To Benjamin F. James1Jump to section
The paper at Pekin2Jump to section has nominated Hardin for Governor; and, commenting on this, the Alton paper,3Jump to section indirectly nominates him for Congress. It would give Hardin a great start, and perhaps use me up, if the whig papers of the District should nominate him for Congress. If your feelings towards me are the same as when I saw you (which I have no reason to doubt) I wish you would let nothing appear in your paper which may opperate against me. You understand.
Matters stand just as they did when I saw you. Baker is certainly off of the track, and I fear Hardin intends to be on it.
In relation to the business you wrote me of, some time since, I suppose the Marshall called on you; and we think it can be adjusted, at court, to the satisfaction of you & friend Thompson.4Jump to section
[A. LINCOLN]5Jump to section
Annotation
[1] ALS, MH.
[2] Lincoln was in error. See his correction in the next letter to James (infra). James was editor of the Tazewell Whig published at Tremont, near Pekin, Illinois.
[3] The Alton Telegraph and Democratic Review.
[4] Philo Hale Thompson, a merchant of Pekin.
[5] Signature has been cut off the original manuscript.