To Halsey O. or Amos L. Merriman1Jump to section
Your letter, asking me to procure passports, has been received. I have just been to Mr. Buchanan,2Jump to section who turned me over to an understrapper, which understrapper, suspended the application on the ground that the affidavit of the applicant is not sufficient evidence of naturalization. He gave me a printed circular showing exactly what is to be done, which I transmit to you, together with some extra copies to be kept for future use. Yours truly
A. LINCOLN.
Annotation
[1] ALS, owned by Edward D. McCulloch, Peoria, Illinois. Halsey O. Merriman was an attorney of Peoria, Illinois, associated in practice with a younger brother, Amos L. Merriman. It is not known conclusively to which one of the brothers the letter was written.
[2] James Buchanan, secretary of state.