按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
one of great pecuniary loss。
I now distinctly say thisif you shall be appointed a delegate to
Chicago； I will furnish one hundred dollars to bear the expenses of
the trip。
Your friend as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
＇Extract from a letter to a Kansas delegate。＇
TO J。 W。 SOMERS。
SPRINGFIELD； March 17； 1860
JAMES W。 SOMERS； Esq。
DEAR SIR：Reaching home three days ago； I found your letter of
February 26th。 Considering your difficulty of hearing； I think you
had better settle in Chicago； if； as you say； a good man already in
fair practice there will take you into partnership。 If you had not
that difficulty； I still should think it an even balance whether you
would not better remain in Chicago； with such a chance for
copartnership。
If I went west； I think I would go to Kansas； to Leavenworth or
Atchison。 Both of them are and will continue to be fine growing
places。
I believe I have said all I can； and I have said it with the deepest
interest for your welfare。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
ACCUSATION OF HAVING BEEN PAID FOR A
POLITICAL SPEECH
TO C。 F。 McNEIL。
SPRINGFIELD； April 6； 1860
C。 F。 MCNEIL； Esq。
DEAR SIR：Reaching home yesterday； I found yours of the 23d March；
inclosing a slip from The Middleport Press。 It is not true that I
ever charged anything for a political speech in my life； but this
much is true： Last October I was requested by letter to deliver some
sort of speech in Mr。 Beecher's church； in Brooklyntwo hundred
dollars being offered in the first letter。 I wrote that I could do
it in February； provided they would take a political speech if I
could find time to get up no other。 They agreed； and subsequently I
informed them the speech would have to be a political one。 When I
reached New York； I for the first time learned that the place was
changed to 〃Cooper Institute。〃 I made the speech； and left for New
Hampshire； where I have a son at school； neither asking for pay nor
having any offered me。 Three days after a check for two hundred
dollars was sent to me at New Hampshire； and I took it； and did not
know it was wrong。 My understanding now isthough I knew nothing of
it at the timethat they did charge for admittance to the Cooper
Institute； and that they took in more than twice two hundred dollars。
I have made this explanation to you as a friend； but I wish no
explanation made to our enemies。 What they want is a squabble and a
fuss； and that they can have if we explain； and they cannot have it
if we don't。
When I returned through New York from New England； I was told by the
gentlemen who sent me the Check that a drunken vagabond in the club；
having learned something about the two hundred dollars； made the
exhibition out of which The Herald manufactured the article quoted by
The Press of your town。
My judgment is； and therefore my request is； that you give no denial
and no explanation。
Thanking you for your kind interest in the matter； I remain；
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO H。 TAYLOR。
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。； April 21； 1860。
HAWKINS TAYLOR； Esq。
DEAR SIR：Yours of the 15th is just received。 It surprises me that
you have written twice； without receiving an answer。 I have answered
all I ever received from you； and certainly one since my return from
the East。
Opinions here； as to the prospect of Douglas being nominated； are
quite conflictingsome very confident he will； and others that he
will not be。 I think his nomination possible； but that the chances
are against him。
I am glad there is a prospect of your party passing this way to
Chicago。 Wishing to make your visit here as pleasant as we can； we
wish you to notify us as soon as possible whether you come this way；
how many； and when you will arrive。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN
TELEGRAM TO A MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS DELEGATION
AT THE CHICAGO CONVENTION。
SPRINGFIELD； May 17？ 1860。
I authorize no bargains and will be bound by none。
A。 LINCOLN。
REPLY TO THE COMMITTEE SENT BY THE CHICAGO CONVENTION TO INFORM
LINCOLN OF HIS
NOMINATION；
MAY 19； 1860。
Mr。 CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMITTEE：I tender to you； and
through you to the Republican National Convention； and all the people
represented in it； my profoundest thanks for the high honor done me；
which you now formally announce。 Deeply and even painfully sensible
of the great responsibility which is inseparable from this high
honora responsibility which I could almost wish had fallen upon
some one of the far more eminent men and experienced statesmen whose
distinguished names were before the conventionI shall； by your
leave； consider more fully the resolutions of the convention；
denominated their platform； and without any unnecessary or
unreasonable delay respond to you； Mr。 Chairman； in writingnot
doubting that the platform will be found satisfactory； and the
nomination gratefully accepted。
And now I will not longer defer the pleasure of taking you； and each
of you； by the hand。
ACCEPTANCE OF NOMINATION AS REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE
FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
TO GEORGE ASHMUN AND OTHERS。
SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS； May 23； 1860
HON。 GEORGE ASHMUN；
President of Republican National Convention。
SIR：I accept the nomination tendered me by the convention over
which you presided； and of which I am formally apprised in the letter
of yourself and others； acting as a committee of the convention for
that purpose。
The declaration of principles and sentiments which accompanies your
letter meets my approval； and it shall be my care not to violate or
disregard it in any part。
Imploring the assistance of Divine Providence； and with due regard to
the views and feelings of all who were represented in the convention；
to the rights of all the States and Territories and people of the
nation； to the inviolability of the Constitution； and the perpetual
union； harmony； and prosperity of allI am most happy to co…operate
for the practical success of the principles declared by the
convention。
Your obliged friend and fellow…citizen；
A。 LINCOLN。
To C。 B。 SMITH。
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。； May 26； 1860。
HON。 C。 B。 SMITH。
MY DEAR SIR：…Yours of the 21st was duly received； but have found no
time until now to say a word in the way of answer。 I am indeed much
indebted to Indiana； and； as my home friends tell me； much to you
personally。 Your saying； you no longer consider Ia。 a doubtful State
is very gratifying。 The thing starts well everywheretoo well； I
almost fear； to last。 But we are in； and stick or go through must be
the word。
Let me hear from Indiana occasionally。
Your friend； as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
FORM OF REPLY PREPARED BY MR。 LINCOLN； WITH WHICH HIS PRIVATE
SECRETARY WAS INSTRUCTED TO ANSWER A NUMEROUS CLASS OF LETTERS IN
THE CAMPAIGN OF 1860。
（Doctrine。）
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS； _______； 1860
DEAR SIR：Your letter to Mr。 Lincoln of and by which you seek to
obtain his opinions on certain political points； has been received by
him。 He has received others of a similar character； but he also has
a greater number of the exactly opposite character。 The latter class
beseech him to write nothing whatever upon any point of political
doctrine。 They say his positions were well known when he was
nominated； and that he must not now embarrass the canvass by
undertaking to shift or modify them。 He regrets that he cannot
oblige all； but you perceive it is impossible for him to do so。
Yours； etc。；
JNO。 J。 NICOLAY。
TO E。 B。 WASHBURNE。
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS；
MAY 26； 1860
HON。 E。 B。 WASHBURNE。
MY DEAR SIR：I have several letters from you written since the
nomination； but t