Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln to Caleb B. Smith, 1 May 18491
Springfield, Ills– May 1– 1849 Hon: C. B. Smith:Dear Sir:
You remember my anxiety that D^r A. G. Henry of this place, should be appointed Register of the Land Office at Minesota– Since I left Washington, I have heard nothing of the matter– I suppose M^r Evans of Maine, and yourself are constantly together now–2 I incline to believe he remembers me, and would not hesitate to oblige me, where he conveniently could– Now I will do twice as much for both of you, some time, if he and you will take some leisure moment to call on M^r Ewing, and, in as graceful a way as possible, urge on him the appointment of Henry– I have always had a tolerably high hope that M^r Ewing will appoint Henry, if he does not forget my peculiar anxiety about it–

Write me soon–
Your friend as everA. Lincoln 3

1Abraham Lincoln wrote and signed this letter.

2President Zachary Taylor appointed George Evans and Caleb B. Smith to serve on the board of commissioners to receive and examine claims of United States citizens against Mexico, under provisions of an act passed by Congress on March 3, 1849.
“An Act to Carry into Effect Certain Stipulations of the Treaty Between the United States of America and the Republic of Mexico, of the Second Day of February, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty-Eight,” 3 March 1849, Statutes at Large of the United States 9 (1862):393-94; Biographical Directory of the American Congress 1774-1996 (Alexandria, VA: CQ Staff Directories, 1997), 1006, 1836.

3 On March 29, 1849, Lincoln recommended Anson G. Henry as “his man for register” in a letter to Secretary of the Navy William B. Preston, urging Preston to press Secretary of the Interior Thomas Ewing to make the appointment. Prior to this letter, Lincoln had written Secretary Ewing and Secretary of State John M. Clayton seeking an appointment for Henry as territorial secretary and receiver, to no avail. Henry did not receive the appointment as register; the appointment went to Abraham Van Vorhes, who held the position until 1853. Lincoln continued to recommend Henry to President Taylor and members of his administration. On June 24, 1850, Henry received the appointment of Indian agent for the Oregon Territory.
Abraham Lincoln to John M. Clayton; Abraham Lincoln to Thomas Ewing; 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), 136; 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), 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), 139; Harry E. Pratt, "Dr. Anson G. Henry: Lincoln's Physician and Friend," Lincoln Herald 45 (October 1943), 8.