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Jolliett Illinois
June 9th 1858
My dear friend,
I believe the whole country is fast going to the Devil! the counties of Mc Lean and La Salle, in their primary meetings have instructed their delegates to the congressional convention for Lovejoy.-- At our convention in Mc Lean, resolutions were passed "endorsing" Douglas, which "endorsement", -- although they by resolution declared their preference for you, for U. S. Senate in my humble opinion -- is to say the least of it -- under all of the surroundings, not calculated to give you strength over him, and certainly impolitic.
I have just arrived here from Ottowa [Ottawa]; this county and Kankakee can yet be controlled for against Lovejoy -- but these two counties together with De Witt, certain, -- would be feeble strength to go with, into the Convention-- So we all can, but acknowledge, -- beaten Judge Davis is; of course, out of the field--
-- It is now a free fight -- and I presume Lovejoy will have no opposition in convention-- I fear that Lovejoy's election a second term, will put this Congressional District irredeemably in the hands of the Abolitionists-- I find very many of the Republicans who express themselves very freely upon the subject of Douglas's course -- and some of them say "he is good enough Republican for" them-- I tell you sir! in my opinion this is a dangerous element, -- a dangerous endorsement -- there are breakers ahead!-- I learn that two of the abolitionists -- (and I call them such on the authority of Judge Dickey,) who m were were delegates to the La Salle county convention to day openly declared that they were for Douglas for U. S. Senator-- I hope however there are few such -- but I fear, that the foreign influences brought to bear, for national Strength (I mean Greely and others) to the Republican party, are having effect -- and it requires our most vigilant watch over both foreign and domestic influences and action in this behalf--
We all here, who were opposed to Lovejoy in Convention feel a little sore.-- It is proposed by some of our friends to run an independent candidate-- I have my fears about the policy of such a step-- It is proposed to get together and select the strongest man and start him out--
Do you think that would injure your election,? write me at Bloomington at your Earliest Convenience-- It is train time I must close-- Yours in haste
Very
Truly
Ward H Lamon
