Chapter 15.
- Effect of the canvass of 1858 on Lincoln's pocket-book. -- attempts to lecture. -- on the stump with Douglas in Ohio. -- incidents of the Ohio canvass. -- the dawn of 1860. -- Presidential suggestions. -- meeting in the office of the Secretary of State. -- the Cooper Institute speech. -- speaking in New England. -- Looming up. -- preparing for Chicago. -- letters to a friend. -- the Decatur convention. -- John Hanks bringing in the rails. -- the Chicago convention. -- the canvass of 1860. -- Lincoln casting his ballot. -- attitude of the clergy in Springfield. -- the election and result.
The result of the campaign of 1858 wrought more disaster to Lincoln's finances than to his political prospects. The loss of over six months from his business, and expenses of the canvass, made a severe drain on his personal income. He was anxious to get back to the law once more and earn a little ready money. A letter written about this time to his friend Norman B. Judd, Chairman of the Republican State Committee, will serve to throw some light on the situation he found himself in. “I have been on expenses so long, without earning anything,” he says, “that I am, absolutely without money now for even household expenses. Still, if you can put in $250 for me towards discharging the debt of the committee, I will allow it when you and I settle the private matter between us. This, with what I have already paid, with an outstanding note of mine, will exceed my subscription of $500. This, too, is exclusive of my ordinary expenses during the campaign, all of which, being added to my loss of time and business, bears prettily heavily upon one no better off than I am. But as I had the post of honor, it is not for me to be over-nice.” At the time this letter was written his property consisted of the house and lot on
