ButIhaveintroducedGeneralCass’saccountsherechieflytoshowthewonderfulphysicalcapacitiesoftheman。Theyshowthathenotonlydidthelaborofseveralmenatthesametime，butthatheoftendiditatseveralplaces，manyhundredsofmilesapart，atthesametime。Andateating，too，hiscapacitiesareshowntobequiteaswonderful。FromOctober，1821，toMay，1822，heeattenrationsadayinMichigan，tenrationsadayhereinWashington，andnearfivedollars’worthadayontheroadbetweenthetwoplaces！Andthenthereisanimportantdiscoveryinhisexample——theartofbeingpaidforwhatoneeats，insteadofhavingtopayforit。Hereafterifanyniceyoungmanshouldoweabillwhichhecannotpayinanyotherway，hecanjustboarditout。Mr。Speaker，wehaveallheardoftheanimalstandingindoubtbetweentwostacksofhayandstarvingtodeath。ThelikeofthatwouldneverhappentoGeneralCass。Placethestacksathousandmilesapart，hewouldstandstock—stillmidwaybetweenthem，andeatthembothatonce，andthegreengrassalongthelinewouldbeapttosuffersome，too，atthesametime。ByallmeansmakehimPresident，gentlemen。Hewillfeedyoubounteously——if——ifthereisanyleftafterheshallhavehelpedhimself。
But，asGeneralTayloris，parexel1ence，theherooftheMexicanWar，andasyouDemocratssayweWhigshavealwaysopposedthewar，youthinkitmustbeveryawkwardandembarrassingforustogoforGeneralTaylor。Thedeclarationthatwehavealwaysopposedthewaristrueorfalse，accordingasonemayunderstandtheterm\"opposethewar。\"Iftosay\"thewarwasunnecessarilyandunconstitutionallycommencedbythePresident\"beopposingthewar，thentheWhigshaveverygenerallyopposedit。Whenevertheyhavespokenatall，theyhavesaidthis；andtheyhavesaiditonwhathasappearedgoodreasontothem。ThemarchinganarmyintothemidstofapeacefulMexicansettlement，frighteningtheinhabitantsaway，leavingtheirgrowingcropsandotherpropertytodestruction，toyoumayappearaperfectlyamiable，peaceful，unprovokingprocedure；butitdoesnotappearsotous。
Sotocallsuchanact，tousappearsnootherthananaked，impudentabsurdity，andwespeakofitaccordingly。Butif，whenthewarhadbegun，andhadbecomethecauseofthecountry，thegivingofourmoneyandourblood，incommonwithyours，wassupportofthewar，thenitisnottruethatwehavealwaysopposedthewar。Withfewindividualexceptions，youhaveconstantlyhadourvoteshereforallthenecessarysupplies。
And，morethanthis，youhavehadtheservices，theblood，andthelivesofourpoliticalbrethrenineverytrialandoneveryfield。Thebeardlessboyandthematureman，thehumbleandthedistinguished——youhavehadthem。Throughsufferinganddeath，bydiseaseandinbattletheyhaveenduredandfoughtandfellwithyou。ClayandWebstereachgaveason，nevertobereturned。FromtheStateofmyownresidence，besidesotherworthybutlessknownWhignames，wesentMarshall，Morrison，Baker，andHardin；theyallfought，andonefell，andinthefallofthatonewelostourbestWhigman。NorweretheWhigsfewinnumber，orlaggardinthedayofdanger。Inthatfearful，bloody，breathlessstruggleatBuenaVista，whereeachman’shardtaskwastobeatbackfivefoesordiehimself，ofthefivehighofficerswhoperished，fourwereWhigs。
Inspeakingofthis，Imeannoodiouscomparisonbetweenthelion—heartedWhigsandtheDemocratswhofoughtthere。Onotheroccasions，andamongthelowerofficersandprivatesonthatoccasion，Idoubtnottheproportionwasdifferent。Iwishtodojusticetoall。IthinkofallthosebravemenasAmericans，inwhoseproudfame，asanAmerican，Itoohaveashare。Manyofthem，WhigsandDemocratsaremyconstituentsandpersonalfriends；andIthankthem，——morethanthankthem，——oneandall，forthehighimperishablehonortheyhaveconferredonourcommonState。
ButthedistinctionbetweenthecauseofthePresidentinbeginningthewar，andthecauseofthecountryafteritwasbegun，isadistinctionwhichyoucannotperceive。ToyouthePresidentandthecountryseemtobeallone。Youareinterestedtoseenodistinctionbetweenthem；andIventuretosuggestthatprobablyyourinterestblindsyoualittle。Weseethedistinction，aswethink，clearlyenough；andourfriendswhohavefoughtinthewarhavenodifficultyinseeingitalso。
Whatthosewhohavefallenwouldsay，weretheyaliveandhere，ofcoursewecanneverknow；butwiththosewhohavereturnedthereisnodifficulty。ColonelHaskellandMajorGaines，membershere，bothfoughtinthewar，andbothofthemunderwentextraordinaryperilsandhardships；stillthey，likeallotherWhigshere，vote，ontherecord，thatthewarwasunnecessarilyandunconstitutionallycommencedbythePresident。AndevenGeneralTaylorhimself，thenoblestRomanofthemall，hasdeclaredthatasacitizen，andparticularlyasasoldier，itissufficientforhimtoknowthathiscountryisatwarwithaforeignnation，todoallinhispowertobringittoaspeedyandhonorableterminationbythemostvigorousandenergeticoperations，withoutinquiryaboutitsjustice，oranythingelseconnectedwithit。
Mr。Speaker，letourDemocraticfriendsbecomfortedwiththeassurancethatwearecontentwithourposition，contentwithourcompany，andcontentwithourcandidate；andthatalthoughthey，intheirgeneroussympathy，thinkweoughttobemiserable，wereallyarenot，andthattheymaydismissthegreatanxietytheyhaveonouraccount。
Mr。Speaker，IseeIhavebutthreeminutesleft，andthisforcesmetothrowoutonewholebranchofmysubject。Asinglewordonstillanother。TheDemocratsarekeenenoughtofrequentlyremindusthatwehavesomedissensionsinourranks。OurgoodfriendfromBaltimoreimmediatelybeforeme[Mr。McLane]
expressedsomedoubttheotherdayastowhichbranchofourpartyGeneralTaylorwouldultimatelyfallintothehandsof。
Thatwasanewideatome。Iknewwehaddissenters，butIdidnotknowtheyweretryingtogetourcandidateawayfromus。I
wouldliketosayawordtoourdissenters，butIhavenotthetime。Somesuchwecertainlyhave；haveyounone，gentlemenDemocrats？Isitallunionandharmonyinyourranks？nobickerings？nodivisions？Iftherebedoubtastowhichofourdivisionswillgetourcandidate，istherenodoubtastowhichofyourcandidateswillgetyourparty？IhaveheardsomethingsfromNewYork；andiftheyaretrue，onemightwellsayofyourpartythere，asadrunkenfellowoncesaidwhenheheardthereadingofanindictmentforhog—stealing。Theclerkreadontillhegottoandthroughthewords，\"didsteal，take，andcarryawaytenboars，tensows，tenshoats，andtenpigs，\"atwhichheexclaimed，\"Well，bygolly，thatisthemostequallydividedgangofhogsIeverdidhearof！\"IfthereisanyothergangofhogsmoreequallydividedthantheDemocratsofNewYorkareaboutthistime，Ihavenotheardofit。
SPEECHDELIVEREDATWORCESTER，MASS。，ON
SEPT。12，1848。
FromtheBostonAdvertiser。
Mr。KelloggthenintroducedtothemeetingtheHon。AbramLincoln，WhigmemberofCongressfromIllinois，arepresentativeoffreesoil。
Mr。Lincolnhasaverytallandthinfigure，withanintellectualface，showingasearchingmind，andacooljudgment。Hespokeinaclearandcoolandveryeloquentmanner，foranhourandahalf，carryingtheaudiencewithhiminhisableargumentsandbrilliantillustrations——onlyinterruptedbywarmandfrequentapplause。Hebeganbyexpressingarealfeelingofmodestyinaddressinganaudience\"thissideofthemountains，\"apartofthecountrywhere，intheopinionofthepeopleofhissection，everybodywassupposedtobeinstructedandwise。ButhehaddevotedhisattentiontothequestionofthecomingPresidentialelection，andwasnotunwillingtoexchangewithallwhomhemighttheideastowhichhehadarrived。HethenbegantoshowthefallacyofsomeoftheargumentsagainstGen。Taylor，makinghischiefthemethefashionablestatementofallthosewhoopposehim\"theoldLocofocosaswellasthenew\"thathehasnoprinciples，andthattheWhigpartyhaveabandonedtheirprinciplesbyadoptinghimastheircandidate。HemaintainedthatGen。TayloroccupiedahighandunexceptionableWhigground，andtookforhisfirstinstanceandproofofthisthestatementintheAllisonletter——withregardtothebank，tariff，riversandharbors，etc。——thatthewillofthepeopleshouldproduceitsownresults，withoutexecutiveinfluence。Theprinciplethatthepeopleshoulddowhat——undertheConstitution—
