The Wisdom of Young Man Lincoln

Much has been made of a certain politician and a purported affinity to our 16th president. I'm a rookie on the subject, but have gotten my feet a bit wet this semester by teaching American Political Thought for the first time. I was struck by one of Lincoln's first political speeches, given as a 23 year old running for state representative to Sangamo County. As a good Whig, Lincoln supported internal improvements, what we'd call today infrastructure. One pertinent issue for the good people of Sangamo County was whether they'd be better off with a railroad or navigation improvements to the Sangamo river. A railroad would be a significant improvement, and all things equal a more reliable route than the river, but there was one problem. See if you can discern it:

Yet, however desirable an object the construction of a rail road through our country may be; however high our imaginations may be heated at thoughts of it--there is always a heart appalling shock accompanying the account of its cost, which forces us to shrink from our pleasing anticipations. The probable cost of this contemplated rail road is estimated at $290,000;--the bare statement of which, in my opinion, is sufficient to justify the belief, that the improvement of the Sangamo river is an object much better suited to our infant resources.

I wonder if we could use a little more "heart appalling shock" in Washington these days . . .

Comments

[Hunter Baker]

Isn't that the truth? I think Americans are experiencing that right now. We got used to running up a big debt, but the speed with which we are multiplying has caught a lot of hearts down around the knees.