Abraham Lincoln
to Salmon P. Chase, May 26, 1860 (Thanks for
congratulations)
IMAGES
Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library
of Congress. Transcribed and Annotated by the Lincoln
Studies Center, Knox College. Galesburg, Illinois.
From Abraham Lincoln to Salmon P. Chase [Copyin
Nicolay's hand?]1,
May 26, 1860
[Note 1 Lincoln responds here to a
misdated congratulatory letter, Chase to Lincoln, May 17,
1860, from one of his most serious and most disappointed
rivals for the Republican presidential nomination.
Lincoln was nominated on May 18, and the postmark on
Chase's envelope is dated the next day.]
Copy
Springfield, Ills. May 26, 1860.
My dear Sir:
It gave me great pleasure to receive yours, mistakenly
dated, May 17. Holding myself the humblest of all whose
names were before the Convention, I feel in especial need
of the assistance of all; and I am glad -- very glad --
of the indication that you stand ready. It is a great
consolation that so nearly all -- all except Mr. Bates2
& Mr. Clay,3
I believe, -- of those distinguished and able men, are
already in high position to do service in the common
cause.
[Note 2 Edward Bates]
[Note 3 ID: Cassius Marcellus Clay
was an anti-slavery Kentuckian who made a reputation as a
speaker and writer. He ran second to Hannibal Hamlin for
the vice-presidential nomination in 1860, and was
appointed minister to Russia by Lincoln the next year.
Aside from a brief hiatus while Simon Cameron held that
post, Clay remained in Russia until 1869.]
Your Obt Servt
(signed) A. Lincoln
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