I
hardly know what to say. The way for a young man to rise is to
improve himself every way he can, never suspecting that anybody
wishes to hinder him. Allow me to assure you that suspicion and
jealousy never did help any man in any situation. There may
sometimes be ungenerous attempts to keep a young man down; and
they will succeed, too, if he allows his mind to be diverted from
its true channel to brood over the attempted injury. Cast about
and see if this feeling has not injured every person you have
ever known to fall into it."
He was about forty years old when he wrote this letter. By some
people that is not considered a very great age; but he doubtless
felt himself immensely older, as he was infinitely wiser, than
his petulant young correspondent.
General Taylor was triumphantly elected, and it then became
Lincoln's duty, as Whig member of Congress from Illinois, to
recommend certain persons to fill government offices in that
State. He did this after he returned to Springfield, for his term
in Congress ended on March 4, 1849, the day that General Taylor
became President. The letters that he sent to Washington when
forwarding the papers and applications of people who wished
appointment were both characteristic and amusing; for in his
desire not to mislead or to do injustice to any man, they were
very apt to say more in favor of the men he did not wish to see
appointed than in recommendation of his own particular
candidates.
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