Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-02-05
New Lincoln
Letters
Two Recently Found Relate
to His Nomination

TNWO remarkably interesting po-
litical letters of Abraham Lin
coin written only a 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-
lleved they are moi contained in collec-
tons of Lincoln's writings. They
were addressed to Major Richard M.
Corwine, aid to General John G. Ere
mont. 1.-THE Pathfinder The earlier
of the two letters is dated Springfield,
Ill, Aug. g. 1850. and says:
My Dear Slr-Reaching home yesterday
after an absence of more than two weeks.
| found yoAr letter of the 24th of March,
Remembering that when not a very great
man begins 10 be mentioned for a very
great position his head isvery likely to be
a little turned, | concluded ! am not the
fitted person TO answer the questions you
ASH 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
of it. The estimate of Governor Chase
here is neither better nor worse than
that of Seward. except that he is a 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 1t. IL Judge Nc
Lear was fifteen or even ten years young
err, I 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 so
far prevented his being much spoken OF
here.
/ really believe we can carry the state
for either II them or for any one who
may be nominated. but doubtless it would
be easier to do 1t with some than with
others.
I feel myself disqualified to speak of
myself in this matter. | feel this letter
will be of little value to you. but | can
make it no better under the circumstances
Let 1t be strictly confdcntial-not that
there is anything really Objectionable In
1t, but because 1t might be misconstrhed
Yours very truly. A. LINCOLN.
The second letter. marked Private
is dated Springfield. H.. May 2, 1860.
1t reads:
Dear Sir-Yours of the SOth ult. is Just
received. After what you have said it is
perhaps proper | should post you. so far
as / am able. as to the LAY of the land
First, I think the Illinois delegation will
be unanimous for me at the start, and no
other delegation will. A few individuals
in other delegations would like to go for
me at the start. but may be restrained
by their colleagues. 1t is represented to
me by men who ought to know that the
whole of Indiana might not be difficult
to get. You know how it is in Ohio. |
am certainly not 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 / can per-
ceive. Everywhere. except here in Illi-
nois and possibly Indiana, one or another
is preferred to me. but there is no posi-
tive objection. This is the ground as It
now appears. / believe you personally
know G. NJ. Allen of Vincennes. la, He
is a 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.