Lyman Trumbull to Abraham Lincoln, July 19, 1858

    Source citation
    Lyman Trumbull to Abraham Lincoln, July 19, 1858, Washington, DC, Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress, http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/alhtml/malhome.html.
    Type
    Letter
    Date Certainty
    Exact
    Transcriber
    Transcribed by the Lincoln Studies Center, Knox College, Galesburg, IL
    Adapted by Don Sailer, Dickinson College

    The following transcript has been adapted from the Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress.

    Washington, July 19, 1858.

    Dr. Sir,

    I have read your speech & Douglas' at Chicago, & think you exposed very clearly his false logic, or rather I should say, his downright misrepresentations of your remarks at Springfield-- Your Springfield speech was a very happy one, & Douglas can never answer, though he may misrepresent it-- It is in misrepresentation & raising false issues that his power consists-- He never did debate a question fairly-- I see by the papers that his friends are very active in getting up big meetings & making parades over him. I know you despise such appliances & so do I, but still they have their effect-- Many persons are dazzled by these shows, & others by being made participants are drawn into his support. I thought that our friends did not pay attention enough to these outside matters two years ago.

    The Union as you perceive is still finding fault with Douglas, but somehow I cannot think that the opposition to him from that source will amount to anything in our state-- Hope I may be mistaken. Is it your intention to traverse the state & address public meetings, as was done two years ago? Suppose Douglas will do it, & that may make it necessary that others should-- I would go through South Ill. if it is thought advisable, but do not suppose we can expect any members South of St Clair unless possibly we get one from Randolph; & our state ticket, I take it, is in no danger. Of course our chief attention ought to be turned to the doubtful counties & those no doubt you will look after-- I shall soon be home & expect to do what I can for the success of the cause during the Fall. Gov. Koerner writes me that he thinks we will be pretty certain of the St Clair members, which will be a gain of one-- I am a little uneasy about Madison-- The strong Filmore influence there makes it a troublesome county to manage. Have you any information from that Co.? It may all be right & that we will carry the Co. by a thousand majority, & yet it is not impossible that we may loose the county--

    Let me hear from you fully what your plans are. Our cause is just, the people are with us, & we must not, & shall not fail for want of effort so far as I am concerned--

    Yours Sincerely,

    Lyman Trumbull

    How to Cite This Page: "Lyman Trumbull to Abraham Lincoln, July 19, 1858," House Divided: The Civil War Research Engine at Dickinson College, https://hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu/node/25363.