—astheyplease，isaWhigprinciple。AllthatGen。Taylorisnotonlytoconsentto，butappealtothepeopletojudgeandactforthemselves。AndthiswasnonewdoctrineforWhigs。Itwasthe\"platform\"onwhichtheyhadfoughtalltheirbattles，theresistanceofexecutiveinfluence，andtheprincipleofenablingthepeopletoframethegovernmentaccordingtotheirwill。Gen。
Taylorconsentstobethecandidate，andtoassistthepeopletodowhattheythinktobetheirduty，andthinktobebestintheirnationalaffairs，butbecausehedon’twanttotellwhatweoughttodo，heisaccusedofhavingnoprinciples。TheWhigsheremaintainedforyearsthatneithertheinfluence，theduress，ortheprohibitionoftheexecutiveshouldcontrolthelegitimatelyexpressedwillofthepeople；andnowthat，onthatveryground，Gen。Taylorsaysthatheshouldusethepowergivenhimbythepeopletodo，tothebestofhisjudgment，thewillofthepeople，heisaccusedofwantofprinciple，andofinconsistencyinposition。
Mr。Lincolnproceededtoexaminetheabsurdityofanattempttomakeaplatformorcreedforanationalparty，toallpartsofwhichallmustconsentandagree，whenitwasclearlytheintentionandthetruephilosophyofourgovernment，thatinCongressallopinionsandprinciplesshouldberepresented，andthatwhenthewisdomofallhadbeencomparedandunited，thewillofthemajorityshouldbecarriedout。OnthisgroundheconceivedandtheaudienceseemedtogowithhimthatGen。
Taylorheldcorrect，soundrepublicanprinciples。
Mr。LincolnthenpassedtothesubjectofslaveryintheStates，sayingthatthepeopleofIllinoisagreedentirelywiththepeopleofMassachusettsonthissubject，exceptperhapsthattheydidnotkeepsoconstantlythinkingaboutit。Allagreedthatslaverywasanevil，butthatwewerenotresponsibleforitandcannotaffectitinStatesofthisUnionwherewedonotlive。
Butthequestionoftheextensionofslaverytonewterritoriesofthiscountryisapartofourresponsibilityandcare，andisunderourcontrol。InoppositiontothisMr。L。believedthattheself—named\"FreeSoil\"partywasfarbehindtheWhigs。Bothpartiesopposedtheextension。Asheunderstooditthenewpartyhadnoprincipleexceptthisopposition。Iftheirplatformheldanyother，itwasinsuchageneralwaythatitwaslikethepairofpantaloonstheYankeepedlarofferedforsale，\"largeenoughforanyman，smallenoughforanyboy。\"Theythereforehadtakenapositioncalculatedtobreakdowntheirsingleimportantdeclaredobject。TheywereworkingfortheelectionofeitherGen。CassorGen。Taylor。Thespeakerthenwentontoshow，clearlyandeloquently，thedangerofextensionofslavery，likelytoresultfromtheelectionofGen。Cass。Tounitewiththosewhoannexedthenewterritorytopreventtheextensionofslaveryinthatterritoryseemedtohimtobeinthehighestdegreeabsurdandridiculous。SupposethesegentlemensucceedinelectingMr。VanBuren，theyhadnospecificmeanstopreventtheextensionofslaverytoNewMexicoandCalifornia，andGen。
Taylor，heconfidentlybelieved，wouldnotencourageit，andwouldnotprohibititsrestriction。ButifGen。Casswaselected，hefeltcertainthattheplansoffartherextensionofterritorywouldbeencouraged，andthoseoftheextensionofslaverywouldmeetnocheck。The\"FreeSoil\"martinclaimingthatnameindirectlyattemptsadeception，byimplyingthatWhigswerenotFreeSoilmen。Declaringthattheywould\"dotheirdutyandleavetheconsequencestoGod\"merelygaveanexcusefortakingacoursetheywerenotabletomaintainbyafairandfullargument。Tomakethisdeclarationdidnotshowwhattheirdutywas。Ifitdidweshouldhavenouseforjudgment，wemightaswellbemadewithoutintellect；andwhendivineorhumanlawdoesnotclearlypointoutwhatisourduty，wehavenomeansoffindingoutwhatitisbutbyusingourmostintelligentjudgmentoftheconsequences。IfthereweredivinelaworhumanlawforvotingforMartinVanBuren，orifa，fairexaminationoftheconsequencesandjustreasoningwouldshowthatvotingforhimwouldbringabouttheendstheypretendedtowish——thenhewouldgiveuptheargument。Butsincetherewasnofixedlawonthesubject，andsincethewholeprobableresultoftheiractionwouldbeanassistanceinelectingGen。Cass，hemustsaythattheywerebehindtheWhigsintheiradvocacyofthefreedomofthesoil。
Mr。LincolnproceededtorallytheBuffaloconventionforforbearingtosayanything——afterallthepreviousdeclarationsofthosememberswhowereformerlyWhigs——onthesubjectoftheMexicanWar，becausetheVanBurenshadbeenknowntohavesupportedit。Hedeclaredthatofallthepartiesaskingtheconfidenceofthecountry，thisnewonehadlessofprinciplethananyother。
HewonderedwhetheritwasstilltheopinionoftheseFreeSoilgentlemen，asdeclaredinthe\"whereas\"atBuffalo，thattheWhigandDemocraticpartieswerebothentirelydissolvedandabsorbedintotheirownbody。HadtheVermontelectiongiventhemanylight？TheyhadcalculatedonmakingasgreatanimpressioninthatStateasinanypartoftheUnion，andtheretheirattemptshadbeenwhollyineffectual。TheirfailurewasagreatersuccessthantheywouldfindinanyotherpartoftheUnion。
Mr。LincolnwentontosaythathehonestlybelievedthatallthosewhowishedtokeepupthecharacteroftheUnion；whodidnotbelieveinenlargingourfield，butinkeepingourfenceswheretheyareandcultivatingourpresentpossessions，makingitagarden，improvingthemoralsandeducationofthepeople，devotingtheadministrationstothispurpose；allrealWhigs，friendsofgoodhonestgovernment——theracewasours。HehadopportunitiesofhearingfromalmosteverypartoftheUnionfromreliablesourcesandhadnotheardofacountyinwhichwehadnotreceivedaccessionsfromotherparties。IfthetrueWhigscomeforwardandjointhesenewfriends，theyneednothaveadoubt。Wehadacandidatewhosepersonalcharacterandprincipleshehadalreadydescribed，whomhecouldnoteulogizeifhewould。Gen。Taylorhadbeenconstantly，perseveringly，quietlystandingup，doinghisdutyandaskingnopraiseorrewardforit。Hewasandmustbejustthemantowhomtheinterests，principles，andprosperityofthecountrymightbesafelyintrusted。Hehadneverfailedinanythinghehadundertaken，althoughmanyofhisdutieshadbeenconsideredalmostimpossible。
Mr。LincolnthenwentintoatersethoughrapidreviewoftheoriginoftheMexicanWarandtheconnectionoftheadministrationandGeneralTaylorwithit，fromwhichhededucedastrongappealtotheWhigspresenttodotheirdutyinthesupportofGeneralTaylor，andclosedwiththewarmestaspirationsforandconfidenceinadeservedsuccess。
Atthecloseofhistrulymasterlyandconvincingspeech，theaudiencegavethreeenthusiasticcheersforIllinois，andthreemorefortheeloquentWhigmemberfromtheState。
HISFATHER’SREQUESTFORMONEY
TOTHOMASLINCOLN
WASHINGTON，Dec。24，1848。
