From Harrison Dills to Abraham Lincoln, April 10, 1849
Quincy Ills April 10th 1849
Honourable Sir
Yours of 4th instalment is at hand in which you acknowledge receipt of letter & recommend for Post Master here. If I had known who was offered and been at home, I should not suffered my name to go there.
On the 10 of February, I got home when matters had proceeded so far I let them go for what they were worth.
Quincy Ills April 10th 1849
Honourable Sir
Yours of 4th instalment is at hand in which you acknowledge receipt of letter & recommend for Post Master here. If I had known who was offered and been at home, I should not suffered my name to go there.
On the 10 of February, I got home when matters had proceeded so far I let them go for what they were worth.
Rogers had gone on 29 of January, and left a boy 16 years age in office who remains there to this hour. Mssr. Browning, Bushnell, and Williams was at Springfield and had recommended Mr Jonas. If I had known this, I should not come in collision with Mr. Jonas, but there is still a mystery about this matter yet I cannot solve.
No appointment has been made and the other man that was recommended, I never believed would get the appointment. A prominent Lawyer informed me this morning that Mr Jonas had been recommended to the Senate and rejected I asked how he knew the Secrets of the U.S. Senate. He said I know and that is enough. I cannot vouch for this incredible tale and give the source, if I had the most distant idea this was true I would renew my application.
I say as before I did not work for emolument, but if I could get this place I should apply myself intently to its duties. I am very grateful for what you done, and should anything turn up that your friend should fail, I should be glad you would render me your Influence. If there is any chance for Mr Jonas' letter me pass, I am told that strong Influence is tried to be brought to bear in favour of a man from another county. We had a trial of it once here in the person of a Mr Clifford from Alton sent by Capt. Tyler who I am sorry to hail from the same state with.
I am Verry Truly
Your Obt Servant
H. Dills
Footnotes:
1 This letter has not been located.
2 ID: Orville H. Browing practiced law in Quincy, Illinois, and was a Whig member, at different times, of both the Senate and House of the Illinois General Assembly. During Lincoln's presidency Browning was a member of the United States Senate, and he was Secretary of the Interior under Andrew Johnson. His friendship with Lincoln was of long standing.
3 ID: Nehemiah Bushnell was Orville Browning's law partner in Quincy, Illinois.
4 ID: Archibald Williams of Quincy, Illinois, was a Whig lawyer and sometime state legislator.
5 Abraham Jonas
6 ID: Locofoco was a somewhat pejorative term used by Whigs and Republicans to identify Democrats, suggesting that on occasion the latter had lit their meetings not with candles or lamps, but with short-burning self-lighting ("locofoco") matches.
From Harrison Dills to Abraham Lincoln, February 19, 1849
Quincy Ills Feby 19th 1849
Honourable Sir
I take the liberty to write you on a matter of local interest. I learn from some friends here that they have made application and forwarded it for me, to be appointed Post master here to fill a vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr S. W. Rogers who has gone to California, I understand that the... vacancy will occur on or about the 30th of march. I am desired by my friends here to present the matter to you, and in doing so, If you will aid me in this matter I shall be under lasting obligation to you. I will be permitted to remark, I do not ask it, as meritorious for reward of anything done on my part, I can only say so far as my feeble efforts have been exerted for the last 15 years in Ills for the Whig cause it was done from a sense of duty not for emolument, although if I Shall receive this appointment, it will be great fully received, I also learn from my friends that what has been done, I see that there has not been much concert of action in the matter as part of the papers has been Sent to Hon Truman Smith part to you, and part to the Hon R. W. Thompson & George G. Dunn of Ina. I feel very grateful for the efforts of my friends in this matter, and shall also to you if you will present the matter to the proper department. this office is one made by the President & Senate I Should have written to Col Baker as I learn he will be there before Congress, but I believe he has a friend here, for whom wishes for this office. I wish you would see him. I feel it due to say that there has been a public meeting here on the subject the object of which I learn was to recommend Mr Jonas, a first rate man, but he was rejected by the meeting and a man by the name of L. Prentiss was nominated. He received 34 Democrats votes & 4 or 5 Whigs is the way it is told, I was not there but the Chairmen of the meeting informed me so and the other part took up another man who received 34 Whigs votes. I suppose this matter is before you there. This, I believe from what I can learn, I am recommended to prevent a Split among us. Supposing it will render more general satisfaction but this I should leave for others. I am Sir Obedient Servant.
Harrison Dills
P. S. I have not seen but one of the Petitions it was headed by Mr Lovejoy and DeHaven Mr A. R. Parker a clerk in the General Land office is a son-in-law of Mr D Haven from whom you can get any Information you may desire, if it will not be asking too much of your please see Him.
H. Dills
Footnotes:
1 Edward D. Baker
2 Abraham Jonas was a prominent Whig lawyer in Quincy, Illinois from Quincy and a friend/colleague of Lincoln. Lincoln at the time was the congressmen representing Adams County and he was later nominated to run for President under the newly formed Republican party.
Quincy Ills Feby 19th 1849
Honourable Sir
I take the liberty to write you on a matter of local interest. I learn from some friends here that they have made application and forwarded it for me, to be appointed Post master here to fill a vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr S. W. Rogers who has gone to California, I understand that the... vacancy will occur on or about the 30th of march. I am desired by my friends here to present the matter to you, and in doing so, If you will aid me in this matter I shall be under lasting obligation to you. I will be permitted to remark, I do not ask it, as meritorious for reward of anything done on my part, I can only say so far as my feeble efforts have been exerted for the last 15 years in Ills for the Whig cause it was done from a sense of duty not for emolument, although if I Shall receive this appointment, it will be great fully received, I also learn from my friends that what has been done, I see that there has not been much concert of action in the matter as part of the papers has been Sent to Hon Truman Smith part to you, and part to the Hon R. W. Thompson & George G. Dunn of Ina. I feel very grateful for the efforts of my friends in this matter, and shall also to you if you will present the matter to the proper department. this office is one made by the President & Senate I Should have written to Col Baker as I learn he will be there before Congress, but I believe he has a friend here, for whom wishes for this office. I wish you would see him. I feel it due to say that there has been a public meeting here on the subject the object of which I learn was to recommend Mr Jonas, a first rate man, but he was rejected by the meeting and a man by the name of L. Prentiss was nominated. He received 34 Democrats votes & 4 or 5 Whigs is the way it is told, I was not there but the Chairmen of the meeting informed me so and the other part took up another man who received 34 Whigs votes. I suppose this matter is before you there. This, I believe from what I can learn, I am recommended to prevent a Split among us. Supposing it will render more general satisfaction but this I should leave for others. I am Sir Obedient Servant.
Harrison Dills
P. S. I have not seen but one of the Petitions it was headed by Mr Lovejoy and DeHaven Mr A. R. Parker a clerk in the General Land office is a son-in-law of Mr D Haven from whom you can get any Information you may desire, if it will not be asking too much of your please see Him.
H. Dills
Footnotes:
1 Edward D. Baker
2 Abraham Jonas was a prominent Whig lawyer in Quincy, Illinois from Quincy and a friend/colleague of Lincoln. Lincoln at the time was the congressmen representing Adams County and he was later nominated to run for President under the newly formed Republican party.
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