Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

Andrew Wardlaw to Abraham Lincoln, 23 February 18481
Hennepin Feb 23 1848Friend Lincoln
As the time has come for a reorganiseing of and filling of the different offices I would sugest a alteration in our ^of^ post Master at Hennepin you no doubt recollect how difficult it was for our friends to get anny thing through the Post Office in the summer of 1846 the time you were canvassing the district when there was a line put in the office in Lacon to me to let me know the time you would be here which did not come to hand for a week after you left which was only one out of some 5 or 6 cases of the same kind which I could name in short it was imposibel for my friends ^and Myself^ to communicate with through the office only from Lacon I would jest say that Mr David P Jenkins would be a acceptabel Man for Post Master should there be a chang2

I would also state that if you are not commited to anny other of your friends that should there be a chang in the office Register of the Land office at Dixon Illinois I would be pleased to have the apointment Mr Smith of Bureau is geting a pettition to send on for it but I do not think it nessary to send a pettition as you know me and know that I could get evry prominent Whig in this county and Marshall to sign a pettition

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to that effect if I were to Aply to them I have no doubt if you would speak to the Hon J. R. Uunderwood senator from Ky he would asist you in it as he has known me from My boy hood up till I came to this state in the fall of 1841 liveing in the same county in Ky[Kentucky] should there be no chance for the Registers office perhaps there might be a a chance to get Me the apointment of Marshall of the state which office I would as soon have as register I do not claim this for anny Services that I have rendered My country in the late Election or anny other time as I done nothing More than I considered My duty to My Country you will please do the best you can for me incase you are not under anny pledge and feel free to do so and you will cofer[confer] a lasting favor on your Friend and obd[obedient] st[servant]
And^w WardlawPlease write Me soon and if there is no chance pleas consider this confidentialA W 3

1Andrew Wardlaw wrote and signed this letter.

2Wardlaw references Lincoln canvassing the Seventh Congressional District during the latter’s successful campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. Evidence exists that Lincoln and his opponent, Peter Cartwright, spoke at Hennepin on July 22, 1846.
Eli B. Ames was the postmaster in Hennepin in the summer of 1846. Jenkins would receive the appointment in May 1849 and hold the office until October 1852.
The Lincoln Log: A Daily Chronology of the Life of Abraham Lincoln, 22 July 1846, http://www.thelincolnlog.org/Results.aspx?type=CalendarDay&day=1846-07-22; Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-1971 , NARA Microfilm Publication, M841, 145 rolls, Records of the Post Office Department, RG 28, 1845-1855, 18:162, National Archives Building, Washington, DC; 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), 476*; 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), 534*; Fitz Henry Warren to Abraham Lincoln.

3Wardlaw would not receive either appointment; Silas Noble became register at Dixon in 1849, serving until 1853, and Benjamin Bond received appointment as marshal, holding the position until 1853.
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; 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, 267; 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, 259.