The Writings of Abraham Lincoln, Volume 2

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Yours as ever,
A. LINCOLN.

P. S. Let the above be confidential.




TO J. GILLESPIE.

DEAR GILLESPIE:

Mr. Edwards is unquestionably offended with me in connection with the
matter of the General Land-Office. He wrote a letter against me which was
filed at the department.

The better part of one's life consists of his friendships; and, of them,
mine with Mr. Edwards was one of the most cherished. I have not been
false to it. At a word I could have had the office any time before the
department was committed to Mr. Butterfield, at least Mr. Ewing and the
President say as much. That word I forbore to speak, partly for other
reasons, but chiefly for Mr. Edwards' sake, losing the office (that he
might gain it) I was always for; but to lose his friendship, by the
effort for him, would oppress me very much, were I not sustained by the
utmost consciousness of rectitude. I first determined to be an applicant,
unconditionally, on the 2nd of June; and I did so then upon being
informed by a telegraphic despatch that the question was narrowed down to
Mr. B and myself, and that the Cabinet had postponed the appointment
three weeks, for my benefit. Not doubting that Mr. Edwards was wholly out
of the question I, nevertheless, would not then have become an applicant
had I supposed he would thereby be brought to suspect me of treachery to
him. Two or three days afterwards a conversation with Levi Davis
convinced me Mr. Edwards was dissatisfied; but I was then too far in to
get out. His own letter, written on the 25th of April, after I had fully
informed him of all that had passed, up to within a few days of that
time, gave assurance I had that entire confidence from him which I felt
my uniform and strong friendship for him entitled me to. Among other
things it says, "Whatever course your judgment may dictate as proper to
be pursued, shall never be excepted to by me." I also had had a letter
from Washington, saying Chambers, of the Republic, had brought a rumor
then, that Mr. E had declined in my favor, which rumor I judged came from
Mr. E himself, as I had not then breathed of his letter to any living
creature. In saying I had never, before the 2nd of June, determined to be
an applicant, unconditionally, I mean to admit that, before then, I had
said substantially I would take the office rather than it should be lost
to the State, or given to one in the State whom the Whigs did not want;
but I aver that in every instance in which I spoke of myself, I intended
to keep, and now believe I did keep, Mr. E above myself. Mr. Edwards'
first suspicion was that I had allowed Baker to overreach me, as his
friend, in behalf of Don Morrison. I knew this was a mistake; and the
result has proved it. I understand his view now is, that if I had gone to
open war with Baker I could have ridden him down, and had the thing all
my own way. I believe no such thing. With Baker and some strong man from
the Military tract & elsewhere for Morrison, and we and some strong man
from the Wabash & elsewhere for Mr. E, it was not possible for either to
succeed. I believed this in March, and I know it now. The only thing
which gave either any chance was the very thing Baker & I proposed,--an
adjustment with themselves.

You may wish to know how Butterfield finally beat me. I can not tell you
particulars now, but will when I see you. In the meantime let it be
understood I am not greatly dissatisfied,--I wish the offer had been so
bestowed as to encourage our friends in future contests, and I regret
exceedingly Mr. Edwards' feelings towards me. These two things away, I
should have no regrets,--at least I think I would not.

Write me soon.

Your friend, as ever,
A. LINCOLN.




RESOLUTIONS OF SYMPATHY WITH THE CAUSE OF
HUNGARIAN FREEDOM, SEPTEMBER [12??], 1849.

At a meeting to express sympathy with the cause of Hungarian freedom, Dr.
Todd, Thos. Lewis, Hon. A. Lincoln, and Wm. Carpenter were appointed a
committee to present appropriate resolutions, which reported through Hon.
A. Lincoln the following:

Resolved, That, in their present glorious struggle for liberty, the
Hungarians command our highest admiration and have our warmest sympathy.

Resolved, That they have our most ardent prayers for their speedy triumph
and final success.

Resolved, That the Government of the United States should acknowledge the
independence of Hungary as a nation of freemen at the very earliest
moment consistent with our amicable relations with the government against
which they are contending.

Resolved, That, in the opinion of this meeting, the immediate
acknowledgment of the independence of Hungary by our government is due
from American freemen to their struggling brethren, to the general cause
of republican liberty, and not violative of the just rights of any nation
or people.




TO Dr. WILLIAM FITHIAN.

SPRINGFIELD, Sept. 14, 1849.

Dr. WILLIAM FITHIAN, Danville, Ill.

