To John McMahon1Jump to section
Harmbrook, Bradford Co Penn. Aug. 6. 1864
The President has received yours of yesterday, and is kindly paying attention to it. As it is my business to assist him whenever I can, I will thank you to inform me, for his use, whether you are either a white man or black one, because in either case, you can not be regarded as an entirely impartial judge. It may be that you belong to a third or fourth class of yellow or red men, in which case the impartiality of your judgment would be more apparant.
Annotation
[1] ADf, DLC-RTL. A copy preserved in the Nicolay Papers shows this communication to have been sent over Nicolay's signature. John McMahon telegraphed Lincoln on August 5, 1864:
``The following lines will give you to understand what is justice & what is truth to all men
``My Dear Sir I hope you will be kind Enough to pay attention to these few lines
``I am yours &c
``Equal Rights & Justice to all white men in the United States forever. White men is in class number one & black men is in class number two & must be governed by white men forever.'' (DLC-Nicolay Papers).