MYDEARFATHER：——Yourletterofthe7thwasreceivednightbeforelast。Iverycheerfullysendyouthetwentydollars，whichsumyousayisnecessarytosaveyourlandfromsale。Itissingularthatyoushouldhaveforgottenajudgmentagainstyou；anditismoresingularthattheplaintiffshouldhaveletyouforgetitsolong；particularlyasIsupposeyoualwayshadpropertyenoughtosatisfyajudgmentofthatamount。Beforeyoupayit，itwouldbewelltobesureyouhavenotpaid，oratleast，thatyoucannotproveyouhavepaidit。
Givemylovetomotherandalltheconnections。Affectionatelyyourson，A。LINCOLN。
1849
BILLTOABOLISHSLAVERYINTHE
DISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA
Resolved，ThattheCommitteeontheDistrictofColumbiabeinstructedtoreportabillinsubstanceasfollows：
Sec。1。BeitenactedbytheSenateandHouseofRepresentativesoftheUnitedStates，inCongressassembled，ThatnopersonnotnowwithintheDistrictofColumbia，nornowownedbyanypersonorpersonsnowresidentwithinit，norhereafterbornwithinit，shalleverbeheldinslaverywithinsaidDistrict。
Sec。2。ThatnopersonnowwithinsaidDistrict，ornowownedbyanypersonorpersonsnowresidentwithinthesame，orhereafterbornwithinit，shalleverbeheldinslaverywithoutthelimitsofsaidDistrict：Provided，ThatofficersoftheGovernmentoftheUnitedStates，beingcitizensoftheslaveholdingStates，comingintosaidDistrictonpublicbusiness，andremainingonlysolongasmaybereasonablynecessaryforthatobject，maybeattendedintoandoutofsaidDistrict，andwhilethere，bythenecessaryservantsofthemselvesandtheirfamilies，withouttheirrighttoholdsuchservantsinservicebeingtherebyimpaired。
Sec。3。ThatallchildrenbornofslavemotherswithinsaidDistrict，onorafterthefirstdayofJanuary，intheyearofourLordeighteenhundredandfifty，shallbefree；butshallbereasonablysupportedandeducatedbytherespectiveownersoftheirmothers，orbytheirheirsorrepresentatives，andshallowereasonableserviceasapprenticestosuchowners，heirs，orrepresentatives，untiltheyrespectivelyarriveattheageof__
years，whentheyshallbeentirelyfree；andthemunicipalauthoritiesofWashingtonandGeorgetown，withintheirrespectivejurisdictionallimits，areherebyempoweredandrequiredtomakeallsuitableandnecessaryprovisionforenforcingobediencetothissection，onthepartofbothmastersandapprentices。
Sec。4。ThatallpersonsnowwithinthisDistrict，lawfullyheldasslaves，ornowownedbyanypersonorpersonsnowresidentwithinsaidDistrict，shallremainsuchatthewilloftheirrespectiveowners，theirheirs，andlegalrepresentatives：
Provided，Thatsuchowner，orhislegalrepresentative，mayatanytimereceivefromtheTreasuryoftheUnitedStatesthefullvalueofhisorherslave，oftheclassinthissectionmentioned，uponwhichsuchslaveshallbeforthwithandforeverfree：Andprovidedfurther，ThatthePresidentoftheUnitedStates，theSecretaryofState，andtheSecretaryoftheTreasuryshallbeaboardfordeterminingthevalueofsuchslavesastheirownersmaydesiretoemancipateunderthissection，andwhosedutyitshallbetoholdasessionforthepurposeonthefirstMondayofeachcalendarmonth，toreceiveallapplications，and，onsatisfactoryevidenceineachcasethatthepersonpresentedforvaluationisaslave，andoftheclassinthissectionmentioned，andisownedbytheapplicant，shallvaluesuchslaveathisorherfullcashvalue，andgivetotheapplicantanorderontheTreasuryfortheamount，andalsotosuchslaveacertificateoffreedom。
Sec。5。ThatthemunicipalauthoritiesofWashingtonandGeorgetown，withintheirrespectivejurisdictionallimits，areherebyempoweredandrequiredtoprovideactiveandefficientmeanstoarrestanddeliveruptotheirownersallfugitiveslavesescapingintosaidDistrict。
Sec。6。ThattheelectionofficerswithinsaidDistrictofColumbiaareherebyempoweredandrequiredtoopenpolls，atalltheusualplacesofholdingelections，onthefirstMondayofAprilnext，andreceivethevoteofeveryfreewhitemalecitizenabovetheageoftwenty—oneyears，havingresidedwithinsaidDistrictfortheperiodofoneyearormorenextprecedingthetimeofsuchvotingfororagainstthisact，toproceedintakingsaidvotes，inallrespectsnothereinspecified，asatelectionsunderthemunicipallaws，andwithaslittledelayaspossibletotransmitcorrectstatementsofthevotessocasttothePresidentoftheUnitedStates；anditshallbethedutyofthePresidenttocanvasssaidvotesimmediately，andifamajorityofthembefoundtobeforthisact，toforthwithissuehisproclamationgivingnoticeofthefact；andthisactshallonlybeinfullforceandeffectonandafterthedayofsuchproclamation。
Sec。7。Thatinvoluntaryservitudeforthepunishmentofcrime，whereofthepartyshallhavebeendulyconvicted，shallinnowisebeprohibitedbythisact。
Sec。8。Thatforallthepurposesofthisact，thejurisdictionallimitsofWashingtonareextendedtoallpartsoftheDistrictofColumbianotnowincludedwithinthepresentlimitsofGeorgetown。
BILLGRANTINGLANDSTOTHESTATESTOMAKERAILWAYSANDCANALS
REMARKSINTHEHOUSEOFREPRESENTATIVES，FEBRUARY13，1849。
Mr。Lincolnsaidhehadnotrisenforthepurposeofmakingaspeech，butonlyforthepurposeofmeetingsomeoftheobjectionstothebill。Ifheunderstoodthoseobjections，thefirstwasthatifthebillweretobecomealaw，itwouldbeusedtolocklargeportionsofthepubliclandsfromsale，withoutatlasteffectingtheostensibleobjectofthebill——theconstructionofrailroadsinthenewStates；andsecondly，thatCongresswouldbeforcedtotheabandonmentoflargeportionsofthepubliclandstotheStatesforwhichtheymightbereserved，withouttheirpayingforthem。ThisheunderstoodtobethesubstanceoftheobjectionsofthegentlemanfromOhiotothepassageofthebill。
IfhecouldgettheattentionoftheHouseforafewminutes，hewouldaskgentlementotelluswhatmotivecouldinduceanyStateLegislature，orindividual，orcompanyofindividuals，ofthenewStates，toexpendmoneyinsurveyingroadswhichtheymightknowtheycouldnotmake。
[Avoice：Theyarenotrequiredtomaketheroad。
Mr。Lincolncontinued：Thatwasnotthecasehewasmaking。Whatmotivewouldtemptanysetofmentogointoanextensivesurveyofarailroadwhichtheydidnotintendtomake？Whatgoodwoulditdo？Didmenactwithoutmotive？Didbusinessmencommonlygointoanexpenditureofmoneywhichcouldbeofnoaccounttothem？Hegenerallyfoundthatmenwhohavemoneyweredisposedtoholdontoit，unlesstheycouldseesomethingtobemadebyitsinvestment。HecouldnotseewhatmotiveofadvantagetothenewStatescouldbesubservedbymerelykeepingthepubliclandsoutofmarket，andpreventingtheirsettlement。Asfarashecouldsee，thenewStateswerewhollywithoutanymotivetodosuchathing。This，then，hetooktobeagoodanswertothefirstobjection。
Inrelationtothefactassumed，thatafterawhile，thenewStateshavinggotholdofthepubliclandstoacertainextent，theywouldturnroundandcompelCongresstorelinquishallclaimtothem，hehadawordtosay，bywayofrecurringtothehistoryofthepast。WhenwasthetimetocomeheaskedwhentheStatesinwhichthepubliclandsweresituatedwouldcomposeamajorityoftherepresentationinCongress，oranythinglikeit？
AmajorityofRepresentativeswouldverysoonresidewestofthemountains，headmitted；butwouldtheyallcomefromStatesinwhichthepubliclandsweresituated？Theycertainlywouldnot；
for，astheseWesternStatesgrewstronginCongress，thepubliclandspassedawayfromthem，andtheygotontheothersideofthequestion；andthegentlemanfromOhio[Mr。Vinton]wasanexampleattestingthatfact。
Mr。Vintoninterruptedheretosaythathehadstoodonthisquestionjustwherehewasnow，forfiveandtwentyyears。
