To Edward Lusk1Jump to section
Dear Sir Oct. 30, 1858
I understand the story is still being told, and insisted upon, that I have been a Know-Nothing. I repeat, what I stated in a public speech at Meredosia, that I am not, nor ever have been, connected with the party called the Know-Nothing party, or party calling themselves the American party. Certainly no man of truth, and I believe, no man [of] good character for truth can be found to say on his own knowledge that I ever was connected with that party.
Yours very truly A. LINCOLN
Annotation
[1] ALS, IHi. Edward Lusk was an ex-steamboat operator and farmer at Meredosia, Illinois. On the same page below Lincoln's letter appears a letter of the same date from Ozias M. Hatch addressed to S.P. Thompson in corroboration of Lincoln's letter. Thompson has not been identified, but the inference is that he was a friend of Lusk's.