Changes

The training he had given himself also enabled him to write a simple letter or a speech on the spot.  At one point in his life, he was in the Illinois State House in 1836, just giving a prepared speech in support of his re-election.  Democrat John Forquer, also seeking election, used his response and acid tounge to denounce him. "This young man needs to be taken down" he said, pointing to Lincoln, "and I'm afraid the task devolves upon me." The success of Forquer's speech convinced some of Lincoln's own allies that his career was over.

The training he had given himself also enabled him to write a simple letter or a speech on the spot.  At one point in his life, he was in the Illinois State House in 1836, just giving a prepared speech in support of his re-election.  Democrat John Forquer, also seeking election, used his response and acid tounge to denounce him. "This young man needs to be taken down" he said, pointing to Lincoln, "and I'm afraid the task devolves upon me." The success of Forquer's speech convinced some of Lincoln's own allies that his career was over.

But when Lincoln rose to make his rebuttal, he thought of the object Forquer had recently added to his house. Forquer conived with President Andrew Jackson to change parties, and in reward for doing so was made Government Land Register with a with $3,000 annual salary. He was then able to construct a fine new house in Springfield, complete with a curiosity residents had heard about but never seen before: an iron lightning rod.

But when Lincoln rose to make his rebuttal, he thought of the object Forquer had recently added to his house. Forquer conived with President Andrew Jackson to change parties, and in reward for doing so was made Government Land Register with a with $3,000 annual salary. He was then able to construct a fine new house in Springfield, complete with a curiosity residents had heard about but never seen before: an iron lightning rod.  Lincoln's reply was blistering, and sealed Forquer's fate.  

Lincoln's reply was blistering, and sealed Forquer's fate. "Among other things he said, the gentleman commenced his speech by saying that 'this young man,' alluding to me, 'must be taken down.' I am not so young in years as I am in the tricks and the trades of a politician, but, live long or die young, I would rather die now than, like the gentleman, change my politics, and with the change receive an office worth $3,000 a year, and then feel obliged to erect a lightning-rod over my house to protect a guilty conscience from an offended God!"

:''"Among other things he said, the gentleman commenced his speech by saying that 'this young man,' alluding to me, 'must be taken down.' I am not so young in years as I am in the tricks and the trades of a politician, but, live long or die young, I would rather die now than, like the gentleman, change my politics, and with the change receive an office worth $3,000 a year, and then feel obliged to erect a lightning-rod over my house to protect a guilty conscience from an offended God!"''

Lincoln also didn't have to do twice one of his finest personal letters, one of consolation to Mrs. Bixby of Boston, who had lost five sons in the war.

Lincoln also didn't have to do twice one of his finest personal letters, one of consolation to Mrs. Bixby of Boston, who had lost five sons in the war.