Mr。Lincolnwasnotmakinganargumentforthepurposeofconvictingthegentlemanofanyimproprietyatall。Hewasspeakingofafactinhistory，ofwhichhisStatewasanexample。
Hewasreferringtoaplainprincipleinthenatureofthings。
TheStateofOhiohadnowgrowntobeagiant。Shehadalargedelegationonthatfloor；butwasshenowinfavorofgrantinglandstothenewStates，assheusedtobe？TheNewEnglandStates，NewYork，andtheOldThirteenwereallratherquietuponthesubject；anditwasseenjustnowthatamemberfromoneofthenewStateswasthefirstmantoriseupinopposition。Andsuchwouldbewiththehistoryofthisquestionforthefuture。
ThereneverwouldcomeatimewhenthepeopleresidingintheStatesembracingthepubliclandswouldhavetheentirecontrolofthissubject；andsoitwasamatterofcertaintythatCongresswouldneverdomoreinthisrespectthanwhatwouldbedictatedbyajustliberality。Theapprehension，therefore，thatthepubliclandswereindangerofbeingwrestedfromtheGeneralGovernmentbythestrengthofthedelegationinCongressfromthenewStates，wasutterlyfutile。Therenevercouldbesuchathing。Ifwetaketheselandssaidheitwillnotbewithoutyourconsent。Wecanneveroutnumberyou。TheresultisthatallfearofthenewStatesturningagainsttherightofCongresstothepublicdomainmustbeeffectuallyquelled，asthosewhoareopposedtothatinterestmustalwaysholdavastmajorityhere，andtheywillneversurrenderthewholeoranypartofthepubliclandsunlesstheythemselveschoosetodoso。Thatwasallhedesiredtosay。
ONFEDERALPOLITICALAPPOINTMENTS
TOTHESECRETARYOFTHETREASURY。
WASHINGTON，March9，1849。
HON。SECRETARYOFTHETREASURY。
DEARSIR：Co1onelR。D。BakerandmyselfaretheonlyWhigmembersofCongressfromIllinoisoftheThirtieth，andheoftheThirty—first。WehavereasontothinktheWhigsofthatStateholdusresponsible，tosomeextent，fortheappointmentswhichmaybemadeofourcitizens。Wedonotknowyoupersonally，andoureffortstoyouhavesofarbeenunavailing。IthereforehopeIamnotobtrusiveinsayinginthisway，forhimandmyself，thatwhenacitizenofIllinoisistobeappointedinyourdepartment，toanofficeeitherinoroutoftheState，wemostrespectfullyasktobeheard。
Yourobedientservant，A。LINCOLN。
MOREPOLITICALPATRONAGEREQUESTS
TOTHESECRETARYOFSTATE。
WASHINGTON，March10，1849。
HON。SECRETARYOFSTATE。
SIR：——ThereareseveralapplicantsfortheofficeofUnitedStatesMarshalfortheDistrictofIllinois。AmongthemostprominentofthemareBenjaminBond，Esq。，ofCarlyle，andThomas，Esq。，ofGalena。Mr。BondIknowtobepersonallyeverywayworthyoftheoffice；andheisverynumerouslyandmostrespectablyrecommended。HispapersIsendtoyou；andIsolicitforhisclaimsafullandfairconsideration。
Havingsaidthismuch，IaddthatinmyindividualjudgmenttheappointmentofMr。Thomaswouldbethebetter。
Yourobedientservant，A。LINCOLN。
IndorsedonMr。Bond’spapers。
InthisandtheaccompanyingenvelopearetherecommendationsofabouttwohundredgoodcitizensofallpartsofIllinois，thatBenjaminBondbeappointedmarshalforthatdistrict。TheyincludethenamesofnearlyallourWhigswhonoware，orhaveeverbeen，membersoftheStateLegislature，besidesforty—sixoftheDemocraticmembersofthepresentLegislature，andmanyothergoodcitizens。IaddthatfrompersonalknowledgeIconsiderMr。
Bondeverywayworthyoftheoffice，andqualifiedtofillit。
Holdingtheindividualopinionthattheappointmentofadifferentgentlemanwouldbebetter，Iaskespecialattentionandconsiderationforhisclaims，andfortheopinionsexpressedinhisfavorbythoseoverwhomIcanclaimnosuperiority。
A。LINCOLN。
TOTHESECRETARYOFTHEINTERIOR
SPRINGFIELD，ILLINOIS，April7，1849
HON。SECRETARYOFTHEHOMEDEPARTMENT。
DEARSIR：——IrecommendthatWalterDavisbeappointedreceiveroftheland—officeatthisplace，wheneverthereshallbeavacancy。
IcannotsaythatMr。Herndon，thepresentincumbent，hasfailedintheproperdischargeofanyofthedutiesoftheoffice。Heisaverywarmpartisan，andopenlyandactivelyopposedtotheelectionofGeneralTaylor。IalsounderstandthatsinceGeneralTaylor’selectionhehasreceivedareappointmentfromMr。Polk，hisoldcommissionnothavingexpired。Whetherthisistruetherecordsofthedepartmentwillshow。ImayaddthattheWhigsherealmostuniversallydesirehisremoval。
Igivenoopinionofmyown，butstatethefacts，andexpressthehopethatthedepartmentwillactinthisasinallothercasesonsomepropergeneralrule。
Yourobedientservant，A。LINCOLN。
P。S。——Thelanddistricttowhichthisofficebelongsisverynearlyifnotentirelywithinmydistrict；sothatColonelBaker，theotherWhigrepresentative，claimsnovoiceintheappointment。
A。L。
TOTHESECRETARYOFTHEINTERIOR。
SPRINGFIELD，ILLINOIS，April7，1849。
HON。SECRETARYOFTHEHOMEDEPARTMENT。
DEARSIR：——IrecommendthatTurnerR。King，nowofPekin，Illinois，beappointedregisteroftheland—officeatthisplacewheneverthereshallbeavacancy。
IdonotknowthatMr。Barret，thepresentincumbent，hasfailedintheproperdischargeofanyofhisdutiesintheoffice。Heisadecidedpartisan，andopenlyandactivelyopposedtheelectionofGeneralTaylor。Iunderstand，too，thatsincetheelectionofGeneralTaylor，Mr。BarrethasreceivedareappointmentfromMr。Polk，hisoldcommissionnothavingexpired。Whetherthisbetrue，therecordsofthedepartmentwillshow。
WhetherheshouldberemovedIgivenoopinion，butmerelyexpressthewishthatthedepartmentmayactuponsomepropergeneralrule，andthatMr。Barret’scasemaynotbemadeanexceptiontoit。
Yourobedientservant，A。LINCOLN。
P。S。—Thelanddistricttowhichthisofficebelongsisverynearlyifnotentirelywithinmydistrict；sothatColonelBaker，theotherWhigrepresentative，claimsnovoiceintheappointment。
A。L。
TOTHEPOSTMASTER—GENERAL。
SPRINGFIELD，ILLINOIS，April7，1849。
HON。POSTMASTER—GENERAL。
DEARSir：——IrecommendthatAbnerY。Ellisbeappointedpostmasteratthisplace，wheneverthereshallbeavacancy。J。
R。Diller，thepresentincumbent，Icannotsayhasfailedintheproperdischargeofanyofthedutiesoftheoffice。He，however，hasbeenanactivepartisaninoppositiontous。
LocatedattheseatofgovernmentoftheState，hehasbeen，forpartifnotthewholeofthetimehehasheldtheoffice，amemberoftheDemocraticStateCentralCommittee，signinghisnametotheiraddressesandmanifestoes；andhasbeen，asI
understand，reappointedbyMr。PolksinceGeneralTaylor’selection。ThesearethefactsofthecaseasIunderstandthem，andIgivenoopinionofmineastowhetherheshouldorshouldnotberemoved。Mywishisthatthedepartmentmayadoptsomepropergeneralruleforsuchcases，andthatMr。Dillermaynotbemadeanexceptiontoit，onewayortheother。
Yourobedientservant，A。LINCOLN。
P。S。——Thisoffice，withitsdelivery，isentirelywithinmydistrict；sothatColonelBaker，theotherWhigrepresentative，claimsnovoiceintheappointment。L。
TOTHESECRETARYOFTHEINTERIOR。
SPRINGFIELD，ILLINOIS，April7，1849。
HON。SECRETARYOFTHEHOMEDEPARTMENT。
DEARSIR：——IrecommendthatWilliamButlerbeappointedpensionagentfortheIllinoisagency，whentheplaceshallbevacant。
Mr。Hurst，thepresentincumbent，Ibelievehasperformedthedutiesverywell。Heisadecidedpartisan，andIbelieveexpectstoberemoved。Whetherheshall，Isubmittothedepartment。Thisofficeisnotconfinedtomydistrict，butpertainstothewholeState；sothatColonelBakerhasanequalrightwithmyselftobeheardconcerningit。However，theofficeislocatedhere；andIthinkitisnotprobablethatanyonewoulddesiretoremovefromadistancetotakeit。
Yourobedientservant，A。LINCOLN。
