IN THE SENATE.

Mr. Lincoln made no secret at this time of his ambition to represent
Illinois in the United States Senate. Against his protest he was
nominated and elected to the Legislature, but resigned his seat. His
old rival, James Shields, with whom he was once near to a duel, was then
senator, and his term was to expire the following year.

A letter, written by Mr. Lincoln to a friend in Paris, Illinois, at this
time is interesting and significant. He wrote:

"I have a suspicion that a Whig has been elected to the Legislature from
Eagar. If this is not so, why, then, 'nix cum arous;' but if it is
so, then could you not make a mark with him for me for United States
senator? I really have some chance."

Another candidate besides Mr. Lincoln was seeking the seat in the
United States Senate, soon to be vacated by Mr. Shields. This was Lyman
Trumbull, an anti-slavery Democrat. When the Legislature met it was
found that Mr. Lincoln lacked five votes of an election, while Mr.
Trumbull had but five supporters. After several ballots Mr. Lincoln
feared that Trumbull's votes would be given to a Democratic candidate
and he determined to sacrifice himself for the principle at stake.
Accordingly he instructed his friends in the Legislature to vote for
Judge Trumbull, which they did, resulting in Trumbull's election.

The Abolitionists in the West had become very radical in their views,
and did not hesitate to talk of opposing the extension of slavery by
the use of force if necessary. Mr. Lincoln, on the other hand, was
conservative and counseled moderation. In the meantime many outrages,
growing out of the extension of slavery, were being perpetrated on the
borders of Kansas and Missouri, and they no doubt influenced Mr. Lincoln
to take a more radical stand against the slavery question.

An incident occurred at this time which had great effect in this
direction. The negro son of a colored woman in Springfield had gone
South to work. He was born free, but did not have his free papers with
him. He was arrested and would have been sold into slavery to pay his
prison expenses, had not Mr. Lincoln and some friends purchased his
liberty. Previous to this Mr. Lincoln had tried to secure the boy's
release through the Governor of Illinois, but the Governor informed him
that nothing could be done.

Then it was that Mr. Lincoln rose to his full height and exclaimed:

"Governor, I'll make the ground in this country too hot for the