To John Bennett1Jump to section
Dear Sir: Aug: 4, 1856
I understand you are a Fillmore man. If, as between Fremont and Buchanan, you really prefer the election of Buchanan, then burn this without reading a line further.
But if you would like to defeat Buchanan, and his gang, allow me a word with you. Does any one pretend that Fillmore can carry the vote of this State? I have not heared a single man pretend so. Every vote taken from Fremont and given to Fillmore, is just so much in favor of Buchanan. The Buchanan men see this; and hence their great anxiety in favor of the Fillmore movement. They know where the shoe pinches. They now greatly prefer having a man of your character go for Fillmore than for Buchanan, because they expect several to go with you, who would go for Fremont, if you were to go directly for Buchanan.
I think I now understand the relative strength of the three parties in this state, as well as any other one man does; and my opinion is that to-day, Buchanan has about 85,000---Fremont 78,000, and Fillmore 21,000. This gives B. the State by 7000; and leaves him in the minority of the whole 14,000.
Fremont and Fillmore men being united on Bissell, as they already are, he can not be beaten.
This is not a long letter, but it contains the whole story. Yours as ever A. ``LINCOLN''---
Annotation
[1] ALS-F, ISLA. Compare the lithographed letter of September 8, infra.