TOTHOMPSON。
SPRINGFIELD，April25，1849。
DEARTHOMPSON：
AtiradeisstillkeptupagainstmehereforrecommendingT。R。
King。ThismorningitisopenlyavowedthatmysupposedinfluenceatWashingtonshallbebrokendowngenerally，andKing’sprospectsdefeatedinparticular。Now，whatIhavedoneinthismatterIhavedoneattherequestofyouandsomeotherfriendsinTazewell；andIthereforeaskyoutoeitheradmititiswrongorcomeforwardandsustainme。Ifthetruthwillpermit，Iproposethatyousustainmeinthefollowingmanner：
copytheinclosedscrapinyourownhandwritingandgeteverybodynotthreeorfour，butthreeorfourhundredtosignit，andthensendittome。Also，havesix，eightortenofourbestknownWhigfriendstherewritetomeindividualletters，statingthetruthinthismatterastheyunderstandit。Don’tneglectordelayinthematter。Iunderstandinformationofanindictmenthavingbeenfoundagainsthimaboutthreeyearsago，forgamingorkeepingagaminghouse，hasbeensenttothedepartment。I
shalltrytotakecareofitatthedepartmenttillyouractioncanbehadandforwardedon。
Yoursasever，A。LINCOLN。
TOTHESECRETARYOFTHEINTERIOR。
SPRINGFIELDILLINOIS。May10，1849。
HON。SECRETARYOFTHEINTERIOR。
DEARSIR：——Iregrettroublingyousoofteninrelationtotheland—officeshere，butIhopeyouwillperceivethenecessityofit，andexcuseme。Onthe7thofAprilIwroteyourecommendingTurnerR。Kingforregister，andWalterDavisforreceiver。
SubsequentlyIwroteyouthat，foraprivatereason，Ihadconcludedtotransposethem。Thatprivatereasonwastherequestofanoldpersonalfriendwhohimselfdesiredtobereceiver，butwhomIfeltitmydutytorefusearecommendation。HesaidifI
wouldtransposeKingandDavishewouldbesatisfied。Ithoughtitawhim，but，anxioustoobligehim，Iconsented。ImmediatelyhecommencedanassaultuponKing’scharacter，intending，asI
suppose，todefeathisappointment，andtherebysecureanotherchanceforhimself。ThisdoubleoffenceofbadfaithtomeandslanderuponagoodmanissototallyoutrageousthatInowasktohaveKingandDavisplacedasIoriginallyrecommended，——thatis，KingforregisterandDavisforreceiver。
AneffortisbeingmadenowtohaveMr。Barret，thepresentregister，retained。Ihavealreadysaidhehasdonethedutiesoftheofficewell，andInowaddheisagentlemaninthetruesense。Still，hesubmitstobetheinstrumentofhispartytoinjureus。Hishighcharacterenableshimtodoitmoreeffectually。LastyearhepresidedattheconventionwhichnominatedtheDemocraticcandidateforCongressinthisdistrict，andafterwardranfortheStateSenatehimself，notdesiringtheseat，butavowedlytoaidandstrengthenhisparty。HemadespeechafterspeechwithadegreeoffiercenessandcoarsenessagainstGeneralTaylornotquiteconsistentwithhishabituallygentlemanlydeportment。AtleastoneandIthinkmoreofthosewhoarenowtryingtohavehimretainedwashimselfanapplicantforthisveryoffice，and，failingtogetmyrecommendation，nowtakesthisturn。
Inwritingyouathirdtimeinrelationtotheseoffices，I
statedthatIsupposedchargeshadbeenforwardedtoyouagainstKing，andthatIwouldinquireintothetruthofthem。InowsendyouherewithwhatIsupposewillbeanampledefenseagainstanysuchcharges。Iaskattentiontoallthepapers，butparticularlytothelettersofMr。DavidMack，andthepaperwiththelonglistofnames。ThereisnomistakeaboutKing’sbeingagoodman。Aftertheunjustassaultuponhim，andconsideringthejustclaimsofTazewellCounty，asindicatedinthelettersI
incloseyou，itwouldinmyopinionbeinjustice，andwithalablunder，nottoappointhim，atleastassoonasanyoneisappointedtoeitheroftheofficeshere。
Yourobedientservant，A。LINCOLN。
TOJ。GILLESPIE。
SPRINGFIELD，ILL。，May19，1849。
DEARGILLESPIE：
ButterfieldwillbecommissioneroftheGen’lLandOffice，unlesspreventedbystrongandspeedyefforts。Ewingisforhim，andheisonlynotappointedyetbecauseOldZach。hangsfire。
Ihavereliableinformationofthis。Now，ifyouagreewithmethatthisappointmentwoulddissatisfyratherthangratifytheWhigsofthisState，thatitwouldslackentheirenergiesinfuturecontests，thathisappointmentin’41isanoldsorewiththemwhichtheywillnotpatientlyhavereopened，——inawordthathisappointmentnowwouldbeafatalblundertotheadministrationandourpoliticalmenhereinIllinois，writeCrittendentothateffect。Hecancontrolthematter。WereyoutowriteEwingIfearthePresidentwouldneverhearofyourletter。Thismaybemeresuspicion。YoumightwritedirectlytoOldZach。Youwillbethebestjudgeoftheproprietyofthat。
Notamoment’stimeistobelost。
LetthisbeconfidentialexceptwithMr。EdwardsandafewotherswhomyouknowIwouldtrustjustasIdoyou。
Yoursasever，A。LINCOLN。
REQUESTFORGENERALLAND—OFICEAPPPOINTMENT
TOE。EMBREE。
[Confidential]
SPRINGFIELD，ILLINOIS，May25，1849。
HON。E。EMBREE
DEARSIR：——Iamabouttoaskafavorofyou，onewhichIhopewillnotcostyoumuch。IunderstandtheGeneralLand—OfficeisabouttobegiventoIllinois，andthatMr。EwingdesiresJustinButterfield，ofChicago，tobetheman。Igiveyoumyword，theappointmentofMr。Butterfieldwillbeanegregiouspoliticalblunder。ItwillgiveoffencetothewholeWhigpartyhere，andbeworsethanadeadlosstotheadministrationofsomuchofitspatronage。Now，ifyoucanconscientiouslydoso，IwishyoutowriteGeneralTayloratonce，sayingthateitherIorthemanI
recommendshouldinyouropinionbeappointedtothatoffice，ifanyonefromIllinoisshallbe。IrestrictmyrequesttoIllinoisbecauseyoumayhaveamanfromyourownState，andIdonotasktointerferewiththat。
Yourfriendasever，A。LINCOLN。
REQUESTFORAPATENT
IMPROVEDMETHODOFLIFTINGVESSELSOVERSHOALS。
ApplicationforPatent：
WhatIclaimasmyinvention，anddesiretosecurebyletterspatent，isthecombinationofexpansiblebuoyantchambersplacedatthesidesofavesselwiththemainshaftorshaftsbymeansoftheslidingspars，whichpassdownthroughthebuoyantchambersandaremadefasttotheirbottomsandtheseriesofropesandpulleysortheirequivalentsinsuchamannerthatbyturningthemainshaftorshaftsinonedirectionthebuoyantchamberswillbeforceddownwardintothewater，andatthesametimeexpandedandfilledwithairforbuoyingupthevesselbythedisplacementofwater，andbyturningtheshaftsinanoppositedirectionthebuoyantchamberswillbecontractedintoasmallspaceandsecuredagainstinjury。
A。LINCOLN。
TOTHESECRETARYOFINTERIOR。
SPRINGFIELD，ILL。，June3，1849
HON。SECRETARYOFINTERIOR。
DEARSIR：——Vandalia，thereceiver’sofficeatwhichplaceisthesubjectofthewithin，isnotinmydistrict；andIhavebeenmuchperplexedtoexpressanypreferencebetweenDr。StappandMr。Remann。Ifanyonemanisbetterqualifiedforsuchanofficethanallothers，Dr。Stappisthatman；still，IbelievealargemajorityoftheWhigsofthedistrictpreferMr。Remann，whoalsoisagoodman。PerhapsthepapersonfilewillenableyoutojudgebetterthanIcan。Thewritersofthewithinaregoodmen，residingwithinthelanddistrict。
Yourobt。servant，A。LINCOLN。
TOW。H。HERNDON。
SPRINGFIELD，June5，1849。
DEARWILLIAM：——Yourtwoletterswerereceivedlastnight。Ihaveagreatmanyletterstowrite，andsocannotwriteverylongones。TheremustbesomemistakeaboutWalterDavissayingI
promisedhimthepost—office。Ididnotsopromisehim。Ididtellhimthatifthedistributionoftheofficesshouldfallintomyhands，heshouldhavesomething；andifIshallbeconvincedhehassaidanymorethanthis，Ishallbedisappointed。Isaidthismuchtohimbecause，asIunderstand，heisofgoodcharacter，isoneoftheyoungmen，isofthemechanics，andalwaysfaithfulandnevertroublesome；aWhig，andispoor，withthesupportofawidowmotherthrownalmostexclusivelyonhimbythedeathofhisbrother。Ifthesearewrongreasons，thenI
