thus were presented in the presidential campaign, candidates of every shade of political creed.

In Illinois, the campaign of 1858 was continued and in some respects repeated, with the same candidates, but in what different relations! Douglas, as had been then predicted, was the candidate of a segment of the divided democracy, while Lincoln, whom he had then defeated, was, by the very notoriety of that contest and the masterly manner in which he had presented the arguments on his side of the issue then joined, again brought to the front against him and made the candidate of the united. republicans of the entire country for the higher office of president.

For the first time in twenty years, during the progress of a political campaign in Illinois, the voice of Lincoln was not heard. But the record of his former speeches afforded the text from which the republican stump-orators in every free-state gathered at once their logic and their inspiration. Though the orator himself was silent, the potent echo of his voice resounded from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Douglas, on the contrary, ever ready for a fight and fearless of the consequences, carried the war of democratic factions into every slave-state. For the first time in the history of the country, a leading candidate for president went directly before the people as his own advocate and the exponent of his own views. He knew that his only hope of success was in the union of the democratic party, and although that hope was slender, he "buckled on his armour and went bravely to the fray;" with what disastrous result, is well known. Lincoln, while he received no votes in ten Southern States and but a light vote in the other five, carried every free-state except New Jersey, whose electoral vote was divided between himself and Douglas. Breckinridge carried all the Southern States except his ownKentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, where Bell received a small plurality, and Missouri, where Douglas had a few more votes than Bell.*

The gubernatorial canvas in Illinois was exceedingly brilliant,

* The popular vote was: Lincoln, 1,866,352; Douglas, 1,375,157; Breckinridge, 847,514; Bell, 587,830. Electoral vote: Lincoln, 180; Breckinridge, 72; Bell, 39; Douglas, 12.

and the most exciting since that of 1826, when Edwards was elected over Sloo. The two principal candidates had served together in congress and were popular with their respective parties, as well as eloquent speakers. Their meetings were attended by large crowds, who formed processions, with music and flying banners. The people recorded their verdict at the polls as follows: for Yates, 172,196 votes; Allen, 159,253; T. M. Hope, 2049; John T. Stuart, 1626.

Richard Yates, upon whom the executive mantle of Illinois had now fallen, was born in Warsaw, Gallatin County, Ky., on Jan. 18, 1815. His family was of English origin, first settling in Virginia. His father, Henry, a man of superior mental endowments, was one of the pioneers of Kentucky, but, being fully impressed with the evils of slavery, resolved in 1831 to remove to the free-State of Illinois. Stopping first at Springfield, where he carried on the business of a merchant, he settled permanently at Island Grove in the same county.

Richard completed his scholastic training at Illinois College in 1835, having been one of the first two graduates of that institution, and was the first governor of the State who had passed regularly through a college curriculum. Of medium height and proportions, the striking feature of the governor was his fine head, covered with a thick growth of dark auburn hair. His face was expressive at once of power, passion, and amiability. His voice was strong and flexible-well adapted to speaking in the open air. His address was courteous, and his manners exceedingly frank and winning. In the opening of his speeches, he was so nervous as to excite apprehensions of a failure, but as he proceeded he gained confidence, and his embarrassment disappeared or was forgotten in the charm of his oratory. This timidity or nervousness followed him through life, although in his political speeches, as he became familiar with the subject, it was not so apparent.

He read law in the office of Gen. John J. Hardin at Jacksonville, and entered upon its practice with flattering prospects of success. But the wider and more congenial field of the hustings presented attractions which he was unable to resist. Accordingly in 1842, he entered the arena of politics and was elected to the legislature, where he served three terms in the lower

house. Here, although always in the minority, he made many valuable acquaintances and became a popular member. He frequently took part in the debates, and was looked upon as a rising young statesman. In 1850, he became the whig candidate for congress in the old seventh district, which had successively elected Hardin, Baker, and Lincoln to congress, but which, in a contest with Judge Logan in 1848, had been wrested from the whigs by the gallant Maj. Thomas L. Harris, victoriously returned from the Mexican war. Yates was selected to redeem the district. The canvas which followed was able and hotly maintained. Joint discussions, in the old-fashioned way, were held in every county. Harris was the better debater, but Yates the more eloquent speaker, and together they made a splendid match. Off the stump, however, Yates had greatly the advantage.

He possessed a personal magnetism which enabled him to attach his friends to his support with hooks of steel. Without the unpolished strength and genius of Lincoln in argument, or the grace and wit of Baker in oratory, he was the superior of either in the personal management of a political campaign. Yates was elected by a small majority, and was the only whig congressman who achieved success in Illinois that year.

Again a candidate in 1852, the democrats made the mistake of putting up against him John Calhoun, who was not strong with the people, although a man of fine ability, and had large claims on his party for past services. The district had been so changed in the apportionment that it was supposed any democrat could be elected. But in this his opponents had underestimated the strength and resources of Yates, who was again successful, although the district gave Pierce, for president, 1096 majority. In 1854, however, he fell a victim to the changing political affiliations consequent upon the Kansas- Nebraska agitation. Notwithstanding he ran ahead of his ticket over 1000 votes, he was defeated by his old antagonist, Maj. Harris, by 200 majority. He was a vice-president of the Bloomington convention in 1856, but was not again actively engaged in politics until the great campaign of 1860.

Francis A. Hoffman, the lieutenant-governor elect, was born at Herford, Prussia, in 1822. On arriving at Chicago in Sept