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！
MY DEAR SIR：Yours of the 13th was received this morning。 Douglas
is managing the Bell element with great adroitness。 He had his men
in Kentucky to vote for the Bell candidate； producing a result which
has badly alarmed and damaged Breckenridge； and at the same time has
induced the Bell men to suppose that Bell will certainly be
President； if they can keep a few of the Northern States away from us
by throwing them to Douglas。 But you； better than I； understand all
this。
I think there will be the most extraordinary effort ever made to
carry New York for Douglas。 You and all others who write me from
your State think the effort cannot succeed； and I hope you are right。
Still； it will require close watching and great efforts on the other
side。
Herewith I send you a copy of a letter written at New York； which
sufficiently explains itself； and which may or may not give you a
valuable hint。 You have seen that Bell tickets have been put on the
track both here and in Indiana。 In both cases the object has been； I
think； the same as the Hunt movement in New Yorkto throw States to
Douglas。 In our State； we know the thing is engineered by Douglas
men； and we do not believe they can make a great deal out of it。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
SLOW TO LISTEN TO CRIMINATIONS
TO HON。 JOHN ______________
（Private。）
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。； Aug。 31； 1860
MY DEAR SIR：Yours of the 27th is duly received。 It consists almost
exclusively of a historical detail of some local troubles； among some
of our friends in Pennsylvania； and I suppose its object is to guard
me against forming a prejudice against Mr。 McC___________； I have not
heard near so much upon that subject as you probably suppose； and I
am slow to listen to criminations among friends； and never expose
their quarrels on either side。 My sincere wish is that both sides
will allow bygones to be bygones； and look to the present and future
only。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO HANNIBAL HAMLIN
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS； September 4； 1860
HON。 HANNIBAL HAMLIN。
MY DEAR SIR：I am annoyed some by a letter from a friend in Chicago；
in which the following passage occurs： 〃Hamlin has written Colfax
that two members of Congress will； he fears； be lost in Maine； the
first and sixth districts； and that Washburne's majority for governor
will not exceed six thousand。〃
I had heard something like this six weeks ago； but had been assured
since that it was not so。 Your secretary of state；Mr。 Smith； I
think；whom you introduced to me by letter； gave this assurance；
more recently； Mr。 Fessenden； our candidate for Congress in one of
those districts； wrote a relative here that his election was sure by
at least five thousand； and that Washburne's majority would be from
14；000 to 17；000； and still later； Mr。 Fogg； of New Hampshire； now at
New York serving on a national committee； wrote me that we were
having a desperate fight in Maine； which would end in a splendid
victory for us。
Such a result as you seem to have predicted in Maine； in your letter
to Colfax； would； I fear； put us on the down…hill track； lose us the
State elections in Pennsylvania and Indiana； and probably ruin us on
the main turn in November。
You must not allow it。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO E。 B。 WASHBURNE。
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS；
September 9； 1860
HON。 E。 B。 WASHBURNE。
MY DEAR SIR： Yours of the 5th was received last evening。 I was right
glad to see it。 It contains the freshest 〃posting〃 which I now have。
It relieved me some from a little anxiety I had about Maine。 Jo
Medill； on August 3oth； wrote me that Colfax had a letter from Mr。
Hamlin saying we were in great danger of losing two members of
Congress in Maine； and that your brother would not have exceeding six
thousand majority for Governor。 I addressed you at once； at Galena；
asking for your latest information。 As you are at Washington； that
letter you will receive some time after the Maine election。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO W。 H。 HERNDON。
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。； OCTOBER 10； 1860
DEAR WILLIAM：I cannot give you details； but it is entirely certain
that Pennsylvania and Indiana have gone Republican very largely。
Pennsylvania 25；000； and Indiana 5000 to 10；000。 Ohio of course is
safe。
Yours as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO L。 M。 BOND。
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。； October 15； 1860
L。 MONTGOMERY BOND； Esq。
MY DEAR SIR： I certainly am in no temper and have no purpose to
embitter the feelings of the South； but whether I am inclined to such
a course as would in fact embitter their feelings you can better
judge by my published speeches than by anything I would say in a
short letter if I were inclined now； as I am not； to define my
position anew。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
LETTER SUGGESTING A BEARD
TO MISS GRACE BEDELL； RIPLEY N。Y。
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。； October 19； 1860
MISS GRACE BEDELL。
MY DEAR LITTLE MISS：Your very agreeable letter of the 15th is
received。 I regret the necessity of saying I have no daughter。 I
have three sonsone seventeen； one nine； and one seven。 They with
their mother constitute my whole family。 As to the whiskers； as I
have never worn any； do you not think that people would call it a
piece of silly affectation were I to begin wearing them now？
I am your true friend and sincere well…wisher；
A。 LINCOLN。
EARLY INFORMATION ON ARMY DEFECTION IN SOUTH
TO D。 HUNTER。
（Private and Confidential。）
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS； October 26； 1860
MAJOR DAVID HUNTER
MY DEAR SIR：Your very kind letter of the 20th was duly received；
for which please accept my thanks。 I have another letter； from a
writer unknown to me； saying the officers of the army at Fort Kearny
have determined in case of Republican success at the approaching
Presidential election； to take themselves； and the arms at that
point； south； for the purpose of resistance to the government。 While
I think there are many chances to one that this is a humbug； it
occurs to me that any real movement of this sort in the Army would
leak out and become known to you。 In such case； if it would not be
unprofessional or dishonorable （of which you are to be judge）； I
shall be much obliged if you will apprise me of it。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO HANNIBAL HAMLIN
（Confidential。）
SPRINGFIELD。 ILLINOIS； November 8； 1860
HON。 HANNIBAL HAMLIN。
MY DEAR SIR：I am anxious for a personal interview with you at as
early a day as possible。 Can you； without much inconvenience； meet
me at Chicago？ If you can； please name as early a day as you
conveniently can； and telegraph me； unless there be sufficient time
before the day named to communicate by mail。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO SAMUEL HAYCRAFT。
（Private and Confidential。）
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。； Nov。13； 1860
HON。 SAMUEL HAYCRAFT。
MY DEAR SIR：Yours of the 9th is just received。 I can only answer
briefly。 Rest fully assured that the good people of the South who
will put themselves in the same temper and mood towards me which you
do will find no cause to complain of me。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
REMARKS AT THE MEETING AT SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS
TO CELEBRATE LINCOLN'S ELECTION；
NOVEMBER 20； 1860
FRIENDS AND FELLOW…CITIZENS：Please excuse me on this occasion from
making a speech。 I thank you in common with all those who have
thought fit by their votes to indorse the Republican cause。 I
rejoice with you in the success which has thus far attended that
cause。 Yet in all our rejoicings let us neither express nor cherish
any hard feelings toward any citizen who by his vote has differed
wit