David Davis to Abraham Lincoln, November 7, 1858

    Source citation
    David Davis to Abraham Lincoln, November 7, 1858, Danville, IL, 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 Ben Lyman, Dickinson College
    The following transcript has been adapted from the Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress.

    Danville.

    Novr 7, 1858.

    Dear Lincoln --

    The result in Illinois, has both astonished and mortified me beyond measure There is one thing certain and that is that you have nothing to blame yourself for-- You have made a noble canvass -- (which, if unavailing in this state) has earned you a National reputation, & made you friends every where-- I doubt whether among your friends in Illinois any one feels your defeat more deeply than I do-- I have regretted for the past month that I had not early in the Summer resigned my judgeship, & entered into the fight for you-- Chained as I have been -- in the midst of the excitement around me, I have felt like restive & uneasy -- But -- it is evident now that I could have done no good--

    The Pharisaical old Whigs in the Central counties, who are so much more righteous than other people, I cant talk about with any patience-- The lever of Judge Dickeys influence has been felt-- He drew the letter out of Mr Crittenden & I think, in view of every thing, that it was perfectly outrageous in Mr Crittenden to have written every any thing--

    Some of you may forgive him, & Gov Seward & Mr Greeley but I cannot-- --

    -- It was very shameful in my opinion for Dickey, to have kept that letter from 1st Augt & then published it a week before the election-- This portion of the state has been almost the only part doing well-- Poor Tazewell, falling from her high Estate grieves me greatly--

    Danville you know is an out of the way place -- mail facilities very poor-- We only know here the result of the Legislature-- Dont know how the State Ticket is, but fear that our fate is untoward there as elsewhere--

    -- Mr Usher of Terre Haute has been with us the past week-- He feels your defeat as keenly as any of us--

    The main object I had in writing this letter, was to besides giving a little expression to my feelings, was to let you know of the Special Term at Urbana--

    There was nothing but criminal business, done at the regular Term. There will be no criminal business at the Special Term.

    The Special Term begins, at Urbana on next Thursday -- the 11th inst--

    I did not know whether you designed to attend the Court or not, but thought you might want to -- and hence concluded to give you timely notice--

    In haste --

    Truly your friend,
    David Davis

    P S -- It would delight us all to see you at Urbana--

    P S -- There is a large docket in Urbana, & Court will hold I reckon at 3 weeks

    How to Cite This Page: "David Davis to Abraham Lincoln, November 7, 1858," House Divided: The Civil War Research Engine at Dickinson College, https://hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu/node/26427.