havebeenwrong；butIhavecertainlynotbeenselfishinit，becauseinmygreatestneedoffriendshewasagainstme，andforBaker。
Yoursasever，A。LINCOLN。
P。S。Lettheabovebeconfidential。
TOJ。GILLESPIE。
DEARGILLESPIE：
Mr。EdwardsisunquestionablyoffendedwithmeinconnectionwiththematteroftheGeneralLand—Office。Hewrotealetteragainstmewhichwasfiledatthedepartment。
Thebetterpartofone’slifeconsistsofhisfriendships；and，ofthem，minewithMr。Edwardswasoneofthemostcherished。I
havenotbeenfalsetoit。AtawordIcouldhavehadtheofficeanytimebeforethedepartmentwascommittedtoMr。Butterfield，atleastMr。EwingandthePresidentsayasmuch。ThatwordI
forboretospeak，partlyforotherreasons，butchieflyforMr。
Edwards’sake，losingtheofficethathemightgainitIwasalwaysfor；buttolosehisfriendship，bytheeffortforhim，wouldoppressmeverymuch，wereInotsustainedbytheutmostconsciousnessofrectitude。Ifirstdeterminedtobeanapplicant，unconditionally，onthe2ndofJune；andIdidsothenuponbeinginformedbyatelegraphicdespatchthatthequestionwasnarroweddowntoMr。Bandmyself，andthattheCabinethadpostponedtheappointmentthreeweeks，formybenefit。NotdoubtingthatMr。EdwardswaswhollyoutofthequestionI，nevertheless，wouldnotthenhavebecomeanapplicanthadI
supposedhewouldtherebybebroughttosuspectmeoftreacherytohim。TwoorthreedaysafterwardsaconversationwithLeviDavisconvincedmeMr。Edwardswasdissatisfied；butIwasthentoofarintogetout。Hisownletter，writtenonthe25thofApril，afterIhadfullyinformedhimofallthathadpassed，uptowithinafewdaysofthattime，gaveassuranceIhadthatentireconfidencefromhimwhichIfeltmyuniformandstrongfriendshipforhimentitledmeto。Amongotherthingsitsays，\"Whatevercourseyourjudgmentmaydictateaspropertobepursued，shallneverbeexceptedtobyme。\"IalsohadhadaletterfromWashington，sayingChambers，oftheRepublic，hadbroughtarumorthen，thatMr。Ehaddeclinedinmyfavor，whichrumorIjudgedcamefromMr。Ehimself，asIhadnotthenbreathedofhislettertoanylivingcreature。InsayingIhadnever，beforethe2ndofJune，determinedtobeanapplicant，unconditionally，Imeantoadmitthat，beforethen，IhadsaidsubstantiallyIwouldtaketheofficeratherthanitshouldbelosttotheState，orgiventooneintheStatewhomtheWhigsdidnotwant；butIaverthatineveryinstanceinwhichIspokeofmyself，Iintendedtokeep，andnowbelieveIdidkeep，Mr。E
abovemyself。Mr。Edwards’firstsuspicionwasthatIhadallowedBakertooverreachme，ashisfriend，inbehalfofDonMorrison。Iknewthiswasamistake；andtheresulthasprovedit。Iunderstandhisviewnowis，thatifIhadgonetoopenwarwithBakerIcouldhaveriddenhimdown，andhadthethingallmyownway。Ibelievenosuchthing。WithBakerandsomestrongmanfromtheMilitarytract&elsewhereforMorrison，andweandsomestrongmanfromtheWabash&elsewhereforMr。E，itwasnotpossibleforeithertosucceed。IbelievedthisinMarch，andI
knowitnow。TheonlythingwhichgaveeitheranychancewastheverythingBaker&Iproposed，——anadjustmentwiththemselves。
YoumaywishtoknowhowButterfieldfinallybeatme。Icannottellyouparticularsnow，butwillwhenIseeyou。InthemeantimeletitbeunderstoodIamnotgreatlydissatisfied，——I
wishtheofferhadbeensobestowedastoencourageourfriendsinfuturecontests，andIregretexceedinglyMr。Edwards’
feelingstowardsme。Thesetwothingsaway，Ishouldhavenoregrets，——atleastIthinkIwouldnot。
Writemesoon。
Yourfriend，asever，A。LINCOLN。
RESOLUTIONSOFSYMPATHYWITHTHECAUSEOF
HUNGARIANFREEDOM，SEPTEMBER[12？]，1849。
AtameetingtoexpresssympathywiththecauseofHungarianfreedom，Dr。Todd，Thos。Lewis，Hon。A。Lincoln，andWm。
Carpenterwereappointedacommitteetopresentappropriateresolutions，whichreportedthroughHon。A。Lincolnthefollowing：
Resolved，That，intheirpresentgloriousstruggleforliberty，theHungarianscommandourhighestadmirationandhaveourwarmestsympathy。
Resolved，Thattheyhaveourmostardentprayersfortheirspeedytriumphandfinalsuccess。
Resolved，ThattheGovernmentoftheUnitedStatesshouldacknowledgetheindependenceofHungaryasanationoffreemenattheveryearliestmomentconsistentwithouramicablerelationswiththegovernmentagainstwhichtheyarecontending。
Resolved，That，intheopinionofthismeeting，theimmediateacknowledgmentoftheindependenceofHungarybyourgovernmentisduefromAmericanfreementotheirstrugglingbrethren，tothegeneralcauseofrepublicanliberty，andnotviolativeofthejustrightsofanynationorpeople。
TODr。WILLIAMFITHIAN。
SPRINGFIELD，Sept。14，1849。
Dr。WILLIAMFITHIAN，Danville，Ill。
DEARDOCTOR：——Yourletterofthe9thwasreceivedadayortwoago。Thenotesandmortgagesyouenclosedmeweredulyreceived。
IalsogottheoriginalBlanchardmortgagefromAntrimCampbell，withwhomBlanchardhadleftitforyou。Igotadecreeofforeclosureonthewhole；but，owingtotherebeingnoredemptiononthesaletobeundertheBlanchardmortgage，thecourtallowedMobleytillthefirstofMarchtopaythemoney，beforeadvertisingforsale。StuartwasempoweredbyMobleytoappearforhim，andIhadtotakesuchdecreeashewouldconsentto，ornoneatall。IcastthematteraboutinmymindandconcludedthatasIcouldnotgetadecreewewouldputtheaccruedinterestatinterest，andtherebymorethanmatchthefactofthrowingtheBlancharddebtbackfromtwelvetosixpercent。，itwasbettertodoit。Thisisthepresentstateofthecase。
IcanwellenoughunderstandandappreciateyoursuggestionsabouttheLand—OfficeatDanville；butinmypresentcondition，I
candonothing。
Yours，asever，A。LINCOLN。
SPRINGFIELD，Dec。15，1849。
__________ESQ。
DEARSIR：——OnmyreturnfromKentuckyIfoundyourletterofthe7thofNovember，andhavedelayedansweringittillnowforthereasonInowbrieflystate。FromthebeginningofouracquaintanceIhadfeltthegreatestkindnessforyouandhadsupposeditwasreciprocatedonyourpart。Lastsummer，undercircumstanceswhichImentionedtoyou，Iwaspainfullyconstrainedtowithholdarecommendationwhichyoudesired，andshortlyafterwardsIlearned，insuchawayastobelieveit，thatyouwereindulginginopenabuseofme。Ofcoursemyfeelingswerewounded。Onreceivingyourlastletterthequestionoccurredwhetheryouwereattemptingtousemeatthesametimeyouwouldinjureme，orwhetheryoumightnothavebeenmisrepresentedtome。Iftheformer，Ioughtnottoansweryou；
ifthelatter，Iought，andsoIhaveremainedinsuspense。I
nowencloseyoutheletter，whichyoumayuseifyouseefit。
Yours，etc。，A。LINCOLN。
1850
RESOLUTIONSONTHEDEATHOFJUDGENATHANIELPOPE。
CircuitandDistrictCourtoftheU。S。inandfortheStateandDistrictofIllinois。Monday，June3，1850。
OntheopeningoftheCourtthismorning，theHon。A。Lincoln，amemberoftheBarofthisCourt，suggestedthedeathoftheHon。
NathanielPope，lateajudgeofthisCourt，sincetheadjournmentofthelastterm；whereupon，intokenofrespectforthememoryofthedeceased，itisorderedthattheCourtdonowadjournuntilto—morrowmorningatteno’clock。
TheHon。StephenT。Logan，theHon。NormanH。Purple，theHon。
DavidL。Gregg，theHon。A。Lincoln，andGeorgeW。Meeker，Esq。，wereappointedaCommitteetoprepareresolutions。
Whereupon，theHon。StephenT。Logan，inbehalfoftheCommittee，presentedthefollowingpreambleandresolutions：
