To Thomas A. Marshall1Jump to section
Charleston, Ills. April 23. 1858
My dear Sir I wish you, G. W. Rives of Edgar, and O. L. Davis, of Vermilion, to co-operate in getting a Senatorial candidate on the track, in your District.2Jump to section Davis is here, and agrees to do his part. The adversary has his eye upon that district, and will beat us, unless we also are wide awake. Under the circumstances, a District convention may, or may not be the best way---you three to judge of that. I think you better take some good reliable Fillmore men into conference with you, and also some proper person or persons from Cumberland. Indeed, it may appear expedient to select a Fillmore man as the candidate. I also write to Rives. I am most anxious to know that you will not neglect the matter, not doubting that you will do it rightly, if you only take hold of it.
I was in Springfield during the sittings of the two democratic conventions day-before-yesterday. Say what they will, they are having an abundance of trouble. Our own friends were also there, in considerable numbers from different parts of the State. They are all in high spirits, and think, if we do not win, it will be our own fault. So I really think. Your friend as ever,
A. LINCOLN
Annotation
[1] ALS, DLC. Thomas A. Marshall was a prominent Coles County Republican.
[2] George W. Rives, state representative from Edgar County, 1849-1850, and Oliver L. Davis, state representative from Vermilion County, 1851-1852 and 1857-1858, were both possible candidates. On the same date Lincoln wrote to Rives. Rives' reply of May 15, 1858 (DLC-RTL), specified that Davis was the strongest candidate and that the principal objection to Marshall was the fact that he was a banker. Marshall became the candidate, however, and was elected.