To Zachariah Chandler1Jump to section
My dear Sir Washington D.C. Oct. 30. 1863.
There is danger that the above act of congress, intended to exclude improper applicants from seats in the House of Representatives, will be used to exclude proper ones. Your State is one upon which the attempt will probably be made if upon any. If the Governor has already made out the ordinary certificates, let the M.C's bring them along. In addition, I suggest that you, Senator Howard, and the Governor, have a consultation, and that another certificate or set of certificates be made out according to the form on the other half of this sheet, and still another, if you gentlemen can frame one that you shall think will give additional security, and bring them with you to be used, if needed. Let it be quietly done. Publicity might stir up the danger we wish to guard against. The M.C's themselves need not to know it Yours truly A. LINCOLN
Annotation
[1] ALS, DLC-Chandler Papers. This letter like the preceding ones to Grimes and Hamlin on October 29, supra, is written on a printed copy of the act, the verso of which contains the form for certification. Senator Chandler replied on November 13 that ``the Governor has directed triplicate certificates to be made out for for [sic] each of our members of Congress, one to be sent immediately to the Clerk of the HR & the others to be retained by the Members all the certificates to be made in accordance with our own State Law. If any thing more is required please advise me. . . .'' (DLC-RTL).