Springfield, Ills. Feb. 7, 1861
His Excellency, the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts---
Gentlemen Your kind letter of Feb. 1st., with a copy of the resolution of the General Court, inviting me, in the name of the government and People of Massachusetts, to visit the State, and accept its hospitality, previous to the time of the Presidential inaugeration, is gratefully received by the hand of Col. Horace Binney Sargent; and, in answer, I am constrained to say want of time, denies me the pleasure of accepting the invitation so generously tendered. Your Obedient Servant A. LINCOLN.