Lincoln the Candidate

Beardstown artist William Barnhart has depicted Lincoln addressing the enthusiastic crowd in Beardstown, August 12, 1858. The audience for this speech, Lincoln's first of the regular senatorial campaign, included citizens from Morgan and Schuyler counties as well as from Beardstown and the rest of Cass County. There were two bands, two military companies, and a mounted escort to make up for the lack of a cannon, sabotaged by the Democrats. Both Lincoln and Douglas spoke to crowds larger than previously seen in any campaign. In addition, the press coverage was nationwide, giving Lincoln, a relatively unknown politician, the reputation which would enable his successful presidential bit two years later.

While the 1858 Senatorial contest may be Abraham Lincoln's best known political campaign, his bid for Congress in 1846 may rank as his most bizarre because of one incident. Lincoln's Democratic opponent was the famed Methodist circuit rider, Peter Cartwright. Fearing the popular Lincoln would coast to victory, Cartwright stirred the pot toward the end of the campaign by claiming that Lincoln openly scoffed Christianity. Just days before the election, Lincoln issued a handbill refuting Cartwright's accusation. In it, he explained: "That I am not a member of any Christian Church, is true; but I have never denied the truth of the Scriptures; and I have never spoken with intentional disrespect of religion in general, or of any denomination of Christians in particular." Though Cartwright's accusations had no obvious negative impact on the election-Lincoln won by an unprecedented margin-questions about his religious views continued throughout his live.