The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1915-02-19
New Lincoln
Letters
Two Recently Found Relate
to His Nomination

T\WO remarkably interesting pc.
itical letters of Abraham Lin
coin written only short time
before his nomination for the
presidency at the Republican conven-
ton in Chicago in May, 1860, were
published not long ago, and it is be
lieved they are not contained in collec
tons of Lincoln's writings. They
were addressed to Major Richard NJ
Corwine, aid to General John G. Ere.
mont, 1.-THE Pathfinder" The earlier
Of the two letters is dated Springfield
ILL.,, Aug. 6, 1860. and says:
My Dear Sir-Reaching home yesterday
after an absence of more than two weeks
found your letter of the oath of March
Remembering that when not very great
man begins TO be mentioned for very
great position his head is very likely to be
a little turned, l concluded | am not the
fitted person to answer the questions you
ask. Making due allowance for this
think Mr.. Seward is the very best can
didate we could have for the. north Of
Illinois and the very worst for the south
VI II. lu0 cSIlIlldl6 VI 1ONCALOL SAdoS
here is neither better nor worse thar
that of Seward, except that he is newer
man. They are regarded as being almost
the same, seniority giving Seward the in
side track.
Mr.. Bates, | think, would be the best
man for the south of our state and the
worst for the north of it. If Judge Nc
Lean was fifteen OF even ten years young
er, / think he would be stronger than
either in our state, taken as a whole, but
his great age and the recollection of the
deaths of Harrison and Taylor have sc
far prevented his being much spoken Of
here.
l really believe we can carry the state
for either of them or for any one who
may be nominated, but doubtless it would
be easier to do it with some than with
others.
I feel myself disqualified to speak Of
myself in this matter. l feel this letter
will be of little value to you, but l can
make it no better under the circumstances
Let it be strictly confidential-not that
there is anything really Objectionable in
it, but because it might be misconstrued
Yours very truly. A. LINCOLN.
The second letter, marked Private
is dated Springfield, ILL.,. May 2, 1860
It reads:
Dear Sir-Yours Of the Both ult is just
received. After what you have said it is
perhaps proper I should post you, SO far
as am able. as to the LAY Of the land
First, think the Illinois delegation will
be unanimous for me at the start, and nc
other delegation will. A few individuals
in other delegations would like to go fol
me at the start. but may be restrained
by their colleagues. 1t is represented tc
me by men who ought to know that the
whole of Indiana might not be difficult
to get. You know how 1t is in Ohio.
am certainly nat the first choice there
and yet | have not heard that any one
makes any positive objection to me- 1t is
just so everywhere as far as l can per-
ceive. Everywhere, except here in Hi
nois and possibly Indiana, one or another
is preferred to me, but there is no posi-
tive objection. This is the ground as il
now appears. ] believe you personally
know C. M. Allen of Vincennes, la. He
is delegate and has notified me that the
entire Iowa delegation will be in Chicago
the same day you name. Saturday. the
18th. My friends Jesse K. Dubois. our
auditor, and Judge David Davis will
probably be there ready to confer with
friends from other states. Let me hear
from you again when anything occurs
Yours very truly, A. LINCOLN