of their stopping-places
over night Lincoln, in one of his gloomy moods, told Butler the story of
the almost hopeless prospects which lay immediately before him--that the
session was over, his salary all drawn, and his money all spent; that he
had no resources and no work; that he did not know where to turn to earn
even a week'