DEAR DOCTOR:--Your letter of the 9th was received a day or two ago. The
notes and mortgages you enclosed me were duly received. I also got the
original Blanchard mortgage from Antrim Campbell, with whom Blanchard had
left it for you. I got a decree of foreclosure on the whole; but, owing
to there being no redemption on the sale to be under the Blanchard
mortgage, the court allowed Mobley till the first of March to pay the
money, before advertising for sale. Stuart was empowered by Mobley to
appear for him, and I had to take such decree as he would consent to, or
none at all. I cast the matter about in my mind and concluded that as I
could not get a decree we would put the accrued interest at interest, and
thereby more than match the fact of throwing the Blanchard debt back from
twelve to six per cent., it was better to do it. This is the present
state of the case.

I can well enough understand and appreciate your suggestions about the
Land-Office at Danville; but in my present condition, I can do nothing.

Yours, as ever,
A. LINCOLN.




SPRINGFIELD, Dec. 15, 1849.

__________ESQ.

DEAR SIR:--On my return from Kentucky I found your letter of the 7th of
November, and have delayed answering it till now for the reason I now
briefly state. From the beginning of our acquaintance I had felt the
greatest kindness for you and had supposed it was reciprocated on your
part. Last summer, under circumstances which I mentioned to you, I was
painfully constrained to withhold a recommendation which you desired, and
shortly afterwards I learned, in such a way as to believe it, that you
were indulging in open abuse of me. Of course my feelings were wounded.
On receiving your last letter the question occurred whether you were
attempting to use me at the same time you would injure me, or whether you
might not have been misrepresented to me. If the former, I ought not to
answer you; if the latter, I ought, and so I have remained in suspense. I
now enclose you the letter, which you may use if you see fit.

Yours, etc.,
A. LINCOLN.




1850
RESOLUTIONS ON THE DEATH OF JUDGE NATHANIEL POPE.

Circuit and District Court of the U. S. in and for the State and District
of Illinois. Monday, June 3, 1850.

On the opening of the Court this morning, the Hon. A. Lincoln, a member
of the Bar of this Court, suggested the death of the Hon. Nathaniel Pope,
late a judge of this Court, since the adjournment of the last term;
whereupon, in token of respect for the memory of the deceased, it is
ordered that the Court do now adjourn until to-morrow morning at ten
o'clock.

The Hon. Stephen T. Logan, the Hon. Norman H. Purple, the Hon. David L.
Gregg, the Hon. A. Lincoln, and George W. Meeker, Esq., were appointed a
Committee to prepare resolutions.

Whereupon, the Hon. Stephen T. Logan, in behalf of the Committee,
presented the following preamble and resolutions:

Whereas The Hon. Nathaniel Pope, District Judge of the United States
Court for the District of Illinois, having departed this life during the
last vacation of said Court, and the members of the Bar of said Court,
entertaining the highest veneration for his memory, a profound respect for
his ability, great experience, and learning as a judge, and cherishing
for his many virtues, public and private, his earnest simplicity of
character and unostentatious deportment, both in his public and private
relations, the most lively and affectionate recollections, have

Resolved, That, as a manifestation of their deep sense of the loss which
has been sustained in his death, they will wear the usual badge of
mourning during the residue of the term.

Resolved, That the Chairman communicate to the family of the deceased a
copy of these proceedings, with an assurance of our sincere condolence on
account of their heavy bereavement.

Resolved, That the Hon. A. Williams, District Attorney of this Court, be
requested in behalf of the meeting to present these proceedings to the
Circuit Court, and respectfully to ask that they may be entered on the
records.

E. N. POWELL, Sec'y. SAMUEL H. TREAT, Ch'n.




NOTES FOR LAW LECTURE

(fragments)
JULY 1, 1850

DISCOURAGE LITIGATION. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you
can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser-in
fees, expenses, and waste of time. As a peace-maker the lawyer has a
superior opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business
enough.

Never stir up litigation. A worse man can scarcely be found than one who
does this. Who can be more nearly a fiend than he who habitually
over-hauls the register of deeds in search of defects in titles, whereon
to stir up strife, and put money in his pocket? A moral tone ought to be
infused into the profession which should drive such men out of it.

