Some praised him because he freed the slaves. Some lauded him for laying the foundation for the American West. Others liked him because he was the first Republican president.

Regardless of why they spoke, legislators and legislative visitors joined their voices Thursday in saluting Abraham Lincoln on the 200th anniversary of his birth.

The day began with State Historian Bill Convery praising Lincoln for his signing of the Homestead Act, Pacific Railway Act and the law that created land- grant colleges, calling those three key to the development of the West. The 16th president also got into politics to fight the proposed expansion of slavery into the West, he noted.

"Lincoln may never have set foot out here, but he was instrumental in shaping Colorado's political culture," Convery said.

Denver Public Safety Manager Al LaCabe then read the Gettysburg Address and part of Lincoln's second inaugural address at an event in the Old Supreme Court Chambers.

Later in the House and Senate, legislators read a resolution praising Lincoln's contributions to keeping the country together and to fostering development of Colorado. The resolution was written by a student-government class at Mountain Range High School in Westminster.

"It was great to hear. And I'm glad there was no opposition," student body president Alyssa Hendricks said after the resolution passed unanimously.

Rep. Nancy Todd, D-Aurora, praised Lincoln for the impact he had on freedom in this state and throughout the country.

Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, said Lincoln left a country that was whole and without slavery. And, he noted, he was the first GOP president.