James O. Putnam to Leonard Swett, copied in Swett to Abraham Lincoln, July 1860

    Source citation
    James O. Putnam to Leonard Swett, copied in Swett to Abraham Lincoln, July 1860, Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress, http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/alhtml/malhome.html.
    Type
    Letter
    Date Certainty
    Estimated
    Transcriber
    Transcribed by the Lincoln Studies Center, Knox College, Galesburg, IL
    Adapted by Don Sailer, Dickinson College
    Transcription date
    The following transcript has been adapted from the Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress.

    D Sir

    I rec'd this morning the enclosed from Casey which after perusal you will please return. I will also I believe send one rec'd from Putnam. What shall be done
    If desirable we will go; but if we go, we cannot go to Egypt
    I confess I do not exactly like the attitude Cameron assumes. Fell has a letter Lewis who says much the same a Casey so far as the Com. is concerned--
    Swett
    The letter I send from Putnam printed, was written to some meeting in N Y.
    Upon reflection & talking with the Judge I think P Lewis expressed confidence in the chairman but had not in a majority of the members--
    S.

    [Extract in Lincoln's Hand:]
    (Extract from Putnam's letter.)
    "They have had large meetings; and they begin to think feel that "Old Abe" is a great fellow-- This opinion I share, as you see-- Do you know, Swett, I think him one of the most remarkable speakers of English, living? In all that constitutes logical eloquence, straight-forwardness, clearness of statement, sincerity that commands your admiration and assent, and a compact strenth of argument, he is infinitely superior to Douglas, I think-- The truth is, I have read every thing I have been able to find he has written or said, and the ring of the best metal is in them all-- I dont wonder at your admiration"

    Footnotes

    How to Cite This Page: "James O. Putnam to Leonard Swett, copied in Swett to Abraham Lincoln, July 1860," House Divided: The Civil War Research Engine at Dickinson College, https://hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu/node/34350.