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only。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO HANNIBAL HAMLIN
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS； September 4； 1860
HON。 HANNIBAL HAMLIN。
MY DEAR SIR：I am annoyed some by a letter from a friend in Chicago；
in which the following passage occurs： 〃Hamlin has written Colfax
that two members of Congress will； he fears； be lost in Maine； the
first and sixth districts； and that Washburne's majority for governor
will not exceed six thousand。〃
I had heard something like this six weeks ago； but had been assured
since that it was not so。 Your secretary of state；Mr。 Smith； I
think；whom you introduced to me by letter； gave this assurance；
more recently； Mr。 Fessenden； our candidate for Congress in one of
those districts； wrote a relative here that his election was sure by
at least five thousand； and that Washburne's majority would be from
14；000 to 17；000； and still later； Mr。 Fogg； of New Hampshire； now at
New York serving on a national committee； wrote me that we were
having a desperate fight in Maine； which would end in a splendid
victory for us。
Such a result as you seem to have predicted in Maine； in your letter
to Colfax； would； I fear； put us on the down…hill track； lose us the
State elections in Pennsylvania and Indiana； and probably ruin us on
the main turn in November。
You must not allow it。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO E。 B。 WASHBURNE。
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS；
September 9； 1860
HON。 E。 B。 WASHBURNE。
MY DEAR SIR： Yours of the 5th was received last evening。 I was right
glad to see it。 It contains the freshest 〃posting〃 which I now have。
It relieved me some from a little anxiety I had about Maine。 Jo
Medill； on August 3oth； wrote me that Colfax had a letter from Mr。
Hamlin saying we were in great danger of losing two members of
Congress in Maine； and that your brother would not have exceeding six
thousand majority for Governor。 I addressed you at once； at Galena；
asking for your latest information。 As you are at Washington； that
letter you will receive some time after the Maine election。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO W。 H。 HERNDON。
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。； OCTOBER 10； 1860
DEAR WILLIAM：I cannot give you details； but it is entirely certain
that Pennsylvania and Indiana have gone Republican very largely。
Pennsylvania 25；000； and Indiana 5000 to 10；000。 Ohio of course is
safe。
Yours as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO L。 M。 BOND。
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。； October 15； 1860
L。 MONTGOMERY BOND； Esq。
MY DEAR SIR： I certainly am in no temper and have no purpose to
embitter the feelings of the South； but whether I am inclined to such
a course as would in fact embitter their feelings you can better
judge by my published speeches than by anything I would say in a
short letter if I were inclined now； as I am not； to define my
position anew。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
LETTER SUGGESTING A BEARD
TO MISS GRACE BEDELL； RIPLEY N。Y。
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。； October 19； 1860
MISS GRACE BEDELL。
MY DEAR LITTLE MISS：Your very agreeable letter of the 15th is
received。 I regret the necessity of saying I have no daughter。 I
have three sonsone seventeen； one nine； and one seven。 They with
their mother constitute my whole family。 As to the whiskers； as I
have never worn any； do you not think that people would call it a
piece of silly affectation were I to begin wearing them now？
I am your true friend and sincere well…wisher；
A。 LINCOLN。
EARLY INFORMATION ON ARMY DEFECTION IN SOUTH
TO D。 HUNTER。
（Private and Confidential。）
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS； October 26； 1860
MAJOR DAVID HUNTER
MY DEAR SIR：Your very kind letter of the 20th was duly received；
for which please accept my thanks。 I have another letter； from a
writer unknown to me； saying the officers of the army at Fort Kearny
have determined in case of Republican success at the approaching
Presidential election； to take themselves； and the arms at that
point； south； for the purpose of resistance to the government。 While
I think there are many chances to one that this is a humbug； it
occurs to me that any real movement of this sort in the Army would
leak out and become known to you。 In such case； if it would not be
unprofessional or dishonorable （of which you are to be judge）； I
