Abraham Lincoln to William A. Minshall, 7 December 18371
Springfield, Dec. 7 1837Friend Minshall.I write this to say that it is Stuart’s intention to be a candidate for congress again; and that he will be publicly announced before long. I would suggest to you
the propriety of your letting our friends in your parts know, that he is to be the
candidate.
On the receipt of this, write me all you know and all you think, in regard to our prospects for the race.2
I believe we have nothing here that would be news to you. I am ashamed to write so
short a letter; but lack of material, you know, will make any thing short.
Your sincere friendA. LincolnP. S. We have adopted it as part of our policy here, to never speak of Douglass at all. Is,nt that the best mode of treating so small a matter?<Page 2>
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A Lincoln
7 Decmb[December] 1837
7 Decmb[December] 1837
2John T. Stuart would run for re-election, and in March 1838, Stephen A. Douglas resigned
as register of the Springfield Land Office to run against him. When the ballots were
finally tallied in August 1838, Stuart defeated Douglas by a scant 36 votes (18,254
for Stuart to 18,218 for Douglas). The closeness of the vote and accusations of voter
irregularities prompted Douglas to contest the election, to no avail.
Robert W. Johannsen, Stephen A. Douglas (New York: Oxford University Press, 1973), 64-68, 70-72; Theodore C. Pease, ed., Illinois Election Returns, 1818-1848, vol. 18 of Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library (Springfield: Illinois State Historical Library, 1923), 109.
Autograph Letter Signed, 2 page(s), Lincoln Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (Springfield, IL).