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.

This absolute and impartial fairness to friend and foe alike was
one of his strongest traits, governing every action of his life.
If it had not been for this, he might possibly have enjoyed
another term in Congress, for there had been talk of reelecting
him. In spite of his confession to Speed that "being elected to
Congress, though I am very grateful to our friends for having
done it, has not pleased me as much as I expected," this must
have been flattering. But there were many able young men in
Springfield who coveted the honor, and they had entered into an
agreement among themselves that each would be content with a
single term. Lincoln of course remained faithful to this promise.
His strict keeping of promises caused him also to lose an
appointment from President Taylor as Commissioner of the General