To Joseph Gillespie1Jump to section
Butterfield will be Commissioner of the Genl. Land Office, unless prevented by strong and speedy efforts. Ewing is for him; and he is only not appointed yet because Old Zach hangs fire. I have reliable information of this. Now, if you agree with me, that his appointment would dissatisfy, rather than gratify the whigs of this state; that it would slacken their energies in future contests, that his appointment in /41 is an old sore with them which they will not patiently have re-opened---in a word, that his appointment now would be a fatal blunder to the administration, and our political ruin here in Ills---write Mr. Crittenden to that effect. He can control the matter. Were you to write Ewing, I fear the President would never hear of your letter. This may be mere suspicion. You might write directly to Old Zach; you will be the judge of the propriety of that. Not a moment's time is to be lost. Let this be confidential, except with Mr. Edwards & a few others, whom you know I would trust just as I do you. Yours as ever A. LINCOLN
Annotation
[1] ALS, RPB.