The matter of fees is important, far beyond the mere question of bread
and butter involved. Properly attended to, fuller justice is done to both
lawyer and client. An exorbitant fee should never be claimed. As a
general rule never take your whole fee in advance, nor any more than a
small retainer. When fully paid beforehand, you are more than a common
mortal if you can feel the same interest in the case as if something was
still in prospect for you, as well as for your client. And when you lack
interest in the case the job will very likely lack skill and diligence in
the performance. Settle the amount of fee and take a note in advance.
Then you will feel that you are working for something, and you are sure
to do your work faithfully and well. Never sell a fee note--at least not
before the consideration service is performed. It leads to negligence and
dishonesty--negligence by losing interest in the case, and dishonesty in
refusing to refund when you have allowed the consideration to fail.

This idea of a refund or reduction of charges from the lawyer in a failed
case is a new one to me--but not a bad one.




1851
LETTERS TO FAMILY MEMBERS
TO JOHN D. JOHNSTON.

January 2, 1851

DEAR JOHNSTON:--Your request for eighty dollars I do not think it best to
comply with now. At the various times when I have helped you a little you
have said to me, "We can get along very well now"; but in a very short
time I find you in the same difficulty again. Now, this can only happen
by some defect in your conduct. What that defect is, I think I know. You
are not lazy, and still you are an idler. I doubt whether, since I saw
you, you have done a good whole day's work in any one day. You do not
very much dislike to work, and still you do not work much merely because
it does not seem to you that you could get much for it. This habit of
uselessly wasting time is the whole difficulty; it is vastly important to
you, and still more so to your children, that you should break the habit.
It is more important to them, because they have longer to live, and can
keep out of an idle habit before they are in it, easier than they can get
out after they are in.

You are now in need of some money; and what I propose is, that you shall
go to work, "tooth and nail," for somebody who will give you money for
it. Let father and your boys take charge of your things at home, prepare
for a crop, and make the crop, and you go to work for the best money
wages, or in discharge of any debt you owe, that you can get; and, to
secure you a fair reward for your labor, I now promise you, that for
every dollar you will, between this and the first of May, get for your
own labor, either in money or as your own indebtedness, I will then give
you one other dollar. By this, if you hire yourself at ten dollars a
month, from me you will get ten more, making twenty dollars a month for
your work. In this I do not mean you shall go off to St. Louis, or the
lead mines, or the gold mines in California, but I mean for you to go at
it for the best wages you can get close to home in Coles County. Now, if
you will do this, you will be soon out of debt, and, what is better, you
will have a habit that will keep you from getting in debt again. But, if
I should now clear you out of debt, next year you would be just as deep
in as ever. You say you would almost give your place in heaven for
seventy or eighty dollars. Then you value your place in heaven very
cheap, for I am sure you can, with the offer I make, get the seventy or
eighty dollars for four or five months' work. You say if I will furnish
you the money you will deed me the land, and, if you don't pay the money
back, you will deliver possession. Nonsense! If you can't now live with
the land, how will you then live without it? You have always been kind to
me, and I do not mean to be unkind to you. On the contrary, if you will
but follow my advice, you will find it worth more than eighty times
eighty dollars to you.

Affectionately your brother,
A. LINCOLN.




TO C. HOYT.

SPRINGFIELD, Jan. 11, 1851.
C. HOYT, ESQ.

MY DEAR SIR:--Our case is decided against us. The decision was announced
this morning. Very sorry, but there is no help. The history of the case
since it came here is this. On Friday morning last, Mr. Joy filed his
papers, and entered his motion for a mandamus, and urged me to take up
the motion as soon as possible. I already had the points and authority
sent me by you and by Mr. Goodrich, but had not studied them. I began
preparing as fast as possible.

The evening of the same day I was again urged to take up the case. I
refused on the ground that I was not ready, and on which plea I also got
off over Saturday. But on Monday (the 14th) I had to go into it. We
occupied the whole day, I using the large part. I made every point and
used every authority sent me by yourself and by Mr. Goodrich; and in
addition all the points I could think of and all the authorities I could
find myself. When I closed the argument on my part, a large package was
handed me, which proved to be the plat you sent me.

The court received it of me, but it was not different from the plat
already on the record. I do not think I could ever have argued the case
better than I did. I did nothing else, but prepare to argue and argue
this case, from Friday morning till Monday evening. Very sorry for the
result; but I do not think it could have been prevented.

Your friend, as ever,
A. LINCOLN.




TO JOHN D. JOHNSTON.

SPRINGFIELD, January 12, 1851

DEAR BROTHER:--On the day before yesterday I received a letter from
Harriet, written at Greenup. She says she has just returned from your
house, and that father is very low and will hardly recover. She also says
you have written me two letters, and that, although you do not expect me
to come now, you wonder that I do not write.

