CHAPTER X. LINCOLN’S FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE VOTERS OF SANGAMON COUNTY.—HIS VIEWS ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SANGAMON.—THE MODESTY OF HIS CIRCULAR.
The only preliminary expected of a candidate for the legislature of Illinois at that date was an announcement stating his “sentiments with regard to local affairs.” The circular in which Lincoln complied with this custom was a document of about two thousand words, in which he plunged at once into the subject he believed most interesting to his constituents—“the public utility of internal improvements.”
LINCOLN’S FIRST VOTE.—PHOTOGRAPHED FROM THE ORIGINAL POLL-BOOK. AND NOW FIRST PUBLISHED.
_Note_: LINCOLN’S FIRST VOTE.—The original poll-book from which the vote as shown on page 126 is reproduced, is now on file in the County Clerk’s office, Springfield, Illinois. Lincoln’s first vote was cast at New Salem, “in the Clary’s Grove precinct,” August 1, 1831. At this election he aided Mr. Graham, who was one of the clerks. In the early days in Illinois, elections were conducted by the _viva voce_ method. The people did try voting by ballot, but the experiment was unpopular. It required too much “book larnin,” and in 1829 the _viva voce_ method of voting was restored. The judges and clerks sat at a table with the poll-book before them. The voter walked up, and announced the candidate of his choice, and it was recorded in his presence. There was no ticket peddling, and ballot-box stuffing was impossible. To this simple system we are indebted for the record of Lincoln’s first vote. As will be seen from the facsimile, Lincoln voted for James Turney for Congressman, Bowling Green and Edmund Greer for Magistrates, and John Armstrong and Henry Sinco for Constables. Of these five men three were elected. Turney was defeated for Congressman by Joseph Duncan. Turney lived in Greene County. He was not then a conspicuous figure in the politics of the State, but was a follower of Henry Clay, and was well thought of in his own district. He and Lincoln, in 1834, served their first terms together in the lower house of the legislature, and later he was a State senator. Joseph Duncan, the successful candidate, was already in Congress. He was a politician of influence. In 1834 he was a strong Jackson man; but after his election as Governor he created consternation among the followers of “Old Hickory” by becoming a Whig. Sidney Breese, who received only two votes in the Clary’s Grove precinct, afterward became the most conspicuous of the five candidates. Eleven years later he defeated Stephen A. Douglas for the United States Senate, and for twenty-five years he was on the bench of the Supreme Court of Illinois, serving under each of the three constitutions. For the office of Magistrate, Bowling Green was elected, but Greer was beaten. Both of Lincoln’s candidates for Constable were elected. John Armstrong was the man with whom, a short time afterward, Lincoln had the celebrated wrestling match. Henry Sinco was the keeper of a store at New Salem. Lincoln’s first vote for President was not cast until the next year (November 5, 1832), when he voted for Henry Clay. ]