Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition.  Whether it be true or not, I can say, for one, that I have no other so great as that of being truly esteemed of my fellow-men by rendering myself worthy of their esteem.  How far I shall succeed in gratifying this ambition is yet to be developed.  I am young and unknown to many of you; I was born and have ever remained in the most humble walks of life.  I have no wealthy or popular relations or friends to recommend me.  My case is thrown exclusively upon the independent voters of the county, and if elected, they will have conferred a favour upon me for which I shall be unremitting in my labours to compensate.  But if the good people in their wisdom shall see fit to keep me in the background, I have been too familiar with disappointments to be very much chagrined.

     Your friend and fellow-citizen,
       A. Lincoln.

Letter to Colonel Robert Allen.  June 21, 1836

Dear Colonel, I am told that during my absence last week you passed through this place, and stated publicly that you were in possession of a fact or facts which, if known to the public, would entirely destroy the prospects of N.W.  Edwards and myself at the ensuing election; but that, through favour to us, you should forbear to divulge them.  No one has needed favours more than I, and, generally, few have been less unwilling to accept them; but in this case favour to me would be injustice to the public, and therefore I must beg your pardon for declining it.  That I once had the confidence of the people of Sangamon, is sufficiently evident; and if I have since done anything, either by design or misadventure, which if known would subject me to a forfeiture of that confidence, he that knows of that thing, and conceals it, is a traitor to his country’s interest.

I find myself wholly unable to form any conjecture of what fact or facts, real or supposed, you spoke; but my opinion of your veracity will not permit me for a moment to doubt that you at least believed what you said.  I am flattered with the personal regard you manifested for me; but I do hope that, on more mature reflection, you will view the public interest as a paramount consideration, and therefore determine to let the worst come.  I here assure you that the candid statement of facts on your part, however low it may sink me, shall never break the tie of personal friendship between us.  I wish an answer to this, and you are at liberty to publish both, if you choose.

Lincoln’s Opinion on Universal Suffrage.  From a Letter published in the Sangamon “Journal.”  June 13, 1836

I go for all sharing the privileges of the government who assist in bearing its burdens:  consequently I go for admitting all whites to the right of suffrage who pay taxes or bear arms [by no means excluding females].

From an Address before the Young Men’s Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois.  January 27, 1837