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Lincoln in the local newspaper 40 days after assuming his first public office...
Lincoln in the local newspaper 40 days after assuming his first public office...
Item # 675874
January 10, 1835
ILLINOIS ADVOCATE, Vandalia, Jan. 10, 1835
* Extremely early Abraham Lincoln
At this time Vandalia was the capital of Illinois, located there from 1820 thru 1837 before being removed to Springfield. This is significant to this newspaper, as the appearance of Abraham Lincoln's name at such an early date would likely only appear in a newspaper from the state capital.
Almost the entire front page is taken up with coverage from the: "Illinois Legislature - House of Representatives". Keep in mind that Lincoln was first elected to the Illinois Legislature in August, 1834 taking his seat in the Assembly on December 1, just 40 days prior to this printing. As such he was a freshmen Assemblyman at this time.
The front page has the earliest mention of Lincoln we have found in any newspaper. And it gives evidence of his "tongue in cheek" humor for which he would become famous.
Lincoln suggested a solution to a ridiculous error that another Assemblyman made in posting a vacancy for an office when it had not been evacuated.
Three Assemblymen argued over how to resolve the dilemma. Lincoln finally interceded, the report noting in part: "...Mr. Lincoln said that if, as appeared to be the opinion of legal gentlemen, there was no danger of the new surveyor ousting the old one as long as he persisted in refusing to die--he would suggest the propriety of letting matters remain as they were, so that if the old surveyor should hereafter conclude to die, there would be a new one ready made without troubling the legislature...".
A great, and very early example of Lincoln's sharp, witty mind.
Four pages, quite wide, untrimmed margins, archivally rejoined at the spine, nice condition.
Category: Pre-Civil War
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