She had a right of dower (that
is, the use of one-third for life) in the other two forties; but, it
seems, she has already let you take that, hook and line. She now has the
use of the whole of the east forty, as long as she lives; and if it be
sold, of course she is entitled to the interest on all the money it
brings, as long as she lives; but you propose to sell it for three
hundred dollars, take one hundred away with you, and leave her two
hundred at 8 per cent., making her the enormous sum of 16 dollars a year.
Now, if you are satisfied with treating her in that way, I am not. It is
true that you are to have that forty for two hundred dollars, at Mother's
death, but you are not to have it before. I am confident that land can be
made to produce for Mother at least $30 a year, and I can not, to oblige
any living person, consent that she shall be put on an allowance of
sixteen dollars a year.
Yours, etc.,
A. LINCOLN.
1852
EULOGY ON HENRY CLAY, DELIVERED IN THE STATE HOUSE AT SPRINGFIELD,
ILLINOIS, JULY 16, 1852.
On the fourth day of July, 1776, the people of a few feeble and oppressed
colonies of Great Britain, inhabiting a portion of the Atlantic coast of
North America, publicly declared their national independence, and made
their appeal to the justice of their cause and to the God of battles for
the maintenance of that declaration.
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