shall be much obliged if you will apprise me of it。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO HANNIBAL HAMLIN
（Confidential。）
SPRINGFIELD。 ILLINOIS； November 8； 1860
HON。 HANNIBAL HAMLIN。
MY DEAR SIR：I am anxious for a personal interview with you at as
early a day as possible。 Can you； without much inconvenience； meet
me at Chicago？ If you can； please name as early a day as you
conveniently can； and telegraph me； unless there be sufficient time
before the day named to communicate by mail。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO SAMUEL HAYCRAFT。
（Private and Confidential。）
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。； Nov。13； 1860
HON。 SAMUEL HAYCRAFT。
MY DEAR SIR：Yours of the 9th is just received。 I can only answer
briefly。 Rest fully assured that the good people of the South who
will put themselves in the same temper and mood towards me which you
do will find no cause to complain of me。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
REMARKS AT THE MEETING AT SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS
TO CELEBRATE LINCOLN'S ELECTION；
NOVEMBER 20； 1860
FRIENDS AND FELLOW…CITIZENS：Please excuse me on this occasion from
making a speech。 I thank you in common with all those who have
thought fit by their votes to indorse the Republican cause。 I
rejoice with you in the success which has thus far attended that
cause。 Yet in all our rejoicings let us neither express nor cherish
any hard feelings toward any citizen who by his vote has differed
with us。 Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are
brothers of a common country； and should dwell together in the bonds
of fraternal feeling。 Let me again beg you to accept my thanks； and
to excuse me from further speaking at this time。
TO ALEXANDER H。 STEPHENS
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。 NOV。 30； 1860
HON。 A。 H。 STEPHENS。
MY DEAR SIR：I have read in the newspapers your speech recently
delivered （I think） before the Georgia Legislature； or its assembled
members。 If you have revised it； as is probable； I shall be much
obliged if you will send me a copy。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO HANNIBAL HAMLIN
（Private）
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS； December 8； 1860
HON。 HANNIBAL HAMLIN。
DEAR SIR：Yours of the 4th was duly received。 The inclosed to
Governor Seward covers two notes to him； copies of which you find
open for your inspection。 Consult with Judge Trumbull； and if you
and he see no reason to the contrary； deliver the letter to Governor
Seward at once。 If you see reason to the contrary write me at once。
I have an intimation that Governor Banks would yet accept a place in
the Cabinet。 Please ascertain and write me how this is；
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
BLOCKING 〃COMPROMISE〃 ON SLAVERY ISSUE
TO E。 B。 WASHBURNE
（Private and Confidential。）
SPRINGFIELD； ILL。； December 13； 1860
HON。 E。 B。 WASHBURNE。
MY DEAR SIR：Your long letter received。 Prevent； as far as
possible； any of our friends from demoralizing themselves and our
cause by entertaining propositions for compromise of any sort on
〃slavery extension。〃 There is no possible compromise upon it but
which puts us under again； and leaves all our work to do over again。
Whether it be a Missouri line or Eli Thayer's popular sovereignty； it
is all the same。 Let either be done； and immediately filibustering
and extending slavery recommences。 On that point hold firm； as with
a chain of steel。
Yours as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
OPINION ON SECESSION
TO THURLOW WEED
SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS； DECEMBER 17； 1860
MY DEAR SIR：Yours of the 11th was received two days ago。 Should
the convocation of governors of which you speak seem desirous to know
my views on the present aspect of things； tell them you judge from my
speeches that I will be inflexible on the territorial question； but I
probably think either the Missouri line extended； or Douglas's and
Eli Thayer's popular sovereignty would lose us everything we gain by
the election； that filibustering for all south of us and making slave
States of it would follow in spite of us； in either case； also that I
probably think all opposition； real and apparent； to the fugitive
slave clause of the Constitution ought to be withdrawn。
I believe you can pretend to find but little； if anything； in my
speeches； about secession。 But my opinion is that n