Urbana, Ills. April 23. 1858
My dear Sir
I wish you, G. W. Rives of Edgar, and O. L. Davis, of Vermilion, to co-operate in getting a Senatorial candidate on the track, in your District-- Davis is here, and agrees to do his part-- The adversary has his eye upon that district, and will beat us, unless we also are wide awake-- Under the circumstances, a District convention may, or may not be the best way -- you three to judge of that-- I think you better take some good reliable Fillmore men into conference with you, and also some proper person or persons from Cumberland. Indeed, it may appear expedient to select a Fillmore man as the candidate-- I also write to Rives-- I am most anxious to know that you will not neglect the matter, not doubting that you will do it rightly, if you only take hold of it--
I was in Springfield during the sittings of the two democratic conventions day-before-yesterday-- Say what they will, they are having an abundance of trouble-- Our own friends were also there, in considerable numbers from different parts of the State-- They are all in high spirits, and think, if we do not win, it will be our own fault-- So I really think--
Your friend as ever,
A. Lincoln