I received both your letters, and although I have not answered them it is
not because I have forgotten them, or been uninterested about them, but
because it appeared to me that I could write nothing which would do any
good. You already know I desire that neither father nor mother shall be
in want of any comfort, either in health or sickness, while they live;
and I feel sure you have not failed to use my name, if necessary, to
procure a doctor, or anything else for father in his present sickness. My
business is such that I could hardly leave home now, if it was not as it
is, that my own wife is sick abed. (It is a case of baby-sickness, and I
suppose is not dangerous.) I sincerely hope father may recover his
health, but at all events, tell him to remember to call upon and confide
in our great and good and merciful Maker, who will not turn away from him
in any extremity. He notes the fall of a sparrow, and numbers the hairs
of our heads, and He will not forget the dying man who puts his trust in
Him. Say to him that if we could meet now it is doubtful whether it would
not be more painful than pleasant, but that if it be his lot to go now,
he will soon have a joyous meeting with many loved ones gone before, and
where the rest of us, through the help of God, hope ere long to join
them.

Write to me again when you receive this.

Affectionately,
A. LINCOLN.




PETITION ON BEHALF OF ONE JOSHUA GIPSON
TO THE JUDGE OF THE SANGAMON COUNTY COURT,
MAY 13, 1851.

TO THE HONORABLE, THE JUDGE OF THE COUNTY COURT IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF
SANGAMON AND STATE OF ILLINOIS:

Your Petitioner, Joshua Gipson, respectfully represents that on
or about the 21st day of December, 1850, a judgment was rendered
against your Petitioner for costs, by J. C. Spugg, one of the
Justices of the Peace in and for said County of Sangamon, in a
suit wherein your Petitioner was plaintiff and James L. and C.
B. Gerard were defendants; that said judgment was not the result
of negligence on the part of your Petitioner; that said judgment,
in his opinion, is unjust and erroneous in this, that the
defendants were at that time and are indebted to this Petitioner
in the full amount of the principal and interest of the note sued
on, the principal being, as affiant remembers and believes,
thirty-one dollars and eighty two cents; and that, as affiant is
informed and believes, the defendants succeeded in the trial of
said cause by proving old claims against your petitioner, in set-off
against said note, which claims had been settled, adjusted
and paid before said note was executed. Your Petitioner further
states that the reasons of his not being present at said trial,
as he was not, and of its not being in his power to take an
appeal in the ordinary way, as it was not, were that your
Petitioner then resided in Edgar County about one hundred and
twenty miles from where defendants resided; that a very short
time before the suit was commenced your Petitioner was in
Sangamon County for the purpose of collecting debts due him, and
with the rest, the note in question, which note had then been
given more than a year, that your Petitioner then saw the
defendant J. L. Gerard who is the principal in said note, and
solicited payment of the same; that said defendant then made no
pretense that he did not owe the same, but on the contrary
expressly promised that he would come into Springfield, in a very
few days and either pay the money, or give a new note, payable by
the then next Christmas; that your Petitioner accordingly left
said note with said J. C. Spugg, with directions to give
defendant full time to pay the money or give the new note as
above, and if he did neither to sue; and then affiant came home
to Edgar County, not having the slightest suspicion that if suit
should be brought, the defendants would make any defense
whatever; and your Petitioner never did in any way learn that
said suit had been commenced until more than twenty days after it
had been decided against him. He therefore prays for a writ of
Certiorari.

HIS
JOSHUA x GIPSON
MARK




TO J. D. JOHNSTON.

SPRINGFIELD, Aug. 31, 1851

DEAR BROTHER: Inclosed is the deed for the land. We are all well, and
have nothing in the way of news. We have had no Cholera here for about
two weeks.

Give my love to all, and especially to Mother.

Yours as ever,
A. LINCOLN.




TO J. D. JOHNSTON.

