The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-11-03
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
A Hitherto Unpublished Autograph Letter
from the Martyred President.

A Hitherto Unpublished Autograph Letter
from the Martyred President.
[From the Springfield (nl.) Journal.l
Below we print a remarkable and
Characteristic autograph letter of Presi-
dent Lincoln, addres sed to the late Col.
Robert Allen, former we'll known citi-
zen of Springfield, and which, so far as
Is now known, has never before been in
print. 1t was recently presented by
Col. Aliens son, Maj. Robert Allen, to
Mr.. j. @. Power, Custodian of the Lin
coin Monument, who has had it framed
with the design of depositing il in
"Memorial Hail." at the base of the
monument, with other relics of the mar
tyred President.
1t will be seen that it bears date over
forty years ago, and was written by Mr..
Lincoln when he was q candidate for the
Illinois Legislature, he being then only
27 years of age. A notable feature of
the original is the clearness, conciseness
and vigor of its style, and its correct
ness, even to the details of punctuation.
This indicates that Mr.. Lincoln had
been before that time close AMI accu-
rate student, and had made himself
master of his own language. Junius
himself could not have written with
more vigor, nor William h. Seward ex-
pressed himself with more diplomatic
skill.
Search has been made in the files of
the Journal of that time for reply to
this letter, but neither the letter nor the
reply-if any was ever returned in writ
ing--has been discovered. The fact
that Mr.. Lincoln and Col. Allen, though
opposed in politics, remained close per
sonal friends thereafter, would Indicate
that there may have been some misrep-
resentation in the report which came to
Mr.. Lincoln of the statements of the
latter, and, this having been explained,
there was no occasion for the publica-
ton of the letter or the reply to it. The
letter itself shows how jealous Mr.. Lin
coin was at that day at once of his own
good name and of the interest of the
State, and affords clue to the reputa-
ton which in higher positions he after
ward won as an honest man and unselfsh
statesman and patriot
THE LETTER.
NEW SALEM, June 81, 1886
DEAR COLONEL i am told that during my
Absence you passed through this place and
stated publicly that you were in possession Of
a fact or facts, which, II known to the public,
would entirely destroy the prospects OF N. w.
Edwards and myself at the ensuing election
but that. through favor to us, you should for
bear to divulge them.
No one has needed favors more than /, and
generally few have been less unwilling TO ac-
cept them but, in this case favor would be
injustice to the public, and therefore / must
beg your pardon for declining it. That
once mad the confidence OF the people Of San
CANON is sufficiently evident, and, il l have
since done anything, either by design or mis-
adventure which, il known, would subject me
forfeiture OF that confidence lie that
knows Of that thing and conceals it is O traitor
to his country's interest.
/ find myself wholly unable to form any
conjecture Of what fact or facts, real or sup
posed You spoke; but my opinion OF your
veracity will not pc rmit me for a moment to
dor BIT that you had at least believed what you
said. / am hattered with the personal regard
you manifested for me, but / do hope that, on
more mature reflection, you will view the
public interest as paramount consideration,
and, therefore, determine to let the worst
come. l assure you that the candid statement
OF facts on your part however low 1t may sink
me, shall never break the tie OF personal
friendship between us.
| wish an answer to this, and you are at lib
eriy to publish both il you choose. Very re-
spectfully. A. LINCOLN.
| Col Robert Allen.