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Abraham Lincoln to Thomas Ewing, 26 April 18491
Springfield, Ills– April 26. 1849.Hon: Secretary of Home DepartmentDear Sir:
Some time since I recommended to your Department, the appointment of Turner R. King and Walter Davis, to the Land Offices in this place–2 Several persons here, who desired these offices themselves, are finding great fault with the recommendations; and I learned this morning that charges against King have been, or are to be, forwarded to your Department–3 I write this to request that, if in this, or any other case, charges shall be sent against persons I have recommended, you will suspend action, and notify me– I will take pains to avoid imposing any unworthy man on the Department– Mr King resides in the Land District, but sixty miles distant from me; and I recommended him to you, on the recommendation of his neighbors to me– I know him personally, and think him a good man; still my acquaintance with him is not intimate enough to warrant me in totally disregarding a charge against him– Accordingly I am making particular enquiry in the matter; and the Department shall know the result– I am not the less anxious in this matter because of knowing the principal object of the fault-finders, to be to stab me–
Your Obt Servt[Obedient Servant]A. Lincoln4
<Page 2>
A Lincoln
SPRINGFIELD Ill.[Illinois]
APR[April] 27
FREE
FREE
Hon: Secretary of Home Department
Washington
D. C.
[ docketing ]
Land office, Springfield, Ill.
Hon. A. Lincolns Letter– Says
Intrusted men are dissatisfied
with Turner R. King & Walter
Davis, recommended by him–
1Abraham Lincoln wrote and signed this letter, including the address on the second sheet, which was folded to create an envelope.
2On April 7, 1849, Lincoln wrote Secretary of the Interior Thomas Ewing two letters: one recommending Turner R. King be appointed register, and one recommending Walter Davis be appointed receiver. On April 13, he wrote another letter reversing himself, recommending King for receiver and Davis for register.
3On April 25, Lincoln wrote Philo H. Thompson that a “tirade” has erupted over his support for King, with opponents casting aspersions on King’s moral rectitude. Opponents of King charged him with being an abolitionist, drunkard, and gambler.
Philo H. Thompson to Abraham Lincoln.
4In his letter of April 25, Lincoln urged Thompson to find out the truth about King, and, if the charges proved false, to take measures to sustain his endorsement of King. Acting on Lincoln’s request, Thompson crafted a petition denying the allegations leveled against King and secured the signatures of prominent Whigs and Democrats in Tazewell County. He enclosed the signed petition in a letter written on May 3. Between April 30 and May 7, Samuel R. Baker, Edward Jones, John W. Casey, and David Mark wrote Lincoln attesting to King’s moral character and his fitness for public office. Lincoln penned another letter to Ewing on May 10, again recommending King for register and Davis for receiver. In late May, King received the appointment as register, holding the job until 1853. In June, Davis became receiver and would hold the position until 1853.
Samuel R. Baker to Abraham Lincoln; Edward Jones to Abraham Lincoln; John W. Casey to Abraham Lincoln; David Mark to Abraham Lincoln; David Mark to Abraham Lincoln; Niles’ National Register (Philadelphia, PA), 23 May 1849, 1:2; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1849 (Washington, DC: Gideon, 1849), 135, 137; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1851 (Washington, DC: Gideon, 1851), 140, 141; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1853 (Washington, DC: Robert Armstrong, 1853), 138, 139.

Autograph Letter Signed, 2 page(s), Andre De Coppet Collection, Princeton University (Princeton, NJ).