John Jordan Crittenden to Abraham Lincoln, October 27, 1858

Frankfort -- Octr: 27th 1858.

My Dear Sir,

I have just been apprised that a paragraph in the St: Louis Republican (I think, that is the paper) contains some allusion to our private correspondence, and assumes to call on your for it's publication.

This has given me much pain & surprise. I do not beleive that you would ever have entertained a suspicion that I was capable of betraying that correspondence, & of causing or prompting, in any way, the paragraph above mentioned-- But yet I desire to assure you that I have had no act or part, agency or privity in respect to it, or its publication-- It is wholly unauthorised by me. I should have considered myself dishonored, if I could ever have consented to, or permitted any use to be made of our correspondence, that would have been injurious or embarrassing to you--

I hope that this will be satisfactory to you -- and, furthermore, I hope that you will not permit this publication to annoy you, half as much as it annoys me.

I am,

Very Truly &

Respectfully

yr's &c

J J Crittenden