SHELBYVILLE, Nov. 4, 1851
DEAR BROTHER:

When I came into Charleston day before yesterday I learned that you are
anxious to sell the land where you live, and move to Missouri. I have
been thinking of this ever since, and cannot but think such a notion is
utterly foolish. What can you do in Missouri better than here? Is the
land richer? Can you there, any more than here, raise corn and wheat and
oats without work? Will anybody there, any more than here, do your work
for you? If you intend to go to work, there is no better place than right
where you are; if you do not intend to go to work you cannot get along
anywhere. Squirming and crawling about from place to place can do no
good. You have raised no crop this year, and what you really want is to
sell the land, get the money and spend it. Part with the land you have,
and, my life upon it, you will never after own a spot big enough to bury
you in. Half you will get for the land you spend in moving to Missouri,
and the other half you will eat and drink and wear out, and no foot of
land will be bought. Now I feel it is my duty to have no hand in such a
piece of foolery. I feel that it is so even on your own account, and
particularly on Mother's account. The eastern forty acres I intend to
keep for Mother while she lives; if you will not cultivate it, it will
rent for enough to support her; at least it will rent for something. Her
dower in the other two forties she can let you have, and no thanks to me.

Now do not misunderstand this letter. I do not write it in any
unkindness. I write it in order, if possible, to get you to face the
truth, which truth is, you are destitute because you have idled away all
your time. Your thousand pretenses for not getting along better are all
nonsense; they deceive nobody but yourself. Go to work is the only cure
for your case.

A word for Mother: Chapman tells me he wants you to go and live with him.
If I were you I would try it awhile. If you get tired of it (as I think
you will not) you can return to your own home. Chapman feels very kindly
to you; and I have no doubt he will make your situation very pleasant.

Sincerely yours,
A. LINCOLN.




Nov. 4, 1851

DEAR MOTHER:

Chapman tells me he wants you to go and live with him. If I were you I
would try it awhile. If you get tired of it (as I think you will not) you
can return to your own home. Chapman feels very kindly to you; and I have
no doubt he will make your situation very pleasant.

Sincerely your son,
A. LINCOLN.




TO JOHN D. JOHNSTON.

SHELBYVILLE, November 9, 1851

DEAR BROTHER:--When I wrote you before, I had not received your letter.
I still think as I did, but if the land can be sold so that I get three
hundred dollars to put to interest for Mother, I will not object, if she
does not. But before I will make a deed, the money must be had, or
secured beyond all doubt, at ten per cent.

As to Abram, I do not want him, on my own account; but I understand he
wants to live with me, so that he can go to school and get a fair start
in the world, which I very much wish him to have. When I reach home, if I
can make it convenient to take, I will take him, provided there is no
mistake between us as to the object and terms of my taking him. In haste,
as ever,

A. LINCOLN.




TO JOHN D. JOHNSTON.

SPRINGFIELD, November 25, 1851.

DEAR BROTHER:--Your letter of the 22d is just received. Your proposal
about selling the east forty acres of land is all that I want or could
claim for myself; but I am not satisfied with it on Mother's account--I
want her to have her living, and I feel that it is my duty, to some
extent, to see that she is not wronged. She had a right of dower (that
is, the use of one-third for life) in the other two forties; but, it
seems, she has already let you take that, hook and line. She now has the
use of the whole of the east forty, as long as she lives; and if it be
sold, of course she is entitled to the interest on all the money it
brings, as long as she lives; but you propose to sell it for three
hundred dollars, take one hundred away with you, and leave her two
hundred at 8 per cent., making her the enormous sum of 16 dollars a year.
Now, if you are satisfied with treating her in that way, I am not. It is
true that you are to have that forty for two hundred dollars, at Mother's
death, but you are not to have it before. I am confident that land can be
made to produce for Mother at least $30 a year, and I can not, to oblige
any living person, consent that she shall be put on an allowance of
sixteen dollars a year.

Yours, etc.,
A. LINCOLN.




1852

EULOGY ON HENRY CLAY, DELIVERED IN THE STATE HOUSE AT SPRINGFIELD,
ILLINOIS, JULY 16, 1852.

On the fourth day of July, 1776, the people of a few feeble and oppressed
colonies of Great Britain, inhabiting a portion of the Atlantic coast of
North America, publicly declared their national independence, and made
their appeal to the justice of their cause and to the God of battles for
the maintenance of that declaration. That people were few in number and
without resources, save only their wise heads and stout hearts. Within
the first year of that declared independence, and while its maintenance
was yet problematical, while the bloody struggle between those resolute
rebels and their haughty would-be masters was still waging,--of
undistinguished parents and in an obscure district of one of those
colonies Henry Clay was born. The infant nation and the infant child
began the race of life together. For three quarters of a century they
have travelled hand in hand. They have been companions ever. The nation
has passed its perils, and it is free, prosperous, and powerful. The
child has reached his manhood, his middle age, his old age, and is dead.
In all that has concerned the nation the man ever sympathized; and now
the nation mourns the man.