Mary L. Perkins to Abraham Lincoln, 19 April 18491
Tremont April 19– 1849Mr LincolnDear SirWithout [reflecing?] how it might appear to you, I was requested, and consented, to address you on a subject,
which I fear you will think not exactly pertaining to my department. But as I shall
only express the opinions of my husband, together with all other true Whigs I trust you will excuse my fulfilling my hasty promiseThe important subject ^for^ which I have been requested to interest myself is nothing less than the Candidate
for our Post Office Now my husband feels considerably interested for Mr John Ball and the reasons he gives why he should be preferred to the other candidate are, that he has been ^is honest^ and competent but more, that he has always acted as a true Whig2The other not having done so, having refused his vote for our present Excellent President, and influencing others to do likewise–3 That such a man should ask any favor however small, at the hands of the present Executive,
seems to us absurd– This no doubt has been explained to you by others better than
I can. You I think must regard the subject in same light as we do, I would here acknowledge
the reception of many interesting and acceptable documents from you when at Washington particularly acceptable because it was an assurance that we were not forgotten– Please
present my kind regards to Mrs Lincoln, and accept the same for yourself
from Yours trulyMary L. Perkins<Page 2>
TREMONT ILL.[Illinois]APR[April] ^21^
5
PAID
Honl[Honorable] A. LincolnSpringfieldIllinois2Abraham Lincoln received numerous letters recommending John H. Ball for postmaster.
Lincoln preferred David Roberts and recommended him for the position. Roberts received the appointment in May 1849
and held the job until 1860.
Petition of Richard T. Gill and Others to Abraham Lincoln; William D. Briggs to Abraham Lincoln; Mary L. Perkins to Abraham Lincoln; Abraham Lincoln to William D. Briggs; Fitz Henry Warren to Abraham Lincoln; Benjamin F. James to Abraham Lincoln; 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), *489; 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), 550*; 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), *520; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the
United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1855 (Washington, DC: A. O. P. Nicholson, 1855), 346*; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the
United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1857 (Washington, DC: A. O. P. Nicholson, 1857), 346*; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the
United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1859 (Washington, DC: William A. Harris, 1859), 74*; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the
United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1861 (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1862), 376*.
Autograph Letter Signed, 2 page(s),
Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress (Washington, DC).