The broad ax., 1915-02-13
New Lincoln
Letters
Two Recently Found Relate
to His Nomination

TWO remarkably interesting 20
litical letters Of Abraham Lin
coin written only q short time
before his nomination for the
presidency at the Republican conven-
don In Chicago in May. 1890. were
published not long ago. and It Is be
IIeved they are not contained In eollec
lions Of uncoln's writings They
we're addressed to Major Richard n
CorWine, aid to General John Q. Ere
mont the Pathfinder" The earlier
of the two letters Is dated Springfield,
Ill, Aug 6. 1850. and says:
Ny Dear sir-Reaching home yesterday
after an absence OF more than two WeekA
1 found your letter Of the 18th o. March
Remembering that when not q very great
man begins 10 be mentioned tS5 very
great position his head Is very likely 70 be
q uttle turned. ] concluded 1 am not the
lifted person TO answer the questions you
ask. Making due allowance Tor thtA !
think Mr.. Seward 10 the very best can
didate we could have for the north Of
nlinois and the very worst for the south
Of II The estimate Of Governor Chase
hare d neither better nor worse than
that of Seward. except that he h newer
man. They are regarded a. being almost
the same, seniority giving Seward the IN
side track
Mr.. Batea. . think. would Os the besi
man for the south OF our state and the
vor1t for the north Of T. II Judge Nc
Lean was fifteen or even ten years young
er. / think he would be stronger than
either In our state. taken a. q whole out
his great age and the recollection OF the
deaths Of Harrison and Taylor have %
far prevented his being much spoken Of
here
1 really believe we can carry the state
for either Of them or for any one who
may be nominated. but doubles II would
be easier 20 do Il with some than with
others.
fee myself disqualified TO speak Of
myself in this matter. l feel this letter
win be of little value to you. but i can
make IL no better under the circumstances
Let II be strictly confidential-not thai
there is anything really Questionable IN
n. but because IL might be misconstrued
Yours very truly. A LINCOLN.
The second letter, marked Private,
is dated Springfield. ILL.,. May 2. 1850
II reads:
Dear Sir-Yours of the 3Oth ult Is Just
received. After what you nave salo II u
perhaps proper should post you. 90 tal
as / am able. as to the lay Of the land.
First I think the Illinois delegation vii
be unanimous for me At the start and ne
other delegation viii A few individual
IN other delegations would Ike to 80 fol
me at the start. but may be restrained
by their colleagues. II IL represented e
me by men who ought to know that tn'
whole Of Indiana might not be dimcul
to get. You know how II II In Ohio
am certainly not the first choice there
and yet / have not heard that any on'
makes any positive objection to me- II
lust 30 everywhere a. far as can per
ceive. Everywhere. except here In LII
nois and possibly Indiana, one or anothe
e preferred to me, but there Il no posi-
tive objection This II the ground a.
now appears. ! believe you personalli
know G. n Allen Of Vincennes. Ia n
Is a delegate and has notified me that Tn
entire Iowa delegation VIII be IN Chicag'
the same day you name, SATURDAY IN
9Th. Ny friends Jssss K Dubois. on
auditor. ana Judge David Davis VI
probably be there ready 10 confer viii
friends from ether 0tateA Let ne heal
from you again when anything occurs
YouTs very truly. A. LiHCOLN-