Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865) to John Bennett re: lobbying support during his successful bid for Congress
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05927 Author/Creator: Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865) Place Written: Springfield, Ill Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1846/01/15 Pagination: 1 p. + addr. 25 x 19.6 cm Order a Copy
Basler, Roy R. The Collected Works Of Abraham Lincoln. (New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 1953), Vol. I
1824 - 1848, p. 355
Notes: Basler 1:355. Nathan Dresser, was the circuit clerk for Menard County and chairman of the District Whig Convention held at Petersburg on May 1. The convention unanimously endorsed Lincoln as the Whig candidate representative to Congress from their District.
Springfield, Jan[uar]y 15. 1846
Friend John:
Nathan Dresser is here, and speaks as though the contest between Hardin & me is to be doubtful in Menard county. I know he is candid, and this alarms me some. I asked him to tell me the names of the men that were going strong for Hardin; he said Morris was about as strong as any. Now tell me, is Morris going it openly? You remember you wrote me, that he would be neutral. Nathan also said that some man (who he could not remember) had said lately, that Menard county was again to decide the contest; and that that made the contest very doubtful. Do you know who that was?
Don't fail to write me instantly on receiving this, telling me all - particularly the names of those who are going strong against me.
Yours as ever
A. Lincoln
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