WhereasTheHon。NathanielPope，DistrictJudgeoftheUnitedStatesCourtfortheDistrictofIllinois，havingdepartedthislifeduringthelastvacationofsaidCourt，andthemembersoftheBarofsaidCourt，entertainmgthehighestvenerationforhismemory，aprofoundrespectforhisability，greatexperience，andlearningasajudge，andcherishingforhismanyvirtues，publicandprivate，hisearnestsimplicityofcharacterandunostentatiousdeportment，bothinhispublicandprivaterelations，themostlivelyandaffectionaterecollections，haveResolved，That，asamanifestationoftheirdeepsenseofthelosswhichhasbeensustainedinhisdeath，theywillweartheusualbadgeofmourningduringtheresidueoftheterm。
Resolved，ThattheChairmancommunicatetothefamilyofthedeceasedacopyoftheseproceedings，withanassuranceofoursincerecondolenceonaccountoftheirheavybereavement。
Resolved，ThattheHon。A。Williams，DistrictAttorneyofthisCourt，berequestedinbehalfofthemeetingtopresenttheseproceedingstotheCircuitCourt，andrespectfullytoaskthattheymaybeenteredontherecords。
E。N。POWELL，Sec’y。
SAMUELH。TREAT，Ch’n。
NOTESFORLAWLECTURE
fragments
JULY1，1850
DISCOURAGELITIGATION。Persuadeyourneighborstocompromisewheneveryoucan。Pointouttothemhowthenominalwinnerisoftenarealloser—infees，expenses，andwasteoftime。Asapeace—makerthelawyerhasasuperioropportunityofbeingagoodman。Therewillstillbebusinessenough。
Neverstiruplitigation。Aworsemancanscarcelybefoundthanonewhodoesthis。Whocanbemorenearlyafiendthanhewhohabituallyover—haulstheregisterofdeedsinsearchofdefectsintitles，whereontostirupstrife，andputmoneyinhispocket？Amoraltoneoughttobeinfusedintotheprofessionwhichshoulddrivesuchmenoutofit。
Thematteroffeesisimportant，farbeyondthemerequestionofbreadandbutterinvolved。Properlyattendedto，fullerjusticeisdonetobothlawyerandclient。Anexorbitantfeeshouldneverbeclaimed。Asageneralrulenevertakeyourwholefeeinadvance，noranymorethanasmallretainer。Whenfullypaidbeforehand，youaremorethanacommonmortalifyoucanfeelthesameinterestinthecaseasifsomethingwasstillinprospectforyou，aswellasforyourclient。Andwhenyoulackinterestinthecasethejobwillverylikelylackskillanddiligenceintheperformance。Settletheamountoffeeandtakeanoteinadvance。Thenyouwillfeelthatyouareworkingforsomething，andyouaresuretodoyourworkfaithfullyandwell。Neversellafeenote——atleastnotbeforetheconsiderationserviceisperformed。Itleadstonegligenceanddishonesty——negligencebylosinginterestinthecase，anddishonestyinrefusingtorefundwhenyouhaveallowedtheconsiderationtofail。
Thisideaofarefundorreductionofchargesfromthelawyerinafailedcaseisanewonetome——butnotabadone。
1851
LETTERSTOFAMILYMEMBERS
TOJOHND。JOHNSTON。
January2，1851
DEARJOHNSTON：——YourrequestforeightydollarsIdonotthinkitbesttocomplywithnow。AtthevarioustimeswhenIhavehelpedyoualittleyouhavesaidtome，\"Wecangetalongverywellnow\"；butinaveryshorttimeIfindyouinthesamedifficultyagain。Now，thiscanonlyhappenbysomedefectinyourconduct。
Whatthatdefectis，IthinkIknow。Youarenotlazy，andstillyouareanidler。Idoubtwhether，sinceIsawyou，youhavedoneagoodwholeday’sworkinanyoneday。Youdonotverymuchdisliketowork，andstillyoudonotworkmuchmerelybecauseitdoesnotseemtoyouthatyoucouldgetmuchforit。
Thishabitofuselesslywastingtimeisthewholedifficulty；itisvastlyimportanttoyou，andstillmoresotoyourchildren，thatyoushouldbreakthehabit。Itismoreimportanttothem，becausetheyhavelongertolive，andcankeepoutofanidlehabitbeforetheyareinit，easierthantheycangetoutaftertheyarein。
Youarenowinneedofsomemoney；andwhatIproposeis，thatyoushallgotowork，\"toothandnail，\"forsomebodywhowillgiveyoumoneyforit。Letfatherandyourboystakechargeofyourthingsathome，prepareforacrop，andmakethecrop，andyougotoworkforthebestmoneywages，orindischargeofanydebtyouowe，thatyoucanget；and，tosecureyouafairrewardforyourlabor，Inowpromiseyou，thatforeverydollaryouwill，betweenthisandthefirstofMay，getforyourownlabor，eitherinmoneyorasyourownindebtedness，Iwillthengiveyouoneotherdollar。Bythis，ifyouhireyourselfattendollarsamonth，frommeyouwillgettenmore，makingtwentydollarsamonthforyourwork。InthisIdonotmeanyoushallgoofftoSt。Louis，ortheleadmines，orthegoldminesinCalifornia，butImeanforyoutogoatitforthebestwagesyoucangetclosetohomeinColesCounty。Now，ifyouwilldothis，youwillbesoonoutofdebt，and，whatisbetter，youwillhaveahabitthatwillkeepyoufromgettingindebtagain。But，ifI
shouldnowclearyououtofdebt，nextyearyouwouldbejustasdeepinasever。Yousayyouwouldalmostgiveyourplaceinheavenforseventyoreightydollars。Thenyouvalueyourplaceinheavenverycheap，forIamsureyoucan，withtheofferI
make，gettheseventyoreightydollarsforfourorfivemonths’
work。YousayifIwillfurnishyouthemoneyyouwilldeedmetheland，and，ifyoudon’tpaythemoneyback，youwilldeliverpossession。Nonsense！Ifyoucan’tnowlivewiththeland，howwillyouthenlivewithoutit？Youhavealwaysbeenkindtome，andIdonotmeantobeunkindtoyou。Onthecontrary，ifyouwillbutfollowmyadvice，youwillfinditworthmorethaneightytimeseightydollarstoyou。
Affectionatelyyourbrother，A。LINCOLN。
TOC。HOYT。
SPRINGFIELD，Jan。11，1851。
C。HOYT，ESQ。
MYDEARSIR：——Ourcaseisdecidedagainstus。Thedecisionwasannouncedthismorning。Verysorry，butthereisnohelp。Thehistoryofthecasesinceitcamehereisthis。OnFridaymorninglast，Mr。Joyfiledhispapers，andenteredhismotionforamandamus，andurgedmetotakeupthemotionassoonaspossible。IalreadyhadthepointsandauthoritysentmebyyouandbyMr。Goodrich，buthadnotstudiedthem。Ibeganpreparingasfastaspossible。
TheeveningofthesamedayIwasagainurgedtotakeupthecase。IrefusedonthegroundthatIwasnotready，andonwhichpleaIalsogotoffoverSaturday。ButonMondaythe14thI
hadtogointoit。Weoccupiedthewholeday，Iusingthelargepart。ImadeeverypointandusedeveryauthoritysentmebyyourselfandbyMr。Goodrich；andinadditionallthepointsI
couldthinkofandalltheauthoritiesIcouldfindmyself。WhenIclosedtheargumentonmypart，alargepackagewashandedme，whichprovedtobetheplatyousentme。
Thecourtreceiveditofme，butitwasnotdifferentfromtheplatalreadyontherecord。IdonotthinkIcouldeverhavearguedthecasebetterthanIdid。Ididnothingelse，butpreparetoargueandarguethiscase，fromFridaymorningtillMondayevening。Verysorryfortheresult；butIdonotthinkitcouldhavebeenprevented。
Yourfriend，asever，A。LINCOLN。
TOJOHND。JOHNSTON。
SPRINGFIELD，January12，1851
DEARBROTHER：——OnthedaybeforeyesterdayIreceivedaletterfromHarriet，writtenatGreenup。Shesaysshehasjustreturnedfromyourhouse，andthatfatherisverylowandwillhardlyrecover。Shealsosaysyouhavewrittenmetwoletters，andthat，althoughyoudonotexpectmetocomenow，youwonderthatIdonotwrite。
Ireceivedbothyourletters，andalthoughIhavenotansweredthemitisnotbecauseIhaveforgottenthem，orbeenuninterestedaboutthem，butbecauseitappearedtomethatI
couldwritenothingwhichwoulddoanygood。YoualreadyknowI
desirethatneitherfathernormothershallbeinwantofanycomfort，eitherinhealthorsickness，whiletheylive；andI
feelsureyouhavenotfailedtousemyname，ifnecessary，toprocureadoctor，oranythingelseforfatherinhispresentsickness。MybusinessissuchthatIcouldhardlyleavehomenow，ifitwasnotasitis，thatmyownwifeissickabed。Itisacaseofbaby—sickness，andIsupposeisnotdangerous。I
