Abraham Lincoln to Lyman Trumbull, April 07, 1860

Abraham Lincoln to Lyman Trumbull, April 07, 1860

 To Lyman Trumbull [NOTE: 1. See note on p. 66.]

Springfield, Ills. April 7, 1860

Hon: L. Trumbull

My dear Sir: Reaching home from Chicago, where I have been engaged two weeks in the trial of a lawsuit, I found your letter of March 26th.

Of course you can do no better for Delahay than you promise. I am trying to keep out of the contest among our friends for the Gubernatorial nomination; but from what I hear, the result is in considerable doubt.

We have just had a clear party victory in our City election; and our friends are more encouraged, and our enemies more cowed by it, than by anything since the organization of the Republican party. Last year we carried the city; but we did it, not by our own strength, but by an open feud among our enemies. This year their feud was healed; and we beat them fairly by main strength.

I can scarcely give an opinion as to what effect a nomination of Judge McLean, by the Union Convention, would have. I do not believe he would accept it; and if he did, that fact alone, I think, would shut him out of the Chicago Convention. If he were ten years younger he would be our best candidate.

Yours as ever

A. Lincoln