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Pekin, Aug. 3, 1858.
Dear Sir: Yours of the 2d is at hand. In reply, I would say I have not thought best to deliver the Roberts note. I had a talk with him the present week, and although friendly to you, personally, he is intensely and invincibly pro-slavery and "joined to his idols."
In reference to our county matters, -- I think we can carry it, although there are rough places to get over, and our opponents are sanguine. I think we ought not to run Major C. -- Porter, of Mackinaw, or Kyes, (ex sheriff) of Washington, would make a better race. Our unfortunate railroad troubles will bear against our friends, manage them as we may.-- All the Republicans ask is the Representative -- giving the Americans the Sheriff. If they will put up a good man for the last named office I don't think we will have much difficulty in carrying our ticket. You are stronger here than Republicanism and in all of our meetings instead of heading them "Republican" I shall say "Meeting of the friends of Lincoln." I think by this course we can gain some thing from the old whigs, who may be wavering, and soften down the prejudices of others. We must have all the help you can give us. One good speech here might effect more good than a dozen in counties you are sure of.-- We intend to have a meeting to elect delegates to attend the Congressional convention -- on Saturday Aug. 14th, at Tremont. If you could send Herndon we can get up a good meeting. I think he would please our fence men. We hav'nt a good speaker in the county, while the Douglas men have several. The leading "Americans" feel sore towards you, but Turner, Williamson, Babcock Tom. King, and others assure me they will do what they can for our side.
There will be no opposition to Kellogg, at Peoria, but some of his windy assertions in the Fremont campaign will be used against us in this county, and may do some injury. in If you can prevail on friend Herndon to speak at Tremont on the 14th inst., please let me know immediately, and I will get out handbills. In closing let me say that anything that I can do to "vote you "up" and Douglas "down" will be done freely, for in so doing I know I am subserving the best interests of the country.
Truly yours,
T. J. Pickett.
P. S. I have heard from some of the Douglas men that Mr. D. will come to this county in September and speak in several places.
