Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865) To: William Kellogg.
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC08086 Author/Creator: Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 11 December 1859 Pagination: 2 p. 24.6 x 19.5 Order a Copy
Re: Election of 1860 & difficulties in dealing with Horace Greeley and Greeley's support of Stephen Douglas.
Basler, Roy P. The Collected Works Of Abraham Lincoln. (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1953), Vol. III 1858 - 1860,
p. 506
Springfield, Ills. Dec. 11. 1859
Hon: William Kellogg.
My dear Sir:
I have been a goot deal relieved this morning by a sight of Greeley's letter to you, published in the Tribune- Before seeing it, I much feared you had, in charging interviews between Douglass & Greely, stated what you believed, but did not certainly know to be true; and that it might be untrue, and our enemies would get an advantage of you- However, as G. admits the interviews, I think it will not hurt you that he denies conversing with D. about his re-lection to the Senate- G. I think, will not tell a falsehood; and I think he will scarcely deny that he had the interviews with D. in order to assure himself from D's own lips, better than he could from his public acts & declarations, whether to try to bring the Republican party to his support generally, including his re-election to the Senate- What else could the interviews be for? Why immediately followed in the Tribune the advice that all anti-Lecompton democrats should be re-elected? The world will not consider it any thing that D's reelections to the Senate [2] was not specifically talked of by him & G-
Now, mark, I do not charge that G. was corrupt in this. I do not think he was, or is- It was his judgment that the course he took was the best way of serving the Republican cause- For this reason, and for the further reasons, that he is now pulling straight with us I think if I was use, I would not pursue him further than necessary to my own justifications - If I were you I would [inserted: however] be greatly tempted ask him if he really thinks Ds advice to his friends to vote for a Lecompton & Slave code man, is very "plucky"
Please excuse what I have said, in the way of unsolicited advice - I believe you will not doubt the sincerity of my friendship for you.
Yours very truly
A.
Lincoln
[docket]
Lincoln
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