Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 4 [Mar. 5, 1860-Oct. 24, 1861].

To Carl Schurz1Jump to section

Carl Schurz, Esq Springfield, Ills.
My dear Sir: June 18. 1860

Yours of May 22nd. was duly received; and now, on a careful re-perusal of it, I am much mortified that I did not attend to it at once. I fear I have no sufficient apology. I received it with multitudes of others, glanced over it too hastily to properly appreciate its' importance, laid it by, and it passed from my mind, till Gov. Koerner mentioned it to-day. In a general bringing up of my correspondence, I perhaps should have reached it to-day.

The main object of the letter---time---so far as it depended on me, is lost. I hope you have gone forward on your plan without my advice. To me it appears an excellent plan; and I have no sufficient experience to suggest any improvement of it. I think it would be desireable to have the opinion of the National committee upon it, if it can be obtained without too much loss of time.

And now, upon this bad beginning, you must not determine to write me no more; for I promise you, that no letter of yours to me, shall ever again be neglected.

I beg you to be assured that your having supported Gov. Seward, in preference to myself in the convention, is not even remembered by me for any practical purpose, or the slightest u[n]pleasant feeling. I go not back of the convention, to make distinctions among its' members; and, to the extent of our limited acquaintance, no man stands nearer my heart than yourself. Very truly your friend

A. LINCOLN---

Annotation

[1]   ALS-P, ISLA. Schurz had written as a member of the National Republican Committee in charge of the foreign department, proposing a list of all ``Germans,

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Norwegians, Hollanders, etc. who can serve our cause in the way of public speaking. . . . '' His plan was to organize them into squads to send to doubtful states, in the belief that the foreign vote of 1856 could be doubled in the North, and he wished to consult with Lincoln before leaving for Pennsylvania during the first or second week in June (DLC-RTL).