Political Corruption: Abraham Lincoln's Vow

“I know that the great volcano at Washington—aroused and directed by the evil spirit that reigns there—is belching forth the lava of political corruption… while on its bosom are riding, like demons on the waves of hell, the imps of the Evil Spirit…” [1]

So thundered Abraham Lincoln on September 26, 1839, in Springfield, Illinois, during his fourth campaign for the Illinois legislature.

Though far less known than the Gettysburg or Lyceum Addresses, this fiery 1839 speech offers a glimpse into Lincoln’s early rhetorical style—marked by vivid imagery and moral urgency. He conjured a “volcano at Washington” and “imps of the Evil Spirit” to condemn the political corruption he saw erupting from the federal government.

What had Lincoln so riled up in 1839 was his belief that political corruption was spreading like wildfire—and threatening the very soul of the republic. As he warned:

“Many free countries have lost their liberty—and ours may lose hers.” [1]

He was responding to what he saw as the dangerous influence of President Martin Van Buren’s administration and its patronage system. As a member of the Whig party in Illinois, Lincoln believed federal power was being misused to reward allies, punish dissenters, and consolidate control under one political party. Washington, in his eyes, had become a volcano—“aroused and directed by the evil spirit that reigns there”—belching corruption across the land.

What really ignited his fury?

The erosion of public virtue: Lincoln believed democracy depends on moral integrity. When leaders use power for personal or partisan gain, it poisons the system.

The normalization of corruption: He feared Americans were becoming numb to it—that the lava was sweeping away “every green spot or living thing.”

The mockery of resistance: Reformers like him were ridiculed, marginalized, and told their efforts were hopeless—“[the administration] taunting all those who dare resist.”

But Lincoln wasn’t just angry—he was defiant. He vowed never to bow to the tide, even if it broke him. That speech wasn’t just political—it was personal. It was a declaration of moral war against the forces he believed could destroy the republic from within.

“I swear eternal fidelity to the just cause, as I deem it, of the land of my life, my liberty, and my love.” [1]

Today, Lincoln’s accusations and vow read like a memo across time.

🌋 The Volcano Belches Again

That volcano in Washington is active again. But now it has better PR. The lava flows slicker—through contracts, algorithms, and press releases. It’s packaged as policy and sold as patriotism. The green spots are paved over. And riding its molten surface—just as Lincoln described—are the “imps of the Evil Spirit,” mocking those who still believe in the Constitution and the rule of law.

But Lincoln knew better. He knew that fidelity to the principle, "We, the people" isn’t fashionable—it’s foundational. That defiance isn’t reckless—it’s righteous. That standing alone isn’t failure—it’s the beginning of resistance. As he said,

“Let none falter who thinks he is right, and we may succeed.” [1]

So let the lava flow. Let the demons mock. Let the machinery grind. We still have the oath. Not to a person. Not to a party. Not to a platform. But to the cause our Founders fought to create—a country whose soul is, in Lincoln’s words, “of the people, by the people, for the people.”

And if we fail? Well, to paraphrase Lincoln,

Then let it be said that we did not go quietly. 

That we did not mistake silence for survival. 

That we stood—even in the ashes—and said: 

Not this time. Not without a fight.

📝 An Afterword

Irony alert: Just three years after this fiery speech, Lincoln helped host Van Buren—now a former president—in Springfield. Political courtesy? Strategic optics? Maybe both. But it’s a reminder that Lincoln’s defiance was principled, not petty. He didn’t bow to power—but he didn’t shun civility either. 

The man who saw Washington as a volcano knew that resistance doesn’t require rudeness. It requires resolve.

This was another topic from the archives of Abraham Lincoln, Storyteller. 

Mac

🎩 Before the volcano and the vow—there was the forge. [Read: The Forge That Shaped Young Abraham Lincoln]

📚 Works Cited

[1] Lincoln’s entire 1839 Springfield speech can be found in Volume 1 of the Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, specifically .