sincerelyhopefathermayrecoverhishealth，butatallevents，tellhimtoremembertocalluponandconfideinourgreatandgoodandmercifulMaker，whowillnotturnawayfromhiminanyextremity。Henotesthefallofasparrow，andnumbersthehairsofourheads，andHewillnotforgetthedyingmanwhoputshistrustinHim。Saytohimthatifwecouldmeetnowitisdoubtfulwhetheritwouldnotbemorepainfulthanpleasant，butthatifitbehislottogonow，hewillsoonhaveajoyousmeetingwithmanylovedonesgonebefore，andwheretherestofus，throughthehelpofGod，hopeerelongtojointhem。
Writetomeagainwhenyoureceivethis。
Affectionately，A。LINCOLN。
PETITIONONBEHALFOFONEJOSHUAGIPSON
TOTHEJUDGEOFTHESANGAMONCOUNTYCOURT，MAY13，1851。
TOTHEHONORABLE，THEJUDGEOFTHECOUNTYCOURTINANDFORTHE
COUNTYOFSANGAMONANDSTATEOFILLINOIS：
YourPetitioner，JoshuaGipson，respectfullyrepresentsthatonoraboutthe21stdayofDecember，1850，ajudgmentwasrenderedagainstyourPetitionerforcosts，byJ。C。Spugg，oneoftheJusticesofthePeaceinandforsaidCountyofSangamon，inasuitwhereinyourPetitionerwasplaintiffandJamesL。andC。
B。Gerardweredefendants；thatsaidjudgmentwasnottheresultofnegligenceonthepartofyourPetitioner；thatsaidjudgment，inhisopinion，isunjustanderroneousinthis，thatthedefendantswereatthattimeandareindebtedtothisPetitionerinthefullamountoftheprincipalandinterestofthenotesuedon，theprincipalbeing，asaffiantremembersandbelieves，thirty—onedollarsandeightytwocents；andthat，asaffiantisinformedandbelieves，thedefendantssucceededinthetrialofsaidcausebyprovingoldclaimsagainstyourpetitioner，inset—
offagainstsaidnote，whichclaimshadbeensettled，adjustedandpaidbeforesaidnotewasexecuted。YourPetitionerfurtherstatesthatthereasonsofhisnotbeingpresentatsaidtrial，ashewasnot，andofitsnotbeinginhispowertotakeanappealintheordinaryway，asitwasnot，werethatyourPetitionerthenresidedinEdgarCountyaboutonehundredandtwentymilesfromwheredefendantsresided；thataveryshorttimebeforethesuitwascommencedyourPetitionerwasinSangamonCountyforthepurposeofcollectingdebtsduehim，andwiththerest，thenoteinquestion，whichnotehadthenbeengivenmorethanayear，thatyourPetitionerthensawthedefendantJ。L。Gerardwhoistheprincipalinsaidnote，andsolicitedpaymentofthesame；thatsaiddefendantthenmadenopretensethathedidnotowethesame，butonthecontraryexpresslypromisedthathewouldcomeintoSpringfield，inaveryfewdaysandeitherpaythemoney，orgiveanewnote，payablebythethennextChristmas；thatyourPetitioneraccordinglyleftsaidnotewithsaidJ。C。Spugg，withdirectionstogivedefendantfulltimetopaythemoneyorgivethenewnoteasabove，andifhedidneithertosue；andthenaffiantcamehometoEdgarCounty，nothavingtheslightestsuspicionthatifsuitshouldbebrought，thedefendantswouldmakeanydefensewhatever；andyourPetitionerneverdidinanywaylearnthatsaidsuithadbeencommenceduntilmorethantwentydaysafterithadbeendecidedagainsthim。HethereforepraysforawritofCertiorari。
HIS
JOSHUAxGIPSON
MARK
TOJ。D。JOHNSTON。
SPRINGFIELD，Aug。31，1851
DEARBROTHER：
Inclosedisthedeedfortheland。Weareallwell，andhavenothinginthewayofnews。WehavehadnoCholerahereforabouttwoweeks。
Givemylovetoall，andespeciallytoMother。
Yoursasever，A。LINCOLN。
TOJ。D。JOHNSTON。
SHELBYVILLE，Nov。4，1851
DEARBROTHER：
WhenIcameintoCharlestondaybeforeyesterdayIlearnedthatyouareanxioustosellthelandwhereyoulive，andmovetoMissouri。Ihavebeenthinkingofthiseversince，andcannotbutthinksuchanotionisutterlyfoolish。WhatcanyoudoinMissouribetterthanhere？Isthelandricher？Canyouthere，anymorethanhere，raisecornandwheatandoatswithoutwork？
Willanybodythere，anymorethanhere，doyourworkforyou？Ifyouintendtogotowork，thereisnobetterplacethanrightwhereyouare；ifyoudonotintendtogotoworkyoucannotgetalonganywhere。Squirmingandcrawlingaboutfromplacetoplacecandonogood。Youhaveraisednocropthisyear，andwhatyoureallywantistoselltheland，getthemoneyandspendit。
Partwiththelandyouhave，and，mylifeuponit，youwillneverafterownaspotbigenoughtoburyyouin。HalfyouwillgetforthelandyouspendinmovingtoMissouri，andtheotherhalfyouwilleatanddrinkandwearout，andnofootoflandwillbebought。NowIfeelitismydutytohavenohandinsuchapieceoffoolery。Ifeelthatitissoevenonyourownaccount，andparticularlyonMother’saccount。TheeasternfortyacresI
intendtokeepforMotherwhileshelives；ifyouwillnotcultivateit，itwillrentforenoughtosupporther；atleastitwillrentforsomething。Herdowerintheothertwofortiesshecanletyouhave，andnothankstome。
Nowdonotmisunderstandthisletter。Idonotwriteitinanyunkindness。Iwriteitinorder，ifpossible，togetyoutofacethetruth，whichtruthis，youaredestitutebecauseyouhaveidledawayallyourtime。Yourthousandpretensesfornotgettingalongbetterareallnonsense；theydeceivenobodybutyourself。Gotoworkistheonlycureforyourcase。
AwordforMother：Chapmantellsmehewantsyoutogoandlivewithhim。IfIwereyouIwouldtryitawhile。IfyougettiredofitasIthinkyouwillnotyoucanreturntoyourownhome。
Chapmanfeelsverykindlytoyou；andIhavenodoubthewillmakeyoursituationverypleasant。
Sincerelyyours，A。LINCOLN。
Nov。4，1851
DEARMOTHER：
Chapmantellsmehewantsyoutogoandlivewithhim。IfIwereyouIwouldtryitawhile。IfyougettiredofitasIthinkyouwillnotyoucanreturntoyourownhome。Chapmanfeelsverykindlytoyou；andIhavenodoubthewillmakeyoursituationverypleasant。
Sincerelyyourson，A。LINCOLN。
TOJOHND。JOHNSTON。
SHELBYVILLE，November9，1851
DEARBROTHER：—WhenIwroteyoubefore，Ihadnotreceivedyourletter。IstillthinkasIdid，butifthelandcanbesoldsothatIgetthreehundreddollarstoputtointerestforMother，I
willnotobject，ifshedoesnot。ButbeforeIwillmakeadeed，themoneymustbehad，orsecuredbeyondalldoubt，attenpercent。
AstoAbram，Idonotwanthim，onmyownaccount；butI
understandhewantstolivewithme，sothathecangotoschoolandgetafairstartintheworld，whichIverymuchwishhimtohave。WhenIreachhome，ifIcanmakeitconvenienttotake，I
willtakehim，providedthereisnomistakebetweenusastotheobjectandtermsofmytakinghim。Inhaste，asever，A。LINCOLN。
TOJOHND。JOHNSTON。
SPRINGFIELD，November25，1851。
DEARBROTHER：——Yourletterofthe22disjustreceived。YourproposalaboutsellingtheeastfortyacresoflandisallthatI
wantorcouldclaimformyself；butIamnotsatisfiedwithitonMother’saccount——Iwanthertohaveherliving，andIfeelthatitismyduty，tosomeextent，toseethatsheisnotwronged。
Shehadarightofdowerthatis，theuseofone—thirdforlife
intheothertwoforties；but，itseems，shehasalreadyletyoutakethat，hookandline。Shenowhastheuseofthewholeoftheeastforty，aslongasshelives；andifitbesold，ofcoursesheisentitledtotheinterestonallthemoneyitbrings，aslongasshelives；butyouproposetosellitforthreehundreddollars，takeonehundredawaywithyou，andleavehertwohundredat8percent。，makinghertheenormoussumof16
dollarsayear。Now，ifyouaresatisfiedwithtreatingherinthatway，Iamnot。Itistruethatyouaretohavethatfortyfortwohundreddollars，atMother’sdeath，butyouarenottohaveitbefore。IamconfidentthatlandcanbemadetoproduceforMotheratleast$30ayear，andIcannot，toobligeanylivingperson，consentthatsheshallbeputonanallowanceofsixteendollarsayear。