Journal:

"In your paper of last Saturday I see a communication over the signature
of 'Many Voters' in which the candidates who are announced in the
journal are called upon to 'show their hands.' Agreed. Here's mine:

"I go for all sharing the privileges of the government who assist in
bearing its burdens. Consequently, I go for admitting all whites to
the right of suffrage who pay taxes or bear arms (by no means excluding
females).

"If elected, I shall consider the whole people of Sangamon my
constituents, as well those that oppose as those that support me.

"While acting as their Representative, I shall be governed by their will
on all subjects upon which I have the means of knowing what their will
is; and upon all others I shall do what my own judgment teaches me
will best advance their interests. Whether elected or not, I go for
distributing the proceeds of the sales of public lands to the several
States to enable our State, in common with others, to dig canals and
construct railroads without borrowing money and paying the interest on
it.

"If alive on the first Monday in November, I shall vote for Hugh L.
White, for President.

"Very respectfully,

"A. LINCOLN."

This was just the sort of letter to win the support of the plain-spoken
voters of Sangamon county. Lincoln not only received more votes than
any other candidate on the Legislative ticket, but the county which had
always been Democratic was turned Whig.

THE FAMOUS "LONG NINE."

The other candidates elected with Lincoln were Ninian W. Edwards, John
Dawson, Andrew McCormick, "Dan" Stone, William F. Elkin, Robert L.
Wilson, "Joe" Fletcher, and Archer G. Herndon. These were known as the
"Long Nine." Their average height was six feet, and average weight two
hundred pounds.

This Legislature was one of the most famous that ever convened in
Illinois. Bonds to the amount of $12,000,000 were voted to assist in
building thirteen hundred miles of railroad, to widen and deepen all the
streams in the State and to dig a canal from the Illinois river to Lake
Michigan. Lincoln favored all these plans, but in justice to him it must
be said that the people he represented were also in favor of them.

It was at this session that the State capital was changed from Vandalia
to Springfield. Lincoln, as the leader of the "Long Nine," had charge of
the bill and after a long and bitter struggle succeeded in passing it.

BEGINS TO OPPOSE SLAVERY.

At