Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

Justin Butterfield to Abraham Lincoln, 10 April 18481
Chicago April 10^th 1848.Dear Sir:
Will you do me the favor to send me the Presidents message & accompanying documents. I wish to for future reference as containing the governmental history of the war with Mexico–

And also. Ex. Doc.[Executive Document] 123 H. R. 26^th Cong: 2^d Session. If not too much to ask I should like this document–2

Our canal opens to day—& the first boat from Lockport comes through to day– We all go for Clay in these parts.3
respectfully
Your obt Servt.[Obedient Servant]Justin Butterfield Jr.

1Justin Butterfield, Jr. wrote and signed this letter.

2This document was a message from President Martin Van Buren delivered in March 1841 in compliance with a resolution adopted in the House of Representatives in March 1840 requesting the opinions of attorneys general on the construction of public laws.
H.R. Exe. Doc. No. 123, 26th Cong., 2nd Sess. (1841).

3Reference to Henry Clay’s anticipated nomination as the Whig Party candidate in the presidential election of 1848. To the surprise of many, Clay would not get the nomination; the Whigs at their national convention in Philadelphia, in June, would nominate Zachary Taylor as their standard bearer.
Abraham Lincoln to Simeon Francis.