The Writings of Abraham Lincoln, vol 5 | Page 5

it that I am
already improving. I would mail you a copy now, but have not one [at]
hand. I thank you for your letter and shall be pleased to hear from you
again.
Yours very truly,
A. LINCOLN.

TO JOSEPH GILLESPIE.
SPRINGFIELD, JULY 25, 1858.
HON. J. GILLESPIE.
MY DEAR SIR:--Your doleful letter of the 8th was received on my
return from Chicago last night. I do hope you are worse scared than
hurt, though you ought to know best. We must not lose the district. We
must make a job of it, and save it. Lay hold of the proper agencies, and
secure all the Americans you can, at once. I do hope, on closer
inspection, you will find they are not half gone. Make a little test. Run
down one of the poll-books of the Edwardsville precinct, and take the
first hundred known American names. Then quietly ascertain how
many of them are actually going for Douglas. I think you will find less
than fifty. But even if you find fifty, make sure of the other fifty, that is,

make sure of all you can, at all events. We will set other agencies to
work which shall compensate for the loss of a good many Americans.
Don't fail to check the stampede at once. Trumbull, I think, will be with
you before long.
There is much he cannot do, and some he can. I have reason to hope
there will be other help of an appropriate kind. Write me again.
Yours as ever,
A. LINCOLN.

TO B. C. COOK.
SPRINGFIELD, Aug. 2, 1858.
Hon. B. C. COOK.
MY DEAR SIR:--I have a letter from a very true and intelligent man
insisting that there is a plan on foot in La Salle and Bureau to run
Douglas Republicans for Congress and for the Legislature in those
counties, if they can only get the encouragement of our folks
nominating pretty extreme abolitionists.
It is thought they will do nothing if our folks nominate men who are not
very obnoxious to the charge of abolitionism. Please have your eye
upon this. Signs are looking pretty fair.
Yours very truly,
A. LINCOLN.

TO HON. J. M. PALMER.
SPRINGFIELD, Aug. 5, 1858.
HON. J. M. PALMER.
DEAR SIR:--Since we parted last evening no new thought has occurred
to [me] on the subject of which we talked most yesterday.
I have concluded, however, to speak at your town on Tuesday, August
31st, and have promised to have it so appear in the papers of to-morrow.
Judge Trumbull has not yet reached here.
Yours as ever,
A. LINCOLN.

TO ALEXANDER SYMPSON.
SPRINGFIELD, Aug. 11, 1858.

ALEXANDER SYMPSON, Esq.
DEAR SIR:--Yours of the 6th received. If life and health continue I
shall pretty likely be at Augusta on the 25th.
Things look reasonably well. Will tell you more fully when I see you.
Yours truly,
A. LINCOLN.

TO J. O. CUNNINGHAM.
OTTAWA, August 22, 1858.
J. O. CUNNINGHAM, Esq.
MY DEAR SIR:--Yours of the 18th, signed as secretary of the
Republican club, is received. In the matter of making speeches I am a
good deal pressed by invitations from almost all quarters, and while I
hope to be at Urbana some time during the canvass, I cannot yet say
when. Can you not see me at Monticello on the 6th of September?
Douglas and I, for the first time this canvass, crossed swords here
yesterday; the fire flew some, and I am glad to know I am yet alive.
There was a vast concourse of people--more than could get near enough
to hear.
Yours as ever,
A. LINCOLN.

ON SLAVERY IN A DEMOCRACY.
August ??, 1858
As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses
my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the
difference, is no democracy.
A. LINCOLN.

TO B. C. COOK.
SPRINGFIELD, August 2, 1858
HON. B. C. COOK.
MY DEAR SIR:--I have a letter from a very true friend, and intelligent
man, writing that there is a plan on foot in La Salle and Bureau, to run
Douglas Republican for Congress and for the Legislature in those
counties, if they can only get the encouragement of our folks

nominating pretty extreme abolitionists. It is thought they will do
nothing if our folks nominate men who are not very [undecipherable
word looks like "obnoxious"] to the charge of abolitionism. Please have
your eye upon this. Signs are looking pretty fair.
Yours very truly,
A. LINCOLN.

TO DR. WILLIAM FITHIAN, DANVILLE, ILL.
BLOOMINGTON, Sept. 3, 1858
DEAR DOCTOR:--Yours of the 1st was received this morning, as also
one from Mr. Harmon, and one from Hiram Beckwith on the same
subject. You will see by the Journal that